[Homeskool]

Hey! I want a few peoples advice on this.

Doing mods to my 92 tw200. I'm moding the bike and making it as naked as possible. The look I want is clean and simple. I want to remove the rubber shock boots. Anyone have any problems doing this? I was just going to cut them off. Does it do any damage to not have them on there? Or does it just make the oil inside dirty more quickly? My sport bike and most other road bikes don't have rubber covers. So I think it's okay. But I wanted to ask you guys!

Thanks!

 

[biglefti]

They use rubber boots on dirt bikes to reduce the amount of fine dust and sand that gets onto the surface area of the sliding portion of the fork tubes where it can work it's way into the seal and bushings causing them to wear out much faster. It wouldn't be much of a problem if you only ride on paved surfaces, but you will pay the price if you spend most of your time on dirt.

 

[RodneyReed]

You'll also pay the price on the street if you ride with alot of other bikes, especially if there are any sportbikes involved. They throw little tiny rocks that pummel the front of your bike.

 

[Homeskool]

Hmmmmmm...

Pay the price how? pay the price that I will have to change my fork oil more often? Or it will destroy seals and I'll have to replace my entire shock? I don't know enough about this to know how to proceed so I'm looking for a little bit of long term advice. If I do this it acutally destroys the shocks faster or just needs more maintenance more often?

 

[rm_hm]

Flying grit can wear away the the smooth surface of the shocks and cause things to leak leading to replacing the upper part of the shock along with the seals. Or crud can get into the shock seals leading again to having to take the shocks apart and replacing the seals.



The upper tube is around $160.00 if you manage to scratch it.



The entire shock $257.00



And the parts just to do a seal change for one shock worst case







1159131

(7180761-001)

RING,SNAP Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$4.48



1159129

(7180759-001)

OIL SEAL Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$49.36



1202485

(7200705-001)

METAL,SLIDE 1 Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$11.43



1203003

(7201271-001)

SEAL, DUST Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$49.62



1159131

(7180761-001)

RING,SNAP Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$4.48



1159129

(7180759-001)

OIL SEAL Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$12.34



1202485

(7200705-001)

METAL,SLIDE 1 Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$11.43



1203003

(7201271-001)

SEAL, DUST Yamaha 2009 TW200 (Purplish White Solid 1) - TW200Y FRONT FORK



$8.27



Subtotal $151.41





And here is a link to the multitude of past fork seal threads

http://www.google.co...3&pf=p&pdl=3000

 

[qwerty]

Not a good idea if you ride offroad. If you ride only street, find a fork wiper boot set that fits. They ome on 2 styles, flat and practically invisible and cone type. They've both been good on street bikes for about 100 years.

 

[Homeskool]

I think I'm going to keep my shock boots. I love the look without them but I do want to take it off road once in awhile. I have a 92 Tdub. I am painting the bike flat black. I have blue shock boots now. Anyone find a good place to buy new ones? (I need black). Is the dealer the only place to get them? Unable to find them on e-bay. Unless I am doing my searching wrong.?.?



And Rich! Thanks a ton for your write up. You convinced me it's not worth the trouble. I love this forum

 

[firehose]

I think I'm going to keep my shock boots. I love the look without them but I do want to take it off road once in awhile. I have a 92 Tdub. I am painting the bike flat black. I have blue shock boots now. Anyone find a good place to buy new ones? (I need black). Is the dealer the only place to get them? Unable to find them on e-bay. Unless I am doing my searching wrong.?.?



And Rich! Thanks a ton for your write up. You convinced me it's not worth the trouble. I love this forum

 

[firehose]

A few years ago I painted my bike seat with black semi-gloss Tremclad spray paint.($5.49) It has stood up well to extreme cold and warm temperatures. Also, I have heard of a paint that is made for painting letherette etc.

Something to think about. I would try it , but "many" others would not.

 

[PJungnitsch]

My dealer found me some Polisport fork boots that are working well. Black, around ten bucks.



Just googled Polisport quickly and there is lots of links, ie



http://www.internationalmotorsports.com/Polisport-FORK-BOOTS-detail.htm?productId=10886650

 

[PJungnitsch]

This is what they look like installed:

 

[Homeskool]

PJungnitsch ! On that website you linked me too, what dimentions did you order? And thanks for posting the picture. They look just fine as boots go. Does the rubber feel cheap at all? What is your opinion?

 

[PJungnitsch]

My dealer ordered them in, I just measured my bike to see what measurement was closest.



Looked fine I thought, and held up good all last summer. Havn't seem the bike since the beginning of winter (stored at a friends) to see how they have held up under storage.