Suspension fork gaiters, where to buy.

[souper]

I thought this would be the easiest part of rebuilding an old 1999 handbuilt Special product Raleigh mtb, the forks are maintou spyder, the rubber gaiters are split and deterioated, trouble is i can't seem to find any bike fork runbbers, plenty for motocycles which are all too long.

Are suspension rubbers not a thing anymore?

I have another fairly old bike with sr suntour forks they have gaiters as well. I thought ebay would offer up tons for sale unless my google foo is off, i dont know where to source and generics are fine.

Any tips for finding some.

[budgie smuggler]

souper said:

Are suspension rubbers not a thing anymore?

Not really, the prevailing thought seemed to be that they caught and held dust/grit.

Weirdly though I never had any problems with stanchions getting damaged back then, unlike now.

What spring did they use? If it was elastomers, you might well find they have turned to dust by now

What diameter are the stanchions? There are some 30mm ones on amazo but that seems to be the smallest available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Motorcycle-Rubber-G...

Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 9th July 16:16

[souper]

Yes, saw the Amazon ones but 240mm long, i have a similar pair which are 180mm long and they're to long also need to be around 100mm i was going to cut them down,
Thought i'd have another look on ebay, only gone and found them, straight after posting this message the company is called bankrupt bike parts. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-100mm-x-26mm-CYCLE-...

The elastomers seem okay, still covered in grease, also waiting on the folk seals, if after all this and it leaks i'll just buy a new pair of suspension forks, getting damn expensive restoring old bikes, should look good when its resprayed hopfully i'll get around to doing it this weekend, Ferrari orange tripple stage 2k paint which i picked from paint swage books.

[budgie smuggler]

Nice find!
Pic when it's finished please!