Submitted by
Matt Arrigo
a Weekend Warrior
from Grants Pass,OR, Good Ol' U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004
Strengths: Good Looks, Black, easy to install, cheap, Don't have to lube my forks so often now.
Weaknesses: Just barely long enough.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the Inverted fork model. For what it is it seems to work good. They say right on the package if immersed in water to remove and let fork dry, so they never claimed to be water-proof. They need to make them a bit longer though.
Submitted by
Bob Dumb
a Cross Country Rider
from southern California
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2004
Strengths: saves expensive forks!!
Weaknesses: bunch up once in a while but not often
Bottom Line:
I can't understand why manufacturers don't include boots on their bikes. Well actually i do its a vast conspiracy to wear out our forks faster so we buy new ones..
Unless your rich or don't care about cleaning the dirt outta the "stock dirt seals" after every ride these cheap things are gonna save you money.
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2003
Strengths: Keep your stuff clean
Weaknesses: I don't think you can use them with adjustable travel forks??
Bottom Line:
Used them for 2 years with Marzocchi air shock. Never lost air, never needed to clean them. Simple to install and worth it to make an expensive shock last longer. Of course I live where it is dry, but there are some water crossings and they will protect your fork legs. They do NOT bunch up and expose the seals unless you install them wrong, and if you install them wrong you are a complete moron.
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
Strengths: These boots look great and have kept mud out of my Judy 100's perfectly, even when I ride in the pouring rain through tons of mud. Don't have to take the fork apart to put these on!! Big plus there!
Weaknesses: A little confusing to put on the first time. I think the "Bunchhing" people refer to happens if you put them on wrong, because mine don't.
Bottom Line:
I've used these for a year and have had no bunching problems. I read a lot of reviews saying that the Judy 100 would fail in pouring rain, and that hasn't happened to me although I ride in the rain a lot (welcome to Rochester). I put a lot of judy butter on the shock and then sealed it in using the Lizzard Skin boots. The red looks great w/ red grips and red/black nashbar 2x seat (works great w/ black frames, too...) I highly recommend this product...unless you're spacially (spatial) challenged and don't use sissors well, then let your bike shop install these for you 'cause you shouldn't be working on your bike! (The bottom of the boot wraps around *below* the brake/shock arch.)
Bike Setup: GT i-Drive 5 2001 w/ Judy 100's (1999), XT, LX drivetrain, SRAM PC69 chain, Lizzard skins on both front and rear shocks as well as on the headset.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native of New York)
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2003
Strengths: They clean up really easy--just rinse them under the tap.
They don't get stretched out, but they do break-in nicely.
The velcro is durable.
(weenie comment alert) I like the lizard graphic appearing on the side of my staunchions; I'm glad they don't have some crappy flame design or--worse--a big brand name display. Also, they come in good colors.
Like another rider posted, the fact that they keep out shale and lime dust--which are both about as fine as talcum powder--is highly appreciated.
They protect the forks from getting dented at least somewhat.
Weaknesses: Other people have mentioned a lot of problems with fit and wet stuff getting under the boots, but I haven't had any of the problems other people mentioned and I come home with both bike and rider caked in mud quite often. So weaknesses=zero
Bottom Line:
These things are indespensible and couldn't function better. Because of the complaints about mud getting under them, Lizard Skins actually prints on the label that they should be removed for wet conditions now, but I don't see why anyone would have actually more mud and caked on dirt while using these things unless they simply aren't in the habit of cleaning their bikes more than once in a while (I do a quick cleaning after every ride and a thorough one about every 250 miles or a month, whichever comes first).
I didn't even cut mine. I just roll them back over on themselves at the tops and they stay in place--though when they were new they did bunch up just a bit.
Purchased At: Seo Cycle, LalaPort Tokyo Bay shopping mall, Minami-Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
Similar Products Used: Other Lizard Skins products on other parts of my bike and just plain good maintainence.
Bike Setup: 2002 TREK 8000, Shimano 959 pedals, Shimano XT cranks (172.5mm) and bottom bracket, Bontrager-Selle San Marco Race Lite titanium rail saddle, Thompson Elite seatpost, Panacer Fire XC Pro tires, . . . .
Submitted by
C
a Weekend Warrior
from C algary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001
Strengths: keeps stuff out looks
Bottom Line:
Keeps out dust, mud, etc. I just rode in the rain today and they stayed nice and dry. And clean. Easy to install and remove for seal lube and stanchion tube cleaning (not that it needs cleaning cause these things keep it all out). Most of all it keeps out red shale dust from Fish Creek. I hate that sh.. excuse me, stuff. A perfect add-on to forkless boots like the SID SL to reduce cleaning and regular maintenance. Without them I was cleaning the seals after every ride. Now I just have to keep up with the lube. Minimal cleaning.
Bike Setup: Moab - XT everything, SID SL fork, Race Face Turbine LP cranks, Crossride wheels, Wildgrippr tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bighare
a Cross Country Rider
from San Rafael, CA
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2001
Strengths: It works if you install it correctly
Weaknesses: Neoprene will hold water if you don't open it after a wet ride.
Bottom Line:
If the product bunched up and ran up the fork leg on the first ride, YOU INSTALLED IT IMPROPERLY!! You didn't wrap it around the brake arch on the bottom. They work just fine and look much better than accordian style rubber boots. You do need to clean under them occasionally, but this is easy to do with the velcro attachments. Rubber boots require cleaning underneath also, albiet less frequently.
No fork boot will keep out 100% of dirt and water.
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Weekend Warrior
from St Helens, England
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2000
Strengths: Easy to fit and remove, allows the fork legs to be cleaned and lubed
Weaknesses: Price ($15 over here)
Bottom Line:
I bought some Mars1 w/o booots fitted. I've used Lizard skins and find that if fitted over the seal, they keep mud off the fork legs, while they are easily removed to allow the legs to be dryed thoroughly and lubed after each ride. Yes they bunch up a bit, but that allows them to conform to the movements of the leg. Fit them as tight as possible for the best seal. Ordinary boots trap mud, and are difficult to clean under. These boots don't.
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Knoxville,TN
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2000
Strengths: Will keep dust out...kinda
Weaknesses: Will not keep actual dirt, mud, crud, water,boulders, small passenger cars,etc. out of your fork.
Bottom Line:
The fork "boots" only work in very dry and dusty conditions that a fork seal could handle anyways. When it gets wet, they do too and will hold moisture, dirt, mud etc against the fork wipers, effectively doing the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Neoprene and cotton are porous. Rubber is not. It's that simple. If you ride ONLY in dry conditions, then I guess they would be ok, as they are not any better than a rubber boot. If you ride where it even gets humid, then forget about these things as they are a waste of money and can only do more damage than good.
Similar Products Used: WB wipers (just as bad), Mountainspeed speed seals (great)
Bike Setup: 99 Jamis Dragon.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jimmy
a Cross Country Rider
from West Newton, MA USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2000
Strengths: If you can get one that matches the color of your bike, they look better than regular boots.
Weaknesses: Does it need to be this hard to put these things on?
Bottom Line:
Performance-wise, these things are no better than rubber boots. The reason why I have a pair is because I found red ones which compliment my red SID very nicely. However, I have never experienced the bunching up like some of the others. Value-wise, 1 flaming poop if you get the black ones. 2 flaming poops for the colored ones. Overall? 2 flaming poops because they're evolutionary, not revolutionary.
Submitted by
Huey
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2000
Strengths: These Lizards fit excellently around my Pace RC-35s. They let nothing in, don't wander or bunch as they're wrapped under teh canti boss, and remove easily for cleaning of the forks and boots.
Weaknesses: There's a technique to getting the velcro done up evenly all the way, but I'm used to that the past 5 years. A little pricey for the materials and technology involved.
Bottom Line:
Good for my forks and a few others. Try a friends set for fit before you buy. These are designed for older forks, so bear that in mind. Pace don't recommend their use for their newer forks, which have improved seals anyhow. They last - I'm on my second pair in 5 years!!
They do the job I want them to do on the forks I use.
these just don't work. As soon as the fork compresses they ride up the leg and leave the seals uncovered. seems like the bottom of the boot needs a better way of attatching it to the fork. Save your money and don't bother with these.
