Hi, does anyone have experience / knowlege / opinions with regards to the front fork on Honda VF1100 and the like, in particular the TRAC anti dive mech? Reason I ask is, I'm considering putting a sidecar on the GS1100. Leading link forks are the preferred option with sidecars, mainly (as I understand it) to reduce trail. I've seen pictures of a GS850 & sidecar, where the owner has fitted forks from a GS1000L (cruiser) where the fork sliders have a leading axle mount, which has the effect of reducing the trail when used with the standard GS850 triple clamp. Quite neat and tidy and best of all it looks standard, so no hassles with engineering cert (as would be expected with leading links). I can't do this on the 1100 as the 850 fork tubes are 38mm diameter, the 1100 ones are 41mm. Googling has found that the VF1100 and other Hondas or that era used 41mm leading axle forks, which are dirt cheap on Ebay, but they have the TRAC antidive, hence the question. Was it any good / waste of time / bordering on dangerous? Anyone?
As I recall, it was about the best of the anti-dive systems of the Jap makers. That didn't make it any real use though. I didn't find it made any real difference when I tried it out (I worked briefly in a Honda dealers at the time).
No knowledge of the forks but I ran a BMW with standard fork for a few years....did long trips around Europe with it. I've never ridden one with leading links but I gather it gives better steering with less effort...and as you say less dive. good luck.
