Hitchcocks Forum

There's a story behind this but I'm stuck at removing the front forks from the Bullet 500. I've taken off the screw cover at the top and have an big allen key trying to turn clockwise. Not much budge.

To get back to the story I'm on a run of very bad luck. Got hit by a car about a month ago. Got a letter from the B"£$%^d's solicitor to say that he'd been stationary in the road when I hit him. He'd pulled out of a petrol station right into my right of way, never saw me. Well said he did but no way. Anyhow could not believe he'd state he was stationary at the time. Thank God the petrol station still had a video which clearly showed him pulling out at me. Because of his cheek I might try get him charged with dangerous driving. Was pissed that he claimed it was his fault but then he also claimed that he had been very badly injured due to my fault. If I'd not the video it'd be his word against mine.

Anyhow there was not a great deal of damage, thank God for crash bars! So fixed in a few days, thanks to our hosts, and back on the road. But the front brake has never been the same. It was always really really good but now it seems to have a mind of it's own. Sometimes it's there on duty and sometimes it just seems to take a brake from it all.

So this leads to my second piece of bad luck yesterday morning I was out and about on a quite country road went a swallow flew out of a ditch at my head. I instinctively pulled the front brake. It locked the front wheel and the wheel when from under me. Ended up sliding down the road yet again. Brake lever last time, clutch lever this time.

Worse was to come. Got the bike home and the handlebars had been sort of twisted around. loosened the bolts and put them back at the correct angle and when I tightened the bolt again I only rung the threads of the piece of metal which is the 'dash' and headlight holder. A minor incident turned into a biggy. Ordered up a new part but have to get these front forks out of the old one.

What I'd really love to know is how come my brakes have become so inconsistent? Can't be riding around not trusting the brakes. I've to take the whole front end off so now's the time for a good look. I looked at them earlier today and can't see anything inside the wheel which would explain what's going on. It's not like they're that complex

Anybody have any ideas I'd love to hear. They have always been brilliant in the past, and hopefully again.

"There's a story behind this but I'm stuck at removing the front forks from the Bullet 500. I've taken off the screw cover at the top and have an big allen key trying to turn clockwise." Does this really have a left-hand thread?...........Anywat, regarding the brake, if it went temperamental after impact damage, something may be broken/twisted. I would strip it down and have a good look at everything.

It sounds like your front wheel suffered some impact and the drum is distorted. This would cause the brake to "grab" and cause the symptoms you describe. Cheapest option is probably to replace the wheel,(the brakeplate can stay!) I think our Hosts have some on the used parts section?
REgards, Mark

On the forks I was going by Pete Snidal's book:


"Then remove the plugs (16) in the casquette housing at the tops of the stanchion tubes. This will reveal a hex socket, which will unscrew the tubes from inside the casquette - rotation from above is clockwise to loosen - you are screwing them out of the casting. (They are held by an external thread.)"


On the wheel being distorted that sounds like it could well be the issue. Sh1t I'll have to check it tomorrow

Hi Matey !!!---------- I've not long done my forks---it's a 13mm and they are in T-I-G-H-T !! ( confirmed as a R/H thread by the way ). Don't forget to really slacken off the LOWER clamps as the stanchions may be distorted. (new ones @ £50 each approx)

As Alan says make sure the pinch bolts are loose. I find it is easier with the wheel in place, have it between your legsso you can hold the front steady and you can then pull on the bar with your hex rod in it

Hi JFW. Sorry to hear of your accident, but don't hesistate in trying to get the police to charge that driver. I think the charge you should persue is "Driving without due care and attention" Dangerous Driving is for more serious driving offences. The police will drag their heels and try to fob you off, but insist they take up the case and threaten them that you will take this further to your MP, higher divisions within the Policeforce, Minister of Transport, whatever etc etc. I detest drivers who lie about causing accidents and get away with, it is so common. There was a TV programme a few nights ago when a female driver hit and killed a cyclist, which smashed her windscreen and dented her car but she never stopped!!!!!! and continued to drive home!!! Later (probably only after her worrying got the better of her) she phoned the police to say she might...yes might have!....hit something. Guess what, she was let off!...truly unbelievable, I felt so angry. So please make a very determined effort to get the driver prosecuted. You have the perfect evidence, use it for all our sakes. Good luck........The forks screw out by turning the Allen key clockwise, use PlusGas to soak the thread for a longish period before turning they often rust quite a bit. Brake drum, as said by others, might well have distorted, but apply them slowly to feel if any ovality is present, if perfectly true further inspection required.

Hello JFW ---------As per LES H. There's too much of this "I'm not responsible" culture around to-day. How many of us have been "advised" by our Insurance Co. not to admit liability because it might harm your case later in court ? OK, perhaps not quite the same thing but you know what I mean ?? Yes, DO PRESS this case with the utmost vigour. Incidentally----talking of those lounge-lizards, what was YOUR insurance company's take on all this ?? Praise-the-Lord & pass the ammunition !!