Old Ass Mountain Bikes - Do I have to wear a rubber?
 

These old mountain bikes with the dumb looking accordion rubber boots over the stanchions...can I cut those boots off and make it look more modern?

They are just dust shields so cut them if you want. The last bike I had with them they were more like dirt holders than dust shields so I probably should have just cut them off but I never got around to it. I'm sure somebody will come along saying how you will let dirt into your forks and kill them quicker blah blah blah. If your bike has these shields the fork is older than dirt and already probably worn out so whoopty do. Just clean it after every ride.

Kinda what I was thinking. No modern forks use them, and I doubt cylinders have become more round over the years.

just cosmetic mostly, there to prevent dust etc. my old harley davidson nightster had them too, i took em off.no adverse effects.