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Fork protectors for BMW F series (conventional forks)
To prevent damage to the fork seals, it's generally considered a good idea to keep bugs and flying stones off the inner stanchions at speed, or at least off the area over which the seals travel the most. The classic and most effective solution would be a pair of fork gaiters, either home-made or manufactured to fit the fork.
The other common solution is to fit plastic tabs in front of the stanchions next to the seals, commonly called fork protectors or -deflectors.
I first installed a fork protector kit from Wunderlich to my F800ST. The cable ties included with mine were quite fragile, so I discarded the one that hadn't already snapped and bought new ones: 4.8 mm (max) x 360 mm (>300).
Although they do protect the most important area, the Wunderlich fork protectors sit too close to the inner stanchions to clear the bottom yoke, so they get pushed down a bit every time the fork is compressed a lot. Thanks to the rubber and zip tie fastening, nothing more serious happens.
After a fork rebuild with new seals, I decided to give the Triumph fork protector kit a try. I opted for the tall version, part # A9641010, but there is also a shorter version, part # A9641005. At my nearest Triumph dealer, it actually cost less than the Wunderlich kit, although I guess the cost went up a little when I used the slightly too short clamp bolts as an excuse to get black aluminium bolts and nuts instead.
The distance to the inner stanchions is sufficient to clear the bottom yoke. The pictures show dust marks that indicate that the suspension has actually been compressed that far.
Where/how to buy
Wunderlich fork protectors:
(DE) http://www.wunderlich.de/shop/en/gabelprotektoren-4950.html
(USA) http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/motorcycle/F800ST/8160177-178.html
They also have a fake carbon variety, the difference is purely cosmetic.
Triumph T509 fork deflectors, tall: part # A9641010
Triumph T509 fork deflectors, short: part # A9641005
5 mm longer black aluminium bolts and nuts for the Triumph kit (2 of each needed):
(GB) http://www.pro-bolt.com/aluminium/a...lloy-allen-bolt-m6-x-1-00mm-x-45mm-black.html
(GB) http://www.pro-bolt.com/aluminium/aluminium-nuts-washers/aluminium-full-nut-m6-black.html
(USA) http://www.probolt-usa.com/aluminiu...lloy-allen-bolt-m6-x-1-00mm-x-45mm-black.html
(USA) http://www.probolt-usa.com/aluminium/aluminium-nuts-washers/aluminium-full-nut-m6-black.html
References
http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/24750-F650GS-Fork-Gaiters
http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/80584-2007-800ST-Fork-Gaitors-Guards
To prevent damage to the fork seals, it's generally considered a good idea to keep bugs and flying stones off the inner stanchions at speed, or at least off the area over which the seals travel the most. The classic and most effective solution would be a pair of fork gaiters, either home-made or manufactured to fit the fork.
The other common solution is to fit plastic tabs in front of the stanchions next to the seals, commonly called fork protectors or -deflectors.
I first installed a fork protector kit from Wunderlich to my F800ST. The cable ties included with mine were quite fragile, so I discarded the one that hadn't already snapped and bought new ones: 4.8 mm (max) x 360 mm (>300).



Although they do protect the most important area, the Wunderlich fork protectors sit too close to the inner stanchions to clear the bottom yoke, so they get pushed down a bit every time the fork is compressed a lot. Thanks to the rubber and zip tie fastening, nothing more serious happens.
After a fork rebuild with new seals, I decided to give the Triumph fork protector kit a try. I opted for the tall version, part # A9641010, but there is also a shorter version, part # A9641005. At my nearest Triumph dealer, it actually cost less than the Wunderlich kit, although I guess the cost went up a little when I used the slightly too short clamp bolts as an excuse to get black aluminium bolts and nuts instead.
The distance to the inner stanchions is sufficient to clear the bottom yoke. The pictures show dust marks that indicate that the suspension has actually been compressed that far.


Where/how to buy
Wunderlich fork protectors:
(DE) http://www.wunderlich.de/shop/en/gabelprotektoren-4950.html
(USA) http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/motorcycle/F800ST/8160177-178.html
They also have a fake carbon variety, the difference is purely cosmetic.
Triumph T509 fork deflectors, tall: part # A9641010
Triumph T509 fork deflectors, short: part # A9641005
5 mm longer black aluminium bolts and nuts for the Triumph kit (2 of each needed):
(GB) http://www.pro-bolt.com/aluminium/a...lloy-allen-bolt-m6-x-1-00mm-x-45mm-black.html
(GB) http://www.pro-bolt.com/aluminium/aluminium-nuts-washers/aluminium-full-nut-m6-black.html
(USA) http://www.probolt-usa.com/aluminiu...lloy-allen-bolt-m6-x-1-00mm-x-45mm-black.html
(USA) http://www.probolt-usa.com/aluminium/aluminium-nuts-washers/aluminium-full-nut-m6-black.html
References
http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/24750-F650GS-Fork-Gaiters
http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/80584-2007-800ST-Fork-Gaitors-Guards