Fork Brace Question

[Bob_M]

The early 80s air heads come with a pretty robust steel fork brace/fender mount. My RS also has a Telefix fork brace that just got back from the powder coater. A mechanic told me that the Telefix when mounted tight enough to provide additional stiffness, can mash and deform the top of the fork tubes. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have a pal with a 1983 RT that he wants to sell and it has the tube type fork brace (CC products ?) Should I try to buy the brace off his bike? My R100 has no fork brace other than the stock fender mount and the front end does not seem rubbery, but I have not ridden on a bike with a brace. Am I missing something and if so what? :dunno

[lorazepam]

I will buy the telefix if you buy his tubular one

[flash412]

The early 80s air heads come with a pretty robust steel fork brace/fender mount. My RS also has a Telefix fork brace that just got back from the powder coater. A mechanic told me that the Telefix when mounted tight enough to provide additional stiffness, can mash and deform the top of the fork tubes. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have a pal with a 1983 RT that he wants to sell and it has the tube type fork brace (CC products ?) Should I try to buy the brace off his bike? My R100 has no fork brace other than the stock fender mount and the front end does not seem rubbery, but I have not ridden on a bike with a brace. Am I missing something and if so what? :dunnoThe stock brace from the early 1980's is crap. I've used both the Telefix and the CC products tubular brace and both will give you a HUGE improvement in handling. Never heard of a Telefix deforming a BMW fork tube. Maybe some old Cerianis or summat?

[lorazepam]

I was thinking aobut getting one of these, Flash.
http://bikes.sjbmw.com/docs/parts/parts_list.asp?bike_model_id=29&scat_id=83

[kbasa]

The stock brace from the early 1980's is crap. I've used both the Telefix and the CC products tubular brace and both will give you a HUGE improvement in handling. Never heard of a Telefix deforming a BMW fork tube. Maybe some old Cerianis or summat?

Maybe he's confusing it with the fork brace introducing misalignment into the front end. If you just bolt all the parts on, you can get the sliders out of alignment with the legs and the fork will bind up. The best way to install a fork brace is to loosen all the bolts up, install the fork brace wheel and everything, but leave everything loose. Then, starting at the top, work your way down the fork leg, ensuring everything is true.

It's a pain in the butt to do, but it will keep the sliders from binding on the legs.

I'd be this is what he's thinking of.

FWIW, my personal favorite airhead fork brace is the San Jose tubular jobs. They're very nice. I had one on my RS and will have one on my CS. I had an ATK fork brace on my CB750F that was very similar to the Telefix.

[magwa]

I don't know.

The *real* reason that I am set up this way on the RS is that I like the BMW/Telefix. I polish them and hang the rubber gaiters on them. Butt one must keep the fender on the bike. And if you are building a bike and buy the wrong stainless brace/bracket (which I agree does not work well as a fork brace), then you need to put the fender on somehow...reach in the stash of parts and grab some high-gloss black. Next morning, here's what you get:

[magwa]

They CAN bind up. Previous advice was on target. You'll know if you pogo around sweepers.

[flash412]

Maybe he's confusing it with the fork brace introducing misalignment into the front end. If you just bolt all the parts on, you can get the sliders out of alignment with the legs and the fork will bind up. The best way to install a fork brace is to loosen all the bolts up, install the fork brace wheel and everything, but leave everything loose. Then, starting at the top, work your way down the fork leg, ensuring everything is true.The method I always used when I changed a tire or did front end work was this...
Leave the center bolts on the Telefix loose (the ones that clamp the two halves together). Install the axle, tightening only the axle nut itself. Take the bike off the center stand and roll it forward a foot or two and then grab the front brake. PUMP the forks a few times. GENTLY put the bike on the side stand, trying not to disturb the front end. Then tighten the axle clamp bolts. Pump again. Now tighten the Telefix bolts. This method always worked for me with good results. If you still have any binding... you might have a bent fork tube or two.

[flash412]

I was thinking aobut getting one of these (http://bikes.sjbmw.com/docs/parts/parts_list.asp?bike_model_id=29&scat_id=83), Flash.That thing is GREAT! I didn't mean to use BOTH the Telefix AND the tubular brace. Either one will make a considerable improvement in handling. It seem to me that using both won't help much more than one. The spindly fork tubes will be the weak link in the system and all the fork bracing in the world won't change that. Then again, I never tried two at once. So I could be wrong.

[Bob_M]

:brow
...I never tried two at once. So I could be wrong.

No, seriously, thanks for all the input. My buddy will sell me his tube type fork brace. Now I have to get his RT out of my garage.

[flash412]

Now I have to get his RT out of my garage.If that means finding a buyer... dickhein (on the MOA forums) might be looking.