Fork brace
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I doubt if the fender adds much to fork stiffness. I once rode my bike down a boulder strewn track (never again) that I would have had second thoughts of riding on a proper trail bike. Problem was it was impossible to turn around! Those forks twisted about like they were elastic. However, that is not a typical situation for a dresser.
I am reminded of my BMW R100RS, to which I fitted a San Jose fork brace. That is a design that might work. It was a pair of thick-walled U-shaped tubes, fitted around the outside of the fender, one in front and the other behind the forks. They were welded together into a single stiff assembly via steel plates, then fastened inside the fender by the same mounting studs (or through-bolts on the BMW). They greatly improved the handling of that bike, also eased wear on the sliders and tubes.
How handy are you?!
As for rear stabilizers, there are about a dozen brands out there, take your pick. I have True-Track kits on both my Glide and Dyna and they are the only way to travel! They are definitely NOT bandaids, but fix the problem at source. To say otherwise suggests a misunderstanding of a Harley's rubber-mount system!
I am reminded of my BMW R100RS, to which I fitted a San Jose fork brace. That is a design that might work. It was a pair of thick-walled U-shaped tubes, fitted around the outside of the fender, one in front and the other behind the forks. They were welded together into a single stiff assembly via steel plates, then fastened inside the fender by the same mounting studs (or through-bolts on the BMW). They greatly improved the handling of that bike, also eased wear on the sliders and tubes.
How handy are you?!
As for rear stabilizers, there are about a dozen brands out there, take your pick. I have True-Track kits on both my Glide and Dyna and they are the only way to travel! They are definitely NOT bandaids, but fix the problem at source. To say otherwise suggests a misunderstanding of a Harley's rubber-mount system!
Last edited by grbrown; Jan 17, 2011 at 09:31 AM. Reason: Expanded.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 246
Likes: 2
From: hope mills, nc
i just found this, in a magazine. dont know if you have found anything yet, but thought it was note worthy.
go to drag specialties. do a search for TRACKER FORK BRACE. cant use it on our big bikes, but, it gave me some ideas. make something to follow the contours of the inside of the front fender........ keep the front end clean..... i ll give it a shot.
corb
go to drag specialties. do a search for TRACKER FORK BRACE. cant use it on our big bikes, but, it gave me some ideas. make something to follow the contours of the inside of the front fender........ keep the front end clean..... i ll give it a shot.
corb
I doubt if the fender adds much to fork stiffness. I once rode my bike down a boulder strewn track (never again) that I would have had second thoughts of riding on a proper trail bike. Problem was it was impossible to turn around! Those forks twisted about like they were elastic. However, that is not a typical situation for a dresser.
I am reminded of my BMW R100RS, to which I fitted a San Jose fork brace. That is a design that might work. It was a pair of thick-walled U-shaped tubes, fitted around the outside of the fender, one in front and the other behind the forks. They were welded together into a single stiff assembly via steel plates, then fastened inside the fender by the same mounting studs (or through-bolts on the BMW). They greatly improved the handling of that bike, also eased wear on the sliders and tubes.
How handy are you?!
As for rear stabilizers, there are about a dozen brands out there, take your pick. I have True-Track kits on both my Glide and Dyna and they are the only way to travel! They are definitely NOT bandaids, but fix the problem at source. To say otherwise suggests a misunderstanding of a Harley's rubber-mount system!
I am reminded of my BMW R100RS, to which I fitted a San Jose fork brace. That is a design that might work. It was a pair of thick-walled U-shaped tubes, fitted around the outside of the fender, one in front and the other behind the forks. They were welded together into a single stiff assembly via steel plates, then fastened inside the fender by the same mounting studs (or through-bolts on the BMW). They greatly improved the handling of that bike, also eased wear on the sliders and tubes.
How handy are you?!
As for rear stabilizers, there are about a dozen brands out there, take your pick. I have True-Track kits on both my Glide and Dyna and they are the only way to travel! They are definitely NOT bandaids, but fix the problem at source. To say otherwise suggests a misunderstanding of a Harley's rubber-mount system!
if you would go back, and read my post a bit more thoroughly, the item that i was referring to, didnt look like a solid enough piece to serve as a fork brace.... and no, the 1/16th of an inch (i am guessing on exact thickness) fender, is not beefy enough to serve as a fork brace either..... "but, it gave me some ideas". i could make something, to attach at the points that the fender attaches, and have it line the underside of the fender, to serve as a "hidden" fork brace. that sounds similar to the setup you are talking about, from San Jose, only under the fender.... i have never used that company (not that i know of, anyhow) but i raced my 1998 Honda XR 650 for a few seasons in cross country events, and hare scrambles, and there was a fork brace that i used, cant remember the company, but i think it was Scots. and is probably a similar setup. made for conventional forks, and to work around the slider covers (or upper fork protectors, on a dirt bike) but i dont know how much it benefited my setup, because i added it at the same time that i added a steering dampener, also from Scots.... i did have a very planted front end though, so, i know that the concept works.
however, i still plan on using the 2 inch longer tubes, and the "pinch bolt" design, from CCE, so as to attempt to fix the problem at it source, versus doing a "bandaid fix" job on making a custom-fender-support-brace. but, if one was not willing to part with the 850 or so dollars, this "could" serve as an alternative.
corb
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 18
From: Belmont, MI
i also found a "pinch bolt" triple tree for touring bikes. made by custom cycle engineering. they run about 850 bucks. but, if you dont wanna run without your sliders, and/or wanna look like an unmodified front end, they say that they will do the trick. i ll be putting them on my 2000 road king when i get home from afghan land in march. i tried to keep this one clean, but, the front end doesnt handle like my old 2004 did with the fork brace. so i am gonna try it. i ll let you know how it works, if you are interested. but it will have to wait until first week or so of april.
corb
corb
Rick
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 246
Likes: 2
From: hope mills, nc
corb
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Yes - results please?
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: MD
I have been exploring a fork brace and the CCE triple trees. If I had the money just hanging around, I would purchase and review the CCE for all of us, but I can only get it if I KNOW or have good reason to believe it works.
I was thinking it would be possible to get rid of the cow bells, then take the lowers and machine a nice round place for braces to grab onto, then install a brace made for these forks. I know that is kinda getting expensive too though.
I was thinking it would be possible to get rid of the cow bells, then take the lowers and machine a nice round place for braces to grab onto, then install a brace made for these forks. I know that is kinda getting expensive too though.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Last edited by grbrown; Aug 29, 2013 at 03:24 PM.
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From: bklyn,ny
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