Fork Brace Question?

[ReggieCCR]

What's the deal with fork braces? I've notice some cafe's with it on and some without it. I can understand it might be needed but is it necessary?

 

[Big R]

It's more of a safety feature. Just like brakes - board track racers back in the day didn't have brakes, but obviously you want them.

If you see an older bike with no fork brace, that just means that it is probably not ridden hard.

 

[ReggieCCR]

I figured, that make total sense. Thank you for the info.

 

[beachcomber]

Very crudely - they tie the top of the fork leg to the axle line - forming a box.
That means there is less likeliehood of any bending forces.

 

[620dark]

Don't they also help avoid tank slappers by increasing rigidity?

 

[Sonreir]

I suppose they could, to some extent. Mainly that's a function of steering dampeners though.

 

[Erskine]

It's all about structural rigidity innit! The stanchions (shiney tubes) have two clamps: top and bottom parts of the triple trees, but the lowers have only one clamp: the axle.
That makes for a whole shed load of wibbly wobbly potential at the top of the lowers, so a brace at the top helps the assembly to work in only one plane, i.e. up and down, together, at the same time.

 

[620dark]

It's all about structural rigidity innit! The stanchions (shiney tubes) have two clamps: top and bottom parts of the triple trees, but the lowers have only one clamp: the axle.
That makes for a whole shed load of wibbly wobbly potential at the top of the lowers, so a brace at the top helps the assembly to work in only one plane, i.e. up and down, together, at the same time.

Timey wimey? ;D

Here's a pretty good summary of some reasons to have a fork brace:
http://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/v36pg/if_you_are_cafemodding_an_older_bike_or_otherwise/

 

[ReggieCCR]

alrighty then. the brace is going back on for sure. Thanks evryone.

 

[DrJ]

Helps keep the fork lowers pointing in the same direction and level, that's a good thing.

 

[Drewski]

Fork braces are a good thing, IMO. However. One thing to remember. The energy that is developed by the forces working on your front end has to go somewhere. When you stiffen one area, the energy tries to find somewhere else to be released. It'll usually find the next weakest area to flex. Not usually a huge problem on the street, but it could be.

"Handling" is really a "whole bike" or "complete package" issue. From the tires up and axle to axle.

I'm no engineer...

... but I know one.