Fork boot dilemma

[robbob100s]

Guys, I love the look of fork boots, but I'm not sure if I can use they on the 77R100s? How and where can I clamp them? I know that their not stock but....
Robert

[20774]

I would think that the black cap has to come off. Does it? It's OK if the seal shows at that point...the gaiters will protect them.

[jforgo]

I found some aftermarket ones at the Guzzi dealer (!) which fit over the existing rubber boot. That way you get the scraper protection to the seal of that existing item, plus the tube protection of the gaiter.
Take one of those off and see your local aftermarket shops.

[20774]

That way you get the scraper protection to the seal of that existing item, plus the tube protection of the gaiter.

I didn't think the black cover did anything but cover...mostly cosmetic. The seal that's there cover or not, gaiter or not, is what does the "scraping". That's my understanding...

[jforgo]

I don't know, It looks to me like the stock rubber piece would take some stuff off before it gets to the seal

[crazydrummerdude]

So, is that lower black thing rubber, too? I always thought those were metal.

My rubber boots mount to just under the top lip of the slider.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/aretnap69/bmw_r90/20081230025.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/aretnap69/bmw_r90/20081230027.jpg

[kstoo]

CDD +1
cdd is correct.
It is one or the other. The boot looks more modern to some but the gaiters completely cover your seals so that they last longer, less dirt and exposure.
The boot is supposed to have a felt wiper sealing the top but that doesn't always work the best.

[crazydrummerdude]

The boot is supposed to have a felt wiper sealing the top but that doesn't always work the best.

That's what I was suspecting, but never knew.

You learn something every day.

[keelerb]

Yup, one or the other and the gaiters are FAR more effective at protecting fork seals than "scraper" type setups.

They were a total BIOTCH to install over a Telefix, however. I got it done, but I'm not looking forward to doing it again. I'm real glad I put in new fork seals at the time, so hopefully won't have to do so again for a long, long time.

I had heard, perhaps apocryphally, that without gaiters fork seals on an airhead are good for a year or two tops. Dunno if that's true; my seals went shortly after I bought my bike (used) so I did the seals, Telefix, and gaiters in one go. Been good since (admittedly not long).

[GeorgeRyals]

Gaiters do keep the dust off the tubes. Dust grinds at the seals. Just make sure, if you ride in the rain , that the gaiters don't let water in the top and hold it on top of the seals.

[barryg]

That bit of confusion started with the /6 series. The 90S got the rubber boot and all the other models got the fork gaiters. Back in the day when it came time to rebuild the front forks a lot of riders dumped the fork boots and went to the S style rubber boot. Must be better since that whats on the S, more sport looking. I like the vintage look of the fork boots.