Forkskins - The protection you have been looking for!

Jun 24, 2010

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Riding in France this Summer? Want to know who's fast? It's the British guy with the beat up forks, the ones that look like they have had a fight with a cheese grater and lost. £1,000 of once shiny metal that has certainly seen better days, well not any more ladies.

Forkskins are here to save your forks!

I remember speaking to Fabien Barel last year at the Mega whilst he was changing my tyre, well if you are going to get someone to change your tyre, might as well make it a multiple World Champion...

He asked why were my fork legs in such a state, all battered and bruised? I replied it was down to the tractor and trailer uplift with the bikes stacked next to each other. Bumping and grinding up the hill, your forks get trashed and at the end of a 30x race season they do look a little worse for wear it has to be said.

This is where Steve Saunders steps on in from www.saundersextremesports.co.uk.

Retailing at £34.99, your first initial thought like mine was "that is the top end price I'd pay for fork protection." Then I thought for a little longer, your Boxxer Team forks retail for £999.99 and you probably paid between £800-£900 for them. After a year's racing, riding, crashing, uplift damage etc... they will definitely have a few battle scars. Come re-sell time what are they going to fetch, £500? What about my pair, fitted from new with a forkskin they are unmarked on the lowers. The only real scuffs are from cable/zip ties rubbing on the crowns. Will I snatch your punter to buy mine, will he pay more than £500? How about £35 more? We can only guess on anywhere between £50-100 or more for cosmetic appearances.

Some of you out there may think that you would rather run your forks in their birthday suit, saving £50 for the appearance of your bike may not be appealing at all. Others will be thinking more about their ROI (Return on your investment). It's your pocket money and your decision..

Forkskins are available for 2010 Boxxers, Marzocchi 888 and Fox 40s. Even a weapon like me with zero grease monkey power fitted a pair in under 60 seconds for the pair. Just thread the two zip ties through and zip tie in place, easy as that! What you will instantly see is how well fitted they are around the entire lower legs of your fork. Well almost... You might have to slightly shift her a few millimeters come axle removal time. No great shakes, just a quick shift to ensure the hole in the forkskin is perfectly inline with the axle.

They are CNC machined in the UK, from approximately 2mm abs carbon looking plastic. Super strong and light, I even asked Steve when these really take off, will he change manufacturer? He states no, which is nice to know the future quality is guaranteed!

www.saundersextremesports.co.uk

Foot out, Flat out..

Si Paton..
www.Descent-Gear.com
New Shop: 574 Hagley Road West, Birmingham. B68 0BS
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94 Comments

Score Time

+ 35

dickturd-jnr94 (Jun 19, 2010 at 7:17)

i think that is a realy good idea but i dont like the carbon affect, i think i would buy one if there was a clear one

+ 18

edd-stevens (Jun 19, 2010 at 8:10)

Then you will be able to see all the shit that gets stuck in behind it..

Its not a bad idea, im not 100% convinced though. Need to try a pair, It might be a nice novelty being able to be completly conscience free when i knock my forks.

Looks crap to be honest, but as i say, its not a fashion show. As its black (like my 40's) i could decal the forkskin i spose...

Teejay05 (Jun 19, 2010 at 11:32)

Or, just put them on at race weekends....?

will-ingram (Jun 19, 2010 at 13:59)

yeah just put em on for uplift days and races etc, i mean its not hard to take off/on 2 cable ties lol

+ 157

slandrews (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:24)

i was looking for protection for my foreskin .. i think this arcticle is misleading ..

DARKSTAR63 (Jun 24, 2010 at 4:51)

Nothing worse than faux carbon. Hopefully more colors on the way. Its a good idea for some people I guess......I just usually need a new fork by the time there is so much paint missing that it bothers me. But thats me.

+ 16

huckoveraduck (Jun 24, 2010 at 4:59)

Forkskins.....or as they will be forever called - Foreskins

DARKSTAR63 (Jun 24, 2010 at 5:47)

Could someone educate me on "uplift" Im sorry if I sound stupid, but I really have no idea what you mean........paint gone after 1 run??? whaaaa??

gazmataz (Jun 24, 2010 at 6:16)

Darkstar-For us meer Uk based riders, a race weekend (or decent race track run) doesn't consist of a cable cart/ski/pod lift. We either walk up (some find this a big issue) or we take the uplift. This can be a tractor/truck with a trailer on the back for riders and bikes. For efficiency (we aren't German) the bikes are stacked up top to toe in trailer with the riders hanging on the back. Hence the rubbing and smashing together, resulting in the scared paintwork.

mikelambton (Jun 24, 2010 at 6:29)

i think it is a good idea, but is all that really necessary? perhaps they could come out with something like those ipod cases, witch are clear thin and relatively scratch proof ( http://www.zagg.com/index2.php ) Just an idea!

DARKSTAR63 (Jun 24, 2010 at 6:32)

Oh man, thats brutal. I didnt realize you guys didnt have chair -lifts on your mountains, guess I never thought about it. Yeah, for that scenario I can see using these for the forks. Or maybe you guys should put foam between the bikes or on your main tubes and forks to frotect them which can be removed and left on truck.

edd-stevens (Jun 24, 2010 at 6:53)

Fort william.

bunkey (Jun 24, 2010 at 8:46)

Ft Bill and Glencoe are like the only Ski-lift venues in the UK (minus a few I probably havn't heard of). There was this great idea of putting carpet between bikes on the uplifts that was batted around a forum but I dont know whether anyone will take notice. It was also hounded by people - mostly Canadians with regular Ski-lift access - trying to make a point about everyone being whiney bitches when their £6k bikes get scratched so that kinda dampened the whole thing... Personally if I've spent that much money on something, I'd be pretty pissed when it came home tattered tae f*ck after one race weekend - I tend to look after my bike, so I dont see what their point is.

As for this product - I guess it comes down to functionality over looks - You can either hide your pretty forks away but keep the re-sale value up, or have a shit hot looking bike with a few battle scars when it comes to a change.

...At the end of the day though, the chance to tell your mates you just bought fresh foreskin for your forks makes it all worthwhile tup

dirtbagluvin (Jun 24, 2010 at 10:04)

What about stanction covers.......I mean that's what really matters to the functioning of the fork!!

Caiokv (Jun 24, 2010 at 10:50)

You can use the 3M adhesive or a hose with the right diameter, the are translucent so it wont even look ugly!
My 66's are with the 3M adhesive:
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/4843308/
It protects good and it is cheaper.
Only thing is that it takes a while to be put properly...

edd-stevens (Jun 24, 2010 at 12:22)

That shit doesent last 5 mins on UK uplifts tbh.

spoonyman (Jun 24, 2010 at 13:51)

Stretch a bit of old inner tube around the lowers!?

+ 11

all-roundermalli (Jun 24, 2010 at 15:11)

Sorry, I'm jewish. Can't have forkskins.

ccallaghan Plus (Jun 24, 2010 at 19:34)

i would have different models with the same graphics as the fork

stusterama (Jun 24, 2010 at 19:49)

i was thinking the same. just have the same thing on there as the fork itself, that way it would be better for resale, etc.

citizenlee (Jun 25, 2010 at 4:53)

@bunkey - You forgot the Lecht, it has a chairlift serving it's new(ish) bike track.

forkover (Jun 27, 2010 at 14:29)

ceck out www.forkover.it
same idea but done better!
ciao

bunkey (Jun 27, 2010 at 17:17)

Bit of blatant advertising there Razz

They look shit hot though! Only thing is, the Forkskins are solid plastic where as the Forkover kit is stick on and therefore not as hardwearing...

forkover (Jun 28, 2010 at 2:01)

mmm yes a bit..eheh Wink

i think that plastic could easily break when hit the ground...not the crystal...
after one year in my freeride bike they look new as the first day!
forkover protect 360° the fork not these as i can see....
no more chairlift or carry up paranoia!
and you can aslo use them for the frame of course..
ciao!!

[Reply]

tomthemonky (Jun 19, 2010 at 11:49)

wud be good if they make these for more forks too like pikes, dirt jumpers, fox 36 etc, and if they make cool designs on them like tribal patterns, checked, solid colours, clear, logo ones like fox racing, muc off etc...

But all in all, its a good idea because on uplifts days and practise days if will definatly stop your lowers getting damaged and its not like extremly expensive.

Good Idea!

edd-stevens (Jun 19, 2010 at 13:54)

Why would pikes or Dj's get uplift damage? They are DJ/street/park forks.

billcolwill (Jun 19, 2010 at 14:01) (Below Threshold) show comment

Pikes are more xc but used for dj/street from their light weight, but i would think just to stop general damage to the fork.

edd-stevens (Jun 19, 2010 at 14:05)

Its got to be some pretty extreme damage to be worthy of slapping a plastic gaurd over the entire lower. What sort of damage does a DJ fork really get? Minor scuffs? Lets face it, it needs to be profitable and how many people are really going to protect a DJ fork with this? just wont happen.

billcolwill (Jun 19, 2010 at 14:10)

nah djing doesnt usually damage forks in that way.

it is a good idea this forkshin thing but i think id rather put a cut up inner tube on my lowers and save £35.

edd-stevens (Jun 19, 2010 at 14:13)

Yeah, true.

hodgtom07 (Jun 24, 2010 at 2:41)

some juvenile's use pikes because they are not big enough/strong enough for a full on race bike. so it would be a good idea really.

bunkey (Jun 24, 2010 at 8:48)

I, personally, have never seen anyone running Pikes at a race weekend...

innesgraham (Jun 24, 2010 at 9:06)

ive seen totems that would be good but pikes... realy...

hodgtom07 (Jun 25, 2010 at 2:52)

well what ever......lyrics then. ive raced lyrics at a regional. i don't want them anyway they look pretty shit being honest.

[Reply]

Terrafire (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:08)

Why not buy some Crankskins adhesive wraps and just lay down a layer.. I bought a frame protector for like $9 shipped, and they sent me the kit, and 3 and 1/2 panels of blank, cut your own, protective laminate.

cloverleaf Plus (Jun 24, 2010 at 5:13)

UK uplift is notorious for destroying bikes. Stantions destroyed in a matter of minutes? Yes. Brake hoses torn out? Yes. No paint left on your brand new forks after the first run? Yes.

So some people don't like them, so what? They're a product for those people who are fed up of the forks being destroyed by uplifts, a massively common occurence over here. Mylar/Venture Shield/Leading Edge tape are all sliced to bits very rapidly...so hard plastic seems like a sensible option.

DARKSTAR63 (Jun 24, 2010 at 8:20)

You know how they sell clear applique for the front of cars. Its like a giant clear sticker that 3M makes that protects the nose of your car instead of using a "bra" (which just traps dirt and debris). That stuff would work.

cloverleaf Plus (Jun 24, 2010 at 9:12)

It doesn't - these things help scuffing to a degree but they don't prevent damage from pedals/MRP's/Rear mechs etc sitting right against the fork lowers and being scraped up and down with the weight of ten bikes behind them whilst going up a steep and rough farm track.

DARKSTAR63 (Jun 24, 2010 at 9:42)

true, true. Yeah thats just a bad scenario.

cyfa89 (Jun 24, 2010 at 12:41)

that was my first thought
http://www.crankskins.com/

also, i thought its just a copy really of crankskins and scuff tape
nothing new really
and whats with bikers liking carbon?
it looks shite to be honest
'oh i got carbon weave all over my bike'- 'so it looks crap!'
unless your anal about weight the differences are minor to be fair

[Reply]

adibully (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:59)

the carbon look like crap.. why not just copy design based on original fork color, with its decals..

[Reply]

betsie Plus (Jun 24, 2010 at 5:39)

Funny old world biking. If Hill and Minnaar rocked up with them for a local race with cattle truck uplift, every 2nd rider would have them on their bike within a few weeks.
I have seen them in the flesh and they are nothing like a putting a bit of tape on your fort to protect it.
I don't mind the price of them, but I am not paying £5.50 for delivery, taking them up to £40 (now I am starting to mind the price).
As said. Put them on for racing, or practice runs only to protect your investment, then take them off for race runs (cattle truck are only half full for these).

[Reply]

forkover (Jun 27, 2010 at 13:59)

Hi everyobody!
ceck it out our products at www.forkover.it

they will fit perfectly your forks protecting them from the scratches without any problems!
made of crystal stickers they will last until you decide to cahnge fork...and they look good!
and rememeber you can personalize them as you want by colour,team logos, shop logos,rental logos or whatever you want!
even all clear!!

and you can do the same also with your frame,exactly where your noisy chain is hitting your baby down there!!

don't exitate to contact us davide@forkover.it

ciao!
d

[Reply]

Stewygolf (Jun 24, 2010 at 7:23)

We use these on our moto trials bikea, have been doing for years and they're great. Solid bits of kit of you do whack em and they're light enough not to notice they are there.
I'd buy em but the price is a little steep for my limited DH usage.

[Reply]

jonnyboy (Jun 24, 2010 at 10:53)

Nice idea, but cosmetic scratches on lowers aren't really a big deal. Frustrating yes, but it doesn't affect the function of the fork.

This product doesn't protect against scratched stantions which does affect function and costs $$ to replace.. so, surely to deal with damage from uplift days, the uplift providers need to address the issue.

BC bike race ships hundreds of bikes between stages and take the due diligence of putting sheets of card board between each bike in their trailers.. problem solved.

[Reply]

tinfoil (Jun 24, 2010 at 21:30)

I have to ask, how exactly are your uplifts operated over there? Because I ride lift access all the time and I've barely got any scratches from it. (Granted, I use a SC fork, but my riding buddies running everything from 40's to Travis's seem to have no damage either.

[Reply]

pinpoint199 (Jun 24, 2010 at 5:30)

id rather have some sort of dorado flanges, like most motox forks. If your that worried about wrecking your lowers, that is, enough to buy armor for them; get something a little more than zip-tied plastic.

still a good idea though.
protect your investments.

[Reply]

bullcrew (Jun 24, 2010 at 10:04)

LOL when I had my sign/print shop we used convex vinyl (6 mils thick) chemical resistant etc and clear then we also used peinted material covered in convex for any designs though up... Oddly enough this was 3 years ago and it was forkskinz.com at the time....

Just use 5-6 mil + thick clear overlaminate and it will take one hell of a beating its used in MX and on the israely military vehicles.... Its light and durable..

The carbon cover is cool but is kind of odd looking....

[Reply]

smike (Jun 24, 2010 at 7:34)

I think it's great that someone has finally come up with an effective method of protecting your fork. However, I think it's a little akin to putting plastic on your couch... or putting a big protector on your iPhone... sure, it keeps it from getting banged up and scratched, but you don't get to enjoy its natural beauty!

[Reply]

sherdforlife (Jun 24, 2010 at 1:11)

are you kidding me? thats just scuff tape with gay carbon graphics, head down to your local motobike store and you can buy a roll of the clear stuff, most racers i know have been doing it for years

AlexRob (Jun 24, 2010 at 3:00)

That is exactly what i thought as soon as I saw this... When I first got my new bike I put scuff tape on the top tube, down tube underside and all the other places that are gonna get hit/scuffed, I've had my bike for almost a year now and it still looks almost new

The tape I bought cost me £3 and is clear so it's barely visible, this 'forkskin' is just a hard plastic version, it looks crap and its £34.99? LOL

[Reply]

cyfa89 (Jun 24, 2010 at 12:49)

'protect the stanchions' people say
fork boots - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Lizard_Skins_Fork_Boot_Protector/5300001843/

old idea, or get the old skool rubber ones that a lot of forks came with (some still do)

[Reply]

brindog (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:22)

all that extra weight !!!
But how care's how scratched they get anyway ?

bunkey (Jun 24, 2010 at 8:50)

What? When you fork out (no pun intended) £1200 for a set of forks? I'd sure as hell care if they get scratched! Imagine buying a brand new BMW or Porsche, going to a restaurant etc with valet parking, and getting it back covered in scratches...

[Reply]

brit-100 (Jun 25, 2010 at 3:39)

Rapid Racer Mudguards
Neck Braces
Fork Skins

One more piece of overpriced, pointless, plastic crap to spend your money on, just because Si Paton told you to. The exploitation of the 'scene kids' in UK DH is shameful.

[Reply]

man0with0stick (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:58)

Only thing I see with these is like...

If something is going to put a hole or crack in your fork, chances are a sleeve of plastic isn't going to stop it...

.. and as for keeping it looking nice... well that's counter productive, because while yes your fork looks great, who is going to see it, and when, so long as it's sleeved.

It sounds useful don't get my wrong... but why not just make a plastic shell for the entire bike now..

dingus (Jun 24, 2010 at 2:39)

It's to keep your fork looking good so that when you come to sell it you will get more money for them.

[Reply]

AshKinnard (Jun 24, 2010 at 2:32)

its a step in the right direction but yeah like eveyone else they are pretty crap looking

maybe having them the same colour as the forks with the "xer" on the them and a cool pattern or sumin but not just carbon look

AshKinnard (Jun 24, 2010 at 2:35)

i could help with my suggestion Razz

[Reply]

shredhard (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:12)

Terrafire knows whatsup!

[Reply]

dh-biker-in-the-waiting (Jun 24, 2010 at 1:52)

good idea to use on dodgy uplifts and races, i wouldn't have it on all the time though

[Reply]

LandoCommando (Jun 24, 2010 at 11:33)

Zip ties?.... really?
That seems extremely ghetto. I wouldnt purchase a product that was held on by blatantly obvious zip ties.
Stupid premise/product imo.

[Reply]

benparker (Jun 25, 2010 at 8:38)

put a few layers of heli tape then it would be fine, bit of a waste of £35 when u could buy tons of heli tape for that

[Reply]

keemo888 (Jun 24, 2010 at 8:48)

CNC machined?? are you sure...would be a hell of a lot of waste making that shape.

NWray (Jun 24, 2010 at 10:05)

thats what i thought Blank Stare

could be mold injected and printed much cheaper Blank Stare

cyfa89 (Jun 24, 2010 at 12:45)

if the plastic is thermoplastic (not thermoset) then it can be remoulded and re-used/dumped back in the machine, absolutely no waste if its the case

keemo888 (Jun 25, 2010 at 14:56)

you would be suprised at how many plastics cannot be recycled. and if they were machining it they wouldnt be assing around moulding stuff. Im guessing the zip tie holes are probably CNC machined so they plug it as being CNC'd.

cyfa89 (Jun 27, 2010 at 11:58)

yes most thermosets cant be recycled right?
with machine i meant the moulding machine/vacuum forming machine
just throw the 'waste' plastic back into the hopper and your go0d for some more

[Reply]

anthonysjb (Jun 20, 2010 at 11:58)

Haha cool idea but Forkskins? The name sounds like a certain part of the body, lolcano.

[Reply]

champignon (Jun 29, 2010 at 1:10)

Hi guys! Here you can see my bike with my brand new custoe made forkovers! They look rad and protect really good!

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/5224652/

[Reply]

kanter (Jun 24, 2010 at 19:26)

Ive been covering my forks in clear 3M tape for years. It might not protect as well, but it works pretty good.

[Reply]

marlon-d (Jun 24, 2010 at 7:44)

i think all these skins are pointless. a scratch on the fork wont kill you. i dont see the point in these things. other than that they make your bike look terrible.

Terrafire (Jun 24, 2010 at 22:12)

Its not so much about a scratch killing you, but with the costs of forks these days, people are looking for a cheap alternative to damage to their forks, while still being strong and lightweight. Consider this:

A bashed up boxxer selling on PB for $700

A older but still mind cosmetically same year boxxer selling for $900

Thats $200 in your pocket, while keeping damage from your lowers to boot.

odin333 (Jun 25, 2010 at 10:23)

you don't own anything nice easy-as-123 so you wouldn't know what it feels like to get a massive chunk taken out of a $1200 fork you just bought.

the design is ugly, i think they should do a clear plastic version as well for people who don't want to cover there fork up in a cheap looking carbon thing.

marlon-d (Jun 26, 2010 at 8:02)

this is true. scrathes can suck but a chunk? i only meant scratches. i never though of a dent of bite right out of the fork.

and yes. i do own many many things that are nice

[Reply]

RPereira (Jun 24, 2010 at 12:56)

Nice idea, good looking, but it's pretty crappy that there aren't any for older Boxxers...

[Reply]

coaster-boy (Jun 24, 2010 at 11:01)

gay

[Reply]

mic9654 (Jun 24, 2010 at 4:54)

thought is said foreskins - the protection you have been looking for
anyway it looks shit extra weight not worth it

alexc09 (Jun 24, 2010 at 5:19)

haha same !! thought it said foreskins !! i was like ?? wtf Smile

...anyway..the forkskins arent worth it...cost too much..but good idea

bigburd (Jun 24, 2010 at 10:32)

You guys must have cock on your mind Smile

alexc09 (Jun 24, 2010 at 13:53)

haha, funny guy Smile

[Reply]

steve-miller (Jun 24, 2010 at 4:36)

i like their website: www.saundersextremesports.co.uk
haha!

[Reply]

xtr3m3 (Jun 24, 2010 at 1:49)

for what? In any case, with a strong impact on the fork and fork protection goes both. There are some crazy money thrown to be added at the fork

[Reply]

johng96 Plus (Jun 27, 2010 at 16:11)

does anyone realize that forkskin sounds way too much like forskin???

[Reply]

sidecar (Jun 24, 2010 at 23:08)

The foreskin comment was the funniest thing I have heard in a while LMAO!

[Reply]

Face-plant (Jun 20, 2010 at 10:54)

bout time someone cottoned on to this...fair play

[Reply]

Maksimbike (Jun 24, 2010 at 21:32)

I dnt know about you guys.. but that actaully looks cool.

[Reply]

extremenik (Jun 24, 2010 at 11:54)

They are actually Vacformed and then 5 axis CNC trimmed, looking at them.

cyfa89 (Jun 24, 2010 at 12:47)

yeah that makes sense, although the mould must be quite accurate or else the cnc time of each piece would hold up the line

[Reply]

cammccaulismyhero (Jun 24, 2010 at 9:40)

are they just for boxers?

pavementEATER (Jun 24, 2010 at 9:51)

www.saundersextremesports.co.uk. - Go find out.

[Reply]

s-t-e-v-o (Jun 24, 2010 at 14:40)

these are laim

[Reply]

revoltDH (Jun 24, 2010 at 0:41)

looks abit odd but that could save u alot of money Smile

[Reply]

Mack-the-Beast (Jun 24, 2010 at 6:39)

i read it as forskins

[Reply]