Speedo Drive For 18" Front Wheel

gggGary said:
Thanks! It had the fork brace when I got it, I think it was custom. There was a similar brace made for a while, can't recall the name off hand.
This one is pretty similar?
Click to expand...
I also pinged the seller of that other one you found and this is what they said (attached pic)

So I guess in all of these cases when they say it "fits" an XS650, that translates into "We just plugged models into the description, it really doesn't fit"😆
 

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Wagner73 said:
I also pinged the seller of that other one you found and this is what they said (attached pic)

So I guess in all of these cases when they say it "fits" an XS650, that translates into "We just plugged models into the description, it really doesn't fit"😆
Click to expand...
That’s precisely the issue. I tried most of these vendors and they are unable to confirm or it just doesn’t fit. I will keep looking to see if a used one off the XS650 pops up in FleeBay ( similar to Garry’s design)…..
 
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A famous 2 stroke builder from the 70's/80's (Ed Toomey) in the US is having a fit as his small business has taken a major hit with the tariffs. He might close shop which will be a real shame. All his parts are shipped from Japan and the UK and apparently his suppliers have stopped shipping to the US. DHL and FED Ex are slapping him with 1K plus surcharges.....I am not an economist but I do know that small time business are suffering...
 
350GUY said:
A famous 2 stroke builder from the 70's/80's (Ed Toomey) in the US is having a fit as his small business has taken a major hit with the tariffs. He might close shop which will be a real shame. All his parts are shipped from Japan and the UK and apparently his suppliers have stopped shipping to the US. DHL and FED Ex are slapping him with 1K plus surcharges.....I am not an economist but I do know that small time business are suffering...
Click to expand...
Yes. If you depended to a large degree on imported parts and components, I can see you would be in a world of hurt. I have some experience in this from my workaday past...we started up our own factory(s) in China to make transducers, etc., while the bulk of the final product was manufactured here. But any disturbance in that supply chain ($, shipping delays, etc) was very difficult to deal with.

Back to the fork braces, the suggestion I have floated with the British Fork Brace people is to ship DHL Express; they will then import the part, and pay the fees on your behalf, you just have to pay them back within 5 days or they send your shipment back.

I received a shipment from Smedspeed in the post-tariff world and this is how it worked. I paid DHL immediately and the door-to-door time UK to TX was ~2 days. Hagon has also shipped me a few sets of shocks in the pre-tariff world via DHL Express, and they have always been fast, trackable and reliable. A bit spendy but you get what you pay for.

Essay complete 🙄
 
Wagner73 said:
I also pinged the seller of that other one you found and this is what they said (attached pic)

So I guess in all of these cases when they say it "fits" an XS650, that translates into "We just plugged models into the description, it really doesn't fit"😆
Click to expand...
Okay, let me revisit this...

After saying it wouldn't fit, the eBay seller (The Vintage Spoke, AR) further responded that it actually would fit but visually it was not ideal. I asked for clarification and the attached pics show our conversation...I am waiting for a response to my last entry; will update when received. Maybe this can be a solution.

And FWIW, no response so far from the British brace co.
 

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Wagner73 said:
Back to the fork braces, the suggestion I have floated with the British Fork Brace people is to ship DHL Express; they will then import the part, and pay the fees on your behalf, you just have to pay them back within 5 days or they send your shipment back.
Click to expand...
I have not heard back from these folks yet, but in the course of further rummaging around, found the eBay entry below. Not sure what the story is with this alternative entry, nor who perhaps is ready to pay $350+ for a fork brace, albeit admittedly a nice one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235597949680
 
Wagner73 said:
I have not heard back from these folks yet, but in the course of further rummaging around, found the eBay entry below. Not sure what the story is with this alternative entry, nor who perhaps is ready to pay $350+ for a fork brace, albeit admittedly a nice one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235597949680
Click to expand...
Same one as linked to in post #24?

Very different prices, it seems.
 
Its been a long time said:
Same one as linked to in post #24?

Very different prices, it seems.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's the same brace but a different landing page. And as you noticed, the price is substantially different. This may be their attempt to price it all-in including tariffs, etc. Hopefully, when/if they respond to me, it'll become clearer.

However, one thing I don't understand is if it's priced all-in, then there shouldn't be an eBay warning that the buyer will be responsible for additional charges...but there is. And eBay goes to some lengths explaining what messages you might receive and which ones mean the price is all inclusive and which don't. I tested this by trying to buy it and a message popped up stating I was on the hook for additional charges. So ??!
 
I corresponded with Fastfromthepast (Tarozzi), they no longer make one for the XS650. The Fastec one is actually the British Fork Brace Co part (they're part of Fastec) and I have a query into them about shipping to the US.

Have to check out Phil Little & Motone...thanks.

Edit / Update - Searched Motone's site, couldn't find anything for an XS650; maybe I'm no good at it(?). Phil Little's site has a few pics of bikes with a nice -looking brace, but no mention of one to purchase.
 
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Speedo heads are same ratio. Any diff. is in the drive gearing.

Not to worry! as mentioned, just use the 18" and it will match actual miles since all are over anyways(MPH/Km/Hr)

Speedo and odometer are never matched regardless.
 
jetmechmarty said:
https://www.motone.co.uk/motorcycle-parts-c26/yamaha-c74/motone-fork-brace-sr400-xs650-p1764


View attachment 365097
https://www.omarsfiberglass.com/dirt-track

It does seem everything XS650 is OOS. I guess I thought the good times would last forever.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Not sure how you found that Motone listing but good on ya. If you go to their site and search for Yamaha or XS650 parts, it doesn't show up, which is probably related to the OOS status...not made anymore.

And Phil Little does talk about a new brace, but no indication it's for XS...I'm kinda thinking it's for Sportsters, etc.

The search continues...😳
 
Wagner73 said:
Thanks! Not sure how you found that Motone listing but good on ya. If you go to their site and search for Yamaha or XS650 parts, it doesn't show up, which is probably related to the OOS status...not made anymore.

And Phil Little does talk about a new brace, but no indication it's for XS...I'm kinda thinking it's for Sportsters, etc.

The search continues...😳
Click to expand...

Ok...I have to confess that I am completely sick of these sellers hiding behind vague words and not really coming to the party with concrete info as to whether their POS fork brace will fit our XS650's. Further, I ask them direct questions thru the eBay portal and the silence is deafening.

Therefore - kill me - I have ordered two of these likely candidates and will report on fitment when I receive them (assuming it's not too freakin' cold to work in the garage). Bleah...
 
Wagner73 said:
Ok...I have ordered two of these likely candidates and will report on fitment when I receive them (assuming it's not too freakin' cold to work in the garage). Bleah...
Click to expand...

I have received the first sample brace I ordered; It is a KEDO KD30137 brace purchased from The Vintage Spoke and listed to fit an XS650...this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3257815116...KM94QT&hash=item4bda175dc8:g:uQwAAOSw0RFk4hY4

Bottom line is that it does not come close to fitting with stock dust covers and fender, see pics. It would likely fit if you wanted to run fenderless (or adapt another fender to attach to the brace), and it would probably also be helpful to trim the bottom of the dust covers slightly. The ID of the slider clamp is essentially the same as the OD of the sliders (~55.18 mm) but the clamp expands a tic to provide a solid fit.

I wish to run stock parts so will not be using this one and probably will pop it into the classies; and so I am awaiting a second sample from the UK.

PXL_20260201_151027339~2.jpg
PXL_20260201_151132811~2.jpg
 

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