A Little Fork Brace Help

[TruthHammer]

Hi guys! It's been a while since I posted, but I'm still a regular lurker.

I want to get a fork brace for my Special, and I've got a few questions.

Is there any difference in fitment between the SF and SH? I'm not sure which might be on my frankenbike. If there is a difference, how can I tell which I've got?

Anybody got a spare Tkat brace they want to sell?

Since that's unlikely, has anybody found another decent source?

[DiverRay]

The F through H are the same forks as far as I know. I worked on a few F's, and owned an LG. The special forks ARE a different brace than the standards, as the fender mount bolts used in both at at different heights in relation to the tire/fender. The special is about 20mm taller than the standard, and I think uses a 1mm smaller diameter fork. I suppose if you had a local machine shop he could make a riser and shim that would work. I no longer have any of Tkat 's fork braces, and I will be needing one for my '78.

[motoman]

No Truth, they both(Specials) used the same Showia forks. The KYB forks were used on the Standards, and are a few millimeters larger diameter, therefore used the larger diameter and taller mount location for the cross brace of the TKat brace.

[jetmechmarty]

Fast From the Past has your fork brace. It should function the same as the Tkat brace.



http://www.fastfromthepast.com/25-0036

[TruthHammer]

Fast From the Past has your fork brace. It should function the same as the Tkat brace.

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/25-0036

Not as pretty though.

Thanks for the quick replies, guys.

[motoman]

Fast From the Past has your fork brace. It should function the same as the Tkat brace.



http://www.fastfromthepast.com/25-0036

Nice, looks to be built the same as Tkat's was. Even has the split of the halfs that go around fork going correct direction to better counter directional load forces.

[donebysunday]

Tarozzi

Fast From the Past has your fork brace. It should function the same as the Tkat brace.



http://www.fastfromthepast.com/25-0036

This would be the Tarozzi fork brace made to fit the European XS1100 Sport, I like it's looks better than the T-kat.
I fitted one of these to my LH which has same measurements as any other Special but the sport is different, the Tarozzi brace will fit but I had to elongate the mount holes in the fender, lowering the fender to clear this Tarozzi brace.
I could show it to you it's my avatar but I can't figure how to enlarge the avatar and keep it from blurring, can't find the photo in my computer ?

[gareth]

Wow..
Just $104..?
There's a lot of machining in that thing for a bit over a Benjamin. I was going to make up something in my shop to get a working brace since they seem to show up so rarely.
I think I'll get one of these before they're discontinued.

[TruthHammer]

Wow..
Just $104..?
There's a lot of machining in that thing for a bit over a Benjamin. I was going to make up something in my shop to get a working brace since they seem to show up so rarely.
I think I'll get one of these before they're discontinued.

If you decide to fabricate, you might want to make more than one. I know a place where you might be able to unload them for a bit of a profit.

[TruthHammer]

Your thoughts on this option?

One of our fellow XSives offered to sell me this brace. It doesn't look as rigid to me, but the price is right. What do you guys think of it?

[jetmechmarty]

The hoop brace can be a source of sticktion if the fit isn’t precise. The fit is unlikely precise at the price point. I’m not sure if it’s better than nothing.

[DiverRay]

The '78 I have has one of those. It's NOT a real brace, and does little to help. I'll be putting the one that is now on the bike in the recycle bin.
A real test of the brace is stand in front of the bike, hold the front tire with your legs and try to turn the handlebars. Do this on the stock bike, and then try again once the fork brace is on. The hoop brace is not much different that no brace. The Tkat type brace makes a noticeable difference in how far the handlebars will move.

[motoman]

Very true for a test as Ray stated. Bike on centerstand, grab one side of bars and vigorously rotate/shake back and forth with no fork brace and see how lower fork tube and wheel fail to follow. Now, do same thing again with fork brace and see how lower fork tubes and wheel follow exactly what handlebars do. An example of what difference fork brace makes, first ride around subdivision and as I rounded a subdivision intersection at 5mph, bike nearly fell over from the instant turning result. Found at speed on Interstate, rounding a corner there was absolutely no wobbling of bike from load forces. Also, front tire wear had eliminated ALL previous cupping having installed the Tkat fork brace. Just some thoughts to consider having a fork brace installed.

[Barbarosa]

[QUOTE=DiverRay;508882]The '78 I have has one of those. It's NOT a real brace, and does little to help. I'll be putting the one that is now on the bike in the recycle bin.

Hey Ray, could you send that brace my way since you are trashing it? And you really should start contacting the engineers that design BMW/Moto Guzzi/Ducati parts to let them know their fork braces aren’t real fork braces. When I lived in Germany I saw many of the loop styles at flat track and sidehack races. I bet those guys would like to know that their stuff isn’t real and don’t work wink wink. I am the one who offered up this part and comments make it sound like I am trying to pass along misfit and useless junk. I seriously don’t want somebody getting hurt (or ripped off for $40 lol) so if you would care to elaborate on your rejection of a track proven design I am all ears/eyes. I don’t know the specs of this design but seeing big motorcycles with this type part attached to the forks going extremely fast around tight turns leads me to believe they must function as designed. I pulled the part from an xs11 and put it on another x11 (fender mount holes align without wallowing them out) so I know it fits regardless of the manufacturer. The design may be dated but people do CNC in their garages nowadays so what isn’t old fashioned? Please enlighten if you have information that includes more than opinion or personal taste before I sell this on eBay and somebody gets royally taken.

[TruthHammer]

Barbarosa, I never thought you were trying to sell me junk, and I certainly didn't mean to cause any hurt feelings by asking for advice on your brace here. (That's why I asked for your permission before I did it.)

It sounds like both of you are talking from personal experience with your own own hoop-style braces, so both of your opinions have merit.