Author Topic: DL650 fork gaiters  (Read 7281 times)

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Offline Brockett

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DL650 fork gaiters
« on: December 02, 2016, 10:55:37 »
I ordered fork gaiters from "Bertrum" on Fleabay at 23:16 on 30th November and they were delivered today 2 December at 0925.

I really don't like bare metal fork legs covered in road grit pumping up and down the seals and bushes. Polish them up and apply acf50 first.

The only potential 'fly in the ointment' are those 'ever so glued in' mudguard screws. If they won't budge I may well have to drop the forks.  :fix:

It may not make any difference, but I  believe I am doing my best.
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline UK_Vstrom650

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2016, 12:03:32 »
What size gaiters did you order. Have been looking at some myself but not sure on sizing.

Good luck with mudguard screws. When I did my fork oil last Christmas I tackled the awful retaining screws on the Glee which were a nightmare to remove, but hopefully not a problem from now on.

Good to see a picture when done  :thumb:

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2016, 13:38:18 »
Keep us posted re cost & fitment, anything that keeps muck off the forks can only be a good thing IMHO

Offline Brockett

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2016, 16:40:50 »
£19 inc post.
The ebay seller shows them as for the V-strom.
approx size = 43mm at the top and 63mm at the bottom.
Top 43mm dia' zip ties to the fixed leg directly under the lower fork yoke. The lower 63mm dia' zip ties to the fork leg. I'm not sure if a fork brace can also be used so need advice and or research. 

Pictures will have to wait for a bit of warmth in the man cave.
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline greywolf

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2016, 16:46:50 »
Those with a fork brace can cut off the bottoms of the gaiters at the wide part of the pleat and the springiness of the gaiters will keep the tubes covered with the bottom of the gaiter pressed against the brace. I used Rancho RS1952 shock boots on my bikes and cut off the bottom at the second pleat for the stock fork position and the third pleat for lowering the front end by raising the Glee forks 19mm. The Rancho items cost less too.

Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2016, 17:20:26 »
You have kind of answered my next question.....
My 10mm lowered forks only have about 10mm between the fork & bottom yoke, presumably fork gaiters compress enough when the forks are fully compressed?

Offline Brockett

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2016, 17:26:01 »
The ones I bought will compress down to about 8cm total length.
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2016, 18:20:00 »
Won't that significantly reduce fork travel?

Offline Brockett

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2016, 21:01:11 »
No. They are squidgy.
Or perhaps I don't understand what you mean.
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline Rusty Nuts

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2016, 21:14:28 »
Hondaman: are you saying that  when fully compressed, there is only 10mm = 1cm between the tops of the tubes and the bottom of the bottom yoke? In which case 8cm - 80mm of compressed gaiter would be 70mm too much?

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2016, 22:03:08 »
Yes.
OK, my forks are dropped 10mm, with ~10mm clearance. I guess you could remove the dust seal to give a bit more maybe ~30mm clearance max before contact but 80mm is still a long way off, even with a few mm discrepancy with my measuring.

To clarify, with fork springs removed & forks fully compressed my 10mm dropped forks only have a little clearance between the top of the dust seal & bottom of bottom yoke.

Can anyone with gaiters (not garters...) fitted shed any light?

Offline greywolf

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2016, 22:11:37 »
I had forgotten some travel is lost if the gaitors are not trimmed. The actual loss is a bit less than the measured loss of about 3/4" at stock levels because of the aforementioned squidginess.  Extend the fork tubes up and even more is lost unless the gaitors are trimmed. The gaiters provide a great bump stop though. Without them, ABS Wees with fork braces can have the brace hit the brake lines at the junction under the bottom triple clamp if the forks are raised more than about 10mm. http://www.stromtrooper.com/v-strom-modifications-performance/51032-fork-gaitors-word-caution-couple-photos.html
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2016, 22:27:03 »
Surely, anything that restricts fork movement is just wrong?
We are not talking about a bit right at the end of the stroke before the fork bottoms out, from the above figures we're talking a full 2''

What is the fork travel, 150mm?
I did measure it once, I'm sure it's quite a bit less than stated, 130mm rings a bell.
Take 40mm sag (90mm travel left) take away 50mm (80 compressed gaiter - 30 free space with stock height forks) = 40mm travel from usual sag before being restricted by the gaiter.

That just sounds wrong to me.

Offline greywolf

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2016, 22:30:57 »
We are talking about right at the end of the stroke when the gaiter is fully compressed before any restriction takes place. Street riders will probably never reach that much. The Strom will still have more travel available than the average street bike. I never bottomed out in close to 100,000 miles on three DL650s. I never had a fork seal leak in that time either.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2016, 22:41:41 »
Don't get me wrong, fork gaiters are great but not if they potentially reduce fork travel by 2'' I may aswell fit a 2'' block of wood above the slider!

Offline Brockett

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #15 on: December 02, 2016, 23:00:07 »
I have re-measured the compressed length and the it appears to be more like 52mm
The length previously stated included the shoulder that covers the lower fork leg.
I have fitted gaiters to a Wee, a Vee, and a Glee, all with standard forks and never had any problems.
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline greywolf

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #16 on: December 02, 2016, 23:20:57 »
Gaiters do not reduce fork travel by 2".
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Hondaman

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2016, 07:34:07 »
I have re-measured the compressed length
OK, cheers that's a bit nearer.
Gaiters do not reduce fork travel by 2".
If the compressed length was 80mm as initially suggested - they would.

However as the compressed length is 52mm, that would reduce fork travel by about 1'' (1'' too much for my liking), albeit that last inch is when the lockstop slows fork travel anyway.





Offline edbailey

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #18 on: December 04, 2019, 23:01:30 »
I realise this is an old thread but I am interested in fitting fork gaiters to my strom and hoped #Brockett may add a bit more detail on how he fitted the gaiters?

The only way I know is to slide the whole front end out the top yoke and slide those rubber babies on?

Any other quicker/easier methods would be much appreciated!

Offline Sage

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Re: DL650 fork gaiters
« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2019, 14:29:13 »
Velcro Neoprene ones are easier to fit, have a look at post 9213.

https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=12233.msg376858#msg376858