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just a heads up, ordered a set of fork braces from Tkat and can not believe the difference it makes. recommend them to all XS owners . Tkat is awesome to deal with a real high quality product !
Last edited by ccjj7; 02-23-2016, 06:23 PM.
Reason: spelling
80 SG pods with air box stack mod,Mac 2 into 1 exhaust
The fork braces do make a big difference in high speed cornering. I agree fully.
Greg
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.
Won't make a lick of difference if you have bad wheel bearings/steering head bearings, which is what I believe I have going-on, unless the Metzeler tires are bad. I refuse to change those bearings though.
1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.
Won't make a lick of difference if you have bad wheel bearings/steering head bearings, which is what I believe I have going-on, unless the Metzeler tires are bad. I refuse to change those bearings though.
Have you serviced those steering head bearings Ian? Those make a HUGE difference in the handling.
I just took off a new Avon Venom tire from the front of mine. It was squirrely on the front of my bike. It held the road good but just felt unstable all the time. Went back to a Shinko 712 and all is good again.
Greg
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.
Have you serviced those steering head bearings Ian? Those make a HUGE difference in the handling.
I just took off a new Avon Venom tire from the front of mine. It was squirrely on the front of my bike. It held the road good but just felt unstable all the time. Went back to a Shinko 712 and all is good again.
+1 A little cleaning & grease on top & bottom head bearings, then adjust to acceptable tightness ( just snug...) It can make XS handle & ride like a different bike. And you do not even need to remove front wheel to do it.
Good luck wrenching
It is a great big beautiful world out there
Brent in GA
Yamaha 80XS1100SG, HD Firefighter Special Edition 02 Road King, Honda 450 rat, 08 Buell 1125R tour modified, 83 goldwing parts bike gone-traded for XJ1100, 2014 HD electraglide police
+1 A little cleaning & grease on top & bottom head bearings, then adjust to acceptable tightness ( just snug...) It can make XS handle & ride like a different bike. And you do not even need to remove front wheel to do it.
Good luck wrenching
Back to topic - Fork braces on XS11; Yes stability of forks is greatly improved. Yamaha added one of sorts to underside of fenders on the later XJs. Do you need a fork brace? No, just ride smooth & easy in a mostly straight line.
No fork brace will Clean, grease, and adjust steering head bearings, Change fork oil, Replace sacked rear shock absorbers, Replace unevenly worn or cupped tires (especially front), or Adjust air pressure in front forks. If experiancing poor handling, head shake etc; Check these things. Also looose or worn out wheel bearings, swingarm bearings could cause trouble.
T-kat fork braces are great. I put one on my 80special XS1100SG. Really nice finish and precise fit. Top quality work. Nice look. I Highly recommend T- Kat fork braces. (be sure to get specific for special or Standard).
It is a great big beautiful world out there
Brent in GA
Yamaha 80XS1100SG, HD Firefighter Special Edition 02 Road King, Honda 450 rat, 08 Buell 1125R tour modified, 83 goldwing parts bike gone-traded for XJ1100, 2014 HD electraglide police
New member here. I love this site. You guys have helped a lot in getting my newly acquired xs11 ready to ride. Almost there. Are these fork braces still available, and if so, do they act as a suitable replacement to the dust covers they eliminate? Thanks for all the great info on this site.
78E "Wanderlust"
K&N Air Filter
Jardine Spaghetti Exhaust
Raptor ACCT
Barnett Clutch Plate & Springs
LED Turn Signals
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.
Saturday I replaced the throttle cable (someone had put in one that was too short). Sunday rode to the top of Pike's Peak. What a difference the fork brace made. The bike went from skittish to smooth and strong. Tkat is a great guy and his stuff in not only functional but attractive. Pics of the trip up Pike's Peak to follow
DCR
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