Re: GL1100 project - with cool tubular fork brace!
BUMP - for no other reason, but for everybody to get a load of this TUBULAR FORK BRACE for GL1100 -
How awesome is THAT? Used to see a few of these things around on the 'F-orums & Four-ums & forums, maybe 2003-2005 - But LATELY? These are some pretty rare parts indeed. And I LOOOOVE the look of a tubular fork brace.
The "SuperBrace" was offered for the four-banger 'WINGS - but starting when, exactly? Gotta wonder whether these TUBULAR things were offered early on in the 'F-bike production, say '79-'80, but then superseded by the eminently popular "SuperBrace" type unit.
More to the point, they wouldn't interfere with a fork SHROUD, in the CB350K, CB350F. CB450K0, Guzzi Eldorado, Harley Fat Boy, Honda VT1100 Classic, etc etc.
There are some nice one-piece fork shrouds for 41mm & 43mm forks, typically CHROME (but that could still be be remedied) from late '90s - Y2K+ CRUISERS of the "Classic" variety. I'd like to get my hands on one & give it a coat of paint, colour-matched to the main bodywork colour scheme, much in the vein of the aforementioned '60s-'70s CB twins.
But the sticking point on my "CB900K0 Bol Bomber" project has always been the CLAMP type fork brace, an odd-ball 10-bolt affair with purported Tarozzi heritage. Only seen a few quite like it. It's an interesting piece, I don't wanna get RID of it, it'll probably stay with this 39mm fork through to it's final home on a 750 I'm building for the Kid, for when she outgrows the "KZ440LOL" - I've got some nice fat gaiters/boots etc, and UPPER shrouds aka "fork ears" cut down from GL1100 parts. But it ain't the look I'm shooting for here.....
My GOAL is to utilize a double-sided 43mm TRAC rendered from '96+ ST1100-ABS parts, with two RHS legs & a custom made off-side caliper hanger etc. With the back-up plan of a 41mm fork from GL1500 - EITHER of which use the standard "Super-Brace" clamp-type design. Well it's an OEM brace with integral mounting lugs on the GL1200 & GL1500 41mm forks, whereas in the case of the 43mm from the ST V4 it's actually an add-on brace from somebody called "Blackwings" or something like that. Same idea more or less but with a wrap-around loop extending to the outside faces of the legs - Which is even WORSE - It'll fit just like this 39mm version, where I'd at least be able to use the shrouds in some sliced-up half-wrap fashion, on the Gold-Wing forks....
If there's some way of modifying an existing tubular fork brace, to fit the ST1100 fork, I'd be all over that shit. Or more like I'd have to BUILD one. A tall order.
So perhaps I've just gotta get my fork shroud jollies out with this 750 project for my Daughter. For the 39mm fork, and using an original CB900F tubular type fork brace. Then I'd just use THIS brace on the 39mm fork that's on the "KZ440LOL"
So YEAH - I'd like to get my hands on one of THESE things, in the mean-time! An original GL1100 / CB900F / CBX1050 pro-link tubular type fork brace.
Isn't this one of the coolest aftermarket parts you've SEEN for the 'WING???
They're making 'em for BMW over at "Flat-Racer" - Perhaps they'd make 'em for the '81-ish HONDA forks, if there were enough interest. Gotta check around the 'Wing & 'F-bike sites, see whether anybody else shares my interest in these original period-correct pieces.
-Sigh.