Fork Brace or not?

  • KZ1100 Bully
  • KZ1100 Bully's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 98
  • Thanks: 0

Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 05:23
#368959
Hi, was thinking of adding a fork brace to my front end. Just trying to make a improvement in the bikes handling and stability. I already have progressive springs installed, just thought it might help the old girl.

What do you think about fork braces?
1983 Kawasaki KZ1100 Spectre D2

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • otakar
  • otakar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 5078
  • Thanks: 29

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 05:28 - 19 May 2010 05:30
#368962
Definitely!!! pretty much all modern bikes come stock with one. I wouldn't be caught without one. I think that It may have actually saved my life when a fork seal started leaking and I have air assist on my forks. I have the "Tarozzi" brace on my GPz1150 and also bought one for my KZ1300 (1400).
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
Last edit: 19 May 2010 05:30 by otakar.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • KZ1100 Bully
  • KZ1100 Bully's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 98
  • Thanks: 0

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 16:02
#369070
Wow, now the hard part finding one that will fit my bike.
1983 Kawasaki KZ1100 Spectre D2

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • porchev914
  • porchev914's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Whats that? Half of my swingarm is missing?!?!?
  • Posts: 2716
  • Thanks: 19

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 16:11
#369073
It's a solid, low cost upgrade that you WILL feel. There is no downside. I put one on an XR that I had, and it helped keep the bike from wallowing too bad when pushed in the corners.
FRANKEN Z!
1978 KZ1000 A2A with 08'Speed Triple SSSA and '06 GSXR1000 front end

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • racer54
  • racer54's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 1903
  • Thanks: 114

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 16:26
#369076
Where's good places to get a brace for these old Kaw's? Haven't seen any in years.
1980 LTD (changed over the years), 1979 LTD (being rebuilt), 1977 KZ turbo and various KZ's in various states of build. KLX110

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • PLUMMEN
  • PLUMMEN's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 8139
  • Thanks: 104

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 16:54
#369085
id say good tires and a good set of tapered bearings would be a more obvious improvement if not already done B)
Still recovering,some days are better than others.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • otakar
  • otakar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 5078
  • Thanks: 29

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 17:35 - 19 May 2010 17:45
#369101
"Paolo Tarozzi" makes them for all of our bikes. Anyone who sells their stuff can get them. Ask Jeff at Z1E. He might be able to get them also. On their web sight they call them "Stabilizers"

www.tarozzipaolo.com/inglese/home.htm
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
Last edit: 19 May 2010 17:45 by otakar.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • otakar
  • otakar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 5078
  • Thanks: 29

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 17:39
#369102
Here is one that I bought on eBay for my GPz1150 about two years ago.
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000

Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • trianglelaguna
  • trianglelaguna's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • New and improved - extra strength
  • Posts: 8724
  • Thanks: 236

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 17:48
#369105
i can never get a straight answer from the sellers of tarozzi as to wether the 76-900-a4 is gonna take their brace and retain the stock fender....they seem to not know...z-1...yes..kz1000..yes..but they claim fitment issues "may" arise witht the 900 A-4


i've read, and hve around here somewhere, articles from the racing season in 81-82 where muzzy said "they" got weird results with a brace and decided that the front end was more tunable with the heavy-gusseted steel fenders that came stock on the j-models...
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • KZ1100 Bully
  • KZ1100 Bully's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 98
  • Thanks: 0

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 17:54 - 19 May 2010 17:56
#369106
I have contacted a couple of places trying to find one for my model with no luck. My bike is not on any of the lists of models they have parts for.

www.fastfromthepast.com/PDF/fork_brace_dimensions.pdf

or

www.tarozzipaolo.com/inglese/home.htm

I already have a fresh set of Dunlop GT501 Tires with about 4k one them and the bearings were just replaced before I bought the bike. I will do the tapered bearings but not for a few years seeing as it already has new bearing.

Going to install a Race tech Fork Emulator Kit next winter. But for now I would like to find a fork brace that fits a 83 kz1100 D2 specter
1983 Kawasaki KZ1100 Spectre D2
Last edit: 19 May 2010 17:56 by KZ1100 Bully.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • otakar
  • otakar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 5078
  • Thanks: 29

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 17:54
#369107
That is the exact same fender that I have and it is not enough by any means. If you remove the front wheel, you can work the forks independently with no problem with the fender on.
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • trianglelaguna
  • trianglelaguna's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • New and improved - extra strength
  • Posts: 8724
  • Thanks: 236

Re: Fork Brace or not?

19 May 2010 17:57
#369109
early MKII black beauty shot...no brace...
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum