SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> TKat handling
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1315099469

Message started by Arizuno on 09/03/11 at 18:24:28

Title: TKat handling
Post by Arizuno on 09/03/11 at 18:24:28

Wow! I come to sing the praises of TKat's marvelous fork brace. I sent him a check last Saturday, brace arrived yesterday, installed it per instructions here (tip: tap fork guards laterally (radially?), enough to move them and break their grip, before tapping up. Once they're off the lowers a decent pair of scissors will easily cut them.) I much prefer its mechanical look to the too-smooth appearance of the SuperBrace, and the vastly better price ($92.00 delivered) and the fact that you're dealing directly with the machinist who made it, sealed the deal for me.

The TKat's positive impact on the bike's overall feel and behavior is stunning. Steadier at parking lot speeds, more "planted" feeling at all speeds. Low-speed floppiness sharply reduced, higher speed squirlliness gone. It's almost as if the bike's weight distribution has been altered to favor the front more, making it far more stable in feel and precise in operation. I'm struggling to express this to my own satisfaction; perhaps it will suffice to say that I suddenly feel more in control and less like a curious - often uneasy - passenger.

Others have observed what a great addition a fork brace is, and I most enthusiastically concur. Transforming the bike's behavior so radically and positively for so little time and money has got to make it the ultimate no-brainer. If you've been toying with the idea of installing one, rest assured you'll be very glad you did.

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/03/11 at 18:46:05

Told ya!

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by mmosel on 09/03/11 at 19:11:56

Nice review. I totally want one.

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by buddy on 09/03/11 at 19:30:59

Buddy here from Virginia, the newest of the newebbies, I just read your post re the Tkat brace and you described exactly what I am experiencing with my 2002 Savage, with less than 1400 miles- even tho I am a senior ( read old ) my bike just did not feel right and you described the feel perfectly- So I wondered if others have had this " feel"?
Thanks for any input and I will get a profile entered.

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by Arizuno on 09/03/11 at 19:50:22

Buddy, I don't know how you define "old", but I'm 66 so things like carburated thumpers appeal to me. I'm sure others will chime in on this - I hope so - but I believe fork braces are popular here because of the conditions I attempted to express. And it was for riders like us that I made the attempt. Cruiser-style bikes are going to feel floppier than standards because of fork rake and rearward weight bias, but the brace does an amazing job of offsetting the effects of those factors. And if I can install one o' them suckers, so can you. Give tkat@tkat.com a yell & tell him I sent ya.

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by built2last66 on 09/04/11 at 06:27:38

Buddy I'm in VA too, I'm a bit younger though. If you ever wanna do some wrenching get in touch through PM.

I've been looking at these fork braces and I'm either going to get the TKat or go all out and get the RYCA anodized black one (will match my black and chrome nicely), which is roughly $200.

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by Skid Mark on 09/04/11 at 09:15:23

The Tkat fork brace was the best thing I ever did for my 2008 S40.. The difference was night and day. Arisuno's post is spot on!

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by buddy on 09/04/11 at 09:15:47

Arizuno, thanks I will order one Tuesday!
buddy

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by Arizuno on 09/04/11 at 09:43:45

Your welcome, Buddy. If you haven't already checked, there's LOTS of install advice in the forum, but it's pretty straight-forward. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, and by all means do share your impressions here following your road test!

Title: Re: TKat handling
Post by buddy on 09/04/11 at 14:47:29

I sure will post again after test ride!
buddy