Fork Brace? Yes? No?

Aurora

Is a fork brace such as Superbrace, necessary?

TWEET

I wouldn't think so.
Go for correct weight springs, and valving and play with fork oil grade and height until you get what feels right.

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"Clear For Takeoff"

Warchild

I don't think "necessary" is the correct term., but I can tell you they make a noticable improvement for me and others who had (at the time) stock forks, particularly during high-speed sweepers and fast transitions.

I used on for over 60,000 miles, it was truly awesome.

However, when I finally installed the Traxxion Cartridges last April, I found that the front end was soooooo improved, so planted, so much better across the board, I could no longer tell the difference whether it was installed or not. So only then, did I take it back off the bike.

I still have it... it's a black-anodized version (not polished aluminum as seen in the attached photo), and I'd be willing to sell it for $70, including shipping/insurance, if anyone is interested. It retails for almost twice that, before shipping....

Attached Thumbnails

 

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- Warchild
http://www.superblackbird.com/

Helvet

Yes, it is a noticeable difference!
If you are ever in the possibility to directly compair a BB with and without one, try this:
place both bikes on the centerstand, and get on the bike. Try moving the clip-ons fast from left to right and back. Do this a few times, and feel the difference between the bikes.
Only then you will notice that if you do this on the bike without the brace on, the wheel comes trailing after the clip-ons. There is definatively some flex there.....
In riding you will notice more stability in cornering (try sharp low-speed corners!) and braking. A good improvement for low costs....

haWHYnXX

PM sent..

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-Vern

Hawaiian Island Stylin'

XXTi

I'm running a SuperBrace on my '00. I think it makes a significant handling improvement. I mounted it at the same time I replaced the springs and oil, so it is a little hard to be sure.

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Jim

bartonmd

One thing to check though, is as follows: Make absolutely sure that you check the stiction in the forks after installing the brace... If the brace is machined wrong, it will either pull the forks together, or push them apart, and will cause excess friction and wear on the fork bushings...

There was an issue with this awhile back when, I think it was Speedygeezer, was having trouble with his front forks not compressing, and the front end having almost no spring to it, and it turned out that the fork brace was machined wrong, and was pulling his forks together and binding them up...

Mike

Helvet

Same thing happened to me. I had it machined here locally, and now it's fine.

XXTi

My 'Brace just bolted right on with no apparent problems. My forks work fine and the bike just rails through the curves.

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Jim