Author Topic: Installing new fork brace on 550?  (Read 5209 times)

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Offline messeduptriple

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Installing new fork brace on 550?
« on: February 10, 2012, 12:41:04 PM »
I ordered a new Chrome fork brace to replace the junk brace I got now... While working on the bike yesterday I was looking underneath the brace and trying to see how the old brace comes out... How does it come out? Should I loosen the triple up and that works with it to remove or how's it done properly?? Sorry if my ?s are dumb sometimes but I just wanna do this correct. Thanks for all your help so far guys..my project is coming back together well now ..half way done now. Thanks for any info on this!
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2012, 01:45:38 PM »
picture? Most fork brace designs are simple clamps around the tops of the lower legs. Usually pretty obvious.
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2012, 01:51:52 PM »
I guess I'm thinkn the lower part of the bottom where the forks are being slid.. there's two seperate clamps that tighten the forks down. Is that lower part replaceable???


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Offline MCRider

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2012, 02:01:32 PM »
Sorry, not following you.
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2012, 02:46:45 PM »
I'll post pic when I go outside later. If you look at the bike it has two seperate slots that the forks go in to hold them steady and in place. The top triple and theres a lower slot as well. What is that?? Lower brace??  I have bad knowledge of proper names. I was thinkn lower fork brace.

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Offline MCRider

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2012, 03:33:39 PM »
I'll post pic when I go outside later. If you look at the bike it has two separate slots that the forks go in to hold them steady and in place. The top triple and theres a lower slot as well. What is that?? Lower brace??  I have bad knowledge of proper names. I was thinkn lower fork brace.

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Ah, that's the lower triple, or steering stem. A brace is an add on accessory, not (usually) part of the original equipment.

So yeah, you'll need to prop the front up (weight on the seat while its on the center stand) pull the front wheel, pull the fork tubes out of the triple clamps, disassemble the triple clamps (top and lower) bearings fall out. Reassemble with the shiny chrome part.
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2012, 04:09:05 PM »
I'll post pic when I go outside later. If you look at the bike it has two separate slots that the forks go in to hold them steady and in place. The top triple and theres a lower slot as well. What is that?? Lower brace??  I have bad knowledge of proper names. I was thinkn lower fork brace.

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Ah, that's the lower triple, or steering stem. A brace is an add on accessory, not (usually) part of the original equipment.

So yeah, you'll need to prop the front up (weight on the seat while its on the center stand) pull the front wheel, pull the fork tubes out of the triple clamps, disassemble the triple clamps (top and lower) bearings fall out. Reassemble with the shiny chrome part.
would you happen to know a site where I can replace that stem steering? I hate mine.

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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2012, 04:11:18 PM »
What exactly do you hate about it? It's perfectly functional.
'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2012, 04:26:53 PM »
Triple - consider changing the triple tree top. I recently put a stock polished one on my 550 cafe, but there are some really cool ones out there.

These are for a 750, but you can get an idea:

http://www.jokermachine.com/itemcafe2004.asp?ItemID=715&CategoryID=85&Placeholder=
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2012, 04:38:48 PM »

Just got it today!

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2012, 05:10:48 PM »
Yes, nice!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Cheffish

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2012, 07:33:55 PM »
Inquiring minds wanna know where the hell you got that!

Offline Scott S

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2012, 07:39:25 PM »
 That's the top triple tree. If I'm reading your posts correctly, you're wanting to put that on the bottom? Ain't gonna work that way....
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2012, 07:54:24 PM »
That's the top triple tree. If I'm reading your posts correctly, you're wanting to put that on the bottom? Ain't gonna work that way....
I think I managed this backwards in explanation. I orderd the top triple which you see...but I orderd a fork brace and thought that could replace the tree setup. Now I know I was wrong. My fork clamp is coming in soon. My question is where can I get the bottom tree setup??? Chrome? For a 550

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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2012, 07:57:51 PM »
Inquiring minds wanna know where the hell you got that!
http://www.bullitcustomcycles.com/
These cool guys made it. Good guy on here named jamesb hooked me up with the stamp on the setup....on site there not stamped with Honda...you'll have to talk to them or jamesb for that

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2012, 08:01:21 PM »
Yes, you could have your bottom triple chromed, unlike the top, it is made of steel.
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2012, 08:06:27 PM »
Yes, you could have your bottom triple chromed, unlike the top, it is made of steel.
understand..but I like the blocky look...instead of my older look. I see that joker site has the tree setup but for 750 Honda...will that fit 550? Also I'm wondering if it would fit a swap from differnt company setups? Meaning will my top triple fit a different company bottom?? Like is this a universal fitting part?

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Offline Cheffish

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2012, 08:09:59 PM »
It's never universal when there's geometry involved. Why don't you call those guys and have them make you a bottom clamp?

Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2012, 08:15:09 PM »
It's never universal when there's geometry involved. Why don't you call those guys and have them make you a bottom clamp?
I never thought of that....I will do that Monday. Thanks for the insight. Might be costly though..seen jokers full setup running 500$+ :@

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Offline Cheffish

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #19 on: February 10, 2012, 08:42:33 PM »
Anything from joker is ridiculously overpriced IMO.

Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #20 on: February 10, 2012, 09:09:14 PM »
Anything from joker is ridiculously overpriced IMO.
that's what I kinda thought... I mean my triple clamp was 120$ or something like that...thinkn a bottom would be nice around that price

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Offline Cheffish

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #21 on: February 10, 2012, 09:29:08 PM »
That's a steal! I would have bought them and resold them at that price

Offline Danno

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #22 on: February 10, 2012, 11:47:16 PM »
the bottom clamp will be at least double that
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Offline matt mattison

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Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #23 on: February 11, 2012, 05:22:16 AM »
Make sure that's not a 750 upper triple you got there. Bullet Cycle gets their trees from Cycle X. On the Cycle X website they only claim to be producing upper and lower billet trees for the 750.
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Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Installing new fork brace on 550?
« Reply #24 on: February 11, 2012, 08:25:17 AM »
Make sure that's not a 750 upper triple you got there. Bullet Cycle gets their trees from Cycle X. On the Cycle X website they only claim to be producing upper and lower billet trees for the 750.
well I hope it fits...otherwise ill be upset

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