Hitchcocks Forum

Hello, is any one on the forum, using the ensign trials tyres that our hosts are selling. If so could describe a little about them, the 350//19 or the 400/19. Would like to know at how they feel while on the road and what grip they have in cold wet/ damp roads. Also do they have a high side wall to the tyre in the above sizes, or might there be much movement on the rim, if the bike was heavy loaded. Thank You for any Details. Simon

ive been using 3.5 x 19 front and rear for a couple of years. a little vague on the steering but as I just potter about its not an issue. I had to lift the front mudgaurd to clear the tread. higher sidewall than the usual road tyre and the rear tyre doesnt clear the ground when the bike is on the centre stand. seems pretty stable overall and I havnt noticed any issues re grip in the wet. i guess they'll never be as good as a road tyre but I doubnt I'll be getting my knee down in the corners anytime soon. you could always fit rim locks if off roading with low tyre pressures.

Thanks, for your reply. I used a http://heidenautires.com/motorcycle-sidecar-tires/ K37. Square profile, very large sidewall, suited more to the ural 3 wheel outfit. This was a 400/19, fitted to the rear of the enfield. A few problems to make it fit & not perfect, for the width of the swing arm and height of the rear fender.
The bike did roll real nice on the road, always got the feeling that the rear of the bike was always pushing the front of the bike, a higher side wall tyre on the 19 inch front wheel or a 21 inch front wheel would maybe have corrected this ????????? Maybe.
I rode a mountain fire road/track which was rough, with a lot of channels dug across every hundred feet, to stop washout. The 19 front wheel with a heidenau k60 fitted, fell into every channel, a real pain. The larger side wall tyre to the rear just rolled over it, with out any problems. The rear of the bike felt like a steam roller, just took on the rough terrain with ease, with the tall tyre.
The hard compound of the german tyre, is a little vague, on our, cold / damp / wet roads. I can see where there is a problem with these tyres on a larger heavy bike, being pushed into the corners ect.
I will try one of the Ensign Trials to the rear, very soon, will be interesting to how it feels when the bike is loaded with luggage. I hope it will suit my needs, because running 2 wheels the same size and 2 tyres the same, makes for bringing, only one spare tube when the bike is on the road for longer trips. Tyre choice is so easy and simple with modern bikes, not so easy with our old school enfields, as always the search goes on to improve a old design, in our modern world. Keep Smiling & Keep The Wheels Rolling.

Front view of the Heidenau K60, 19 standard rim. Don,t be afraid of getting your Enfield Dirty, they are build for hard work. Front curve on mudguard has been removed for easy removeal out on the road. Less height need to romve or fit the wheel back in after repairs / punctures ect. Keep it simple & make it work for you.

You can see, the height, of the Heidenau K37, 400/19 on the rear rim. Felt like a steam roller, making easy any bad road conditions. the bike is dirty with road miles ect, but is very well looked after. If it breaks down, i have only myself to look at & blame.

Let Your Enfield, Take you on Advetures, of the Heart. Let the Wonderlust within you free, Ride with a Friend, sitting below you. Life is to short not to.
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A Good Day, is when your Royal Enfield Smiles with you. The Road is like Life. A JOURNEY, BUT I,M JUST PASSING THROUGH, TIME & DISTANCE, BEFORE THE CURTAIN FALLS, AND THE END OF SHOW.

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I got Ensigns on Tornado, but then Tornado is a 'hard' bike, Does fields, byways the lot.










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REOC 15084

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Thanks for the photo, i can see the height of the front tyre, on the rim, when i put a order in with the Hosts i will invest in a tyre, tried a lot of tyres over the years, some good, some ok & some crap. The terain and the load to the bike changes each week, to my working needs. The bike is a work horse, 12 months of the year through every weather. Over 200,000 now on the bike, still strong with plenty of life still left. The adventure are hard on me, my gear and the bike. A lot is asked of the royal enfield, but it always come through will flying colours. Thanks.

Adventure put great demands on tyres, some days they work good, other days a little more care is needed.

A wet day crossing the glens, slipping and sliding.

Loaded and ready to rock & roll

Have some fun.