Who Makes Custom Fork Braces?

[Dirk_S]

Does anyone have recommendations to a company or chap who’ll make a custom fork brace for me?

I *thought* this Tarozzi fork stabilizer was going to work on the NTX forks installed in the V7, but the brace didn’t clear the 21” tire. I reached out to Fast from the Past, the US Tarozzi supplier (or one of at least), and they were pretty short with their responses. Apparently no fork braces to meet the specs needed that have any higher of an arch in the middle. A couple emails to other brace providers yielded similarly helpful responses.

[John A]

Maybe you can modify a generic brace https://www.denniskirk.com/search/Fork+brace.q

[Dirk_S]

Maybe you can modify a generic brace https://www.denniskirk.com/search/Fork+brace.q

I’ve definitely been looking. Haven’t found one with 58mm clamps that would appear to work yet.

[Perazzimx14]

I’ve definitely been looking. Haven’t found one with 58mm clamps that would appear to work yet.

What is the center to center spread?

Tube diameter

Rise needed to clear the 21" wheel.

It is very possible to get an oversized for brace then have a machine shop make bushing to adapt to the fork diameter. Even if the centers are different they can machine the bushing with the inner hole offset to be able to adjust the center to center measurement.   

[Dirk_S]

What is the center to center spread?

Tube diameter

Rise needed to clear the 21" wheel.

It is very possible to get an oversized for brace then have a machine shop make bushing to adapt to the fork diameter. Even if the centers are different they can machine the bushing with the inner hole offset to be able to adjust the center to center measurement.

• Distance between forks, center-to-center: 195mm
• Tube diameter: 40mm
• Slider diameter: 58mm (my calipers actually measured 57.5mm)
• Rise needed to clear the 21" wheel: >30mm (incorporating a low mudguard would probably require a little more distance.

Hadn’t considered the bushing idea. I was aware I could use thin aluminum sheet as a shim if that 58mm turned out to be slightly large.

[Perazzimx14]

Here is a Warp-9 fork brace for a DR650. I don't know the dimensions but its a good visual aid.

[bronzestar1]

Have you tried Superbrace? 

[Dirk_S]

Have you tried Superbrace?

All the Superbrace stabilizers that I saw don’t involve an arch, which would be necessary.

I do have a potentially promising lead—The T140/T160 has 57mm sliders and a 194mm fork-to-fork distance. With my cheap calipers, I read 57.5mm on the NTX slider—I’m curious if perhaps I can get away with the 57mm clamp and one less mm of fork-to-fork distance; doesn’t seem to me like it would be a big deal…but I’m certainly no expert.

Both Fastec (sold by British Fork Brace Co.) and Norman Hyde make an arched fork brace for the T140/T160, and I’ve put out queries. Norman Hyde responded last night that they’ll get back to me next week; BFBCo have yet to respond since messaging on Wednesday.

[PeteS]

What is the center to center spread?

Tube diameter

Rise needed to clear the 21" wheel.

It is very possible to get an oversized for brace then have a machine shop make bushing to adapt to the fork diameter. Even if the centers are different they can machine the bushing with the inner hole offset to be able to adjust the center to center measurement.

Along these lines have a shop make leg extenders. Lower half clamps over the the leg, upper section machined to fit your clamp. I made these for my Norton. They screw into the the existing threads made for the fork seal holder. The Norton forks are well below the tire here.









Pete

[faffi]

Make your own, of ask your local fabricator to make one? https://purposebuiltmoto.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-a-motorcycle-fork-brace

[Dirk_S]

Make your own, of ask your local fabricator to make one? https://purposebuiltmoto.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-a-motorcycle-fork-brace

If I had time I’d be all about getting the parts to make one, but I’m trying to get this all set up by mid-June in order to do part of or all of the Northeast Backcountry Discovery Route. The time window is tight, and freelance is already eating into chances of making my own.

[Dirk_S]

Along these lines have a shop make leg extenders. Lower half clamps over the the leg, upper section machined to fit your clamp. I made these for my Norton. They screw into the the existing threads made for the fork seal holder. The Norton forks are well below the tire here.

Thanks Pete. Hadn’t considered doing an extension. I’ll keep the idea in mind if I can’t come across one that (near) perfectly fits the specs.

[Dirk_S]

I re-measured the forks the other day, and got around 9 7/32”, which equates to a hair over 194mm. Perhaps the forks are indeed 194mm apart rather than 195mm. Since the Triumph 140 / 160 are 194mm apart, I went ahead and ordered the British Fork Brace Co / Russell James stabilizer made by Fastec. The other option by Norman Hyde would have better structural integrity, being completely one piece, but I’m not sure I could cleanly mount a mudguard.

We’ll see how it goes!

[PeteS]

I re-measured the forks the other day, and got around 9 7/32”, which equates to a hair over 194mm. Perhaps the forks are indeed 194mm apart rather than 195mm. Since the Triumph 140 / 160 are 194mm apart, I went ahead and ordered the British Fork Brace Co / Russell James stabilizer made by Fastec. The other option by Norman Hyde would have better structural integrity, being completely one piece, but I’m not sure I could cleanly mount a mudguard.

We’ll see how it goes!

Not sure how these braces are made but most have oval holes for the cross piece that allows for adjustment. You install the brace leaving the cross piece a bit loose and tighten the leg clamps. Then pump the forks a few times and then tighten the cross piece. Manufacturing tolerances are not that tight so allowances are made for that.

Pete

[Dirk_S]

Not sure how these braces are made but most have oval holes for the cross piece that allows for adjustment. You install the brace leaving the cross piece a bit loose and tighten the leg clamps. Then pump the forks a few times and then tighten the cross piece. Manufacturing tolerances are not that tight so allowances are made for that.

Precisely—this stabilizer indeed has oval holes as well. Fingers crossed. Want to get this front end installed within a month’s time.