Hitchcocks Forum

I have a new EFI Woodsman with just 65 miles on the clock. It is much heavier than my trials style classic 2004 ES 500 bullet. Any suggestions on how the EFI can lose weight? I am replacing the Ensign trials tyres with Avon Roadriders. Other thoughts include canning the centre stand.

Smaller wheels, smaller tyres, dump the toolkit, replace seat with a bit of foam rubber.



Depends what you intend to use it for, off road is easy, ditch indicators, lights, battery (or get a lithium ion one at one third of the weight)



remove electric start, who knows?

Losing the electric start option is a good idea for weight loss. The motor itself is heavy - can you loose the sprag completely too? Worth investigating - Norm will know! Can an ES bike run properly on KS with the sprag removed completely? Also, wee things worth losing would be the solenoid (if ES is going) & side stand cut off switch.

The Efi engine is a very heavy unit, the biggest weight-saving there will be to remove as much of the electric starter assembly as possible. Removing the casquette saves a lot of weight (fit a smaller headlamp, etc), an alloy tank, lighter exhaust system (and a lithium battery!). Those changes will save a huge amount of excess weight.

The ex speedway rider Malcolm Simmons once said he could never understand those riders who spent an age reducing the weight of their machines by shaving bits off here and there when they could have achieved more by not eating lunch before a meeting. Following his advice I lost 2st in weight and it's amazing how much more nimble and responsive the bike feels. If you have it to lose go on a diet, it will improve every bike you ride! lol

Oh brilliant!

Skeletor on a woodsman!

Thanks Michael - I am keeping the ES as it is very useful! As to losing weight, I could do with losing a stone but being short-arsed it is about the ability and competence to handle something that is at 185kg probably 30kg heavier than the classic ES bullet I had.

Sofiaspin, To make it easier to handle ,at slow speeds anyway, I would of thought it would be more beneficial to lose weight from the top thus lowering the overall centre of gravity of bike and rider. That stone extra you are carrying could make all the difference!

You are probably right Frank but the lack of food would make me light headed and I would fall off. Removing Ensign block tread tractor tyres and putting avons on will lower the bike 1 inch and achieve the same lower centre of gravity as it would losing two notches on the belt - I think.