SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1247377143

Message started by fretman on 07/11/09 at 22:39:02

Title: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by fretman on 07/11/09 at 22:39:02

I learned about the Tkat brace lurking on the forum - ordered one up, received and installed it this morning, and I'm here to confirm the hype. It's a thing of beauty! Finally a mod that I can actually do myself :) It's a real pleasure to install something that was hand tooled to order. If this had been an OEM factory part, I'd probably still be standing there with an instruction sheet and a bag of parts, scratching my head... The brace feels and looks great, and makes a real tangible difference in the handling of the bike. Nice. 8-)

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s3/fretsys/Suzuki%20S40/photo.jpg

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by verslagen1 on 07/11/09 at 22:41:46

Now in 3 months take it off for a real shock.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by voldigicam on 07/12/09 at 02:44:37

Looks great - was it expensive?

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by Skid Mark on 07/12/09 at 09:26:36

Alright!!! Tkat does a great job machining the fork brace. It fits like a glove. Install tooke me about 1/2 hr. I took my time. To do it a 2nd time would take 10-15 min. It's that easy .

I belieive the price is now just over $100. You will need to email him to confirm. Delivery for me in Canada was around 1 week via the post office.

The difference it makes in the bikes handling is worth every penny.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by odvelasc on 07/12/09 at 09:54:35

6E6871626E353A030 wrote:

What difference in handling do you speak of? Vibrations? I am gonna come visit you thursday and test yours out lol. I was just cycling around there this past thursday. That highway 15 from Smith Falls is a great ride.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by verslagen1 on 07/12/09 at 10:06:54

The difference is hard to discribe.
The stock bike is like walking on rocks on concrete, yes, you can do it but every so often you get off balence.
Adding a fork brace is like sweeping the concrete clean.
When I 1st got the '88, it felt like I was gonna fall over in turns. Something was just not right.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by fretman on 07/12/09 at 10:21:52

60797A727F717F75777B160 wrote:

Looks great - was it expensive?

$93 incl. shipping to US - truly a bargain. If I can install it, anybody can. Newer S40 owners like myself will have to ditch the black plastic fork protector things. No love lost ;)

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by Skid Mark on 07/12/09 at 12:38:56

Before the fork brace the front end picked up every little rut and groove and made the steering pretty twichey at highway speds. The fork brace has tamed this twitcheness down a lot. You still have to pay attention, but the ride is alot more relaxed on the highway. It is difficult to describe the difference in words. For my money, the fork brace and small windshield are the to best mods that are easy and return the best value in comfort and safey. Jusging from the other posts I'd say a seat mod would be #3

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by PTRider on 07/12/09 at 12:42:56

The first thing I noticed was that even in town the front suspension was smoother. Evidently the forks had been flexing and binding a bit.

On the highway the ride is more stable.

A tip for installing the Tkat fork brace: It seems too small but actually fits just right. Put everything together loosely, tighten each bolt a bit at a time, and tap the parts into position to get exact line-up as you tighten them. I like the result.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by Skid Mark on 07/12/09 at 14:02:20

A light tap with a rubber mallet was all I needed. Tkat machined an exact fit. There is no wiggle factor at all when fitting the components.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by KWKaletta on 07/12/09 at 15:21:23

How dose it do on rocky dirt roads? The Indiana washboard and the chip and slip variety!......... :-/

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by ja01 on 07/13/09 at 09:14:29

I think I am going to order 1 for my self.
Did you mail a check to
Tkat
1745 Grant St. Unit #5
Santa Clara, CA
95050-3936 USA

I emailed him a he responded that he did not take pay pal just a personal check?
Thanks

Just checking before I up and send a check to just anyone???

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by Skid Mark on 07/13/09 at 10:24:30

Yup. Sent check and all was ok.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by Balderdash on 07/13/09 at 10:31:32

they charge too much for the super brace, and it doesn't work any better than any other one, but I think it looks the best...
http://www.superbrace.com/proddetail.asp?prod=3335

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by bill67 on 07/13/09 at 11:05:52

I have had both the Superbrace is a little stronger.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by fretman on 07/13/09 at 13:27:34

I sent Tkat a check, turnaround was about two weeks, ymmv. I notice better handling even at low speed, turns are tighter and more stable. It really is hard to describe. Just get one :)

I'm sure the Superbrace is fantastic too, but as mentioned, Tkat's is less expensive, and works great. There's also something to be said for supporting an individual artisan, imho.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by ALfromN.H. on 07/13/09 at 13:46:35

They polish up pretty good too.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by fretman on 07/13/09 at 15:31:32

I added a pic to my OP, for anyone that hasn't seen the brace, as installed on my S40.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by odvelasc on 07/13/09 at 19:13:42

6C6A73606C3738010 wrote:

oops You are in alberta. I thought you were in kingston. sorry.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by PTRider on 07/13/09 at 19:27:45

4D514D676A63727267060 wrote:

How dose it do on rocky dirt roads? The Indiana washboard and the chip and slip variety!......... :-/

The more a road tries to twist your forks around, the more benefit you'll get from a fork brace. A bowling-alley-smooth road will show the least benefit from the fork brace.

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by DocNeedles on 07/13/09 at 21:21:37

0F130F252821303025440 wrote:

How dose it do on rocky dirt roads? The Indiana washboard and the chip and slip variety!......... :-/

I live on an island and the roads are paved with what they call Mexican asphalt, and gravel so there is usually gravel on the corners and pot holes. I really noticed an improvement with stability on corners and curves. I can actually trust that the bike will remain true. Well worth it!!
DocNeedles

Title: Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Post by ralfyguy on 07/14/09 at 04:43:14

I know those kind of roads. I have friends in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.