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Changing front wheel size Changing front wheel size
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
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Antofalla, Catamarca



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Old 1 Mar 2006
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Changing front wheel size
I am about to go from the UK to mongolia and have replaced my 19" front with a 21", this has meant that the front fork brace (which is weak and bendy and mainly a mudguard mount) had to come off.

I have fitted a new MX style front mudguard off my yoke, do I need to fabricate a new brace that will clear the wheel to get some more torsional rigidity???

ps bike is a Cagiva Elefant
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Old 1 Mar 2006
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ps, someone sent me an e-mail who wanted to discuss the trip, my PC got flattened and I lost your number, could you re send it please!
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Old 1 Mar 2006
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Quote:
Originally posted by henryuk:
I am about to go from the UK to mongolia and have replaced my 19" front with a 21", this has meant that the front fork brace (which is weak and bendy and mainly a mudguard mount) had to come off.

I have fitted a new MX style front mudguard off my yoke, do I need to fabricate a new brace that will clear the wheel to get some more torsional rigidity?
Strongly recommended for most any bike, especially if there was one, and you took it off. Usually the factory one is INadequate and handling could be improved with a stronger one. They aren't hard to make, but you do want to make sure it fits perfectly - NO stress at all on the forks, it should slide in just snugly and align perfectly and bolt up perfectly. Even manufactured ones need to be "tweaked" to fit perfectly. Well worthwhile, as a out of alignment brace severely reduces the compliance of the front suspension.

(Also why when you put the front wheel on, you must make sure the forks are aligned on the axle by bouncing the front end up and down hard with the clamp bolts LOOSE - then tighten.)



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Old 2 Mar 2006
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good call on junking the 19"!

I reckon your bike had a pseudo-brace for road use more than off-road use where the combination of wobbly rider, terrain and tyre mean the stiffer fork makes little difference. if you're sticking to tar with lots of weight, a brace is worth it, but I'd put my effort into prepping the bike for bombing around in the dirt!! eg suspension tuning etc.
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