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DSN_KLR650
Devon Jarvis
Posts: 2322
Joined: Thu May 10, 2001 9:41 am

fork braces

Post by Devon Jarvis » Thu Feb 14, 2002 5:22 pm

Glad you mentioned this. I have had the same problems with the K-9. I beveled the outside edges of the brace crossbar with a file, and made shorter (10mm instead of 14mm) spacers as well. I have ridden some pretty muddy days, and I have not had a problem with mud jamming the wheel. I made spacers accurate to .02mm. The spacers that came with the K9 were not this close, and I believe that the front suspension is a little smoother over small bumps now. Try pulling all four crossbar bolts, and clean the crossbar and the spacers. The crossbar should sit on top of the four spacers like it's on a sheet of window glass, with no gaps between crossbar and any of the spacers, and no play. If it doesn't do this, when you tighten the bolts you will be binding the forks a bit. This goes for any fork brace, but it's easier to diagnose and correct with the design of the K9 brace. Devon
> As a side note, the K9 brace will scrape the inside of the front > fender when you bottom out. I have the little scratch marks to prove > it. > > Stu

s2mumford
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2001 8:40 pm

fork braces

Post by s2mumford » Thu Feb 14, 2002 6:59 pm

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Devon Jarvis wrote: snip > What you describe sounds like a fork brace that is binding your forks a > little bit. No, it doesn't. It is doing exactly what it is designed to do: make the front end more rigid. I just liked the way the KLR's front end will soak up the small bumps without transmitting it to my hands. It's a smoother ride offroad without a fork brace. >Also, comparing Ye Olde Damper Rod to a modern cartridge for > isn't really fair either. > I didn't compare it to anything, did I? > Also, fork braces can catch sticky mud or rocks and jam the tire. I have > never had a problem with this myself, but a serious dirt bike wouldn't > use a brace for this reason alone. > I think this is a myth. I've never seen it happen, and I'm pretty sure that the mud/rocks would either just wad the fork brace (seen that happen to a Telefix) or (more likely just get knocked off the tire by the fork brace itself. Stu

s2mumford
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2001 8:40 pm

fork braces

Post by s2mumford » Thu Feb 14, 2002 7:22 pm

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Devon Jarvis wrote:
> Glad you mentioned this. I have had the same problems with the K-9.
I
> beveled the outside edges of the brace crossbar with a file, and
made
> shorter (10mm instead of 14mm) spacers as well.
On mine, it's a non-issue, it shaved about .1 mm off the inside of the fender, just noticed the scored plastic last time I was checking the front fender bolts for tightness.
> Try pulling all four crossbar bolts, and clean the crossbar and the > spacers. The crossbar should sit on top of the four spacers like
it's on
> a sheet of window glass, with no gaps between crossbar and any of
the
> spacers, and no play. If it doesn't do this, when you tighten the
bolts
> you will be binding the forks a bit. >
I think I installed it correctly, thanks. I don't think it's binding at all. BUT I'll check it anyway, just for you. Stu

Mark Wilson
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2000 3:12 pm

fork braces

Post by Mark Wilson » Thu Feb 14, 2002 7:31 pm

The K-9 seemed to improve my bikes off road handling. Especially in deep gravel/rocks areas. MotorMark
> > Glad you mentioned this. I have had the same problems with the K-9. > I > > beveled the outside edges of the brace crossbar with a file, and > made > > shorter (10mm instead of 14mm) spacers as well. > > On mine, it's a non-issue, it shaved about .1 mm off the inside of > the fender, just noticed the scored plastic last time I was checking > the front fender bolts for tightness. > > > Try pulling all four crossbar bolts, and clean the crossbar and the > > spacers. The crossbar should sit on top of the four spacers like > it's on > > a sheet of window glass, with no gaps between crossbar and any of > the > > spacers, and no play. If it doesn't do this, when you tighten the > bolts > > you will be binding the forks a bit. > > > > I think I installed it correctly, thanks. I don't think it's binding > at all. BUT I'll check it anyway, just for you. > > Stu

marcclarke@unforgettable.com
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2000 7:30 pm

fork braces

Post by marcclarke@unforgettable.com » Thu Feb 14, 2002 10:41 pm

I agree. My K-9 fork brace vastly improved my KLR650's handling in deep dry sand and in deep wet sand. -- Marc Illsley Clarke, Kawasaki KLR650 A12, Loveland, Colorado, USA Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 20:31:04 -0500 From: "Mark Wilson" Subject: Re: Re: fork braces The K-9 seemed to improve my bikes off road handling. Especially in deep gravel/rocks areas. MotorMark

marshall
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2002 12:34 am

fork braces

Post by marshall » Fri Feb 15, 2002 12:57 am

Stu, Don't feel bad about a full house. I diet religiously now, I stopped eating in church. Marshall

klrz4ever
Posts: 259
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2001 7:46 pm

fork braces

Post by klrz4ever » Fri Feb 15, 2002 7:28 am

> Arden if you load your bike with 100 lbs. of steak and beer, I have > one question for you; Where are we going? ;-) >
Not far, but it'll be _great_ ride! :^D Arden

mikewalburn2002
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2002 4:08 pm

fork braces

Post by mikewalburn2002 » Fri Feb 15, 2002 10:20 am

> > Also, fork braces can catch sticky mud or rocks and jam the tire. I
have
> never had a problem with this myself, but a serious dirt bike
wouldn't
> use a brace for this reason alone. > > Devon > A15
Try telling that to 9 time cross country champion Scott Summers. Mike Mike Walburn Director Of Product Development mike.walburn@... DUAL STAR Motorcycle Adventure Outfitters www.dual-star.com Tech Line (425) 776-RIDE M-F 10:00am-6:00pm PST FAX Line (425) 776-8876 24 Hr Order Line 1 800 GO N RIDE (466-7433) 24 Hr

Devon Jarvis
Posts: 2322
Joined: Thu May 10, 2001 9:41 am

fork braces

Post by Devon Jarvis » Fri Feb 15, 2002 10:29 am

As I mentioned to Stu in another post, I have heard this "jamming" business over and over, and have never seen a production dirtbike with a fork brace. Yet I have a brace on my KLR and even in sticky, muddy conditions have never had a problem myself. It's likely a myth but I haven't been riding offroad long enough to comfortably say so. Maybe it got started by people riding with low fenders in mud, which seems much more likely to have a problem. So, in the interest of useful information, who is Scott Summers, which Cross Country Championship are you talking about, what does he ride and on what terrain? Links would be helpful, this is the internet after all. Thanks Devon mikewalburn2002 wrote:
> > > > > Also, fork braces can catch sticky mud or rocks and jam the tire. I > have > > never had a problem with this myself, but a serious dirt bike > wouldn't > > use a brace for this reason alone. > > > > Devon > > A15 > > Try telling that to 9 time cross country champion Scott Summers. > > Mike > > Mike Walburn > Director Of Product Development > mike.walburn@... > > DUAL STAR > Motorcycle Adventure Outfitters > www.dual-star.com > > Tech Line (425) 776-RIDE M-F 10:00am-6:00pm PST > FAX Line (425) 776-8876 24 Hr > Order Line 1 800 GO N RIDE (466-7433) 24 Hr > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Ryan Newman
Posts: 249
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2001 5:55 pm

fork braces

Post by Ryan Newman » Fri Feb 15, 2002 11:40 am

> So, in the interest of useful information, who is Scott Summers, which > Cross Country Championship are you talking about, what does he ride and > on what terrain? Links would be helpful, this is the internet after all.
Devon, I believe Scott Summers is the GNCC champion, Grand National Cross Country. I also believe that he rides a Honda XR650. Ryan

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