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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Fork Brace Project /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1140376490 Message started by Tkat on 02/19/06 at 11:14:50 |
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Title: Fork Brace Project Post by Tkat on 02/19/06 at 11:14:50 May I introduce m’self? I’m Tkat --- the Fork Brace guy. I’m an ORG [Old Retired Geezer] w/ a 4700 sq. ft. hobby house set up as a general machine shop in Santa Clara, CA. [Daytime TV sucks!] I’m geared to small lot, R & D, proof of concept, &c. I’ll make the 1st 100, s’one else can do the next 10,000, so special projects are always given a look. I’ve been a life long gasoline gear-head --- both cages and scoots and have run most everything from Jalopies & Hard Tops on 1/4 mile County tracks in the ‘50s to Bonnieville & the Baja 1000. F/Bs got started when I bot an older XS1100, joined the list, and asked how to make the pig handle. The answer was “Buy a F/B. Nuts, I’ll make my own. You can do that?” It was 18 months ‘til I could keep one for m’self. Since then I’ve made over 1300 in 8+ years and shipped them to every continent in the World, ‘cept Antarctica. I stopped by a dealers y'day and looked @ the 650 Savage. The project is doable. The bling-bling plastic tube protectors will hafta get lost & I’m not sure yet how to accommodate the dust wipes/seals. There also may not be a positive stop for positioning. So you’d hafta use a cross haired eyeball and hold yer tongue right. The XS1100s have a dust boot, that style is a lot easier to work w/. As for cost, the XSs take 2 hrs & $30 in buy-outs each. Plus I’ve over $200 in custom ground cutters. Naturally, the tooling and set-up programing has long ago been written off. I don’t see the LS650 be’n much different so figure around $100 or so delivered domestic. As you see, I’m not do’n these to make dollars but to help the group. In the world of important perspectives the price equates to a little over 3 pitchers of margaritas. What would be a help is a local owner who could bring his ride by for trial fitting and as a Beta Tester. The front fender side clearance is a cut and try item. For this he gets a bottle of GOOD Chardonnay [another story] and a free F/B. I’m located about 1/2 mile from the Santa Clara Costco & just West of the airport. If interested, contact me direct: tkat@tkat.com 408/980-8880. Pls put Fork brace in the subject. Any takers? |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by babbalou on 02/19/06 at 16:26:16 I'm one of the guys that emailed you a few days ago. I'll buy one if you make it. Do you use PayPal? |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by lancer on 02/19/06 at 21:40:07 Tkat, I wish I was still in the area, but it has been a while. I grew up in Cupertino and left the area after high school (Homestead, 1967) for parts ... known and unknown. If I were still local I'd be knocking on your door. But since I have been stuck in the south for some time now I will have to be satisfied with a cross-country purchase. By the way, thank you for responding to our need. Michael LANCER |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by klx650sm2002 on 02/20/06 at 03:35:43 Hey Tkat You are most welcome, I however won't be buying one of your fork braces as the forks on KLX are USD's. Clive W :D |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Reelthing on 02/20/06 at 05:11:20 Tkat wrote:
Now that sounds like a job for Paladin |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Savage_Rob on 02/20/06 at 06:03:41 Actually, the 408-980 exchange is in the San Jose rate center and SNTCCA01DS1 switch (Santa Clara, I believe) and is quite a bit N/NE of Paladin. Anyone in the general San Francisco/Sunnyvale/San Jose area that wouldn't mind letting Tkat take a few measurements on your ride? |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Reelthing on 02/20/06 at 06:08:41 he77 that's right he's in LA! |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Paladin on 02/20/06 at 08:22:02 For a free fork brace, might be close enough. about 360 miles (6 hours) up the 101 (I-5 is too crazy fast for me, not to mention boring.) Assuming not more than a day for Tkat to do his thing it's doable over a weekend. Otherwise I'ld have to take a day or two off work, and I've booked solid the next six weeks. Tkat! -- I'll call you about 10. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Reelthing on 02/20/06 at 08:29:39 make that run up/down the coast before and after you could give us a report! - |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by The Newstrums on 02/20/06 at 09:46:08 I just called the gentleman. Nice guy. Turns out he is less than block from where I work. I can bring mine in either later today or after work this week. Cool!! Ethan |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Savage_Rob on 02/20/06 at 09:53:21 The Newstrums wrote:
Very cool. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Paladin on 02/20/06 at 10:10:04 Tell Sarah thanks for the loan of her bike. We'll be expecting a report. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by The Newstrums on 02/20/06 at 11:24:04 Of course!! |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by lancer on 02/20/06 at 12:25:16 The Newstrums wrote:
Howdy, Have you lived in the area all your life? or a significant part thereof? I lived at 20924 Elenda DR, Cupertino...just off of Stelling Rd and between Homestead Rd and Stevens Creek Bvld. Back then the whole area was still mostly cherry and appricot orchards and strawberry fields. Time does march on. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by theikeman on 02/20/06 at 18:41:00 I am glad that I was able to generate a lot of interest in the tkat brace. I had one on my XS650 I used to own and it made an awesome difference. Wish I lived close enought, oh well. At any rate, would one (or more) of you mechanically inclined please go to http://www.tkat.com/forkbrace/diagram.htm and provide tkat with the necessary measurements. It would save us all some time. For those of you who have not expressed an interest in this clamp, please email tkat@tkat.com. Ike |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by The Newstrums on 02/20/06 at 20:16:39 Well, we went, he measured, we chatted, and now we wait. He has to work out a few design problems with water/dirt escaping. He said he'll give me a call when he has something worked up. He has apparently been making these for somewhere around eight years. Been machining for probably longer than I have been alive. He even had a brace ready to buy for my 79' KZ1000 LTD. I'll pick it up when I go back. Awesome guy. Ethan |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by cigaro on 02/21/06 at 08:47:33 Anxious to hear what he comes up with regarding the brace. Wonder if he'd consider other Savage stuff? Forward controls for those who are interested, which run $550 commercially? |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Steve530 on 03/02/06 at 14:59:25 Any news on this? |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by bikingb on 03/24/06 at 05:54:00 I just emailed him to ask about the status. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by USCG Cremeans on 03/24/06 at 06:57:07 I would go for forward controls in a heartbeat. 550 is way to steep for my blood, and a more reasonable set would be nice. I am 6'4"... |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Red_Wine on 03/24/06 at 08:05:21 Hi ya'll, this was his reply to my PM: "I've got the design done and the special tools ground. The material is on the floor. Have e'thing I need but the time. My Pay-the-Rent Client came in w/ 2 big R&D projects & 2 production orders. Naturally, all w/ a totally unrealistic delivery date. But the F/Bs are com'n along. Ride Tall, Tkat" So, I guess we need to be patient. Best, RW |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by cigaro on 03/24/06 at 08:28:34 Well, that sounds like good news for those us without FBs. Just have to be patient. And USCG, I'm with you. I can't afford the 550 for Seeger forwards, but I bet this guy could do the same thing with them, and maybe even easier than the fork brace. We should personally email him and let him know there's interest. I'll have to search through the old postings to find his email.... |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by USCG Cremeans on 03/24/06 at 08:52:39 agreed, we should send him a link to the tech thread about making your own. They should be a breeze for a guy like that. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by bikingb on 03/24/06 at 10:20:15 Tkat asked me to post this. Looks like it may be a while http://suzukisavage.com/bbs/YaBBImages/undecided.gif Post this to the list if you would please. Progress rpt: I've got the design done and the special tools ground. The material is on the floor. Have e'thing I need but the time. My Pay-the-Rent Client came in w/ 2 big R&D projects & 2 production orders. Naturally, all w/ a totally unrealistic delivery date. But the F/Bs are com'n along. Ride Tall, Tkat :-/ |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by lancer on 03/25/06 at 03:44:53 I tried the link but did not get anything. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by Savage_Rob on 03/25/06 at 17:52:48 lancer wrote:
The link is just an image (smiley). The actual message is just included in the post. I wasn't sure whay the smiley was linked that way but understood the message anyway. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by bikingb on 03/27/06 at 08:20:13 Savage_Rob wrote:
I'm not sure why it linked that way either. I'm glad you understood the message. I included the smiey to show some dismay with the process of getting the brace. |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by theikeman on 04/28/06 at 20:10:37 OK, it is almost May, how we doin??? |
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Title: Re: Fork Brace Project Post by lancer on 04/30/06 at 07:32:57 Not sure, we have not heard from the guy going the metal work lately that I know of. |
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