Fork Boots/Socks. Hit or Miss?

KonaKurt

I was eyeing up a pair of Lizard Skins 'Fork Boots' (though I understand in the USA they are called Socks!)..

Are they effective in keeping stanchions clean? And are they harmful to stanchions in any way...?

KK.

supersonic

They might have ebeen acceptable years ago when seals were made out of sieves, but they just are not needed today. They hold water and grap, and can score the stanchions.

Avoid!

KonaKurt

Fair enough SS!

I will avoid. Although i would imagine they are handy to use only in DRY weather when you LOCK your forks (say, for a simple road ride)...?

In that case, I wonder why Lizard Skins (and others) bother to market them?

KK (prefering to keep his socks off!)

chrisga

I used to have some lizard skin fork boots, on a set of old Judys, and they were on for must have been 5 years and never marked the stanchions at all and were ridden in all condtions. So I would dispute that they mark stanchions, and also whenever I took them off after a muddy ride they didnt seem to have let anything in (although obviosuly they did get wet) so I guess you could say they worked quite well.
However, upgraded to some recons recently and havent bothered fitting them again. Dont know why really.

supersonic

They mark the stanchions when a piece of grit gets under them: maybe not directly mark them.

Todays seals negate the need for them.

nicklouse

the forks i have seal wreaked by "Boots" is stupid.

if you are going to use them make sure they are clean.

But with current seals they are not needed.

Joe_Pineapples

They look stupid, plain and simple.

I have a shock boot but I never use it. It just traps water and you can't see how much travel you're using when it's on.

Joe.

stumpyjon

I have a lizard skin on my rear shock (on an 07 stumpy fsr so the shock's in the firing line) and it keeps the crud off well enough although I do take it off and clean it pretty regularly.

Fork boots aren't a good idea, my mate had an old pair of Judys with the rubber boots. Just meant he didn't clean the forks properly, when I finally lifted the rubber boot we discovered a large patch of anodising missing and grey oilly goo oozing from the fork everytime it compressed.