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| | #1 (permalink) |
| In Training ![]() Joined: Jan 2006
Bike: "Little" 6Fiddy
Location: Carlsbad (Not NM)
Posts: 124
| ![]() I installed the "Murph's DL650 Forkbrace kit" last week on my little 6Fiddy. . . The only reason I bought it was to find out if the front wheel shudder/chatter I occasionaly get on really hard braking can be reduced or eliminated. Here's the "report" Function or Farkle Day 1 In between high gusting winds and thunder showers I managed to sneak in a handful of laps on my favorite local roads. I wasn't really expecting much in the way of a noticeable difference when I started as I'm pretty happy with the feel and feedback with the 020s and the Wilburs. I chose roads that I ride on a regular basis (2-4 times weekly) that offer a pretty decent variety of pavement types/surfaces and speeds. On smooth pavement higher speed turns (70 and up) and high speed transitions the little 6Fiddy now seems to tip in and/or turn a tad quicker. I ran a set of really fast S bends (entrance speed about 75 and if you can make the right to left to right to left transitions quick enough, you accelerate all the way thru the series) three different times just to make sure it wasn't my imagination. With the 020s and Wilburs I was pretty happy with high speed transitions. . . .The brace makes it better. The biggest difference came on very bumpy pavement and/or irregular and/or patched surfaces. The difference is very noticeable! Entering medium speed (40-70mph) turns on "cobbly" surfaces the front end feels much more "direction secure"......that is to say that the feedback from the front wheel is more precise and there is much less of the squirming feel that irregular road surfaces normally transmit without the brace on these roads at these speeds and lean angles. Leaned over and accelerating on the above mentioned surface(s) I got more or better "feedback" as I approached the limits of adhesion. The irregular surfaces didn't seem to upset or unsettle the front wheel under hard acceleration nearly as much as without the brace. The extra feedback was also very noticeable leaned over braking on the "less than smooth" surfaces. Medium speed "quick" transitions on the aforementioned "cobbly" surfaces seemed to be equally improved. Before the bike felt pretty secure, it now feels really "Planted" regardless of the pavement inconsistencies. More feedback, reduced "squirmy" feeling and more bite on continuously irregular surfaces! Never found a place that I could safely and/or adequately test the difference in high(er) speed braking as pavement conditions (intermittent wet, muddy, dirty, puddly, slow moving cages, etc) were working against me this afternoon. Tomorrow should be another good riding day in "sunny" SoCal so I'll do a longer "checkout" of the brace. Function or Farkle Day 2 Took a 100+ mile "jaunt" this morning on some faster roads. About a 50-50 mix of "well paved" and "less than well maintained" Cruising speeds from 70 to triple digit++. Hard braking (very near lockup) from 100+ speeds seems more controlled & less "skittish" especially at the verge of lockup. Even on fairly uneven surfaces at higher speeds the additional control (as a result of better feedback) was discernible under hard braking conditions. Never did really get the front end to dance nor did I manage to induce any wheel-hop (But I did give it the old school try). I also noted that during high(er) speed transitions my ability to put the front end precisely where I wanted it seemed improved. My take-a-way from two days of riding on a variety of different roads under a variety of conditions is simply this. . . . Not only is the Murphskits Brace a well made and good looking "farkle", the sum%%%%% really does work and the improvement in the front end is certainly worth the $132
__________________ Experience is a hard teacher because the test is first, the lesson afterward. Last edited by C2W?; 03-13-2006 at 08:40 PM. |
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| | #2 (permalink) |
| Sprocket Pilot ![]() Joined: May 2005
Bike: 2004 FZ6
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 858
| excellent review! Argh...yet another "functional" mod to add to the list. I already ordered givi engine guards last night...
__________________ Quacktheduck is one lucky duck. Miss my v-strom...06/14/06, the best i ever had... |
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| | #3 (permalink) |
| Bridal Boutique Manager ![]() Joined: Oct 2005 Location: St Paul Mn
Posts: 2,914
| What all have you done to your suspension?
__________________ Ever notice that the person telling you to calm down, is the same one that got you worked up in the first place. 2008 1250 Bandit ABS 2008 DR 650 2006 HD Road King 2005 DL1000 V Strom (sold) 2004 Twin Peaks 700 2003 KTM 525 EX/C (for sale) 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler |
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| | #5 (permalink) |
| Bridal Boutique Manager ![]() Joined: Oct 2005 Location: St Paul Mn
Posts: 2,914
| I knew Wilburs was making shocks, and springs for the rear, but I didn't know they made anything for the front. What do you think of the upgrade? Is it a straight wound, or progressive spring?
__________________ Ever notice that the person telling you to calm down, is the same one that got you worked up in the first place. 2008 1250 Bandit ABS 2008 DR 650 2006 HD Road King 2005 DL1000 V Strom (sold) 2004 Twin Peaks 700 2003 KTM 525 EX/C (for sale) 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler |
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| | #6 (permalink) |
| In Training ![]() Joined: Jan 2006
Bike: "Little" 6Fiddy
Location: Carlsbad (Not NM)
Posts: 124
| Progressive. . . . And imo the oil change and the front springs were the best thing I've done to my 6Fiddy in terms of daily "real-world" driveability. No where near the amount of NOSE-DIVE under extreme braking conditions. Cobbly surfaces are tamed....Feedback to the rider is improved 100% imo!
__________________ Experience is a hard teacher because the test is first, the lesson afterward. |
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| | #7 (permalink) |
| In Training ![]() Joined: Jan 2006
Bike: "Little" 6Fiddy
Location: Carlsbad (Not NM)
Posts: 124
| 700 Mile update After 700 miles of "spirited riding on pavement ranging from (both wet and dry) "billiard table smooth" to "pothole-hell" and just about everything in between I'm 100% convinced. Most of these roads I have been riding for the past two years so I figure I'm pretty comfortable with "consistent riding for comparative purposes". It's not my imagination . . . With the brace the front end is more precise, more supple and more controlled. What pisses me off is that I didn't find/make/install one of these 18K ago. The little 6Fiddy with decent tires, decent fork oil, stiffer progressive springs and the brace is just plain "fun" to ride on any kind of road. Bumps, broken pavement, irregular grading, traintracks, bricks etc just doesn't phase the front end. What a "giggle" to sweep thru a set of bends with broken or choppy or irregular pavement and have the front end never lose it's poise regardless of the speed or lean angle. Woulda - Shoulda - Couldas. . . . . I wish I'd changed the front fork springs and oil and added the brace about 18K miles ago. This is the "front end" that Suzuki should have put on the 6Fiddy in the first place. The rear shock/spring combo has not given me any concern todate. I don't have much preload dialed in and lots of dampening. . . Seems to work well with the "modded" front end. Someday the rear shock will begin complaining and I'll have to fork out some serious change to "upgrade" the rear end, until then I'm a "happy camper" in the suspension department.
__________________ Experience is a hard teacher because the test is first, the lesson afterward. |
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| | #8 (permalink) |
| Bridal Boutique Manager ![]() Joined: Oct 2005 Location: St Paul Mn
Posts: 2,914
| I put the brace on my He Strom, and I have to agree, it does feel more planted. I haven't done the springs, and oil yet. It's on the list.
__________________ Ever notice that the person telling you to calm down, is the same one that got you worked up in the first place. 2008 1250 Bandit ABS 2008 DR 650 2006 HD Road King 2005 DL1000 V Strom (sold) 2004 Twin Peaks 700 2003 KTM 525 EX/C (for sale) 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler |
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| | #9 (permalink) | ||||||
| What makes you say that? ![]() Joined: Dec 2003
Bike: 2002 Bandit 1200 S
Location: St. Cloud, MN, USA
Posts: 599
| Awesome thread, C2. I've been largely in the dark about fork braces until now. Thanks!
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| | #10 (permalink) |
| May 2007 Member of the month ![]() | So how much does this brace cost??? Does it improve it alot with just the addition of the brace or will I need to change the springs as well???
__________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________ |
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| | #11 (permalink) | |
| Bridal Boutique Manager ![]() Joined: Oct 2005 Location: St Paul Mn
Posts: 2,914
| Quote:
$35.00 comes to mind on the cost, but don't quote me on it. Install is very easy, and took about 10 min.
__________________ Ever notice that the person telling you to calm down, is the same one that got you worked up in the first place. 2008 1250 Bandit ABS 2008 DR 650 2006 HD Road King 2005 DL1000 V Strom (sold) 2004 Twin Peaks 700 2003 KTM 525 EX/C (for sale) 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler Last edited by Rickster; 04-09-2006 at 11:10 PM. | |
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| | #12 (permalink) |
| May 2007 Member of the month ![]() | Can you guys post a link to it??? $35.00 bones I will buy it. Does it cause any deceleration wobble with it on???
__________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________ |
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| | #13 (permalink) |
| Throttle Jockey ![]() Joined: Apr 2004
Bike: '05 Boulevard C50
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 3,208
| I put one of Murph's fork braces on my Concours and it was a noticeable improvment, especially on grooved roads. The front end felt more solid, probably because it was. Murph's also a great guy! Here's his website: http://www.murphskits.com/
__________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create |
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| | #14 (permalink) | |
| In Training ![]() Joined: Jan 2006
Bike: "Little" 6Fiddy
Location: Carlsbad (Not NM)
Posts: 124
| Quote:
__________________ Experience is a hard teacher because the test is first, the lesson afterward. | |
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| | #15 (permalink) |
| May 2007 Member of the month ![]() | Cool!!!! Thanks!!!! I will have to wait a bit before I order that bling "Necessity"!!!! LOL!!!!
__________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________ |
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| | #18 (permalink) |
| In Training ![]() Joined: Jan 2006
Bike: "Little" 6Fiddy
Location: Carlsbad (Not NM)
Posts: 124
| Got this email from Murph's today. . . Hey Bob! I'm off to lower the price of the braces on the website. We have pretty much cleared out the 650's, I think there is two left, and about 6 1000's. We have them on the production log, and it looks like the new batch will be ready to ship in a little under 30 days. Please pass the word along. I also have some have some Shad top and side boxes in stock, along with the mounting brackets for both Stroms if any one is interested. Thanks, Murph murphskits.com
__________________ Experience is a hard teacher because the test is first, the lesson afterward. |
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| | #19 (permalink) |
| May 2007 Member of the month ![]() | I had emailed him and asked him to call me on several occasions. He has yet to call me back. Wonder why he won't???
__________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________ |
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| | #20 (permalink) |
| May 2007 Member of the month ![]() | Well I'll be dang. No sooner than I posted the above he called me. So I got the order placed and $120.00 total shipping included. So I should see it within the next couple of days. Probably by Monday, no later than Tuesday. Loooking forward to trying this puppy out!!!
__________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________ |
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