Hitchcocks Forum

I"m wondering why some of the newer Enfields have the front wheel axle leading, and some with the axle on the end of the fork leg. Apart from model to model styling, mainly colours and model names there appears to be no reason.

The earlier C5 bikes had the leading axle design inherited from the iron barrelled Bullets, going back to the original U.K. bikes. IIRC the forks were reversible for use with a sidecar. The B5 also continued with these forks (I think it still does). As I understand it some owners of the earlier C5 experienced a wobble at speed, hence the change to the central axle. The different riding position of the B5 seems to prevent the problem arising.

Hi Rosy.....grab yourself a cup of Coffee, park your bumkin in your favourite man-chair and have a read of this }----------- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_a ... e_geometry ------ I have the contact details of a good head-doctor should you need it later on !!

The original Redditch built bikes did not have reversible forks for sidecar use, they actually used a different fork slider with an even longer lead to the axle, about another inch (25mm for young people)! I once rode a solo Twin fitted with these and it was like the proverbial shopping trolley. Strangely quite a few "full size" Redditch models used a version of the Crusader fork which has a very short lead, probably only half an inch and they handle fine, although these models are usually fitted with 17" wheels which may make a difference. The legendary American tuner of dirt track bikes Shell Thuett fitted his 500 Bullet (Fury) models with this fork but reversed, which is what Rattlebattle may be thinking of? I think the idea is that it would turn in much faster in bends. On the other hand I have a Works Rep trials which has 19" rear and 21" front wheels and that has the short lead fork and handles really well on the road too! I am constantly surprised when I ride all makes of bikes how well the late Enfield frame handles, it is a superb design I think.

REgards, Mark

As well as the sidecar fork legs with extra lead on the spindle, R.E. also made top and bottom yokes with extra forward reach - we actually, misguidedly, used a set of these yokes on our 350 racer in the early days and its twin sister, which may still be out there somewhere was also fitted with sidecar yokes. The 350 handles much better since the solo yokes were fitted!

Yes, I didn't mention the earlier sidecar yokes. My 1953 Meteor (now sold to Allan Hitchcock) had these yokes fitted as it left the Factory with a sidecar (missing when I got it) and it had a tendency to shake it's head on long fast bumpy bends. It never got scary but it was a bit of a warning!

REgards, Mark

I’ll bow to those with better knowledge of the Redditch REs; I’m not sure what I was thinking of but I believe that one of the old British makes had reversible fork legs, rather like Vincent twins had two sprockets on the rear wheel, one side for solo and the other for sidecar duties. Or maybe it was different fork sliders I was thinking off.....too many grey cells dead methinks...

No problem, it's hard enough just keeping up with Enfields! Now I think about it, was it Panthers that had the reversible fork leg option? My turn for taxing the grey cells!

REgards, Mark

Thanks for all your replies on that, I used to compete a works trials Enfield outfit and to get a better turn in I rode with the forks reversed, that is leading to trailing axle, I was just curious to know why some models even 2018 models still have this difference, it doesn't seem to make sense to manufacture a different fork leg unless there was a really good or as you mention a bad handling problem.