Author Topic: Fork Brace Recommendations? (Read 3356 times)

Goodlad · « **on:** July 14, 2014, 19:46:14 »

Hello lads,

The more I have read about the benefits of a form brace the more I'm convinced its a great idea to get one onto the bike.

Does anyone know of a good place to nab one in Europe? It's a 2010 vstrom 1000 I want one for.

I don't mind ordering from outside Europe if its way cheaper.

iansoady · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2014, 12:00:27 »

The one supplied by Cosmo of this parish is reasonably cheap and seems well made and to work.

biglad · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2014, 20:48:25 »

+1 for Cosmo. I ordered mine from him (and the peg lowering kit). Well made and easy to fit, just don't overtighten it - you can reduce your fork movement if you do. there's pictures of mine fitted to my bike on a thread on the accessories page.

Goodlad · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2014, 20:55:15 »

Cheers for the recommendation lads.
I will be picking it up from him an a few other small bits too.

Goodlad · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2014, 19:25:35 »

Hello blokes.

I got my fork brace and tried to fit it today.
It simply will not tighten onto the forks. Possibly the powder coat is too thick?

I dropped over to my local mechanic incase I was being stupid and he found the same results as myself.

I've mailed cosmo but just wanted to post and see if anyone else has the same issue?

Oop North John · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2014, 19:53:00 »

The brace I bought for my Glee, and most follow the same logic, and you tighten the inner bolts, and then lightly do up the outer ones

http://www.adventuretech.biz/fork-brace ... tions.html

greywolf · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2014, 20:03:36 »

Loosen the pinch bolt at the bottom of fork below the axle too. It may be holding the fork leg slightly out of parallel.

Goodlad · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2014, 20:24:23 »

A video should explain.

Goodlad · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2014, 20:56:54 »

Is it possible there are 650 forks on my 1000 for some reason? :wtf:

Goodlad · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:17:04 »

Getting a bit weirded out now.
I ran a motorcheck on the bike and it lists my engine number as 141295

I'm guessing that should on the engine somewhere?

Only numbers I can find are these but I'm not sure what's what.. Is one of them the Vin/Chassis Number?

Sorry for flying off topic but... But thinking the bike has been crashed or something now...

MartinW · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:19:13 »

The first photo is your gearbox layout

The second photo shows the VIN - The long 17 digit number.

Goodlad · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:21:42 »

haha! Shows how much I know man. Sure I wouldn't have a clue how the bike even works. I put petrol in and it goes.

The fork brace not fitting is just weirding me out to be honest and the only explination cosmo can think of is there are 650 forks on my bike. I just can't see why that would be the case unless something had previously happened the bike that I'm not aware of.

Is there any way for me to know for sure if I have 650 forks on it?

Gassoon · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:30:36 »

Looking at the video I'm not surprised you are freaked out Goodlad? Do you know anyone with a 650? try the brace on his/hers?
Cosmo must have some drawings/plans of dimensions for his braces?

To me the most likely explanation is that the lad has sent you the wrong brace! Ie made with the wrong tolerances? Mistake in input on his lathes?

Can anyone with a micrometer and a 650 measure the top of their fork leg? Goodlad do the same, see if they match?

Goodlad · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:34:31 »

That's my hope!

He is sending me along a brace for a 650 and 1000 just to be sure and I will post him back whichever one does not fit. He numbers his brace, its stamped into them. The number stamped into the one I have is for the 1000 but I'm still hoping its a mistake with the brace rather than my bike.

My local bike shop has 2x 650 so I will stop by there on Saturday morning and try the brace on them.

tallpaul · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:46:44 »

Quote from: "Gassoon"

Can anyone with a micrometer and a 650 measure the top of their fork leg? Goodlad do the same, see if they match?

I've got a set of mics in my shed. I finish at lunchtime on a Friday so I will measure mine and post the size tomorrow.

Goodlad's brace can be sorted. It's just a matter of taking a bit of material from the joint face where the two halves of the clamp bolt together. The snag is that you need to do it on a milling machine!

MartinW · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2014, 21:58:06 »

I've just measured the point where my fork brace is fitted on a K4 650 - 58.9mm

Very hard to measure with a brace on, so see if someone else measures the same as me before you treat it as true.

cosmo · « **Reply #16 on:** August 01, 2014, 16:35:13 »

The forks of the 1000 are a little bigger. If you have a 1000 near by try the brace on it. If you try it on a 650 it will float as it flows now. The replacement braces will be shipped on Monday and it takes about 5 days but in August thinks slow down.

Juvecu · « **Reply #17 on:** August 01, 2014, 17:39:55 »

I deleted the picture with the VIN number, don't want anyone using it for anything dodgy

Oop North John · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2014, 17:50:33 »

Quote from: "Juvecu"

I deleted the picture with the VIN number, don't want anyone using it for anything dodgy

Kept picture with the engine serial number of 65432N1 then

greywolf · « **Reply #19 on:** August 01, 2014, 18:46:57 »

Quote from: "Oop North John"

Kept picture with the engine serial number of 65432N1 then

I've seen a few posts where people thought that gear shift display was a serial number. I still find it difficult to read when I'm trying to shift gears.