Gaiters like Germans. Not just in the Northern Territory...

[Ross]

April 2008 I replaced the front fork seals. It was suggested at the time I also fit gaiters to the forks. This would help protect the new fork seals. Did I do this? No!.

Of late the front left seal has been leaking. Enough that I can see oil bubbling past the fork seal on compression. Should had fitted the gaiters. This would have help tp keep the road crap out of the seals.

This time I have put gaiters on my forks. A new fork seal and new 10 weight fork oil.

The new fork seal was placed in the freezer while I dismantled the front end. This shrinks the seal a bit. My universal bit of wood and hammer was then used to knock the seal in gently.

Took 4 hours including lunch break. Jan had cooked up mushies, tomatoes and feta cheese on toasted sour dough bread. Yummo. Jan is such a great cook.

[Deleted User 287]

Those don't look like Genuine BMW gaiters!



Just make sure they are pulled down on the fork slider as far a possible, so you get maximum fork travel.
That is one of the few lessons in life I learned the "easy" way...


photo by Randy ~ wisdom by Duane ~ summit by Ken

edit: Oh wait - never mind - your bike has a fork brace in the way. Mine is beneath the fender. (It's a Type 248-thing)

[Ross]

Hey Rob.

No they are not BMW ones. Got them from Motorworks in the UK.

They are down as far as they can go and are now have cable ties securing them in place top and bottom. As well as the fork brace holding them.

[Deleted User 287]

Yeah, I only left my post up to help any other lurkers that might not have seen this lesson.

[Ross]

Yeah, I only left my post up to help any other lurkers that might not have seen this lesson.

[richard t]

what is a mushie?

Took 4 hours including lunch break. Jan had cooked up mushies, tomatoes and feta cheese on toasted sour dough bread. Yummo. Jan is such a great cook.





[/quote]

[Ross]

Mushies = Mushrooms

[Chuey]

Ross, I love the look of gaiters on RS and RT bikes. Also S bikes. Thing is, on my RS, without gaiters it looks like a hugely fat woman with skinny skinny legs. The gaiters fix that.

So, I had gaiters on my RS. Then, the fork wouldn't turn all the way. Then, I put the stock fairing boots on but got discouraged gluing to white painted body work. I drilled small holes and used zip ties, electrical ties, whatever you call them. I still wish I had gaiters and maybe those like you have wouldn't limit my steering lock. I think there's a GS (BMW) version that's somewhat like what you have. I'm going to start looking for them again.

Also, thanks for saying what "mushies" are. I was thinking they were smashed up peas. I dig mushrooms. Peas, not so much. OK, snow peas in my salad, good. Cooked ones, no thanks.

Chuey

[ME 109]

Didja use some wet and dry strips to remove/reduce any stone damage?
I think there are other techniques as well.

[Ross]

Didja use some wet and dry strips to remove/reduce any stone damage?
I think there are other techniques as well.

Yes and then I polished them before the gaiters went on.

Today they got a work out. Bad roads, lots of rain, big potholes and lots of road muck.