I did it exactly the same way and I depressed the front suspension more than most people will be able to - I'm a big guy that have been pumping iron for the last 25 years.

I find that the front end of the Strom are fine as it is and see no reason to add a fork brace to fix a non-existent problem

__________________
Suzuki V-Strom DL650AL2 and Yamaha WR250R - www.bike-addict.dk - It's not what you ride but how you ride it

Whatever works for you. A fork brace is at the top of my list but lots of people, probably the majority of owners, are satisfied without one.

__________________
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

I know I was a skeptic. I submit that if you find nothing wrong, cool. But if you put a brace on and can't tell a severe improvement then there is something wrong.

Non politically correct version.

If you don't see a problem your not in tune with the bike or not riding it to its potential. If putt putt is your thing, cool you don't need a brace. If your going to really squeeze the potential out of the bike then you will want one. If you never pass a loaded log truck on a windy day you won't need one... If you prefer a cage then you don't need one.

/rant


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle

__________________
'06 Vee, Burgundy.
'09 Wee, Orange.

" I like my Motorcycle's Loud and my Firearms Quiet." -Me

I like the "non PC" version the best. And, a fork brace is a great addition to my non existent problem of keeping my bike going straight until I twist the handlebars on my own.

__________________
________________________________
2007 Blue SuperVee 1000
2002 White HD Road King Police
2000 Red Honda XR 400r
2003 Green Honda Rincon 650 ATV

If it is not broken, it can still be fixed

It's a preference folks, not a right/wrong issue.

__________________
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

On most bikes the axle on the pinch bolt side is the same size as the spacer and allows the fork to freely align itself on the pinch bolt side. Being a old motocrosser free alignment of the fork can mean a lot difference in the amount heat from friction produced from a fork that is binding.
Oh, and on the fork brace thing. I now can feel the front end better with the fork brace and can now feel the 'Trail' in the Trail Wing tire up front. I will be trying the Battle Wings shortly.

My bike does not have a spacer on the pinch bolt side. The enlarged axle end draws up against the wheel bearing inner race. The seal on the pinch bolt side runs on the end of the axle. The only spacer is on the other fork leg side.

Either this thread is about a 650 or my bike is missing parts. I also install front end just like GW recommends and the manual does too.

__________________
________________________________
2007 Blue SuperVee 1000
2002 White HD Road King Police
2000 Red Honda XR 400r
2003 Green Honda Rincon 650 ATV

If it is not broken, it can still be fixed

This is a 2012+ DL650 forum. Just to confuse Wee owners, the front axle pinch bolt on the Glee is on the other side.

__________________
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

I'm sure that I could feel the difference between a Strom with a fork brace and one without - but as Greywolf points out it's a matter of preference whether you feel the need for a fork brace or not.

I live in Denmark a country that primarily consists of islands and where you are never far from the sea which means that windy/stormy weather is the norm

I have done 120mph (130mph indicated) on my bike and at that speed I experienced no stability problems and in the spring I took the bike to the track pushing it as hard as I could (I've been riding track days on a regular basis for the last 10 years) - still without experiencing any stability issues.


But you could be right and I'm not squeezing the potential out of the bike - maybe it takes more skill and experience than I've acquired during +20 years/400.000kms of riding to push a beast like the Strom to the limit..?

__________________
Suzuki V-Strom DL650AL2 and Yamaha WR250R - www.bike-addict.dk - It's not what you ride but how you ride it

On my 2012 Wee there is no gap between the forkleg, spacer and wheel bearing on either side, and I think that's the way it's supposed to be.

From my recollection the inner race of the wheel bearings is supposed to be against the spacer on the outside and against the compression tube on the inside.