Fork brace on Ebay

[Juvecu]

If you do write a review, make a mention on what the quality of the machining, finishing, painting, fit and so on is. Fork braces are all the same in function, but different from the rest in how well (or not) they are made.

[bosnjo]

Review written, the best I could:
http://www.v-strom.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=92&t=20918

[Gassoon]

Nice one bosnjo !     One last thought, have you bounced the forks to ensure they are free? What did you torque the bolts to?  

[bosnjo]

Yes, I've bounced the forks and they move freely. The torque, well, I don't have torque wrench but I kind of trust myself on that as I was car mechanic for many years long ago. I still plan to undo the brace to put blue loctite on screws and test the bounce with and without the brace.
Yes, I know, I have to buy torque wrench but my new Glee took all my savings on the bike itself and all the bits I needed for it.

[500mg]

Nice review.

[Juvecu]

I'd imagine just past hand tight would be fine for the brace. Kind of like you would nip up a spark plug, perhaps a tiny bit more. I think I did my fork brace bolts at 15Nm (they are M6 stainless steel bolts going into aluminium, a drop of 3-in-1 oil was added.)

[bosnjo]

Well Gassoon, thanks to your post, I've just been in my garage to check the things out. Bounced a suspension a lot and found out it's probably not moving the way it should. Next, I've started undoing the brace and as soon as I've undone a bit the 2 outer bolts to free the ends of the brace, the brace got loose. So, I concluded that 2 inner bolts keep the two halves together and it doesn't metter how much you tighten them, the brace stay loose on the fork. Then, with the brace loose I bounced the suspension again and it was completely different. So, I concluded that 2 outer bolts have to be torqued with extreme care as they press the brace against the walls of suspension. Observing closely the area where 2 outer bolts go in I could see large gap between two halves. As you tighten outer bolts, the gap starts closing. My mistake was that I tighten 2 outer bolts that much that gap closed completely and now I see it's not the way to do it. It still has to have some gap visible. I tighten them, not much, the brace feels strongly tight on the fork now but suspension is moving freely.

So, very important conclusion:
- Two inner bolts to be tighten fully
- Two outer bolts to be tighten with care, not much, to leave some gap visible

It would be nice to measure the torque for outer bolts but as I said, I don't have torque wrench and even if I had it, it had to be a little one that I don't know if even exists. When I worked as mechanic (20 years ago) I always used a big torque wrench but for this area a little one is needed. Does it exist?

Again, thanks Gassoon for calling my attention. Further tests tomorrow on ride and then blue loctite at, at least, outer bolts.

I see I'm pioneer on Cosmo's Fork Brace for Glee but I don't mind finding the right way to fit it. I'm almost there. Luckily for other users without mechanical skills, I found one very important detail on how to install it. I see some members have ordered the brace for Glee already and I hope they'll read these words. Maybe we can do a bit of a warning on what to look out on installation.
I wanted to update my review but as topic gets locked as soon as it's been done, I can't add this update.

[biglad]

Good words of advice here- thanks. I ordered my brace yesterday( and peg lowering kit while I was at it).

I'm not a mechanic but do use a torque wrench . If it might help others, I can take photos and post them along with the torque setting I used.

As an aside, my bike is going in for its service soon and I've arranged for the dealer to put some fork gaiters on while its in. I'm going to fit the brace as close to the mudguard as possible so there's room at the top of the leg for the bottom of the gaiter to be cable tied on.  What do you think-will this work or is there a better way?

[bosnjo]

I've just placed the order on torque wrench. It would be nice if we together come to a conclusion what torque is needed for outer bolts.
I don't see a problem installing fork brace a bit lower. There is plenty of room.

[bosnjo]

What I found so far doing some research over the internet, is that for glee, outer bolts are to be tightened by hand and if checked by torque wrench it may never go over 14.5 FT LBS. This value is underlined and in bold. So, we're one more step closer. I guess you'll receive your brace before I receive my torque wrench so you get the honour to try that spec and see if suspension is moving freely. Just bounce your suspension a lot before you install your fork brace and then try to bounce it after installation to see if it's the same. I didn't remember to do that so it was one day of riding with stiff front suspension.

[cosmo]

The brace is designed to have an 1mm gap between the outer ends. The inside bolts have to be tighten a lot where the outer bolts have to be tighten (less than the inner ones) to the point where the gap is about 1mm. Do not over do the outer bolts.

[Gassoon]

You're welcome, mate!  And good work on the description of tightening etc...I'll add a link to this thread on your review.
I have a Berndi fork-brace on my (old) wee, and while the result was a big improvement, the effect was nowhere near what you had described on your (sleepy!) first ride, so that alerted me!

[500mg]

and while the result was a big improvement, the effect was nowhere near what you had described on your (sleepy!) first ride, so that alerted me!

Bugger........I ordered one on the strength of Bosnjo's review  

[Gassoon]

Don't worry - its certainly a big improvement, really tightens things up with that big wheel at the front, you should see a difference right away! One of the best mods I've done to my bike!

[bosnjo]

Well, I can't compare it with (old) Wee, as I've never had one. The only thing I could speak of was a difference without and with fork brace on my Glee. I also don't know if it's better or worse or the same compared with other brands but I guess they all do the same job.
I got my Glee in the beginning of the winter. That fact is important as in this time of the year, here in south, we have mild temperatures but we suffer a lot with a wind. It's not constant, strong wind. It's more like little wind with huge guts, so very, very unpredictable. It doesn't blow every day but can be very dangerous. Also, it changes direction almost every day. Forecast for today is N, tomorrow NE, the day after S and the next day SW. During a ride you feel strong hits and if you're not alert, you may go down. That is one point where my Glee has transformed. For example, this morning riding 120 km/h on the entrance of the city where I work (area known for big wind guts) at one moment I got hit by instant strong wind gut from half-left. Without the brace, in that situation my Glee would loose its trajectory in about 1 meter being pushed to the right. I was not expecting the "hit" that strong this morning. But with the brace I took strong hit on my body (I'm 6"2.5) but my Glee lost its trajectory not more then 15-20 cm to the right. That's huge difference for me.
Other thing is, on my everyday use I ride a mixture of different roads but almost never freeways. I go to freeway just from time to time but that's very rare. So, on that mixture of roads I have a lot of tight corners, crossroads, junctions... a bit of everything. And that's exactly where I feel the difference, especially if road surface is in poor condition. I feel now much safer in corners as my Glee has perfect trajectory. before it was a bit wobbly so I had to constantly control and correct the trajectory along the corner. I have no idea yet if there was any difference on the freeway.
This morning, after resetting the brace to have the gap as Cosmo says, my suspension works as it should, no problem at all.
I'd still like if we could get to a torque value for outer bolts. That would make fitting dead easy.

I'm in no way professional tester, nor specialist, nor racer. What I wrote about Cosmo's Fork Brace in last few days is purely what I feel during the ride, the changes I experienced. I know that this can be purely subjective and it probably is. Someone else may not feel the same but I'd buy it again without hesitation.

[Gassoon]

That perfectly sums up the difference for me with a fork-brace on my old style Wee. In windy conditions especially, and just stability/accuracy in steering. If you don't mine bosnjo. I'll sum up what you have said here, and add it onto your already excellent review.

[bosnjo]

If you don't mine bosnjo. I'll sum up what you have said here, and add it onto your already excellent review.

Yes, sure, feel free to use my text whenever you want, you don't even need to ask for my premission. Just keep in mind that english is not my mother tongue and there may be some mistakes in the writing, so if you can correct them it'd be even better.
I defend that what we all write in here is for a purpose of helping others, so if my words help even one person, I feel more then hapy. That is why I said you can use whatever I write if that may help somebody.

[Juvecu]

14.5 ft lb torque is about 20Nm, my value of 15Nm stated earlier sounds safe enough. I'll add a note to your review.

Edit: I see someone has already added a note that points the reader to this thread

[Jacko]

New brace for Glee

http://www.cosmo-accessories.com/online ... eries.html

So the same brace fits old and new models?

[cosmo]

Yes, the brace fits both models.