Why are my fork caps like this?

[El motociclista]

Here:






I'm getting ready to change my fork seals and in reading the various how-to's as well as the manual it seems that stck fork caps should have a male, not a recessed female end. I was just curious. When I bought the bike it had drag bar handlebars on it so I'm guessing one of the PO's put these caps on for clearance issues. But where did he get them? I was worried I wouldn't be able to take them off but my 1/4" wratchet fits in there nicely.

[DoD#i]

I think that's stock - everybody that describes taking them off says to just drop a 1/2" drive ratchet (no socket) into the caps, so what you have seems exactly right. 

[bucks1605]

Yep, those are stock.

[El motociclista]

Really, why does Alphamazing say to use a 19mm wrench to loosen the fork caps then? See 'Step 1' in his write up here:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25706.msg267120#msg267120

Well, regardless, I looked up the fork caps in the Ron Ayers parts fiche and they do appear to be stock. In the Haynes, in the '89 - '02 edition, on page 5-6, in the top right-hand picture, the fork cap looks completely different than what I have, so wanted some clarification. Thanks a lot guys. 

[ben2go]

Really, why does Alphamazing say to use a 19mm wrench to loosen the fork caps then? See 'Step 1' in his write up here:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25706.msg267120#msg267120

Well, regardless, I looked up the fork caps in the Ron Ayers parts fiche and they do appear to be stock. In the Haynes, in the '89 - '02 edition, on page 5-6, in the top right-hand picture, the fork cap looks completely different than what I have, so wanted some clarification. Thanks a lot guys. 

He has a UK bike you have a US bike.They are different.All US bikes use the rachet caps.They are factory.

[El motociclista]

He has a UK bike you have a US bike.They are different.All US bikes use the rachet caps.They are factory.

Ahh, okay. Thanks a lot ben2go. Appreciate the explanation.