[n1cavu]

Would someone be so kind to educate me as to why a fork brace is needed on the 01-10 1800. Superbrace shows the front forks deflecting creating a front end wobble and fork distortion stating there is cupping problems without a brace.

Shouldn't increasing the front air pressure from 36 psi to 37 or 38 psi help reduce the wobble or is the brace just sales hype. I cannot imagine Honda engineering has not addressed this issue.

Please advise and thank you,

Jim

 

[fossil92]

Jim,

Fork braces are not necessary, many people do not have them. They are one of those items that you CAN add.

Cupping can be attributed to poor tire management as well.

 

[Chopin]

That's a tough one to answer yes or no. To brace or not to brace? As with a lot of addys that others have on their Wing I have put one of those on my wishlist. Why you ask ? I don't know. Perhaps monkey see, monkey do. Can it hurt, NO. Can it help with something or anything ? That gets back to your question. I don't feel anything wrong with my stock set up so right now I don't think I'll appreciate the subtle improvement of a brace. Front wobble has been attributed to the steering head bearings by many riders and the cure for that is to change them out with All Balls brand bearings. And that's all I know at the moment in case you asked.

 

[n1cavu]

Fos and Chop,

Thank you both for the valuable information. I have been away from riding a Goldwing since 2002, and just purchased a newer used one.

Again, thanks for helping get me up to speed.

Jim

 

[Chopin]

Update Jim: I just went for a little ride today; 52*, shield up, flannel lined jeans, sweat shirt and Joe Sprocket riding jacket... Perfect. I checked numerous time for the infamous wobble that I am all too familiar with since I bought the bike with 8,400 miles on it in '09. None " yet ". I'm currently running a car tire with about 3,000 miles on her and a Bridgestone 709 up front with about 2,000 miles on her. Time will tell, but this is what I can tell you at the moment: The difference this time is that I am running on the rear a car tire that should wear evenly across compared to my previous Metzeler 880 which, as motorcycle tires tend to do, cup with wear and mileage. By all others hopes and statistics, the rear car tire should last as long, if not longer than the front tire. If the infamous wobble should return when the front tire is showing the cup effect and the rear is wearing evenly I can intuitively deduce the infamous wobble to the front wheel cupping. Can't I ?

 

[n1cavu]

Thx for sharing, I went for a ride also just getting re-familiar with this machine, 61* here. The industry and engineering has changed so much since i have been on a wing, and further I did not know you could put a car tire on it, but your theory seems predictable.

This bike has only 1400 miles on it and I am getting ready to change the oil this week probably to Honda OEM specs.

What is your opinion on a tulsa belly pan to protect coolant tank which is plastic. There is a video on the lubrication forum showing a guy changing his oil and removing a tulsa belly pan which should protect the bottom of the bike. I certainly appreciate your input.

Thx and safe riding.

jim

 

[cpwomer]

I'm not name dropping or making any advertisement for the said brace and I don't even know how many companies are out there but, I live in the north GA mountains at the end of a dirt road that you nearly need 4 wheel drive to come visit unless its raining then I come pull you up the mountain. Anyway that is where I notice the obvious difference in the steering control of the bike, unbelievable difference. The front end is so tight its like someone put a whole new front end on my bike. If you don't have one yet, well your missing out on a whole new riding experience. Well I know I sound like some commercial but you will just have to try it yourself. I can't wait to run the Tail again to see the difference...Meanwhile I'm wait for my CT to arrive. Imagine tight front end CT in the back. It'll be like Xmas having a new bike to run....Just thought I' make a suggestion. Oh and my new Michelin Pilot for the front just arrived (rear tire turned backwards of course. Thanx guys Good Luck and Ride Safe, Craig

 

[Chopin]

What is your opinion on a tulsa belly pan to protect coolant tank which is plastic. There is a video on the lubrication forum showing a guy changing his oil and removing a tulsa belly pan which should protect the bottom of the bike. I certainly appreciate your input.

Thx and safe riding.

jim

I don't have the " Tulsa " brand belly pan, but I do have a belly pan. Mine has a front piece that is removable by removing three screws which allows access to the oil filter. The rest of the pan stays attached to the underside. Now when I change the coolant the entire pan will have to be removed to access the overflow reservoir.

 

[Tuppy]

i had a brace on my ST1300 and the tire still cupped.

 

[cpwomer]

i'm not saying the cupping will or will not happen but the control and response to the steering far out ways the possibility. Cupping can also be attributed to many things not just one. Spongy shock, worn wheel bearing, loose tree nuts, twisted forks. Many things attribute to cupping so unless you install advanced parts tried and true to a better front end then believe me you'll always get some cupping. Weak springs is another contributor. That's where the Progressive springs you here about are so popular. No one thing is going to fix that problem but a combination of several improvements may help with the longevity of your front treads. And this holds true for even a brand new MC. If the manufacture put all of the number one stuff in you bike, keeping in mind they are mass produced, then a Honda would far surpass the cost of most MC's on the market. They are appealing to a broader market. Not just racers or cruisers, or sport runners but all. And in each market there are after-market parts designed to advance the ability of that particular end user. Some people buy a vehicle with the intent to get a new one every 3-5 years. Then there are people like me that run a 1988 and I'm totally content to be riding the same for another 20 years. That's why my other ride is a 1969 Torino GT and my last big truck was a 1990 Peterbilt and both are still in my driveway. Thank You... So Ride Safe and never think you are to old to learn something new...Craig

 

[Dookoo]

Fork braces are not an improvement. There is nothing that a non-braced Wing cannot do that one with a fork brace can do. It is just different. Some like lots of flex in their fishing rod, others do not. Same difference. Will not make you faster in the twisties but some like the firmer feel during slow speed maneuvers.

 

[Shoe]

Interesting that the subject of the rear tire ( car tire ) would come up when the topic is about fork braces because I have noticed a difference in front end feel and wobble when I adjust the rear wheel preload. So I believe there is a connection between the rear wheel and the front wheel wobble.

I find that there is less noticeable wobble with lower settings then when I use a higher setting.

If I can get the windscreen height and the preload tweeked I would have a smooth ride.

 

[budoka]

These threads and c/t's seem to have links like Frank Calliendo has with using Brett Favre in his routines. It just happens. I had a brace on my 1200 and liked it. Don't have one on my '09 and desn't seem to need one.

 

[Grandy]

I have been wondering if a brace is truly needed. My '06 came with one, pretty sure it is a Kury. 9 months later I had the bike "triked" and the good folks in Shawnee told me I didnt need a brace for a trike. Any thought??

Secondly, after replacing front seals twice I took the brace off. I cant really tell any difference in handling or wabbleing. My question is here, I dont have the original Goldwing chrome that was replaced by the brace. Is that chrome piece for show or do I need it???

 

[Two Wheel Wing]

I had a superbrace on my 98 GL1500 and it did seem to help with slow speed turning. I don't have one on my 09 GL1800 and don't feel the need for one. I did/do have the belly pan on both bikes and think they are worth the price if only to deflect a rock that could cause damage to the underside. JMHO..

 

[Bill Reber]

Cupping is in most cases is failure to properly inflate the tire

 

[Dookoo]

I actually prefer the ride without a fork brace. So the saying goes, to each his own. I rode several GW's with stock front ends with a brace. Nothing comes close to having the right (stiffer) springs in your suspension. It feels stiffer with less flex but didn't do anything to improve control or ride. Just my opinion.

 

[Chopin]

.......... My question is here, I dont have the original Goldwing chrome that was replaced by the brace. Is that chrome piece for show or do I need it???

Yes and no. It is both a show piece and a debris repellant to a certain extent around the lower fork seal. Does it actually protect the seal from bugs glued to the upper tube ? I don't know.

 

[Kid61]

It's all about a person's definition of "necessary"

From what I know I don't think I'd spend the money on a fork brace without replacing the springs and disabling the anti-dive as well. I think if you want to experience a noticeable incremental improvement in front suspension performance--and front tire life--it is worth another $120 to get some springs that are enough for the weight of the bike and your passenger load. Once you get good springs the anti-dive should go away--you don't need it with good springs and it's notoriously unreliable.

If you're handy those $300 in parts will make a noticeable difference in ride quality and handling.

 

[budoka]

Not dissing the idea, but fork braces have ben around a long time. They came on the scene when fork stanchions were smaller and too flexible for the capabilities of the bikes of the day, or their intended use. Alot of old bikes came with mechanical steering dampeners too, but they were a bandaid not a cure, the problems were in the triple clamps and forks and steering geometry. On today's bikes (GL's too) a fork brace will greatly reduce handlebar shake and slop in low speed maneuvers and over larger bumps, but it's just the added lateral rigidity (ties both forks together equally) under those circumstances that helps, it changes nothing in the rest of the front end or it's functionality.