Fork Gaters

I would suggest that you bite the bullet and replace the gators. The fork protectors are OK up to a point but the gator will keep all of the dust and muck off of the fork sliders and keep the fork seals in good condition.

 

I am interested to know if the gators are necessary. Lots of bikes don’t have them any more (the majority now) so I presume they are more for cosmetic purposes on those bikes that do have them?

Its understandable to have gators on poorly machined forks to keep the crap out, or maybe bikes designed to be ridden where the elements could damage the forks.

 

No gators are not necessary but they are in my opinion advantageous, in the same way that a fender extender is not necessary on today's generally short mudguards but they are certainly an advantage and keep the crap off engines, radiators etc.

Gators keep the road crap, insects and stones off the sliding area of the fork leg.

 

I took the lazy way out with my Rninet by fitting cheap eBay sourced gaiters . I sliced each one open carefully with a Stanley knife then put it around the fork and super glued it together. Do each "bellow" one at a time and let the glue set. Takes a little time but you don't need to dismantle the bike.

 

Locktite 406 is awesome on plastics and rubber.

 

They've been on the bike since June last year and show no signs of coming apart. I used Gorilla Glue and made the cut down the existing seam so you can't really see it.

 

And what about some of that kind?
No need to disassemble the fork, plastic can be bent enough.

 

Gaiters were fitted to most bikes at one time, to stop road grit getting into the hard-worked fork oil seal and costing you a packet to cure the damage to seal and stantion.
Manufacturers removed the gaiters to look pretty, and sell you more fork servicing.

 

Gaiters were fitted to most bikes at one time, to stop road grit getting into the hard-worked fork oil seal and costing you a packet to cure the damage to seal and stanchion.
Manufacturers removed the gaiters to look pretty, and sell you more fork servicing.

 

Those one are stock on my Sprint St 1050. If you don't do offroad it's probably enough.

I've seen some on regular online shops eg: https://www.squaredeals-ltd.co.uk/f...rotector-43mm-forks-2040080-t0301-25182-p.asp
https://traxxion.com/product/fork-guard-kit/

 

The ones I show you from the ST 1050 can be fit without removing the fork.
The plastic can be bend enough to pass around the fork tube.
I know that because on my last fork seal change I forgot to put it, and did it after I reinstalled the fork on the bike.

 

No they are stock. I just removed the machine screw to fully open it, and rescrew. That simple.