Are fork leg guards necessary on Tenere?

Shuter

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Western Oregon, USA
Looking at the AltRider Fork Leg Guards for protection. What do any who have them or similar think of them? Also, do these guards in general really accomplish anything important?

Thanks guys
 

bimota

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I have a world crosser they come with them carbon fibre i cleaned bike regular over 2 years never removed them then suddenly saw horrible corrosion on the lower tubes would of picked it up earlier if they wern,t there.
so wish they hadn,t been on the bike ended up buying new stantions

rob
 

Tommy Tickle

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Rawtenstall Lancs
I have a world crosser they come with them carbon fibre i cleaned bike regular over 2 years never removed them then suddenly saw horrible corrosion on the lower tubes would of picked it up earlier if they wern,t there.
so wish they hadn,t been on the bike ended up buying new stantions

rob
I make a point of cleaning them now and again ,they don't do much,but I never ride off road,I actually bought mine.
 

Don in Lodi

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Put Sox on only right before the excursion off road and take them off afterwards. The grit and moisture trapped under the leading edge of the Sox is like fifty grit sandpaper, well, 100 grit...
 

Vermont-S10 guy

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2012 S-10, 44,500 miles. Just picked up Altrider fork guards. Not installed yet. They will either look bad-ass or goofy, not sure yet. Spoke with Altrider and they said they have sold hundreds of sets since they came out in 2010. Had SOX on other bike and moisture and grit were a problem. At least with the AR guards you can spray water behind them and fish a towel trough to dry forks. AR said they couldnt make the same style guards for the r1200gs because of fitment issues. One more reason to own a Tenere.
 

spam16v

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I got in years ago when someone was making $150 fiberglass ones. I love how they look compared to the metal ones and weren’t crazy money. I wipe the legs off and monitor the seals so my legs aren’t at risk.
 

Vermont-S10 guy

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Do you think companies like RUGGED ROADS and MODELTEK sell fork guards for the R12gs for looks only?? ...weird. They do look better than stock I suppose.
 

OldRider

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I think the forks need covered on every bike. Even 100% street bikes will get a build up of bugs on the fork tubes. These bugs can dry like little pieces of concrete on the tube and put a hurting on the fork seals.
 

Shuter

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2012 S-10, 44,500 miles. Just picked up Altrider fork guards. Not installed yet. They will either look bad-ass or goofy, not sure yet. Spoke with Altrider and they said they have sold hundreds of sets since they came out in 2010. Had SOX on other bike and moisture and grit were a problem. At least with the AR guards you can spray water behind them and fish a towel trough to dry forks. AR said they couldnt make the same style guards for the r1200gs because of fitment issues. One more reason to own a Tenere.
Please post pics and let us know what you think of the AR guards after you've installed and used them...especially regarding the ease of cleaning behind them without having to remove them.
 

Cycledude

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Rib lake wi
I bought a set of used metal fork guards from forum member a couple years ago, they look near new but so far I have never installed them.
This year for our Alaska trip I bought a pair of shock socks but we never rode on any sloppy roads so I never installed those either. I like the idea and simplicity of socks but like others have already said if you do use them it’s very important to take them off and give them a very good washing once in a while, any dirt trapped behind them could lead to very expensive damage.
 

Nikolajsen

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Do you think companies like RUGGED ROADS and MODELTEK sell fork guards for the R12gs for looks only?? ...weird. They do look better than stock I suppose.
Could be just to protect the surface of the "legs", but I don't really know, I'm guessing here :). I just know that there is no moving tube/innertube that can be leaking, like on most others... Only a shock like our rear shock.
 

Vermont-S10 guy

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Bmw telelever front suspension looks to be a combination of traditional forks and a spring with a connecting bar ( neat idea) there are a few cool YouTube vids showing how it works. I've ridden the r12gs and prefer the feel of the S10's style of front suspension. There is an area on the R12gs forks that could use protection but it's nearer the top of the tubes.
 

Tenman

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I got in years ago when someone was making $150 fiberglass ones. I love how they look compared to the metal ones and weren’t crazy money. I wipe the legs off and monitor the seals so my legs aren’t at risk.
I got some of those fiber glass ones from a member on here. They are good. I got some zip on fork seal covers too. Before I put those on there . I was having to clean weeping seals pretty often. Since I got protection 30k miles . Never had it happen again. We tried them doing some serious hair scramble years ago. We Learned to clean them very often. Sand packed in there can scratch the shit out of them in one hard day.
 

spam16v

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B-low, NY
I sent my forks and Penske to Konflict for springs, valving & SKF seals. Stock seals were weaping in the first month, they’re notoriously poor no matter how much internet mumbling about cleaning them goes on.
I got some of those fiber glass ones from a member on here. They are good. I got some zip on fork seal covers too. Before I put those on there . I was having to clean weeping seals pretty often. Since I got protection 30k miles . Never had it happen again. We tried them doing some serious hair scramble years ago. We Learned to clean them very often. Sand packed in there can scratch the shit out of them in one hard day.
 

Vermont-S10 guy

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Ok, I put them on and they do look great. Can't test them because it's January in Vermont, Really beefs up the front end though. The Altrider universal heal guard is a nice add on too. The Touratec quick release headlight guard is my favorite farkle , although, I'm not totally sure it's legal in Vermont.
 

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