Hitchcocks Forum

My last Enfield was a 2007 AVL engined Bullet. I put Hitchcocks softer fork springs in (part No. 144219A). This helped give a less harsh ride although I think the rebound damping was still under-damped ( I tried SAE5 and SAE10 oils). I now have an 2004 Bullet Sixty 5 and am about to do the same work to it's forks. I was wondering if anyone has experimented with drilling either extra holes (or enlarging the existing ones) in the damping rods. This would hopefully allow a little more fork travel by decreasing the compression damping. Then, perhaps a heavier oil, like SAE20 or 30 could be used to increase the rebound damping. I assume the original fork design allowed for a heavy rider and passenger and possible sidecar. However, I am only 10 stone and only ride solo and think the suspension could have a more compliant action. I will also fit the lighter Hitchcocks springs in the rear units.

thicker or thinner oil won’t do much, unless you go extreme.



slightly shortening or lengthening the air chamber will work better.



the problem comes more from the rear, which is standard very hard.

that combined with a soft front, transfers even more to the front suspension.

which can give the impression the front is working incorrectly, while the actual problem is the harshness of rear suspension.

As lot of people seem to use ATF fluid in the forks and report that it transforms the ride. Not tried it myself so can't really give my opinion. I use 10w/30 fork oil and that seems to be OK but maybe I've got used to it by now. From past experience putting the correct quantity in is important. I experimented years ago with some Yamaha forks, basically knackered, trying to make them stiffer by adding extra oil. I only went a few cc over and they locked solid. A right pain having to take the front end apart again to drain them!

Mauri, In my experience changing the viscosity of the oil makes quite a big difference.

I am finding that, the front suspension softens up after a few miles, I suspect due to the 10-30 oil warming up.
(I am around 15stone with my motorcycling kit on, and the local roads are more pot-hole than road.)

I've found it has got softer with age but can never work out if I've broken the bike in or the bike has broken me in. Or perhaps it's all in the mind. I finely tuned chassis it will never be.

I read an article by Paul Berryman in Classic Motorcycle Mechanics circa sept 2014 issue regarding cartridge emulators..

I kept it as i thought it might come in useful one day on the old kwacker which has the old style damper rod forks..

Don't know if it works on the enfield but worth making an enquiry..

Perhaps get a back copy or contact here for info..


https://www.mad4bikes.co.uk/accessories ... nsion.html


http://www.yssusa.com/products_yss_pdforkvalve.html


http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum ... ic=15188.0