Fork Brace - What a difference

**Gingin** · 15th October 2010, 16:05

The ole CX has 33mm forks and I didn't realise how much they flexed until coming back from the last cold kiwi fully loaded up and taking corners at pace any attempt at changing line or hitting uneven surface and the front end would "wobble" for the want of a better word. Also if loosened hold on the bars the bike would become unstable.
By looking at the wheel while cornering and changing line I could see an incredible amount of flexing going on. Placing bike on centre stand and twisting handlebars would also show major fork flex.

So I made a crude fork brace out of pipe clamps and a piece of BBQ plate. The bike is a hell of a lot more stable steering is so much more positive, even straight line is A lot better and cornering what a hell of a difference

I knew the front end was not the best but adding a fork brace showed just how bad it actually was.

**sugilite:Me** · 15th October 2010, 16:30

It's cool when home solutions work. Well done

**F5 Dave** · 15th October 2010, 16:43

Hmm, yeah they can cause more problems than they fix. Stiction can be greatly increased with a brace. Best to make the mounting holes fairly loose & pump up & down on the forks then do them up. I've seen bikes seize up & get better on loosening the bolts, but clearly there will be shades in between & what may work stationary might not be so cool when the forks are bending under braking (as they do actually do).

My old CBX550 (it had a brace std.) felt exactly as you described when any load was placed on the packrack facing back. I left for the kiwi & didn't get pas the driveway to turn back & check all the fork bolts as it felt loose. the were all ok. Turned the pack around over pillion seat & it was fine. Got to pillion's place & had to turn it back. With her on it wasn't so bad, but it was almost. The bike was very light on the front & as you turned it seemed to be made of rubber & waving about.

& then it snowed, but that's another story.

**AllanB** · 15th October 2010, 16:45

I cast a nice alloy one years ago for a Kawasaki 750 - worked well and added some functioning 'bling'

**Subike** · 15th October 2010, 17:44

I bought a brace for my XS1100, the difference in the corners and on long rides is very noticable. I have two XS1100's that I ride, for the ten min it takes to cahnge the brace over, its worth the effort.
My brace was made by a professional in USA and was based upon a design that was used on a XS1100 that was raced in the early 80"s with sucess.
Well worth the US $185 I paid for it.

**cs363** · 15th October 2010, 19:14

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

Hmm, yeah they can cause more problems than they fix. Stiction can be greatly increased with a brace. Best to make the mounting holes fairly loose & pump up & down on the forks then do them up. I've seen bikes seize up & get better on loosening the bolts, but clearly there will be shades in between & what may work stationary might not be so cool when the forks are bending under braking (as they do actually do).

Good point that many people aren't aware of.

I have a Telefix brand (German) fork brace on my CBX and it is multi adjustable for just the reason you point out.
Pic attached.

**vifferman** · 15th October 2010, 19:22

Apparently, some newer bikes benefit from fork braces too, like the 1998 - 2010 VFR800s. Never noticed any problems with mine, but those who have fitted them say they make a noticeable improvement.

**scumdog** · 15th October 2010, 20:17

Originally Posted by cs363

Good point that many people aren't aware of.

I have a Telefix brand (German) fork brace on my CBX1000 and it is multi adjustable for just the reason you point out.
Pic attached.

How much for that set-up?

(Or in fact any fork-brace??)

**cs363** · 15th October 2010, 20:30

Originally Posted by scumdog

How much for that set-up?

(Or in fact any fork-brace??)

The Telefix braces aren't cheap (from memory mine was about US$150 + and that was a year or so ago) and can be hard to get. Mine came from a CBX specialist in the US, but here's the manufacturers website: http://www.telefix-products.de/

Edit: Found this site, scroll down page for application list -
http://www.spec2.com/clips.html#braces

The other brand you often see are Superbrace but they are a fixed style brace so not as good, and apparently their supply rate is a bit poor on older model bikes. Look purdy though...

Their website: http://www.superbrace.com/

What bike are you looking for one for? There's a few on EBay... http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_...506.m270.l1313

Attached some pics...as you can see the Telefix isn't too obtrusive, at least on a black bike with black forks...

**ellipsis** · 15th October 2010, 21:15

...i always thought fork brace meant hang on harder, squeeze the knees and grit your teeth...

**scumdog** · 16th October 2010, 07:03

Originally Posted by cs363

What bike are you looking for one for? There's a few on EBay...

Attached some pics...as you can see the Telefix isn't too obtrusive, at least on a black bike with black forks...

I'm considering one for my '01 Superglide T-Sport, - that and one of those kits that fit between the motor/trans and the frame, hopefully it will kill some of the handling 'character' of the bike.

.

For those who don't know:
To cut the vibes (which aren't THAT bad) Harely Davison have mounted the motor/trans/swing-arm (which are all bolted together as a unit) to the frame via rubber mounts.

Which means the swing-arm can move from side-to-side within the frame as these mounts flex, it gives the impression of doing a slow and slight 'tank-slapper' combined with a but of yaw on left-right-left twisty bits of road.

Granted, it's only a small amount and you get use to it but it was really brought home after riding the XN85 for a week or two....so I'd like to improve things

**Kickaha** · 16th October 2010, 07:36

Originally Posted by scumdog

I'm considering one for my '01 Superglide T-Sport, - that and one of those kits that fit between the motor/trans and the frame, hopefully it will kill some of the handling 'character' of the bike.

.

Granted, it's only a small amount and you get use to it but it was really brought home after riding the XN85 for a week or two....so I'd like to improve things

So a early eighties Suzuki handles better than an 01 Harley? never would have thought that