solution to gaitor-less forks?

[jjwithers]

I'm going for looks more than practicality on my next bike build.
I'm definitely going to ditch the fork gators and yes, i know the fork seals will not last as long as a result.
Is there any other solution to removing the gators yet keeping the seals and tubes somewhat protected?
I've seen harleys that have a small chrome cap that goes over the fork seal and leg. I'm wondering if there is anything out there that would work on an early 70's airhead.

[vanzen]

Gaitor-less forks ?
That's just BLASPHEMY !
Run away ... Dodge the Stodge ...


The Pedigree Police will soon be knocking on your thread !



Just remove them ...

[r90s]

Yeah, there's the big rubber cup that sits on top of the slider. Look at any R90S or R100RS photo.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BMW-Staubschutzkapp ... 35afe51f65

[Zombie Master]

Those forks are to spindly looking uncovered. The Gaiters give them an areo strut look!

[SteveD]

The gaitors prevent road stones chipping the fork leg chrome, which in turn can ruin the fork seal.

Of course they also keep general road grime off to, and if that is a cause of premature seal failure without gaitors fitted, then a regular deglaze of the fork chrome might help.

[KenHawk]

Sorry... No free lunch1

[Ken in Oklahoma]

I'm pretty sure I've seen other, newer, "lesser", motorcycles out there with a plastic shield on the front side of the fork legs. Seems like one of those could be made to work and the look would be relatively contemporary. The top of it might have to be spaced out to miss the lower triple clamp a bit.

That would at least address the rock ding concern.

I have a couple fork stantions in my spares kit, so I personally wouldnt worry about a rock ding. That might be the better idea: to buy a good used stantion or two.

Ken

[dougie]

I'm pretty sure I've seen other, newer, "lesser", motorcycles out there with a plastic shield on the front side of the fork legs. Ken

I think I saw them for "new" Triumphs a few years ago.

[Major Softie]

I'm pretty sure I've seen other, newer, "lesser", motorcycles out there with a plastic shield on the front side of the fork legs. Ken

I think I saw them for "new" Triumphs a few years ago.

"Upside-down" forks are even more susceptible to stone chip damage, so there are lot of solutions for those, with various "shield" types being the usual. I'm sure such an idea could be modified to work on a "right side up" fork.

I had these on my Ducati, and some variation of this theme could work and look appropriate on a vintage conventional fork:

Edit:

I guess they don't let you link to their photos. Here's the site: http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-moto ... rk-guards/

[Zombie Master]

Why are you using an Airhead to customize? These bikes are designed by Germans for function, therefore have cylinders that stick out in an awkward style. At best, the Airhead is elegant, but never gorgeous. I have seen many attempts at customizing these bikes, most fail miserably and drastically discount the values of the machine. These are of course my opinions.