Triumphrat

Kramocker · 02-06-2008, 07:04 PM

I just ordered my dual rate fork springs from the good folks at Works Performance. Now I'm thinking..."to gaiter or not to gaiter?" Pros and cons? Is it strictly cosmetic? If I gaiter do I need to remove the stone guards on the forks? Which gaiters are the closest to actual Triumph gaiters? How scared should I be about replacing the fork innards by myself? Do waiters gaiter? Do traitors gaiter? Should I gaiter now or gaiter later?

Cheers,

SK

PS

I tried the search feature but it's so vague...

Derby Boy · 02-06-2008, 07:19 PM

I have no idea said Sam I Am, I know I don't like green eggs and ham.

REVOLT · 02-06-2008, 07:31 PM

It took me a long while to decide if I was going to or not...Saw a Bonnie here and there with them...looked awesome...then some look funny...I think it all has to do with the style...The Triumph brand look plastic and thin...Look too Dirt Bike-ish? I don't know what it is...they just look funny to me...the the Super gaiters have a loose looking fit to them, like they just don't belong...but the Euro gaiters...now those boys are beefy...thick and with just the right amount of pleats! I just did a fork spring swap...not hard at all (would suggest having a bit of mechanical ability)...just take your time, have all your tools ready and it's a 2 hour job (about 30min of that was enjoying Donuts and hot coffee with my Ole'Man) with another set of hands (My Ole'Man)...

GET RID OF THE STONE GAURD!!! IT'S USELESS WITH GAITERS...looks cluttered and confusing too...You can pop it off with a flat head screwdriver...but risk slipping and scratching the tube...or do what I did...take a coping saw (small hack-type saw), and cut through the stone gaurd from the side (with the fork tube removed and laying on it's side), not all the way through so as not to nick the tube...then grab a good box knife and score through until it simply pops apart...I felt most comfortable with that method...but be patient. It will pay off!

Cons? As long as you keep the tube behind the gaiter clean and with a thin coat of TriFlow...you're bound to be golden...Just don't let any water set back there...Surface rust? Seals? All that good stuff to tend to...Piece of cake!

Pros? I think they "Thicken" up the front...and give it that last bit of Classic Triumph Look? Good Luck!

oldroadie · 02-06-2008, 08:30 PM

Gaiters make the look.

MackDaddy · 02-06-2008, 08:51 PM

I'm going to agree with Revolt & Oldroadie. They look great. I'm doing Euro gaiters on my SpeedMaster when I do my progressive rate springs & Thruxton adjustable preload caps (with Oberon adjuster knobs.)

Now if freak'n BikeBandit will get off their a$$ and get me the other fork cap, I'm golden.

I completely rebuilt my RoadStar forks, it's not hard but is time consuming. A simple spring swap is truly a piece o' cake with a little knowledge, the right tools on hand & a fresh pot of coffee.

CAPTDON · 02-06-2008, 10:54 PM

In the dirt bikin days- gaters were esential!! I never liked the look on the street. Keep your tubes clean & you wont have any problems. If you ride on dusty roads, can buy or make fork tube covers outa sunbrella fabric w/ velcro that will do the job. I like the sporty look of bare tubes! I always wipe mine down after rides - bug juice you know. The stone guards protect the travel in the forks to stone chips. You can always do gaters. The progressive springs are my next move & a fork brace!! I do sp[eed bumps on the way in the garage & you can tell trhe need for a brace! Scrambler- the gaters a must!! A Bonne/ Thrux- id pass. Dont really need them. The progressive sprngs are a must!! The tubes-Just keep em clean!! When I do my springs, I wana get the RITE fork oil to do it rite. Havent figured what that is yet. Got some ideas- but not sold yet!Its your choice- Scrambler= gaters. Bonne- Not needed & (to me ) look kinda funky>? Let me know how thw progressives do for you & what they are & where $$ etc. I know what I am looking for- gota find it. Not a hard job but kinda hard to return!!!

6t · 02-06-2008, 11:03 PM

Picked up the Triumph gaiters last week, rebuilding the forks soon so will wait until then. The T dealer is an hour away so I popped around the corner to the Kawasaki dealer and priced the gaiters for the W650. They were over $50.00 each, the Triumph ones cost that for a pair. Go figure.

ColoradoSlim · 02-07-2008, 12:00 AM

I thought about gaiters for my '06 T100, but after owning a '79 T140D for a number of years (no gaiters), I decided to go for the cleaner, more aggressive look, which means no gaiters. But whatever turns your own crank....

geolpilot · 02-07-2008, 12:44 AM

I got the Triumph gaiters for $38 from a dealer. They fit perfectly. To take the stone guards off, just take about a foot long board and put it up against the bottom edge of the stone guards and extending down nearly parallel with the fork leg. One sharp rap on the board with a hammer and the stone guard is up and off of the leg with no damage to it or anything else.

TB-T100 · 02-07-2008, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPTDON

Its your choice- Scrambler= gaters. Bonne- Not needed & (to me ) look kinda funky>?

Gotta agree with Don, on this one. I'm not much of a fan of gaters. But there seems to be a lot of them around here. Even folk who pride themselves in not doing "anything but performance mods" have gaters on. To me that seems bizarre as they serve very little function (unless you go off road, which most of us don't). However, if you like the look then go for it!