stupid spark plug question

[James Morrow Sr]

You don't NEED a fork brace. However, I LIKE to have one. The KLR forks are way too small in diameter for good stiffness, compared to quality forks. With my fork brace I find cornering is more secure, no minor noodling. And dirt work feels the same. It is minor, but noticeable for me, and I like it stiffer. Not a need for sure.

On 12/28/05, rodbon95 wrote: > > Why do you think you need a fork brace. Proper steering bearing > adjustment will fix any steering problems you may have. > > The only time a fork brace might be of benefit is if you had an > oversize disc and rode extremely aggressive on the street. I have > thousands of hard off-road miles without the need of a fork brace. The > only trouble I ever had was when the bearing adjustment was too loose. > > Being pushed around in the wind isn't a problem either with proper > adjustment. We adjusted a friends bearings and went on a very windy > ride and when we got back, he said that he couldn't have done it prior > to the adjustment because he got blown all over (sloppy bearing > adjustment). Try it before a fork brace, then decide. > > Rod > > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > -- James Morrow Sr Union, MO '00' RT + dual plug + Bunkhouse '00' BUSA + 15hp '05' KLR650 + big fun factor [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RM]

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 06:50:24 -0000, "rodbon95" said:

>Why do you think you need a fork brace. Proper steering bearing >adjustment will fix any steering problems you may have.

My KLR has a properly adjusted headset. The difference with and without a fork-brace is significant. Fork braces are a waste of money 95% of the time. The KLR is in the other 5%. Don't knock 'em 'til you've tried one. RM

[E.L. Green]

rodbon95 wrote:

>Why do you think you need a fork brace. Proper steering bearing >adjustment will fix any steering problems you may have. > >

My bike had a Happy Trails fork brace on it when I bought it. I notice no difference in handling with and without it.

>Being pushed around in the wind isn't a problem either with proper >adjustment. >

Proper adjustment, *AND* proper technique. I just finished a ride where I was subjected to 50mph cross winds, where when I turned into the wind the top speed of my KLR was 50mph in 4th gear with the throttle nailed. The "secret" as such is to *not* hang on to the handlebars with a death grip, but let the KLR do its thing. It bobbed up and down like a cork at every wind gust, but tracked straight and true through it all. What some people do is that the wind hits and the handlebar twitches in the opposite direction from the wind and the KLR starts tilting over into the wind via normal gyroscopic precession, they resist while trying to make the handlebars "go straight", and end up putting a countersteering input to make the bike skitter across the lane instead. The only handlebar inputs in a high wind situation should be normal steering inputs, with no effort at all put into "fighting" the wind. A properly configured KLR just handles it. (I must admit, though, that when the wind whips around from one side to the other, it can be a pretty wild ride and hard advice to follow!). Finally: If your forks are so worn out that they're sloppy, a fork brace might make your forks usable. I like the Happy Trails design better than the others that I've seen because it is adjustable and has enough clearance to clear oversized tires. Be aware that if you're going offroad with the thing, it *will* slam into your fender when the front fork bottoms, and *will* clog with mud. You don't want a fork brace offroad, period. _E

[Tony JONES]

> Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 10:03:31 -0800 > From: "E.L. Green" > Subject: Re: RE: Fork Brace > My bike had a Happy Trails fork brace on it when I bought it. I notice > no difference in handling with and without it.

Hmmn. I just bought a HT brace. I guess I should have made you an offer you couldn't refuse on yours I didn't have any major problems with the forks until I installed Progressive springs and an oversized front rotor (the later probably being the big change). Now I can really feel the forks flexing braking into corners, not that confidence inspiring. Maybe the brace will make no difference and I'll be a pissed off puppy, hope not. Tony

[flynshahin]

Any one has FORK BRACE for sale? falcon 02 650

[nycsingletrack@gmail.com]

"does adding a brace to the front fork improve the ride all that much?" I'm the guy who put a drz front end on an A15. Before that I had a stock front end with emulators, a fork brace, and progressive springs. This setup was alm at as good as the other front end. Fork brace- the degree of improvement depends on how loose your forks were built, which on a klr can be very loose indeed. A badly fitting brace is worse than none at all due to causing the forks to bind, I think that is what the confusion. Is based on. You need a brace that fits perfectly, but since the klr forks are all over the place that means you need a brace you can blueprint to your bike. Which pretty much means the K9 brace, and possibly some sanding to adjust the height of the crosspiece spacers. "deflection" is not a desireable trait. The suspension is supposed to soak up bumps, not the steering. Cartridge emulators are also worth the money. Devon Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

[Robert Waters]

Greetings. I have a 2007 KLR-650.  It has 8000 on it.  Tires are new Avon Gripsters. Recently, I have noticed that at high speed when passing and crossing lains (rough highway) the bike wobbles. It was pretty scary once.  I can also make it wobble deliberately and it does not always stop instantly when I want it to.   I'm wondering if a fork brace will fix this problem.  If so, what brand?    Robert Waters Huntsville, AR [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:48:11 -0700 (PDT) Robert Waters writes:

> Greetings. > I have a 2007 KLR-650.  It has 8000 on it.  Tires are new > Avon Gripsters. > Recently, I have noticed that at high speed when passing and > crossing lains (rough highway) the bike wobbles. It was pretty > scary once.  I can also make it wobble deliberately and it does > not always stop instantly when I want it to. >   > I'm wondering if a fork brace will fix this problem.  If so, > what brand?  >   > Robert Waters > Huntsville, AR

<><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><><> Robert, If it isn't the tires maybe you steering head bearings need adjustment. Don't know if a fork brace will reduce the wobbles or not. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Sweepstakes!!! Enter for your chance to WIN one of hundreds of daily prizes. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/JKFkuJi7UnnVXh67Wg5s4dHTd7ip3sOWgEDS1lktrwKKM0Cc1DqHgI/

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Jun 16, 2008, at 6:56 AM, Jeff Saline wrote:

> If it isn't the tires maybe you steering head bearings need > adjustment. > Don't know if a fork brace will reduce the wobbles or not.

Yeah, a fork brace won't help a whole lot. I've had the best success at eliminating wobbles by correctly adjusting the sag at both the front and the rear. -- Blake Sobiloff http://www.sobiloff.com/> San Jose, CA (USA) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[fasteddiecopeman]

Robert, First thing I'd do (and I DID, on mine!) is check for play in the steering head bearings which are probably loose. Tighten them up and your wobble should be gone. Ed