MTB Egypt Forums

I was always keen to use shock covers, such as the neoprene jobbies on the links below, when I lived in the UK, but I was often advised to avoid them because when they get wet they could hold water and increase the chances of water ingress and crap build up in and around the suspension shaft outer seals.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Model...delID=4779

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Model...delID=4761

I still have never written them off in my mind though and wondered what your thoughts are on whether they are a reasonable idea in a sandy, dusty and incredibly dry environment or just a waste of money and that the forks are designed to work as they are?

I always saw value in the idea of having at least something to protect the exposed bit of the internal sliding shafts of air forks and rear air shocks from rocks and/or falls; one scratch or ding on them and you're in trouble.

I like the ones for the fork and thought about using them. My main concern is having sand trapped between the boot and upper stanchions, causing a "sandpaper effect" that would scratch the stanchions.

In our dry weather I find it best to just give the suspension bits a wipe down after every ride, and lightly lubricate the fork stanchions and shock shaft before riding to keep the seals in good condition and keep things supple. I change fork seals every year or so and do a shock and fork service every six months.