My darling bride convinced me the cost of a fork brace was worth the improved handling several members have touted so I cashed in the grandson's college fund (not really) and ordered a Kuryakyan gloss black fork brace for my 2015 GL1800. It came in yesterday and got installed this morning. I don't know if any other bike except the GL1800 will have the same resulting benefits from this addition but I do know I'll never own another without the fork brace. WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE !!!!!:xszpv::xszpv:
Here is my observations and reasoning......
The primary reason I even considered the brace was to cure the mushy feeling I got in high speed sweepers that had even a little washboard surface. I have lost front end traction more then once during those conditions and it scared the bajeebers out of me.
After the install this morning I headed for the closest place I knew to test the results. First thing I noticed was about two blocks from my house there is a 120 degree right turn. Pre-brace the trike front end would always lay over to the left and tend to cause the right rear wheel to lift a little. Not today and I did nothing different... That was a surprise to say the least so I started testing other handling anomalies. Every maneuver I put the Roadsmith into put a smile on my face. The front end just stays hooked up with the road surface soooooooo much better then I can even describe.
When I finally got to the targeted test curve, that usually has to be taken at 60 to 65 just to maintain control, I was AMAZED to find I can now take that same curve at 10+ and still have complete stability and control. What a relief. I was so concerned I had spent $180 and would not reap any benefit. When I returned home my wife did not even have to ask if the fork brace did what I had hoped. Guess the smile on my face speaks volumes....
Thank you so much to all the guys that have taken the time to tell us how their fork brace worked!
OH, one other point and you can take this for what it's worth.... The reason I chose the Kuryakyn fork brace was for the adjustability. Not everyone removes and remounts their front wheel but those that do know about leaving the left fork axle pinch bolts loose and bouncing the front end so that left brake caliper could align... If a non adjustable fork brace is used it is quite likely the brace and the axle may have to fight each other for alignment control resulting in premature ware on fork and brake parts. With the adjustable brace one loosens the center part or the brace, sets the left axle alignment, tightens the pinch bolts then tightens the fork brace center section.
I know that all is a bit of a ramble but hopefully it's valuable information. Any way you shake it, I'm now convinced the fork brace will improve GL1800 front end handling. :xszpv::xszpv:
Here is my observations and reasoning......
The primary reason I even considered the brace was to cure the mushy feeling I got in high speed sweepers that had even a little washboard surface. I have lost front end traction more then once during those conditions and it scared the bajeebers out of me.
After the install this morning I headed for the closest place I knew to test the results. First thing I noticed was about two blocks from my house there is a 120 degree right turn. Pre-brace the trike front end would always lay over to the left and tend to cause the right rear wheel to lift a little. Not today and I did nothing different... That was a surprise to say the least so I started testing other handling anomalies. Every maneuver I put the Roadsmith into put a smile on my face. The front end just stays hooked up with the road surface soooooooo much better then I can even describe.
When I finally got to the targeted test curve, that usually has to be taken at 60 to 65 just to maintain control, I was AMAZED to find I can now take that same curve at 10+ and still have complete stability and control. What a relief. I was so concerned I had spent $180 and would not reap any benefit. When I returned home my wife did not even have to ask if the fork brace did what I had hoped. Guess the smile on my face speaks volumes....
Thank you so much to all the guys that have taken the time to tell us how their fork brace worked!
OH, one other point and you can take this for what it's worth.... The reason I chose the Kuryakyn fork brace was for the adjustability. Not everyone removes and remounts their front wheel but those that do know about leaving the left fork axle pinch bolts loose and bouncing the front end so that left brake caliper could align... If a non adjustable fork brace is used it is quite likely the brace and the axle may have to fight each other for alignment control resulting in premature ware on fork and brake parts. With the adjustable brace one loosens the center part or the brace, sets the left axle alignment, tightens the pinch bolts then tightens the fork brace center section.
I know that all is a bit of a ramble but hopefully it's valuable information. Any way you shake it, I'm now convinced the fork brace will improve GL1800 front end handling. :xszpv::xszpv:
