Cheapest price fork brace???

[DGXSER]

Interestingly enough, the article that Mr. Pittman recently posted stated that part of the alterations made to the XS11 was to move the pegs rearward a bit.

[jetmechmarty]

Once again, this is my opinion. For best control, the pegs should be under your butt and as close to the swingarm pivot as possible. I prefer to not have my knees bent so far they hurt. This ends up being a compromise. For me, the XS1100 is pretty close to the sweet spot. I think the standard is a bit better than the Special, but maybe it's my imagination.

[James England]

The European standard has pegs further back than the US one. The gearchange has a linkage and the rear brake pedal is shorter. The exhaust jointing and rear footpeg mounting plates are also different.....

[WMarshy]

This is just a personal opinion, and doesnt have to matter to anyone but me, but I cant help wondering sometimes if those (no one in particular) spending vast amounts of time, and sometimes money, 'improving' these bikes have actually 'improved' them.

If i'm restoring a classic, than that's exactly what i'm doing, Restoring it. Not trying to turn into something it never was, or was never meant to be.

Not just on this forum, but on many forums, some of the benefits of these 'improvements' appear to be based on little more than 'seat of the pants' anecdotal evidence, with very little in the way of hard engineering level evidence to back it up. Sometimes it appears that its more psychological than anything else. "I've spent the money, I've spent the time, It feels (or sounds) different, so it must be an improvement". Call me a mad skeptic, or whatever your want, but sorry, I just don't buy into it. And i certainly dont agree that 'improvements' or 'enhancements' are left out at factory level due to cost. No manufacturer wants to sabotage his own sales by deliberately cutting corners. (unless he's a chinese counterfeiter perhaps).

Just like "you get what you pay for", don't expect dramatic changes from a simply minor enhancement like a fork brace. Improvement? Like you said, its subjective to the ride and if he feels like its made a change for the better... you obviously stated you didn't feel an improvement.

Motorcycle manufactures build their bikes with certain objectives and for a specific "audience" and Yamaha was trying to appeal to everyone with the XS11. Therefore I believe the XS to be a "Jack of all trades, master of none" type bike (except 1/4 mile time at the time of its release). I don't believe there was a lot of "low hanging fruit" left for the consumer where simple modifications would result in significant improvements in performance.

Now, it depends on your definition of "simple modification" but I think a fork brace fits that definition. Swapping forks on the other hand is a little beyond simple, and Phil has already proven there is a significant improvement from getting dir of the old ones and adding a few mm's to the fork tube. No engineering analysis needed for that. Both OEM XS11 forks and the FJ forks are cartridge style forks except the FJ forks have larger fork tubes and will be inherently more rigid than the XS's.

[Cuda 69]

I wouldn't say putting a TKat fork brace on my SG was a dramatic difference, but it was enough of a difference, that it was worth the money to me. When I bought my Wee-Strom, with the long travel they have, and the less than hefty forks, I bought a fork brace for that to, was very happy with that purchase too. The big difference I found with the fork brace is, when riding on the highway with 18 wheelers, no more drifting about, JMHO I do not ride hard, corner hard ,hell I ride like a little old lady, lol, but I still could feel an improvement.

[bikerphil]

Both OEM XS11 forks and the FJ forks are cartridge style forks

I think Wade meant to say "damper rod style forks"

[WMarshy]

I think Wade meant to say "damper rod style forks"

Yes thanks Phil, my brain checked out for a minute.

[skids]

TC is third from the left at 6'6". I am on the right at 6'4".

I am there on my tip toes looking over the gas tank. (just kidding)

[motoman]

Well, good to see the fork-brace issue resolved, and to know that 'if I like my fork brace I can keep my fork brace'

[CaptonZap]

Well, good to see the fork-brace issue resolved, and to know that 'if I like my fork brace I can keep my fork brace'

Period!

CZ

[Bonz]

But you can't keep your front fork to mount it on... You gotta read this thread in the light of day in order to see what's really in it...

[James England]

And i certainly dont agree that 'improvements' or 'enhancements' are left out at factory level due to cost. No manufacturer wants to sabotage his own sales by deliberately cutting corners.

It most certainly is the case..it's not cutting corners, as such, but it is a compromise between enhancements and cost. They have to make a bike which is sellable to their mass-market at an affordable price and therefore things which would enhance the bike are not necessarily included and things on the bike when it leaves the factory are not necessarily the best. It's a compromise between enhancements, therefore the manufacturing cost and the final selling price of the machine.

For example....in the 1970's and 80's, everyone I knew who bought a brand new Japanese bike nearly always removed the original Bridgestone tyres immediately because they were nowhere near as good as after-market ones available at the time. So, the bikes left the factory with tyres that were inferior to ones which they could have used. Most manufacturers, apart from Yamaha (who used Allen bolts) used rubbish metal cross head engine casing bolts which always got chewed up when trying remove them...the metal was soft.....but cheaper. Stainless steel would have been far better but not a single fastener on a bike that left the factory was ever stainless. Chrome thickness was the thinnest they could get away with and not as good as after-market chroming which is better when thicker, hence the Japanese bikes being notorious for rusting easily. Rubber brake pipes are inferior to braided stainless steel which are not fitted as standard. The XJR leaves the factory with a single diaphragm spring on the clutch which isn't as good as the six spring after-market conversion. OEM drive chains were not the best available. The XS1100 benefits from progressive front springs but these were not fitted as standard. Etc etc.

All of the above, and lots more besides, were done to reduce manufacturing costs, reduce the end price of the bike and therefore increase sales. It didn't sabotage sales. What would have sabotaged sales would be a far higher selling price which was beyond most people because the bikes were the very, very best they could be when they left the factory.

Re hard evidence of improvements, as opposed to the psychological ones you mentioned.... The XJR1300 is what bhp when it leave the factory? 105? On a modern Dyno, mine had 127bhp. It didn't leave the factory like that...

[jetmechmarty]

The XS1100 benefits from progressive front springs but these were not fitted as standard.

Are you sure about that? The sacked springs I removed from my forks were progressive wound. They were full length with no spacer. I assumed they were OEM. I still have the shocks someplace, so I'll have a look.

[James England]

Are you sure about that? The sacked springs I removed from my forks were progressive wound. They were full length with no spacer. I assumed they were OEM. I still have the shocks someplace, so I'll have a look.

I know what you're referring to... It's a difference in pitch at one end of the springs. It's like a sudden change in pitch at one end, from one pitch directly to another, rather than the progressive pitch change of....progressive springs.

[Brent]

Stock versus modified

Can anyone show how a fork brace is a detriment to any single virtue or quality these bikes have with relation to the front end? Or as some are trying to say, that a brace somehow may not be considered an improvement???[/QUOTE]

To answer your question; Yes.
To the purist who values an exactly as new, unrestored, original bike, or restored to original like new condition, it represents a modificdation, addition, or change. This disqualifies it from eligibility to compete in certain bike shows.
For the collector it may diminish value.

I like to ride. For me, better handling & stability are well worth the detriment to the stock original virtue. I certainly do not miss the so called death wobble. Beauty is as beauty does (in my eyes). I really like my Tkat fork brace. The workmanship & EXACT fit impressed me. Installation was easy.

At VJMC bike show, I was told "Nice bike. Good to see you riding it. You can show it. But it will not be judged if it has anything added to it, so you can not win anything. Still, We would be glad to have it in the show." It was the nicest XS1100 there (until Marty arrived with his.) I plan to keep fork brace along with stainless brake lines, saddle bags, windshield, fog lights, etc.

Can anything be better than new? Yes, if you want to use it.