Telefix goes the way of the Dodo!

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:34 pm

Just a heads up on the procurement of Telefix fork braces for our 39mm equipped 900F style front ends. I've been in contact with Weigl Metal GmbH in Germany,..they produce the Telefix line of fork braces. I was looking for a new fork brace to fit my soon to be 39mm front end on my 750/836 bike. After some chit chat back and forth Telefix relate that they only have the unit in a chrome finish. Not only that but the ones they have in stock will be the last ones available for this 39mm Honda front end, production of the piece has been stopped. After some soul searching I decided to go with the chrome unit and worry about finish color later,..spray bomb or powder coat at the ready here. Well between coming to terms with the "all we have is chrome" news I get yet another mail from Claudia at Telefix stating that they have found a few (?..two,..four ,..six? I don't know how many, but not allot) of the required pieces in black powder coat finish. So things are cool in the color department yet again. But this still does not change the fact that the braces will no longer be made. Claudia could not say if the units would be made again at a later date or not. Just a heads up is all. Might be time to start looking at other options if your a Telefix fork brace fan. It was just the 39mm piece for the 900F's that was in question here. Other braces for other bikes will continue in production. The Telefix part # for our 39mm front end as used on 900F's is: #65.15.18

Tony "Funny,...I don't feel exstinct! " Bagley

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:41 pm

It is a good thing I have ATK fork braces on both of my CB900F forks already and do not need Telefix braces for my bikes.
I would like to know if the guys that have CBR forks on their bikes have a fork brace on their bike too?

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:57 pm

That's a big bummer - Telefix braces come up all the time on eBay Europe - but they're nearly always for the 35 or 37mm forks. I've only bought one Telefix brace for 39's, and it ended up with a forum member (hmm, maybe I shoulda kept it).

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 8:01 pm

fasterspider wrote:

It is a good thing I have ATK fork braces on both of my CB900F forks already and do not need Telefix braces for my bikes.
I would like to know if the guys that have CBR forks on their bikes have a fork brace on their bike too?

Ray,
Don't know about them thar CBR dudes,..but my VFR 41mm front end will be sporting wun! A folk brace on anythang will hep yer front and ends.

Tony

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:36 pm

TigreST wrote:

fasterspider wrote:

It is a good thing I have ATK fork braces on both of my CB900F forks already and do not need Telefix braces for my bikes.
I would like to know if the guys that have CBR forks on their bikes have a fork brace on their bike too?

Ray,
Don't know about them thar CBR dudes,..but my VFR 41mm front end will be sporting wun! A folk brace on anythang will hep yer front and ends.

Tony

Since the VFR and the F-2,3 have pretty much the same forks, I will be putting a fork brace on just like the one you use. Wink

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:13 pm

Ray,
The part# for my VFR brace is Telefix #65.15.99. To ensure this was the correct one I filled out the measurement and sizing form they provide on there site, home page is here: http://www.telefix-products.com/ From here you will find the motorcycle brace selection section,..it's listed by make, then bike. It's best to know the exact model of Honda your front end is from, ..yes I know many are the same but...... I also made a phone call to SpecII http://www.specii.com/ as he is one of the listed U.S. based distributors of the line. He mentioned that , " You see that web site?...It's has not been updated in years,..so the prices have changed (read "changed" as increased)." He also stated that he had not placed a stock order with Telefix in a very long time, but would be doing so. I placed the same 39mm brace order with him. I'm not doubting he will come through on it, but turn around time was said to be about 4 weeks, most likely longer. That order was place on Oct 25th,...and what's todays date?...see what I mean. I'm thinking it will be longer myself. Also note,..Spec II use what appears to be there own part# system which does not include anything close to the Telefix numbering system,..there is no real way to cross ref. the numbers between the two companys catalogs. At this point I went straight to Telefix in Germany, having had no luck on e-bay. As Pontiacs2go states, lots of them out there for the smaller tube F bikes but seems that the 39mm F piece is rather scarce. Even at Telefix there was some confusion about year and model and brace part# for the application. So I also sent photo's and a measurement sheet off for the 39mm 900F sizing to ensure the piece was the correct one. FWIW.

Tony

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:16 pm

fasterspider wrote:

I would like to know if the guys that have CBR forks on their bikes have a fork brace on their bike too?

Well, I've got my polished fork brace ready and the cbr wheels are eagerly waiting to go on my bike Very Happy

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:19 pm

Thanks Tony, I will be looking into a brace for my F-2 forks when I get them.
I totally spacedc off a CBR forks and triple tree yesterday because I spent 4 hours at dinner and missed my auction I was watching.
I will get one at a good price.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 8:24 pm

Ray,
Just so we are clear on the 41mm tube brace. The Telefix number 65.15.99. relates to a 1997 Honda VFR750-F 41mm front end. This same brace of course may fit other similar front ends. Also, the fork tube protectors that come on VFR lower sliders must be removed. These are the black deflectors that stick up above the top of the fork seal area.

I have not seen the brace that fits this application as yet, but it could be that the brace will drop down to the fender area. This is unlike the stock front end F bike brace the arches up in design to reach over the fender.

Also note: If your dealing direct with Telefix/Weigl Metall GmbH they don't do pay pal or credit cards. Bank transfer is do-able and Money Order...which is what I sent. I must also say that Claudia and Elke working the e-mail end of the business where both very patient and as helpful as they could be. The time diff between Germany and N.America did make for lengthy reply times,..but that can't be helped.

Tony

edit: more pictures added:

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:17 pm

yup! it does go down lower near the fender. i have one on my vfr front end. i fitted a cb1 400 front fender and had plenty of room..well, i had enough room. doesnt matter, those braces are sexy as hell. mine came black but the stickers were messed up a bit so i covered it in paint stripper and the thing came out sooooo nice. polished it up with some neverdull and it looks fantastic. Wink

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:11 am

pontiacstogo wrote:

I've only bought one Telefix brace for 39's, and it ended up with a forum member (hmm, maybe I shoulda kept it).

I ain't given it back, no way! Smile

It's going to the CNC shop next weekend, I'm looking into making replicas for the other F'ers who may be interested......that is if the cost is somewhat reasonable.

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:29 am

Kwattro wrote:

I ain't given it back, no way! Smile

Awwww - c'mon Very Happy

.

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:46 am

I had the same issues with SpecII. Matt knows the guy and wasn't able to get much further. Superbrace lists one for a 900C but not the F and for a long time didn't even consider them. What I found out was that the Superbrace model for an early Wing w/39mm forks was the same one based on some of the things that Solman had done in the past. I called Superbrace and talked to the guy there and he said it might work and if not I could return it. Fit perfect and I just checked Superbrace still hasn't updated thier catalog. They are chrome but that can be dealt with.

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:13 pm

I need to get ahold of telefix myself. I would like to see about getting some new decals for my fork brace. I repainted it and i think the decals look good on them.

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:01 pm

Kwattro wrote:

pontiacstogo wrote:

I've only bought one Telefix brace for 39's, and it ended up with a forum member (hmm, maybe I shoulda kept it).

I ain't given it back, no way! Smile

It's going to the CNC shop next weekend, I'm looking into making replicas for the other F'ers who may be interested......that is if the cost is somewhat reasonable.

I'm Interested in one copy. Please keep me in mind!

-Ed