TKat Fork Brace installed!

[skippy344]

Hello Fellow XSives,

I just got my TKat fork brace today. It took 11 days from when I sent the money order until the time I got it in my mailbox! Too cool.

How can I post a pic of it in a message box?

If you don't have one, you gotta get one. It was just $85.00 delivered!

[skids]

Now get the fine grit emery paper and follow-up with aluminum polish and you will see a real gem!!!

[skippy344]

Heck Yeah!

Dude, I'm so gonna do that! I was working on the covers already. Why not polish that sucker up too!

[DeanR]

I've just spent most of the afternoon with a new Tkat brace, an old t shirt and a bottle of Blue Magic liquid metal polish while watching it snow. My question is basically at what point do you know your about finished "polishing" aluminum? I keep getting the black residue on the cloth, keep rubbing to get it shiney, repeat, and keep getting more of the same black residue and repeating. Without getting into a multi step process, even though I do have a dremel, is this an ok way to shine things up in general? Hurry up spring.

[John]

You're done polishing when you are happy with it. You are the only one who you have to worry about impressing. If you like it, then it's done.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey John, and Laxdad,

IIRC, his FB's are not ANODIZED, so you've got raw aluminum there, so everytime you add the polish, it will react with the aluminum to give you the black residue! Some folks might recommend clearcoating it after you get it to the finish you want, to help preserve it and make it so you won't have to polish it again, just merely wash it!
T.C.

[DeanR]

Thanks TC. I don't know a thing about metal finishing. Looks like I would have be seeing black for a very long time. Can you just get a spray can of clearcoat from duplicolor or someone?
Also, regarding Goldwing bars. I think there is an appropriate set on ebay #4529650054. They do have a couple predrilled holes but I think they would be covered by the grips and controls. I'm assuming that would be ok?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey again Laxdad,

I checked out those bars, yea, they look about right. The holes are because Honda ran the electrical wires down thru the bars, for a cleaner look, but ours are on the outside, so you won't need to worry about them.

You may want to check in the tech tips regarding polishing and clearcoating, as to which type is recommended, ie., enamel, acrylic, laquer?? Anodizing is a special electroplating technique, that uses current and an ?acid? bath, that causes the aluminum to form a hard seal skin on the outside, closes the pores of the metal, makes it better against corrosion, tints can be added to the bath, thats how they get those nifty colored aluminum parts, they aren't painted!
T.C.

[Dan Hodges]

I got my TKAT fork brace in the mail.It took ten days from the time I sent the check till it arrived at my doorstep. I buffed it on a large buffing wheel with the use of some Mothers polish for about ten minutes untill I removed all the machine and tool marks.It is as slick and shiny as the front fender. It went on and fit like a glove. I rode the bike for a 150 miles today and I could tell a difference.The front end felt tighter especially on rain groves and rough pavement.I had put new 15 weight fork oil in,the manual calls for ten weight and I like the new feel a lot better.It's a nice piece of work and for 85$ an absolute steal.

[MAXIMAN]

Pray tell...how in hell...DO YOU GET A HOLD OF TKAT!?!?!?!

I've sent him three e-mails in the past month and he won't answer. I need a fork brace for KONG and Zilla. But I can't get the guy to return e-mail.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Michael March]

Are you sending your email to: "tkat@tkat.com" ??

He replied to mine right away and sent me my fb lightning fast. Now if only I can figure out where it goes... anyone got a pic of a midnight?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Michael,

Not sure if you're kidding or not, but it goes right over/ontop of the front fender, but you have to slide the dust caps up first, then the clamps slide down over that part of the lowers, then you slide the dustcaps back down onto the fork brace. The cross brace is designed to fit very close to the fender.
HTH? T.C.

[Michael March]

Actually TC, I wasn't kidding. I have the fb here but the bike is in a friend's garage which doesn't have the flooding problem mine does. Just want to make sure I can figure it out when I go over there to put it on. I told you I wasn't a mechanic. To think I took apart the tranny and dremmeled it into perfection. Just proves what an awesome teacher you are. Thanks for the tip on the fb, teach.

Mike

[MAXIMAN]

Yes I sent it to that address. I'll try again for the UMPTEENTH time.

[Wayne]

Here is a pict of the forkbrace.



Had one on my 81H and it made a 101% difference on the handling.

Now all you need is Tkat's aluminum horn and starter buttons. He used to send them out for a small donation to your local animal shelter or ASPCA. But check with him on that.

Tkat's website