Mike's Tubular fork brace, whos running one?

[RustiePyles]

Not looking for input on quality, It's Mike's and already know what to expect. Really just want to see if anyone has any pictures of their tubular fork brace being ran with a later style special front fender. I know its Mike's and its mostly overpriced Chinese junk but I really like they way the chrome tubular fork brace looks. I have no desire to put any billet aluminum on this particular bike.

 

[650Skull]

Not looking for input on quality, It's Mike's and already know what to expect. I know its Mike's and its mostly overpriced Chinese junk

You said it all buddy.............Not that i agree............some of mikes stuff is actually good so saying stuff is junk just because its mikes, has no bases of fact, just repeating what some want you to repeat.

 

[RustiePyles]

You said it all buddy.............Not that i agree............some of mikes stuff is actually good so saying stuff is junk just because its mikes,has no bases of fact

I've had bad luck with almost everything I've bought from them. Their side cover latches caused my side covers to leave the bike at highway speed. BUT when they are the only one that sells something... I figure how bad can a static part be, a fork brace has no moving parts.

 

[halfmile]

At least the Mikes fork brace is plated compared to the HHB for $115 in raw steel. Someone on this site had a tracker with one? I`m "Old School" myself.

 

[jetmechmarty]

What matters here is fitment. An ill fitting brace induces sticktion.

 

[cafetools]

id rather have a fender, im not a fan of the tubular brace. I think the Tarozzi brace looks fine.

 

[Jim]

This for your build or runner Fletch?

 

[RustiePyles]

At least the Mikes fork brace is plated compared to the HHB for $115 in raw steel. Someone on this site had a tracker with one? I`m "Old School" myself.

Also the Mike's brace is supposed to fit over a fender, so it's adds additional bracing to the fender itself. Hugh's will not fit over a fender.

id rather have a fender, im not a fan of the tubular brace. I think the Tarozzi brace looks fine.

I intend to run the Mike's brace over my fender.

 

[RustiePyles]

This for your build or runner Fletch?

This is for the 80 (runner). I'll fab up my own for the build

 

[RustiePyles]

What matters here is fitment. An I’ll fitting brace induces sticktion.

I'm not to worried about fitment, as long as its close I'll make it bend to my will. I've got a porta-power.

 

[RustiePyles]

You said it all buddy.............Not that i agree............some of mikes stuff is actually good so saying stuff is junk just because its mikes, has no bases of fact, just repeating what some want you to repeat.

View attachment 201016

@650Skull does it fit between the fender and lower leg or inboard of the fender tabs?

 

[Jim]

Well I'll echo Marty. Stiction would be my main concern. Even that wouldn't be a deal breaker.
If it's spread too much a press would quickly resolve that and a scissor jack would address it being too narrow.
Skull's pic above should answer your question on looks. I looked for more pics but didn't find any.

 

[Jim]

@650Skull does it fit between the fender and lower leg or inboard of the fender tabs?

Should go inside the fender mount, otherwise you're gonna have to tweak the fender mount.

 

[Jim]

 

[RustiePyles]

Should go inside the fender mount, otherwise you're gonna have to tweak the fender mount.

My thought s exactly.

Well I'll echo Marty. Stiction would be my main concern. Even that wouldn't be a deal breaker.
If it's spread too much a press would quickly resolve that and a scissor jack would address it being too narrow.
Skull's pic above should answer your question on looks. I looked for more pics but didn't find any.

Yeah If it doesn't line up or puts the lower legs in a bind I can make a gauge block to square it up, no big deal. Yes Skulls pic was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[RustiePyles]

I ordered it.

 

[Boog]

I learned something new here. I was incorrectly under the impression that all hoop style fork braces require one to toss the fender. Now I know.

 

[RustiePyles]

I learned something new here. I was incorrectly under the impression that all hoop style fork braces require one to toss the fender. Now I know.

Some of them do, like the one from Hugh's. The one Mike's sells is a copy of the one mentioned in the Minton Mods.

 

[650Skull]

@650Skull does it fit between the fender and lower leg or inboard of the fender tabs?

The guard is inside the brace. have to bend the guard a bit so it sits inside the brace.

Bit of history. Thee braces have been around for donkies. yea mikes, (Mike L copied the one from Minton but they wernt available from anywhere till he made them.

Hugh stole his design from Gordon Scott. Gorden started to make them,, (low ones that replaced the front guard) as an add on to his exhausts. Gordon got the design from an earlier one that was no longer in production, so started to make them as no one else was.

Hugh jumped on the band wagon and started to make them but instead of stating the truth he wrote a big speal how he spent months and lots of research, designing these new fork braces that no one else was making, specificly for the XS.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/hughs-handbuilt-fork-braces.28851/#post-293205
We looked around the forums, talked to some of our racing customers, and found a serious lack for a proper fork brace. So off to the shop we went, after about 7 different designs and tests , the final HHB Fork Brace was born out of steel, sweat and even a little blood (careful folks, those metal ‘burrs’ are sharper than you think! haha) Behold, the HHB Fork Brace! Made from 100% USA Made Steel,



gordonscott XS650exhaust.com



It will not fit, I should know, I've been building them for over 5yrs Hugh, you could have saved yourself all that "research and devolopment" and just bought one of mine, I knew about the ill handling of the XS years ago Even so I could not come up with anything original either, it's all been done

 

[bosco659]

Is this the same brace?