76 fork brace

[shopguy]

are there any options for a 76 GL1000 fork brace? costs and availability?
I saw that Tarozzi lists one for 1979. Is that a different fork?
I'd like to find a used one if possible.....
thanks

[desertrefugee]

I’d keep an eye on eBay. They show up there fairly often. There are even some new Markland clones occasionally.

[Track T 2411]

There is a difference in the height of the fork bottoms, so the 75-77 forks would require a spacer to use the later year brace to clear the fender and tire.

[ritalz]

With a little fabrication you can fit one from a 1100 also. Pictured is my 75 with a 81 brace. I can still clean it up a bit but you can see that it will work with some effort.

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[desertrefugee]

Yep. I put a Markland off an 1100 onto my 78. Vertical spacing wasn't an issue, but the fork tube diameter did require the shims. There's a fender on it now:

IMG_3690.JPG (116.12 KiB) Viewed 161 times

[Explorer]

20200702_180332_resized.jpg (282.96 KiB) Viewed 140 times

I put a Markland on my 82 about 10 years ago, I ain't so sure if it does very much because I believe intelligent counter steering is what keeps my bike running on rails.

And that was way before counter steering even had a name, or was taught. I learnt it from watching flat track racers as a kid.

[pidjones]

I put a Markland on my 82 about 10 years ago, I ain't so sure if it does very much because I believe intelligent counter steering is what keeps my bike running on rails.

And that was way before counter steering even had a name.

Sorry, but counter-steering had a name before that bike was built.

[Explorer]

Really, it did? So why did I only here about it in the 90's? I remember thinking what is that? And then when I looked into it it was what I'd learnt on my own at flat track meets.

And I was apparently professionally taught in the very early 70's.

[shopguy]

With all do respect to above average riding skills; a fork brace that permits movement of both sliders in unison - is an improvement no matter how minimal. It can make any rider better. That being said, some chassis compliance is desireable as feedback to a rider. As a wheel rotates, gyroscopic progression will impart lateral forces, These forces are directionally uniform...as the motorcycle travels. If forks compress independently, lateral forces will NOT be uniformly applied, which will cause unwanted characteristics.

Simple physics

[Explorer]

That works for me!

[CYBORG]

I put a Markland on my 82 about 10 years ago, I ain't so sure if it does very much because I believe intelligent counter steering is what keeps my bike running on rails.

And that was way before counter steering even had a name.

Sorry, but counter-steering had a name before that bike was built.

also the brace does more to stop forks from flexing. Ever notice as the time went on, forks got fatter and fatter

[Explorer]

They sure did, then Ducati flipped 'em, now everyone does it.

[CYBORG]

They sure did, then Ducati flipped 'em, now everyone does it.

Had to be a good reason. When I went to a 1200 forks and triple tree on my ,77, The difference was very noticeable

[shopguy]

Japanese machines have always lagged behind other countries. Ever aim an Kaw H2 driven in anger? Notice how underpowered Brit machines of the late 60s and early 70’s were still competitive? Eventually throttle won out.

[Explorer]

I remember when that new fangled Triumph twin came out a few years back, its fake carbs that looked a lot more like Mikuni's than any Amal's I'd ever seen, with its motors fake pushrod tubes and still looking just like a Z900 engine. I gotta be honest, I did nearly cry!