Hitchcocks Forum

So my neighbour called me at 2am last night telling me to call the police as 3 guys were trying to steal my enfield. More concerned with stoping them than waiting for my bike to become a police priority in east london I ran downstairs to shoo away the buggers.

Anyway . . . . as well as other bits they have managed to break/disable the steering lock.
My bike is an export 2000 500bullet with a steering lock that looks like a small door lock in a little tube welded at right angle to the head tube.
You used to turn the key push the barrel inwards to lock and then release it with the key where upon it would spring out.

Now lock is ineffective when "locked" and the key will not release in the open position.

I am guessing there is a bolt that goes into the stem to lock the position? And this has been snapped by sheer force applied to the bars?

My two questions are. .

Is the damage inside possibly dangerous? (I was out on it today and noticed bit of a rattle sound n feeling at that end of the bike))

Can the lock be replaced without removing the forks/stem?

Many Thanks as always. James.

this type of lock can be removed by turning the key in the opposite direction to locking mr h sells this type of lock and keys

I wouldn't bother with the steering lock, its simply no good as a theft deterrent. Get an Almex chain with Squire SS65CS padlock if you want to keep your bike. As for the death rattle, could be just normal Enfield noise or the piston at the point of decapitation.

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Mine got stolen about 8 or 9 years ago. I had "only" left it unlocked for a few minutes..... OK eventually, after repairs to this and that.
Anyway: When I originally bought the bike, the dealer told me NEVER to use the steering lock as they would just break it which, as you say, causes problems. I'm not writing this to bolt the door after the horse (nearly) got away or to try and sound clever.... It's my thoughts on not bothering to replace it at all but using a GOOD extra padlock. Or two. Hope you get it all tidied up soon,
Best regards, Chris

Most Royal Enfields are recovered at the end of the street, as they don`t know how to start them.

Leon, In reality could you see an Enfield being nicked in Aus, I doubt it. Kids might trying to push one down the street but thats about it.

Hmmm. Wouldn't bet on that Norm, kickstarters have made a comeback in recent years (in UK at least) due to the increased prevalence of sc**ters. However, I reckon my 500 Classic would still pose more problems for a tealeaf to start than average. Trouble is, in today's culture said tealeaf would probably sue me when his foot got broken...

Cheers

TimG

Sad thing for all us bike owners these days is that your bike (whatever its condition) is just as likely to get nicked for scrap as to be nicked to be used as a bike. They go just as easily into the back of a van with the steering lock on as with it off so take other precautions as well. Preferably secure it by the frame to something imovable with a quality lock and chain. Sad but there you go. Arch

Hi guys, thanks for all the comments - Grunda, turning the key in the opposite direction to remove the lock might be tricky as presently the lock will not pop out fully and allow the key to fully return to be removed, let alone go in the opposite direction. How much I should force the key I don't know. - I liked the steering lock just for short term public parking, I have bought a lock for the wheel yesterday though. - I wouldn't want to bet on people not being able to start my bike, but she can be one of the trickier Enfields to start in my experience. And she could certainly bust your foot if you got it wrong and weren't ready. Not sure these fools would have managed it though. . . . . They had put the bike into 3rd gear, pushed/bust the decomp lever the wrong way (you 100% need it on my bike) put the choke on but not the fuel etc. so not the best start to stealing my bike. Police were on my road the next day because of an abandoned 125 that had been stollen on the next road where they had headed after I had disturbed them. - My Biggest Worry Remains, in that presently I am driving around with the steering lock at its inward/locked position and worried that it might somehow re-lock as I turn a corner. . . Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Tim,
Things are obviously different here, I remember an Enfield being nicked about 5 years ago but I think it was more likely an insurance job