Fitting fork gators

Ledzep1 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 30 Jun 2014 Karma :

Hi - this may be a daft question.... Just got a lexmoto Ranger which I want to fit some fork gators on. I can see plenty of universal ones on ebay, but it's not clear whether they have a split so you can fit them then tighten them or you have to take off the tyre and slip them on.

I don't want to have to take the front wheel off, it's only done 300 miles so that seems a daft idea with my mechanical skills - can anyone point me in the direction of something which is an easy fit without having to get the wheel off?

Many thanks - Martin

Commuter_Tim · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 May 2013 Karma :

No, you aren't likely to fit them over the bottom of the fork legs.

Generally its remove wheel, prop bike up so it doesn't dive right to the ground, remove forks, slip gaiters over the top of the fork stanchion, refit.

Or alternatively you could make some out of neoprene (old wetsuit?) and some velcro, no tools required to fit them.

I am curious what relevance the mileage has to whether you should take the front wheel off though. Thinking

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bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Karma :

You'd normally fit them by dropping the forks out of the triple tree at the top, then slip the gaiters on. The lower part of the forks has all sorts of brazed on bits for brakes and mudguard fittings that will stop them going on easily from the bottom. The ones I've used are not a very stretchy rubber, so won't deform to go over them.

There are some with velcro at the back, but I'm not sure how well they hold up in use - velcro isn't noted for being particularly flexible, and the gaitors have to compress and expand.

Ledzep1 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 30 Jun 2014 Karma :

Thanks for the advice - basically - don't want to stuff things up as it's new so I was hoping for some kind of gator I could put on without removing anything - i assumed they had a split at the back so you fitted them then just kind of clipped them back together - if only it was that simple...

Commuter_Tim · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 May 2013 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

You could fit split-and-zipped neoprene protectors without dropping the forks, for example:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221936135583

They're intended for upside-down forks but I see no reason why they wouldn't work on RWU as well. You'll want to measure up your forks and find ones that fit.
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