SuzukiSavage.com - Tkat fork brace

fretman

Junior Member

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'07 S40

Posts: 62
Brooklyn, NYC
Gender: male

Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
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. Cool

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« Last Edit: 07/13/09 at 15:29:47 by fretman »

white spaced, idle mix screwed,
dyna muffed, tkat braced!

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28889 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #1 - 07/11/09 at 22:41:46 Now in 3 months take it off for a real shock.
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voldigicam Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 327	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #2 - 07/12/09 at 02:44:37 Looks great - was it expensive?
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Skid Mark

Serious Thumper

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FSO

Posts: 1216
Calgary, Alberta
Gender: male

Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Reply #3 - 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.

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2008 S40 , Windshield, Sigma Cycle Computer, after market backrest & luggage rack, Tkat Fork Brace, saddlebags, 12v power supply, Garmin GPS
'09 C50SE, '09 C90
Shoulda got into this years ago

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odvelasc

Ex Member

Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Reply #4 - 07/12/09 at 09:54:35

Skid Mark wrote 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.

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.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28889 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #5 - 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.
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fretman Junior Member Offline '07 S40 Posts: 62 Brooklyn, NYC Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #6 - 07/12/09 at 10:21:52 voldigicam wrote on 07/12/09 at 02:44:37: 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
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Skid Mark

Serious Thumper

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FSO

Posts: 1216
Calgary, Alberta
Gender: male

Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Reply #7 - 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

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2008 S40 , Windshield, Sigma Cycle Computer, after market backrest & luggage rack, Tkat Fork Brace, saddlebags, 12v power supply, Garmin GPS
'09 C50SE, '09 C90
Shoulda got into this years ago

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PTRider

Senior Member

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Posts: 397

Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is!
Reply #8 - 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.

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Skid Mark Serious Thumper Offline FSO Posts: 1216 Calgary, Alberta Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #9 - 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.
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KWKaletta Full Member Offline The Savage Cycle Posts: 101 Zanesville, IN Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #10 - 07/12/09 at 15:21:23 How dose it do on rocky dirt roads? The Indiana washboard and the chip and slip variety!.........
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ja01 YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 38 lenoir NC 28645 Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #11 - 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???
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Skid Mark Serious Thumper Offline FSO Posts: 1216 Calgary, Alberta Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #12 - 07/13/09 at 10:24:30 Yup. Sent check and all was ok.
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Balderdash Full Member Offline Posts: 117 Minnesota Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #13 - 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
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Tkat fork brace - how sweet it is! Reply #14 - 07/13/09 at 11:05:52 I have had both the Superbrace is a little stronger.
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