SuzukiSavage.com - Fork Brace Recommendations

stewmills

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Fork Brace Recommendations
07/25/16 at 06:57:38

I didn't see a list of suggestions in the tech section so I am posting here (versus a PM) so others can also benefit from the discussion.

Dave and MM encouraged me to get a fork brace which I think I will do. Considering my bike is structurally stock (not a cafe or rebuild of any kind) what is a decent, inexpensive, and somewhat slimline and not obnoxious fork brace that would be good for me just to add a little stability? 90% of my riding is mostly flat-ish with no "twisties" to speak of other than my 2-3 trips/year to the Dragon for the weekend.

Thanks!

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Kenny G Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com The Singles Club...LOL Posts: 1754 Robson Ranch, Denton, Texas Gender:	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #1 - 07/25/16 at 07:04:01 Stew, I like the T-Kat fork brace. It does what it is supposed to do and was not awfully expensive. I am sure I purchased it from a guy here on the Savage forum. Kenny G
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28903 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #2 - 07/25/16 at 07:31:53 http://www.tkat.com/forkbrace.html He makes them when he has enough interest. so send him an email and so interest. Here's another one and it been a long time coming... http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1429822904/6#6
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #3 - 07/25/16 at 07:45:51 I really like how the TKat looks on bobbers, but a stock bike , IMO, looks better with a more streamlined look. The Superbrace was on mine, but DANG , they cost a lot.. I will probably be getting a T Kat when I get it home. Maybe together we can inspire him to get the equipment set up..
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stewmills

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Re: Fork Brace Recommendations
Reply #4 - 07/25/16 at 12:49:50

Yeah, that superbrace looks nice and sleek. I tried to get my brother to make me a brace, but since I think ours needs the hump to clear the fender it doesn't look like he can. He said he has some 3/8 and 1/2 aluminum and a waterjet and can easily craft it sans the hump. I'm still trying to see if I can work around the hump issue for him to make one.

From your experience and knowledge, will a straight fork brace work at all on our bikes if it is positioned correctly (high enough)?

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Kenny G Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com The Singles Club...LOL Posts: 1754 Robson Ranch, Denton, Texas Gender:	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #5 - 07/25/16 at 13:01:12 Stew, Telephone SuperBrace they will probably have pictures of their products installed. The SuperBrace is pretty neat looking, but the T-Kat does the job. As I recall the SuperBrace is usually back ordered. Kenny
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #6 - 07/25/16 at 13:32:20 If he can cut, he can hump. Look at how TKat is done. Three pieces.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28903 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #7 - 07/25/16 at 13:34:49 I think most people would want an old style U shaped brace. Based on the designs I see, main functionality of the braces is too keep the tops equal distant apart. Some twisting too. But as far as anything else, no as they are too slim.
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stewmills

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Re: Fork Brace Recommendations
Reply #8 - 07/25/16 at 13:48:04

Yeah, I am not hammering on the bike day in and day out, which is why I am not too keen on spending $200+ on the superbrace. It looks great, but that's a bit much for my riding style.

If I can get my brother to cut one, even if it is somewhat simple in design and not beefy, it's better than what i have been riding with for the last 4 years!

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stewmills Serious Thumper Offline Imagination is more important than knowledge Posts: 2641 Auburn, AL Gender:	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #9 - 07/26/16 at 06:45:54 I emailed Tkat to see what his situation is. Still working with my brother to see what we can some up with.
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Re: Fork Brace Recommendations
Reply #10 - 07/26/16 at 07:08:19

If you keep your front fender intact....the fork brace most likely isn't mandatory. The fender does bolt in a way that reinforces the forks, and it is a strong fender. MMRanch and Oldfeller don't use a fork brace, and you don't see them wobbling around in the curves while they are dragging their pegs!

If you remove your stock fender, or use one that doesn't provide much reinforcement - then a fork brace is probably a good idea.

Would you notice a change if you added one? Most likely you wouldn't notice any change on your commute to work - maybe a small difference on the Cherohala or Dragon ride.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #11 - 07/26/16 at 07:19:34 I noticed a change. But I definitely pushed it.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28903 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Fork Brace Recommendations Reply #12 - 07/26/16 at 07:34:20 depends on the road and how you ride. you don't need it for riding smooth roads at the dragon you need it for riding I5
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Fork Brace Recommendations
Reply #13 - 07/26/16 at 07:49:27

Smooth roads? A blind passenger knows when the road goes from Gregg to Upshur county. The Gregg county roads are better, but I don't know if Smooth is exactly what I would call it.
And that left hand, off camber sweeper that pitches the bike up and down is Gregg county. It will be interesting to see how this new, older bike handles it.

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stewmills

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Re: Fork Brace Recommendations
Reply #14 - 07/26/16 at 07:57:36

Thanks for the input. I definitely intend to keep the front stock front fender intact since I like the stock look (along with my stock petcock Shocked

).

If my brother wants to make a science project out of this (and he usually does...much worse than me) maybe we'll work something up just for giggles. Otherwise it sounds like I am in pretty good shape with the stock fender.

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