Alright here's the story.  Had a GS for a while.  I laid it down in the rain cause my fork brace gave up.  well i got another one.  It is stock.  First thing i want to do is replace the fork brace with something better.  What are the best mods to do for this?  Either that or i would not be opposed for making 2 front brakes.  In that case i have to change up the forks and all that jazz...  Whats the best conversion to do that.  Or at least the easiest to bolt on and ride?

Umm, how did your fork brace "give up"?

I believe I have a 1/2 inch thick brace I made a few years ago somewhere ... was saving up for mine, but I may have been saving up 2-3 cos one of them is in the back of my truck ...
$40 takes it. I believe they may be undrilled. In reality you should do a cardboard transfer and cut one that is a tight fit for your bike ... but I can get these drilled and ready to drop in too.
Cool.
Srinath.

If you use the stock one as a template you shold be able to make one from some thicker aluminum (I think 1/4" would be plenty thick) with a drill press. I've been thinking about it but haven't gotten arround to it. Using stock or aftermarket, the main thing is to make sure the bolts are snug. I use locktight on mine.

seshadri_srinath you have some fork braces left???

ANd as i understand it they are not drilled

Technically the GS does not have a fork brace. It is a fender brace. The factory crap that is on there does little to nothing in bracing the forks. I have one from a Katana that is aluminum.

1/4" aluminum is not really thick enough. Sandwiched between 2 stock ones and it might be beneficial.

dgyver, what year katanna did you get it from, or where did you buy it?

I am assuming the katanna one also works for the GS

Quote from: dgyver on February 23, 2007, 02:15:53 PM
Technically the GS does not have a fork brace. It is a fender brace. The factory crap that is on there does little to nothing in bracing the forks. I have one from a Katana that is aluminum.

If it does little to nothing, try running without it and tell us how it goes. 

Quote from: coll0412 on February 23, 2007, 03:35:38 PM
dgyver, what year katanna did you get it from, or where did you buy it?

I am assuming the katanna one also works for the GS

The aluminum one is the same size as the steel. The 89-97 Kat and GS can used the same brace as well as each other's fender.

Quote from: Chuck on February 23, 2007, 05:31:52 PM

Quote from: dgyver on February 23, 2007, 02:15:53 PM
Technically the GS does not have a fork brace. It is a fender brace. The factory crap that is on there does little to nothing in bracing the forks. I have one from a Katana that is aluminum.

If it does little to nothing, try running without it and tell us how it goes. 

I have no reason to down grade to satisfy your needs. If you want to know, then do it yourself.

Quote from: dgyver on February 23, 2007, 09:43:51 PM

Quote from: Chuck on February 23, 2007, 05:31:52 PM

Quote from: dgyver on February 23, 2007, 02:15:53 PM
Technically the GS does not have a fork brace. It is a fender brace. The factory crap that is on there does little to nothing in bracing the forks. I have one from a Katana that is aluminum.

If it does little to nothing, try running without it and tell us how it goes. 

I have no reason to down grade to satisfy your needs. If you want to know, then do it yourself.

I just have to call BS when I see it.  The stock fork brace clearly sufficient for almost everyone.  Hell, the only time I've heard anyone have a problem with it is after a crash, and there are many other parts that don't hold up in a crash.  (As in http://gstwin.com/racers_corner.htm)

Quote from: Chuck on February 24, 2007, 09:38:02 AM

Quote from: dgyver on February 23, 2007, 09:43:51 PM

Quote from: Chuck on February 23, 2007, 05:31:52 PM

Quote from: dgyver on February 23, 2007, 02:15:53 PM
Technically the GS does not have a fork brace. It is a fender brace. The factory crap that is on there does little to nothing in bracing the forks. I have one from a Katana that is aluminum.

If it does little to nothing, try running without it and tell us how it goes. 

I have no reason to down grade to satisfy your needs. If you want to know, then do it yourself.

I just have to call BS when I see it.  The stock fork brace clearly sufficient for almost everyone.  Hell, the only time I've heard anyone have a problem with it is after a crash, and there are many other parts that don't hold up in a crash.  (As in http://gstwin.com/racers_corner.htm)

The best you know is the best you have ridden.

If all you have ridden is with a stock plate then you have nothing to base your comments on. There are plenty that would not know if their forks are flexing. For those people, the stock plate will be fine for them. For those that can feel the flex, then something stronger is required. I do not care for a plate that has slotted holes, potentially allowing it to move. If I can bend one without much effort, how much do you think they can flex when subjected to the dynamic forces that are present?

The thickness of the plate primarly deterimines its strength. The type of material does too but I am not going into metalurgy at this time. The thicker the plate, the further the surfaces are from each on which the forces act. Ever seen an I-beam? The forces act on the flanges, one in compression and the other in tension. The web is there to create the distance so the forces have to be greater before deflection occurs.

If you have any evidence or other proof that can support your comments, please enlighten me.

 

your best bet is to get one from off this site, or have one made yourself. I have seen only two aftrmarket GS fork braces. One was from a UK company that ran about $80, the other one was around the same price if not more. Rediculous.

If you can get one from someone here; do it. It is just a piece of metel afterall.

www.superbrace.com They make one for the GS, easy to install, thicker, etc. It's pricey though, $137  I do know people who have them, though not for a gs, and they're very happy with the results 

Quote from: dgyver on February 24, 2007, 10:51:29 AM
If you have any evidence or other proof that can support your comments, please enlighten me.

Same to you.

Quote from: Chuck on February 25, 2007, 07:20:27 PM

Quote from: dgyver on February 24, 2007, 10:51:29 AM
If you have any evidence or other proof that can support your comments, please enlighten me.

Same to you.

I have already stated some basic statics information. If I have the time, I will do a FEA on the two parts.

I never said a stronger brace can't be better.  You said the stock brace basically does nothing, which is obviously not true.  I proposed a rediculous test to find out if what you said is in fact true, and no one in their right mind would try it.  You also said it's a fender brace and not a fork brace. (WTF??)

I have experience to base my comments on.  I ride with a stock fork brace and it has never caused me to crash.  Which is what the original poster is complaining about.  This is the evidence/proof of my claim that the stock brace is, as I put it, "sufficient."

The original poster never came back and said what ACTUALLY went wrong.  Could be vibration backed the screws out, in which case we're talking about the completely wrong solution anyway.

Quote from: coll0412 on February 23, 2007, 01:40:11 PM
seshadri_srinath you have some fork braces left???

ANd as i understand it they are not drilled

I believe I have 3 braces left and they are undrilled.
Not to poke my nose in this controversy ... but yes a thick fork brace will help handing, especially under braking. Would you notice it If you have a good set of tires, and a well aligned set of wheels, and decent front and rear suspension, then you will notice it.
BTW mine are 1/2 inch and 5/8th inch thick. The 1/2 inch was 7075 aluminum, and 5/8th was 6061. $40 and shipping will cover it if someone want to buy one.
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: Chuck on February 26, 2007, 08:28:25 AM
I never said a stronger brace can't be better.  You said the stock brace basically does nothing, which is obviously not true.  I proposed a rediculous test to find out if what you said is in fact true, and no one in their right mind would try it.  You also said it's a fender brace and not a fork brace. (WTF??)

I have experience to base my comments on.  I ride with a stock fork brace and it has never caused me to crash.  Which is what the original poster is complaining about.  This is the evidence/proof of my claim that the stock brace is, as I put it, "sufficient."

The original poster never came back and said what ACTUALLY went wrong.  Could be vibration backed the screws out, in which case we're talking about the completely wrong solution anyway.

Suzuki calls it a fender brace:
Part # 53114-01D00 Brace, Front Fender
http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0284/front_fender/front_fender.cfm?man=su&groupid=3190&parent=3070

I never said anything about it causing anyone to crash. Do not put words in my mouth.

I said "it does little to nothing in bracing the forks". It does something. If meant it does "nothing" then I woould have said it does "nothing"...."little to nothing" does NOT include "nothing".

Look at who typicaly buys the GS, which is Suzuki's low end entry level bike.....new riders with little to no experience. Yes it is sufficient for them. But for those experienced enough to know, opt for something better....hence why I call it a piece of crap.

The original poster said "I laid it down in the rain cause my fork brace gave up."  We don't know exactly what was meant by that, but the current discussion developed.  But at least that's what *I* was thinking about the whole time.