TKAT Forkbrace on an XJ???

[jetmechmarty]

I don't know if they have the same guard as an XJ, but the XS1100RH's have the same forks. Here's a snap of the TKat Special brace fitted to Steptoes RH. Fitted straight on and he keeps raving about the handling benefits.

I don't have an XJ, but that fender looks smaller than the XJ fender and there isn't any room to spare. That fender looks just the same as those on the Special.

[motoman]

A Special fender from any year or any model except XS650 or XS400.

I say forget the brace for now and go to emulators and straight rate springs.

..........but does nothing for the flexing of the lower fork tubes, let alone the increased wear on the internal guides without that upper support.

[Jerry]

I put a Tkat fork brace on my XJ many years ago. It does improve the handling and is worth getting. Differences in Tkat's fork braces are diameter of the clamps and, in the case of the XJ, the "rise" of the fender. Tkat's FB for the XJ comes with a different rise (Higher) than either the Special or Standard. Of course, he may now just make the high-rise for both the XJ and Special, but at the time, (2000) the XJ version was unique to the XJ.

There is a 1 or 2 mm difference in the Standard and Special clamps, so they are not interchangeable. The Standard verson will not work on the XJ, the Special version might depending on if it has the extra rise built into it. I'll try to measure the rise on my XJ's FB over the weekend and see what that dimension is.

[madmax-im]

cool and Thanks Tod and Jerry for checking it out ...I've got alot to do to get this bike ready for XSEast and it might not make it...i also have electrical gremlins that rear their ugly heads when in heavy rain...sorting out front suspension issues and then re-mounting my windjammer...

[madmax-im]

Oh and Jerry meant to ask you if were able to use the XJ fender or did you have to use one from an XS?

[madmax-im]

so uhhh...anybody check on the fitment of the brace?...will it need an XS fender?...inquiring minds would like to know...especially before I plunk down 100 buckos...

[XS1100carbon]

fork brace wanted

Looking for a tkat brace for a 81 special.Does anyone have tkat phone # ? Thanks Terry.

[TopCatGr58]

No phone #, you just have to email him per his website, TKAT(at)TKAT.com
and he'll eventually get back to you. He's retired IIRC, takes trips and such for a week or so, so it might take a little while before you hear from him.

And His FB's are a bit more than $95.00 now due to materials and shipping costs and such, but still well worth the $!!

T.C.

[Jamie]

so uhhh...anybody check on the fitment of the brace?...will it need an XS fender?...inquiring minds would like to know...especially before I plunk down 100 buckos...

This brace fits perfectly on the XJ1100, I have one and absolutely love it. If you will examine closely the pic of the two (2) adapters, one is taller than the other (pictured in the back). The XJ uses the taller of the two, the shorter one is for the other XS11's, (and is the one installed in the picture). TKat sent me both because it had been a long time since he made one for the XJ. The brace really does a terrific job on additional support and looks great also.

Hope this helps.
Jamie

[madmax-im]

This brace fits perfectly on the XJ1100, I have one and absolutely love it. If you will examine closely the pic of the two (2) adapters, one is taller than the other (pictured in the back). The XJ uses the taller of the two, the shorter one is for the other XS11's, (and is the one installed in the picture). TKat sent me both because it had been a long time since he made one for the XJ. The brace really does a terrific job on additional support and looks great also.

Hope this helps.
Jamie

Great Thanks Jamie...So that fits with the XJ Fender???

[Jamie]

Yes, the taller adapter fits the XJ fender and the shorter adapter fits the other 1100 models/fenders.
Jamie

[madmax-im]

Yes, the taller adapter fits the XJ fender and the shorter adapter fits the other 1100 models/fenders.
Jamie

FINALLY a freakin definitive answer...Thankyou Jamie!!!

[Jerry]

Sorry, have been away from the PC. Yes, I can confirm that Tkat's XJ fork brace works with the stock XJ fender. Note the extra rise is machined into the inside half of the fork tube clamp. I understand that the "X" section that goes between the fork tube clamps is the same for all models. Its the rise and the tube diameter that varies between the Standard, Special, and XJ versions.

Sorry, did not get the actual rise measured, but it is pretty obvious from the photo posted by Jamie. By the way, the angle of the rise is also slightly different on the XJ version, its a little steeper. Tkat had originally worried that this would compromise the bottom threads in the rise area, but no one has reported andy problems.

Just to be clear, when I say "rise" that is the part that of the fork tube clamp that the "X" cross-brace bolts to.

[madmax-im]

Thanks for all the great responses and help...I have pulled the trigger and tkat's forkbrace will be heading my way...now its time to get the forks rebuilt as well.

[Billbobow]

Tkat

Not sure what TKAT does not remember. I got a fork brace from him many years ago. At that time did not have any issues with it being for an XJ. Now I can't remember if it was the same as the special one or not. did not have any problems putting it on.