Preventing fork pitting?

gabriel_gs · Oct 26, 2007

Hi All,

I've just bought my 1150GS (am loving it!) and it's a relly clean bike - I think I've done well.

As I was looking at other GSs I saw how many of them suffer from pitting on teh fork lowers. The fork lowers on my GS are still nice and pit-free.

Question is, is there a way to prevent it at all? What causes it?

Cheers folks.

shready · Oct 26, 2007

My guess is that road salt and general wear and tear contribute to fork pitting.

My 1100GS is OK though even though I do use it through the winter, I just make sure I give it a liberal coating of ACF50 before the really cold weather starts. I then leave it dirty until the spring, I reckon the crust of oily dirt protects it.

My 1150RT has had the forks painted at some time prior to me owning it and they look OK.

cookie · Oct 26, 2007

cover with ACF50 then forget about it.

gabriel_gs · Oct 26, 2007

Thanks Guys - but what's ACF50?

cookie · Oct 26, 2007

http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WWA-ACF50-A&variation=&aitem=1&mitem=3

gabriel_gs · Oct 26, 2007

Lovely - now, where's my wallet....

:thumb2

Lord Snooty · Oct 26, 2007

Another option is to go to Halfords, find their cycle section where they sell neoprene covers for cycle swingarms called Lizard Skins. Buy a couple of these, cut some holes to make them fit around the brake calipers and away you go.

gabriel_gs · Oct 26, 2007

Another good suggestion.

However have ordered some ACF50 from ol' Nippy Norm.

Thanks all

ELIMINATOR · Oct 26, 2007

ACF50 is good stuff, I'll cover mine with it soon. But it won't stop the lower forks from coroding, this is stone damage.

cookie · Oct 26, 2007

ELIMINATOR said:
ACF50 is good stuff, I'll cover mine with it soon. But it won't stop the lower forks from coroding, this is stone damage.

that is the cause initially, but stones just make a tiny ding. it's when the water gets under the lacquer that the real damage starts. i found ACF50 kept mine as good as new (nearly).

ELIMINATOR · Oct 27, 2007

it's when the water gets under the lacquer that the real damage starts. i found ACF50 kept mine as good as new (nearly).

Bugger

Toddy · Oct 27, 2007

Yet another option

Yet another option is to use some form of sticky back label.

Hein Gerick sell A4 sheets of clear adhesive backed plastic that can be cut to size or anything found about the office, like these laser labels used here on my R1200GS..............

ELIMINATOR · Oct 28, 2007

I did use the clear vinyl (same as vehicle signwriters use) on the upper part of the forks (blue bit) but It didn't seem to want to stick to the lower painted silver section.

Paul Young · Oct 28, 2007

I got a pair of carbonfibre fork protectors for a Yamaha MX bike. Turns out the USD forks on the Yam are near-enough identical in diameter to the fork bottoms of the GS... 3mm neoprene around the blue section to make it the same size as he silver part & "Robert's your mothers brother".

gabriel_gs · Nov 26, 2007

Parts..

Your bike looks great.

Can you tell me where you got the Yamaha fork protectors from (and how much wer they) and also your wheels? They look superb - would like to investigate getting some for my GS.

Regards,

Eugene.

mermoto · Nov 26, 2007

OK - I know this may seem cryptic but why does this picture remind me of a Jane Fonda video a few years ago

I gotta stop working so hard :beer:

Mermoto

Colban · Nov 26, 2007

gabriel_gs said:
Lovely - now, where's my wallet....

I suspect you will be using this phrase far too frequently if you hang around here,

Hustler · Nov 26, 2007

I've used this sticky back plastic stuff from the local ironmongers.
It does work but seems to bubble slightly when it gets wet and so looks a bit unsightly after that.
I've taken it off now and have gone for the naked pitted look.
Also known as patina for you posh folk.

Paul Young · Nov 26, 2007

gabriel_gs said:
Your bike looks great.

Can you tell me where you got the Yamaha fork protectors from (and how much wer they) and also your wheels? They look superb - would like to investigate getting some for my GS.

Regards,

Eugene.

They were from Racespec & cost about £30

bustupbiker · Nov 26, 2007

Paul Young said:
They were from Racespec & cost about £30

Had them on my 12 since new, don't forget to remove them and give them a good clean when you wash the bike..

Preventing fork pitting?

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