Scott

[mini-me]

When buying from auctions, its as well to remember they have no idea what they are talking about.
Descriptions are mostly bullshite cut and paste or written by some hack hired in for the job, like the bloke on the local advertising rag has an old bike, lets get him in.
Some of the hired/retained  'talent' from the glossies are not much better.

[iansoady]

I'm definitely considering it, but the auction isn't till February. As said, "cool" or not doesn't bother me.

I'd guess that the Dowty forks slowly lose pressure over time if the seals aren't quite up to it hence the bump stop issue?

If I go for it I'll obviously need to go & look first.

[Rex]

I believe it's fair to say that with Dowty air loss, "they all do that sir".
The important consideration is how long do they take to deflate, and at what point does the regular re-inflating become an issue?
I check and give mine a couple of pump strokes maybe two/three times over the riding season, so nowhere near the overhaul stage just yet. As the forks have a Schrader valve (just the one, none of that two-bob Japanese balancing the air fork nonsense!) one of those small push-bike hand pumps is easily carried, just in case.

[iansoady]

I'm getting enthusiastic. Always a dangerous thing.........

[33d6]

Rex is right with the “ they all do that sir”. I’ve had three  bikes with Dowty forks. They didn’t stand up to Oz roads very well. It doesn’t really matter for a boys toy bike but could become an irritation if used seriously. Nowadays I’d be more concerned about slider wear from accumulated mileage. Worn sliders do not provide a good surface for seals to do their job.
C’mon Ian, you know you need something to give you an excuse for being a grumpy old man. Buy it.

[iansoady]

Who needs an excuse?

[33d6]

Grumpy old man? I didn’t know you’d met my wife.