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Rock chipped shocks

9K views 42 replies 16 participants last post by  Travis P 
#1 ·
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#13 ·
The fronts of my bags had started to chip until I added the fork deflectors.

napa sells it and advance auto parts. This stuff really works.
good for the front of your bags too



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qTAUpEszM
That is for sure a thought

Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ...

say that real fast and see how long it takes to screw up the words! LOL
:grin

Well that was kind of a dick thing to say.... Maybe Vin is an ex racer and is used to following close. Maybe your a shitty rider and that's why you can't follow close? That last sentence I don't mean... It's just you come on judging a guy who is just looking for some insight about his rock chipped forks. I am not picking on you just pointing out that a little tact can go a long ways. Carry on now.
Yep

When do you plan on changing the fork oil? When you have the forks off you can do a light sand, repaint black then a bunch of clear coats. Or that 3M plastic spray VJ posted. I think if you did those covers you'll be in the same spot in another 15k.

Were your Vegas or Harley forks black or silver?
They were silver so it didn't show but my Vegas had chips on the fork tubes I had to stone down because they ruined the fork seals.
 
#5 ·
Mine are staring to look like that too. It sucks. Neither my Kingpin or XR had that problem. It seems maybe it is something to do with the black finish. You and I both know being machinists that you probably have to remove, disassemble, and have them powder coated to fix it. or maybe hard anodize?
 
#12 ·
Agreed and I really don't wnt to do any of that because of the bike being down for that long.

Wow man, you follow way to close to other vehicles if yours is looking like that already. I have had my bike 3 years and 7500 miles (yeah I know, I dont get out and ride near as much as I would like) and looks nothing like that.
Not in a miles competition but I've ridden 19,000 miles in 10 months and it's not stop light to stop light I get out and put down miles. Like Tarzan said we live in a place that's 4-6 lanes wide up to 80 mph and I ride daily back and forth to work 50 miles round trip and just finished a 2120 mile ride. I rode in four months what took you two years so if you don't have an idea (and you didn't) then your comments were a jab towards me not an idea to help.
 
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#6 ·
Wow man, you follow way to close to other vehicles if yours is looking like that already. I have had my bike 3 years and 7500 miles (yeah I know, I dont get out and ride near as much as I would like) and looks nothing like that.
 
#9 ·
Well that was kind of a dick thing to say.... Maybe Vin is an ex racer and is used to following close. Maybe your a shitty rider and that's why you can't follow close? That last sentence I don't mean... It's just you come on judging a guy who is just looking for some insight about his rock chipped forks. I am not picking on you just pointing out that a little tact can go a long ways. Carry on now.
 
#8 ·
Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ... Rock Chipped Shocks ...

say that real fast and see how long it takes to screw up the words! LOL
 
#11 ·
When do you plan on changing the fork oil? When you have the forks off you can do a light sand, repaint black then a bunch of clear coats. Or that 3M plastic spray VJ posted. I think if you did those covers you'll be in the same spot in another 15k.

Were your Vegas or Harley forks black or silver?
 
#14 ·
It has to be the highways you all ride on. Lots of little rocks flying around all the time. I bet all the low sitting cars with painted front bumpers look the same if they drive on the same roads you do.

Yeah. I have to agree the best way to fix it and apply a long lasting powder coat finish would require the forks to come apart if that's the look you're going for.

Seems like I saw a cover for these somewhere recently. I think it was chrome but you could media blast it and have it powder coated. It would certainly make the job easier and quicker plus you could do it over and over again as needed without ever taking the bike off the road to repair it.

I'd even consider Plasti-coating the covers. Less expensive and you can do it yourself. Might even keep the chips from showing up.
 
#15 ·
Mine have a bunch of paint chips in the same place too and I don't really tailgate people.

Like one of the other posters said, I'll wait until I take them off to replace the fork oil and paint them then.

I appears Ma Vic didn't use very good paint, or whomever makes them?

Might look cool if you color match painted them?
 
#17 ·
The front fork on my RSV looked pretty bad too. Just a fact of riding I guess. I would certainly say it is road conditions at fault. That there spray on stuff looks like a good idea. I did put the film on my bags and tank. But I'm thinking the fairing is going to get whacked pretty bad.
 
#18 ·
Vin, you're obviously riding too much,:wink
I have the same problem,
You should see where all the clearcoat is chipped and peeling on my lower forks and triple trees.
I'm thinking of pulling my front end down while the bikes in the shop for the gearbox repairs.
Depending on what gearbox parts are needed and how long they'll take to get out here, I may have enough time to strip the rest of the shitty clear off and get all the parts highly polished like they are on Jackpots.
Once they're shiny they'll be easier to keep shiny.
Painted parts on the front of a motorcycle are gonna cop ****,
powder coated parts would be more durable but cost more to manufacture and that'd put the price of the bikes up.
 
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#19 ·
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Some of you really need to grow thicker skin and remember, with text, you may not always get the "tone" of someones response.
I apologize for not throwing in the little smiley face :eek to let you know it was said facetiously :ltr:. Grow up and realize not everything is an attack on any of your baby soft feelings. After the last thread some of you acted like children in, I would have thought maybe you would have figured it out.

Little background education for some of you, I lived in So. Cal years ago (after I rode my Suzuki GS550 from Virginia Beach, Va. to Los Angeles, up to Portland Oregon and back to San Diego, took about 7 or 8 days total) and rode that same cycle everyday to and from school (college), 2 and a half hours one way through some of the thickest, crappiest traffic in this country (LA). I am familiar with riding on gravel, black top, concrete, snow, ice, and just about any other environment you can imagine. I put more miles on a Suzuki GS 550 in one year, back in the 80's then some of you do in 5, but that's neither here nor there, now . I don't ride as much anymore because, I do not have the time. So to imply I know nothing about what any of you may have to deal with (as far as riding), is simply uneducated, immature and an "ASSUMPTION", you know what they say about that, don't you?.
Hows that for being a "dick", Dick?

Want a suggestion for rock chip problems? Fine.

Don't ride or drive ANYTHING. Stay home, hide in the basement or closet or whatever and don't go out side.:rolleyes: It's a BIG, SCARY, FRIGHTENING world out there. Wouldn't want anything to "hurt your feeelings" or scratch your bike. Otherwise, what Vinny suggested is about the best bet on the market for "protecting" painted surfaces but the truth is, rock chips are just a part of operating a motor vehicle.cheers



BTW, as I do occasionally, I include this disclaimer.... IT'S MY FUKIN OPINION OR THOUGHT, you don't like it, to bad, stick it I don't really care. You will NOT pull your group bullying bull$h!t on me.

Now, have a "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy day" :devil
 
#20 ·
I find 18 wheelers , dump trucks and landscaping vehicles the worst to be behind . I have dropped my speed way down and/or blasted over 100 to keep from being behind one of these trucks . They are by far the biggest chip offenders , new pavement is bad too as the little "Fragments" of hot top are sticky and fly over the road like bullets . This is just my opinion , I don't dislike anybody that owns or drives one of these vehicles , or is a highway paver . :nanana:
 
#21 ·
Out here they chip seal (lay down hot liquid tar then cover with gravel) the surface streets. They just leave it like that for weeks then send in the street sweepers to clean up whatever is left. Meanwhile that gravel gets trapped in tire treads and flung off when the cars hit higher speeds. Many windows get cracked and I'm sure this kind of thing happens a lot too.

It may be cheaper for the city to do this but others pay in different ways.
 
#25 · (Edited)
My XC's original fork shields broke during the first year of riding. I replaced them using the Kuryakyn sets. They are look great and don't chip.





 
#27 ·
Doncha hate it when a rock from your own front wheel flicks back and hits you in the foot or shin.?
Had that happen Saturday arvo on the goat track from Kyogle to Murwillumbah via Nimbin.
Hurts like he'll even through a tough leather motorcycle boot! :eek
 
#29 ·
Vin, I'm starting to get all that chipping as well and I've thought about a solution. I even went as far as stopping by a local Line-X store and talking to them. For about a 100 bucks give or take some coin you can drop them off and pick them up in a couple hours later. They will spray them and you can reassemble within 4 hours of spray. It's a permanent solution. You could screw around with other stuff but how much will that cost and how often will you have to redo it, etc, etc.

There's a caveat though, I'd only take in the lower and I'd mask it, to protect the seal surface and brake mounting etc. They can add to your masking but that way there's no mistake. The store is up by your house(21242 N Black Canyon ste B)The dude there told me they do a lot of motorcycle parts and have done a few fork lowers. I believe they work Saturdays so you could make an appointment so you wouldn't be out any time on bike. I have seriously thought about using the rattle can bed liner on my forks. The bag rails came out really well, however, if I have to redo them I have to mask off the whole bike or take the forks off, yada yada what a PITA. With that being said IF I go this route with my forks I'd be stupid not to do my bag rails as well. Maybe we can get a discount?
 
#33 ·
Here's a video that popped up on my radar that might give you an idea on how to deal with those rock chips. It wouldn't be like a fresh paint job but you can make them a lot less noticeable/visible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2aC_oseMe4&feature=youtu.be

I don't like to use this red pinhole Bondo putty when doing body work BUT I can see there are instances where it might be useful. Just make sure you give it plenty of time to dry thoroughly and normally a primer must be used over it. I guess in this case the touch up paint didn't wrinkle or otherwise have a reaction with it like I have had happen when using other products.
 
#36 ·
I have looked at these covers by Kurakyn also. They make an upper fork cover in two pieces as well! A little pricey but appear to be a solid investment!
 
#38 ·
I'm considering the lower shock covers but man they aren't cheap.

I was looking at my lower fork legs and are peppered with chips also . look crappy . I DO tailgate from time to time . (In Heavy Traffic) . Not sure how I will tackle this when the time comes ....
I think it comes down to having a crap finish on them.
 
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#37 ·
I was looking at my lower fork legs and are peppered with chips also . look crappy . I DO tailgate from time to time . (In Heavy Traffic) . Not sure how I will tackle this when the time comes ....
 
#40 ·
Vin
why not just pull the wheel and fender and paint them. Not with plasti dip. Ask a paint shop for car bumper paint. It seams to prevent a lot of chips.
With the temp you have it could be dry in a hour and bike back together
 
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