Fork stabilizer

I use a fork brace as a replacement for the stock metal fender and it was an improvement over the stock fender brace. It just made things feel less wiggly over washboard surfaces known as city streets.

I also have a steering damper which makes a far better improvement than just the brace. The 81 gpz550's have a very steep steering angle and was prone to headshake. The 650's I've ridden felt more stable.

I'd like to get one but they look flimsy to me.
Steve

I wonder if Les at PDM could whip out a couple?

Come on guys...a 500 pound bike with 35mm fork tubes and pretty strong brakes capable of speeds in excess of 100mph? You will definitely notice the improvement over what is provided by the front fender. Most fork braces allow the stock (or otherwise)front fender to remain in place.

650ed wrote: Regarding fork braces one thing to consider is that many folks remove the stock front fender without realizing that i provides at least some fork brace function to the forks. This is because along with the fender itself there is a rather stiff metal support riveted to the fender that during normal riding keeps the distance between the two fork tubes constant. A stout fork brace will provide a stiffer support and may be worthwhile for use on the racetrack, but I doubt there are many, if any, situations in normal street use where distance between the two fork tubes will vary with the stock fender in place. At least I can say I haven't found it to be a problem on my KZ650-C1 for more than 42 years, 62,000+ miles, of riding, some of which were quite spirited. Ed

I would agree it does and some with at least independent fork action.

Here are pictures of my LTDs stiffened front forks.
You may think this is over kill , but at warp speeds my front end dont shake .
This is on a high boost turbo bike .
A custom PDM ( Les Holt ) triple tree with built in brake splitter,
Fork brace at fender
and dual steering dampners
Dave

@ S-F LTD Very nice front end set-up and bike. It looks like from the pic that of your dual dampners that you utilized the upper frame reflector mounts ,(reflectors removed) , as a mount for the dampner, as I did also. Both of my reflector mounts eventually failed, cracked, and I had to remove the dampners. . Any solution to my missing mounts, or is welding the only option ?

urankjj wrote: @ S-F LTD Very nice front end set-up and bike. It looks like from the pic that of your dual dampners that you utilized the upper frame reflector mounts ,(reflectors removed) , as a mount for the dampner, as I did also. Both of my reflector mounts eventually failed, cracked, and I had to remove the dampners. . Any solution to my missing mounts, or is welding the only option ?

Thank You

I welded in triangle shaped gusset's to make the reflector mounts plenty strong enough.
Never had a problem since done when frame was braced 35 or so years ago.
Dave

Thank You Dave, I appreciate that input , and will look into those gusset's.. “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, and leading to the most amazing view.”
Edward Abbey