Speedo Drive For 18" Front Wheel

[Wagner73]

Thank you Wagner for the update. It will be interesting to see how the UK one fits.

Thanks. The UK brace is a different type i.e. fits over the top of the fork sliders and then provides its own groove for the dust cover(s) to fit into. This places the cross brace higher and so I am hopeful it will clear the fender as well (the seller says it does)...fits similar to the ATK braces that some people have. The downside is that it's kind of spendy.

 

[jetmechmarty]

kind of spendy.

I assume you speak of the Fastec brace? Now there will be a tariff applied at the U.S. end making it even more spendy.

Cruzin Image (Japan) has stopped shipping to the U.S. from his website. To buy from him you have to use eBay. eBay adds the tariff up front so it doesn’t come as a surprise.

 

[Wagner73]

I assume you speak of the Fastec brace? Now there will be a tariff applied at the U.S. end making it even more spendy.

Yes...the British Fork Brace Co (part of Fastec). I decided it was a good experiment to see how their brace actually fit. I'm sure it clamps onto the fork sliders fine (and does have it's own machined grooves to retain dust covers), but was more concerned about it fitting with the stock fender...they claim it does, so fingers crossed.

All that said, it is expensive (although I might be getting the "experimental' price). Started at $181 without tariffs, fees, etc and benefited from the de minimis threshold. Now it will cost me $425 all-in including tariffs, shipping and so on paid thru eBay upfront.

I would hope that ongoing it would not be a $245 (135%) premium, cuz that's crazy even in today's environment.

 

[jetmechmarty]

This is a TKat brace on my Eleven Special. The Fastec brace is going to mount up and function exactly the same way.

Unfortunately, TKat retired a few years ago.

 

[jetmechmarty]

That brace becomes necessary after RaceTech modifications to the forks. I set it up for sporty riding on challenging roads. It works great.

 

[Wagner73]

View attachment 365589View attachment 365590

This is a TKat brace on my Eleven Special. The Fastec brace is going to mount up and function exactly the same way.

Unfortunately, TKat retired a few years ago.

A question for you about this fitment (and the same question would apply to the ATK brace that @5twins has used with good success).

Stock 78E fork travel is ~147 mm and that is coincidentally the approx distance between the top of the dust cover and the bottom of the cover over the lower triple clamp...so this allows full travel.

But, it appears to me that any of these clamp-on brace's brackets necessarily raise the dust cover anywhere from 15-25 mm, which would not allow full travel, unless, near the limit, it just collapses the dust cover (at least partially).

Coming back to the photo(s) of your Eleven, it looks like the free fork tube clearance is significantly more than a 650 (maybe being a Special helps too). Any thoughts about this?