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fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:34 am
by mossy1200
After the rearsets I found myself willing to do more.
I have between season fever.
Only 65 more sleeps till race one.
Started building fork brace.
Looked on net last night for braces and they are all $130usd or $260NZ dollars plus freight $30usd to New Zealand.
So i went to the ally shop and purchaced a chunk of ally for $45NZ or $23usd
Got home and way we go.
Heres what i got so far.
Its still two heavy so more holes to come.
It mounts across the forks clamping around dust seal area.
More photos to come.
My front guards dark dark blue black so do you guys think powdercoat black?
reason i ask is that i have some big lights that need powdercoated for a job at work and i though i would sneek these in too.
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Re: fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:23 am
by 95FZR600
Looks like they will work and if you could sneek them in to get powder coated even better. Very nice work.

Re: fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:42 am
by cad600
Yep, black would look very nice in there. Good work on that.

Re: fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:54 pm
by mossy1200
Thanks guys
I thought black would be the go.
They are still heavy and i will lighten more tonight.
They are a struggle to get them in the gap but if the front slack on the shock is lifted up they go in.
They are a good tight fit aswell.
I will keep working on them and add more photos.

Cheers Steve

Re: fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:30 pm
by yamaha_george
mossy1200 wrote:Thanks guys
I thought black would be the go.
They are still heavy and i will lighten more tonight.
They are a struggle to get them in the gap but if the front slack on the shock is lifted up they go in.
They are a good tight fit aswell.
I will keep working on them and add more photos.

Cheers Steve
Steve,
When you lighten them be careful not to destroy any torsional strength (you built this to make the shocks work together I assume )
I hope you have invested in a good set of valve emulators (PV Valves ) & new linear springs ? I know a good suspension man in Oz.if you need help .............

Re: fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:39 pm
by megaloxana
Nice idea moss, i hope it shows a huge improvement.

Re: fork brace

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:49 pm
by mossy1200
front ends been worked by specialist prior to me getting bike so sorted.Rear end has had whitepower internals and spring.
Suspension is good but sure there is some flex at the front so will trial it at track day.
Got plenty more work to do ,It weighs 1kg at the moment so will add more holes but not overdo it.
Ally it 20mm thick so shes strong.Thinking of four more holes the same as the 6 smaller ones and then making the six existing ovals or larger.
I think i will make arround 40% hole and 60% ally.
Will post more shots as we go.
Go a new file today as my old one was shot so i gave up last night.

Cheers guys

Re: fork brace

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:23 am
by mossy1200
Got it on first fit.
worked out the indicator holder would contact.
Took front off and cut away lower portion of fairing frame.Saved some of the weight of the brace.
Thinking of trialing next open track day before final shaping and paint prep and powdercoat.
Opions about the value of braced forks.Good idea or little use.????????????????????????
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Cheers Guys

Re: fork brace

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:51 am
by sweekster
Nicely done Moss. I'd like to know if there is any difference or not. Keep us posted.

Re: fork brace

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:14 am
by mossy1200
sweekster wrote:Nicely done Moss. I'd like to know if there is any difference or not. Keep us posted.
Thanks sweekster.
Will do
You can buy these but they seem overpriced.
Admitted CNC would be perfect compared to hole saws.
Did manage to get holes straight and round by using 60mm holesaw which travelled out to 62mm.
63 required.Used file until close then wire brush drill head small to sand balance.
Very surprised that the hole ended flush and square.
Calipers showed 62.9 to 63mm so very close.
I was going to get it laser or water cut but both were $100 for the two holes .
I keep looking at some of the race photos and im convinced the front twists and the inside fork compresses further than outside fork.
Although the more beers i have the worse it appears to be...LOL
Thats beers before looking at photos not racing.

Just want to ride it again soon.
Got the trumpet out on the weekend but its not the same.

Cheers Steve
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Re: fork brace

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:11 pm
by mossy1200
finished and fitted.Will wait for powdercoat until tested it.
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Re: fork brace

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:24 pm
by megaloxana
You dont really realize how beefy it is until its on the bike...looks like it wants to crush those puny fzr forks. When is the test day?

Re: fork brace

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:31 pm
by mossy1200
megaloxana wrote:You dont really realize how beefy it is until its on the bike...looks like it wants to crush those puny fzr forks. When is the test day?
There is two before season starts.First is in two weeks.Next is 6weeks.Going to pick by weather as my wets are new and i want to use my last years slicks up as i have sponcer this year that will buy 3slicks sets and one wets set so want to start season on new slicks and wets giving me spare wet set and 2slicks sets plus the new ones on rims.That should do the series unless it rains to often then i will up the wets and reduce the slicks as required.
Stock is two wets(one i paid for)
3slicks all paid for buy sponcer.
Thanks Ideal Electrical Wholesalers.

Re: fork brace

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:15 am
by mossy1200
Tried my brace on Sunday.
good points zero
Noticed no handling improvements.(i didnt have problems prior anyway)

Bad points.
High speed vibration
bike ran hotter as the brace must have been disturbing air flow or reducing it.Not much higher but reduced to norm when removed for the second half of the practice day.
Heavy considering it felt no better.

Conclusion.Wasted time constructing but but wont die wondering.

Also learnt some things at track.
My race discs are 2mm wider on outside so the outside pads(new set)have no room to retact giving me binding brakes.
Fix= skimmed 1mm of outside pad and skimmed half mm off caliper fork mounts.
I will now buy one set of pads at time then swap my inner worn to outside and install new pad to inner each time to offset the problem.
Just do it twice as often one set at a time.Will have to make sure i buy the same type and brand each time.