Interesting. When I refurbed the legs on my RD350LC I thought about clearcoat but I think it's a short term look as eventually it deteriorates....one of the lads on the RDLCCrazy forum recommended ACF-50 https://www.learchem.com/products/acf-50.html which is used to prevent corrosion on aircraft. Just a light spray and a wipe down every now and again will keep them fork legs looking good if you decide to get rid of the clearcoat. It seems counterintuitive to me as surely it will attract brakepad dust and turn it into grime....but you just have to keep on it... aircraft owners swear by it and it's not like the old days where we rode them everyday to work, or to college or best of all, to the pub certain that two pints was definitely 'under the limit'.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ACF-50-Motorcycle-Automotive-Metal-Anti-Corrosion/dp/B0761TV16Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RJ5UQH6TFK5S&dchild=1&keywords=acf50+anti+corrosion+spray&qid=1620737971&sprefix=ACF%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1
PS: having said all that, RobH's suggestion of powder coating is def the best do it once and forget about it option....