Fork Gaiters + MOT

[Martay]

Hi,
Just wondering if the rubber fork gaiters are part of the MOT? I seem to remember they are, but not sure. Mine are all split and perished

Also, if i do need them, how do i change them? They cannot be removed downwards (the front spindle bracket is way to big to get them over) so im assuming the only other way is to dis-assemble the forks?

Ta
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[Rogerborg]

Fork gaiters on a Vixen? Never seen those. Are you sure that's a Vixen you're on? The Vixen should be the HT125-8, the CM125 copy. Dihao (Haotian / Houniao) also do a CG copy, I think the HT/HN125-2, which I have seen with gaiters.

Either way, if they're shagged, I'd just cut them off, then keep the forks washed down. As long as the fork seals are good, you should be OK in the MOT.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Martay]

The gaiters arent on the vixen, on a project bike. The seals are fine, just these gaiters that are shot :/
Ta
____________________
Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[Moo.]

The MOT guys cant touch or remove anything, if they're shagged they wont be doing their job and will just trap more crap in the forks then without them. I'd agree with just cut them off, clean up the forks and see how it goes If the seals are tight your good to go
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[kingsknight]

https://www.ptipackaging.com/Qstore/custom/coloredDuctTape_l.jpg


Duck tap them, job done
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TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[Teflon-Mike]

Fork Gaiters are worth their weight.
They stop good forks getting pitted. They hide slightly mank stansions from MOT testers penetrating gaze!
If you are nifty, you can normally swap them by removing the front wheel to give you room to unclamp each fork leg in turn and drop it out the jokes, to slip old gaiter off and new one on.
If you are careful, you may be able to get away without even disturbing the brake hose, if you have one.
Just cutting the gaiters, may only be half a job.
Yes, seals may be fine, and the forks will function OK, but theres normally a rebate at the top of the slider where the seals are fitted, with the circlip holding them in.
That shoudl be covered witha dust seal to keep the crap out.
And believe me, if crap gets in there, when it comes to the 'simple' job of replacing teh seals, its no longer simple, and it WILL come about quicker.
Often when gaiters are fitted, the dust seal is ommitted, so if you dont have wiper beneath, you need to replace either the gaiter, or fit a dust seal.
My money goes on gaiters every time, and both need teh foks dropping to fit.
Its not hard, and for the sake of a few quid, and an hours effort, may as well do job properly.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[neil.]

I wouldn't think you'd need to take forks apart to replace gaiters. Remove them from the bike, yes but that's it.

When I did it, all I did was remove the brake calliper (attached to the fork leg), bungied it to the handlebars, removed the front wheel, mudguard, any other thing that sat across the forks (like a little name badge thing), removed the screen, then loosened top and bottom pinch bolts in the yokes then the forks slid out. I also changed the oil in them whilst I was at it, but for that you'll need a measuring cylinder and dipstick as well as new fork oil.

Basically start from the bottom and work your way up. Ariete gaiters come highly recommended for lasting ages and not perishing etc. To get the right size gaiter, you need to measure the fork stanchion diameter and that of the widest part of the leg below it where the seals are. Also measure the length of the stanchion up to the bottom yoke whilst compressing the suspension and whilst the bike is sitting normally then you know the compressed/uncompressed lengths of gaiters you need to buy.

[itsallgood]

When I fitted them to my cg it took an hour at most and cost £10.

My seals may have passed the mot anyway but more importantly the forks are in great nick for a 1993 bike and I intend them staying that way!
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1995 Honda cg125 SOLD
1993 Jawa 350 twin sport (haven't found the "sport" aspect yet)