I have a Guerciotti track bike with chrome front fork that is not drilled for a brake. I would like a little security on the road and would rather have a brake. I ride without one, but just like to be able to stop fast if I want and almost 90% of braking power comes from the front wheel.

Finding a front fork for this will be VERY hard. I have not found one yet. Drill? I can always fill and rechrome if I wanted to go crazy. There is a mark where it shows were to drill on the fork already.

What do you all think?

Here is the bike

drill it.

drill drill drill

but whats so hard about finding a chrome fork

can;t you just buy a chrome threaded fork thats already drilled?

I don't understand why finding a fork will be hard? I can only assume that you're looking for the exact same fork or something..... Anyway, you could always go for a drum brake like the Sturmey-Archer XFD:
(https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sturmey-archer-hubs.html).

I've recently got one and like it a lot. Or you could buy one of those clamp-on front brakes:

https://njsframes.blogspot.com/2007/0...or-keirin.html

It's a tall bike. Seems hard to find a fork for this bike. Am I wrong? Are there places to find them?

Drill it. It's the best thing I ever did to mine. Drill it and keep that purdy fork.

jesus...

no drill! i don't understand the difficulty in finding a drilled aftermarket fork. in fact, i don't believe you that it would be all that hard. keep the OEM fork OEM, and put a replacement on it to run a brake.

duh.

Okay, so if I get an after market fork, I will change the dimension of the bike, correct? The front fork would be a road fork, not a track fork. Unless someone is making it the same as I have. That clip on brake is only like $75. Wonder if it is any good?

This isn't actually that hard to do. You could probably find an Italian road fork as a replacement with a little time and money.

If you do decide to drill, make sure that it's done professionally and make sure that there is enough clearance for a brake. You wouldn't want to go through all the trouble of drilling only to discover that there's no caliper with a short enough reach.

drill!

https://www.bikecult.com/works/parts/FKgenSB.html

Don't drill, I'd go for the clamp on brake.

For serious

clamp on brake, don't drill it

I just bought a front clamp on brake, they are very easy to install and to remove again. I paid 8000 yen for mine and it took less than a week to arrive from Japan.

^ did the same, really sturdy (I was actually really suprised). Paid 5000 yen, but in Tokyo. Looks a little clunky but works really well, even with the stock dia compe pads.

I saw this for over 10,000 yen with shipping. Or $91 USD. Is there a cheaper place to get this set up? 8000 yen sounds better, could you provide a link?

Thanks

You had the money for the frame (sweet sweet frame), drill it and don't listen to these guys, or get a custom fork made.

I have some yellow Guerciotti decals if you really want the fork to look the same.

Kalavinka has them. Their email is:
fwkh0328@mb.infoweb.ne.jp

Mine ran me 6000 yen plus 2000 yen shipping (about $70 USD).

They also have Toshi double straps for 8300 yen (about $75 USD) if you want that included with you order.

Here's a picture of another forum member's bike with the brake mount:

PS- Before you go and drill that fork, make sure you can source a brake with short enough reach.

don't drill it. get the clamp on.

works just as well, and keeps the bike original. preservation is good.

I've never used one but I really doubt they work "just as well."

I must say, I'm pretty impressed with the Dia-Compe version. I really don't see any mechanical reason it wouldn't work just as well. It is bolted to both fork blades, high up on the blades, and includes a stout brake bridge (ala u-brake bridges). If anything, this set up might help braking. It adds a secondary brace to the round fork blades themselves which some people claim can be more apt to flex under braking pressure than oval fork blades.