Removing Fork Brace Cured Wobble
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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Likes: 156
Removing Fork Brace Cured Wobble
I know no one cares, but just kind of throwing it out there so when someone does a search this might be an option for figuring out a wobble. Ive been trying for a loooooong time. Ive gone through motor mounts, suspension, tires, air pressure, adjusting a million settings on the FXDX forks etc etc...
I was getting prepped to rip the forks apart, I took the fork brace off the fork and the bike automatically popped up a good inch and a half to 2 inches in the front.
Essentially, it seems the fork brace was putting outward pressure from the center of the forks to the outside, thus causing the springs or one spring to bind inside the forks (or possibly compress all the way down and never come up). I went for a rip today with no brace and its like a whole new bike. No brake dive, no wobble, no issues in twisties. Maybe it was user error or the fact that it was an $80 Custom Chrome fork brace from eBay, but either way, its done.
Ive seriously been chasing this for 3 years and Im elated that it was a free fix!
I was getting prepped to rip the forks apart, I took the fork brace off the fork and the bike automatically popped up a good inch and a half to 2 inches in the front.
Essentially, it seems the fork brace was putting outward pressure from the center of the forks to the outside, thus causing the springs or one spring to bind inside the forks (or possibly compress all the way down and never come up). I went for a rip today with no brace and its like a whole new bike. No brake dive, no wobble, no issues in twisties. Maybe it was user error or the fact that it was an $80 Custom Chrome fork brace from eBay, but either way, its done.
Ive seriously been chasing this for 3 years and Im elated that it was a free fix!
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Philly Suburbs
My fork brace experience (not that anyone cares about this either! 
)
I have a Superbrace. The first time I installed it, things were pretty much fine. Then for some reason that I can't recall, I had to remove it (maybe swapping the front fender). I changed other things at the same time, which confused my upcoming issue... Handling wasn't TERRIBLE, but just didn't seem right. I had recently installed a Predator front mount, done some alignment work, adjusted rear belt tension, etc. Since the brace had never caused an issue before, I didn't really think about it and chased all these other things, to no avail. Finally I removed the brace and went for a ride. The issue was gone, although so was the benefit of the brace. I reinstalled the brace, with a lot more care. I didn't do it on the side stand, I lifted the bike enough to straighten the fork but keep a little bit of weight on the front wheel. I installed the brace hand tight, lowered it a little and bounced the fork around a bit. With the bike fully upright, I tightened the brace bolts progressively and then torqued them. Went for a ride, and problem solved! Handling was back to normal, and so was the benefit of the brace.
Despite what the instructions say (mine said you could just install the brace on the sidestand), I think it's really easy for a fork brace to cause a little bit of stiction, or misalignment, or binding, etc. Not enough to be a disaster, but enough to create a negative effect. Now that you know your issue was brace-related, you might try reinstalling it carefully...
)I have a Superbrace. The first time I installed it, things were pretty much fine. Then for some reason that I can't recall, I had to remove it (maybe swapping the front fender). I changed other things at the same time, which confused my upcoming issue... Handling wasn't TERRIBLE, but just didn't seem right. I had recently installed a Predator front mount, done some alignment work, adjusted rear belt tension, etc. Since the brace had never caused an issue before, I didn't really think about it and chased all these other things, to no avail. Finally I removed the brace and went for a ride. The issue was gone, although so was the benefit of the brace. I reinstalled the brace, with a lot more care. I didn't do it on the side stand, I lifted the bike enough to straighten the fork but keep a little bit of weight on the front wheel. I installed the brace hand tight, lowered it a little and bounced the fork around a bit. With the bike fully upright, I tightened the brace bolts progressively and then torqued them. Went for a ride, and problem solved! Handling was back to normal, and so was the benefit of the brace.
Despite what the instructions say (mine said you could just install the brace on the sidestand), I think it's really easy for a fork brace to cause a little bit of stiction, or misalignment, or binding, etc. Not enough to be a disaster, but enough to create a negative effect. Now that you know your issue was brace-related, you might try reinstalling it carefully...
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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Likes: 156
Exactly what my deal was. I installed it 3 years ago, on the side stand and had no issues at first. Apparently it slowly caused an issue, so slowly that I never even thought about it. I might switch to a super brace or just toy with this one.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Philly Suburbs
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
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From: New York
My brother in law has been racing and building motorcycles his whole life and when I showed him the Superbrace a few years ago he commented on how critical it is to install it with exacting precision. He said it is common for the fork tubes to bind up while compressing at exactly the wrong time if not aligned properly. Not something to be taken lightly.
just wanted to bump this for some love.
going to try taking it off rn and run it. then reinstall on a lift, straight up n down. thank for the insight!
going to try taking it off rn and run it. then reinstall on a lift, straight up n down. thank for the insight!
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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Right on, thats why I shared. Hopefully someone else solves a problem with the info. I actually havent put it back on yet. Ive got the Predator mount in front, sputhe in the rear and I havent had any issues in the last week.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,020
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From: Vancouver
just a gimmick boys. you have race bikes off the line that dont run fork braces that take on extreme track conditions. yamaha r1, cbr1000rr, 1299 ducs etc...the list goes on. if fork braces were that essential, you would see it more standard on high performing motorcycles.
save your money for some better tires and gas.
save your money for some better tires and gas.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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This is super lame, but whether it works or not, I like it as an aestethic piece. I hate that unused space under the triple tree. I like to balance it out visually with top triple tree, bottom triple tree, then fork brace. Thats why I went with the cheapy one and not the $200+ piece. But, I got what I paid for right? Haha