Thoughts on fork braces

[davidpdx]

I am always looking for things to help my bike handle better and see lots of talk about fork braces. Anyone have thoughts about them and what type works best for our R65s? Thanks

[Justin B.]

I have a Telefix brace on the wife's but neither of us really ride it hard enough to really comment on it's usefulness.

[Tony Smith]

I doubt that a brace would do too much to improve R65 forks, my reasons for this thinking are firstly that the stock brace that masquerades as the mudguard mount is actually pretty good, and secondly that the R65 forks are fairly flexible and bracing them up more firmly than the OEM brace will not do much for the fundamental problem.

Unbraced K100 forks are a revelation compared to the stock R65 forks and then adding a brace makes an eye-opening difference in terms of further improvement.

[Jschara]

Hi Tony,  Is it difficult to fit K100 forks on a R65? or K75's.

Jim

[Tony Smith]

Hi Tony,  Is it difficult to fit K100 forks on a R65? or K75's.

Jim, can't comment on the R75 as I have never worked on one.

Fitting the K100 front end to an R65 is actually a doddle, the only thinking required is make up a means of securing the "plate" that mounts the headlight, instruments and blinkers.

You  end up with a lot of fork leg above the upper triple clamp if you wish to go on using your side-stand, but that is not of any great moment.

I bought a complete front end, as in forks, upper and lower triple clamps, handlebar mounts, mudguard, brake calipers and front wheel.

To which I added - handle bar risers to take weight off my damaged shoulder, Venhill brake hoses and a Tarozzi brace.

DO expect to rebuild the K100 forks and do buy and fit a new damper rod piston ring.

Do buy new steerign head bearings, it is not a good idea to run a tapered bearign in anythign but the race it left the factory with.


And the big one -
I am very pleased with the outcome.


A few things to rebutt the stuff that people who don't know fly $hit from pepper will tell you.

The bars do not hit the tank - even without the additional riser thhat I have fitted.

The stock steering stops on the lower end of the head stem tube match perfectly to the K100 triple clamp.

You do not lose any noticeable amount of steering lock

The bearings used for both the K100 and R65 (and any other airhead from mid-70s to end of days) are identical.

The paerking lock is in the same spot and works perfectly.

Whilst the spring rate of the K100 is heavier than the R65, it is not excessively so, think R65 with new heavy-duty springs.

Castrol Fork 5 fork fluid will be right in the ball park for most people - watch out as dry the K100 forks take a lot of fluid 475ml if meemory serves.

It looks stock - see my photos elsewhere on this forum.

The K100 front wheel allows you to mount a wide range of superior rubber and the extra grip does not go astray.

The stock R65 single caliper mastercylinder will work perfectly with the duel K100 calipers (2-piston, not 4-piston) providing you use braided lines.

The K100 method of feeding brake fluid down the steering tube is a revelation in terms of not having to run hoses through tight spaces.