Hitchcocks Forum

Hi,
Due to a chronic neck problem, I’m either going to have to give up riding my 2002 Bullet 500ES or try to soften the front end so that the shock of hitting potholes and manhole covers doesn’t transfer to my arms and neck quite as violently as it does now with the stock springs in the forks.

Has anybody out there fitted our sponsor’s replacement progressive front fork springs? If so, do they make the front end any softer when riding on our poorly maintained roads?

How easy/difficult is it to change the springs – can they come out without stripping the forks completely?

I’ve already replaced the rear shocks with Hagons and that helped at the back end but unless I can get the front end a bit more compliant I’m going to have to sell the bike, and I really don’t want to have to do that unless I've no other option.

Thanks
Tony

The first thing I would try is draining the oil from the forks and replacing it with thinner oil, It's often the oil which makes the fork feel firm.

Dennis is right, I put the progressive springs in and it made some difference but changing the oil made a lot of difference. I tried various oils and ended up with ATF which is, I believe, about ASA 5. Another thing you might look at is the handlebars. Slightly higher ones may help as you won't have as much pressure on them when/if you get shocks from the suspension.

Hello tjwood, ----- yes, agree entirely with DENNIS C and PETE F ---- try just the oil change first as that is the easiest to do.... I think the qty. reqd. is 200ml which is 200cc in each leg...... I have done this on both my Classic 500s' and it does MAKE a real difference... The manual (and factory) use 20/50 engine oil !!! Probably for the obligatory elephant they seem to carry in India !!------------------- also, and just as important, you might find that the front and rear shocks now work in harmony.

Hello tj,I know where your coming from,changing your suspension won`t make any difference,it`s your riding position you should change like me with knackered/worn spine discs,i used to be head down arse up but it`s head up arse down.I`ve just bought(July) an Enfield 525cc lightning custom with arms up.If you live near Burnley lancs have a look.

Yes i agree the Lightning bars are just fantastic,though you may need longer cables.
jack

Hi Guys------- have to agree with you on that one. My other bike is a Suzuki Marauder 800 cruiser with Yamaha Dragstar handlebars.... Screen, comy seat, fat V-twin torquey motor, 70mph cruise speed = BLISS !!

Tony as you can see there is alot of good advice on here. tis the way of the Hitchcock Message Board. Having said that, there is a much simpler solution to your problem which entails none of the above modifications and the inherent costs associated with the. Simply do not ride over manholes and avoid pot holes like the plague. Simples.

hi tony just to concur with the masses try some automatic transmission fluid ,i look after a efi enfield with chair attached for an aged member of our branch of the reoc his front susspension was terrible ,i drained the oil and fitted atf the bike was litterally transformed in the aged members words ,i have used atf in forks for ages after seeing it recomended in a Clymer manual for big boys toys ,mike behave! pot holes are everywhere although i aggree with avoiding manhole covers !!!atb paul.

Hi guys. Thanks for the advice. Different fork oil sounds a good place to start. I can't see how to drain the oil - are there any drain screws on the fork legs or do I have to remove the forks?
Thanks. Tony