Fork Brace or not?

:huh: We ARE talking about fork braces big guy, but you were the one that opened the door with the pics of race teams running without braces. I was mearly pointing out the fact that the race teams forks without a brace most likely worked a hellufa lot better than our stock forks with a brace. You're throwing in an apples to oranges comparison.

The sad alligator doesn't have any clothes Why?

Tri, did you pull that info from Cameron?

from cameron in his first book there is a chapter where he tours muzzy's superbike shop and disscusses a part or a problem...it is super cool theory speak...they focus on how a tiny thing can help when thought out....and a big change can hurt if it is done just because it is what everyone else is doing...and from articles in the era mags on kz superbikes,,,and from a z-1 i rode in the 80's that handled bad with a brace and good without one...all things being the same on it but the brace,,,,

it transfers tiny tank slap type inputs down the line where they become larger and more involved to quell in some bikes ... imo

rather than allowing a subtle flex -wiggle- straighten out -type rythem or harmonics to "roll itself out" and cycle itself over...creating a "hard" feel to the front...it deadens feedback and pushes the front end out in corners imo....seems my seat of the pants feeling was shared by some racers and teams?

now,,,all i'm saying is that better riders have chosen not to run one....are they cool? yes...do i want one?...yes,i watch auctions for a deal on em all the time......

but will they correct or cure a symptom in the fronjt end?maybe---but maybe not,or even,create a new one.......


later in the seaqson the MKII shows pics with a brace(not obvious in this pic though)

I've had a brace on my 650 since the mid '80s, but now you've got me thinking of unbolting the center and doing some test rides with out the center piece installed:
...

this pic has been getting played out a tad of late...but could it ever get tired really....i think not....
anyway it is the braced pic...i was on my mini laptop earlier and could not post it....it sure looks like the A.T.K type design...my fav..nice 650 brace bro....

i think in this pic you can see where Eddie welded his leg to the kerker in an earlier mishap too.............

If they were so dangerous why would they come stock on most all the new bikes. Usually they are built right into the front fender.

remember when we were all built like that...i was 6'7" and 185 pounds at 18 :ohmy: and 225 for the next 20 yrs :woohoo: ...not now :blink: ..looked like reggie miller without the ears :blush: ever notice your bike handles different when you wheigh 300....nah just gotta hang off the seat alot more :blush: ..time flies

otakar wrote:

If they were so dangerous why would they come stock on most all the new bikes. Usually they are built right into the front fender.

im guessing it has something to do with plastic front fenders not offering much support

That's precisely it! A fender by definition is only a wheel cover to prevent spraying water/debris at the rider, so whether steel or plastic would serve the same purpose. So why add the brace to the plastic fender from the factory if it serves no purpose in the true function of the fender? Except as a structural brace perhaps? By contrast, the gsxr fender I have is strictly plastic, no metal, no brace.

hmmm...more careful thinking applied in a simple fashion.....novel...brilliant ...yet controversial it seems.....best keep your head down boy...


PLUMMEN wrote:

otakar wrote:

If they were so dangerous why would they come stock on most all the new bikes. Usually they are built right into the front fender.

im guessing it has something to do with plastic front fenders not offering much support

Well, if you don't want to mount a fork brace you can always mount one of those Mambo steering dampers that you see in all those pictures.