[wokka]

Hi All,

Need some more advice before the hacking commences

I need to know if there are any surprises lurking beneath the front fender mounts on a '11 C5 (Indian spec)

As I have deleted the front guard, they are no longer required and would like to clean the lines of the forks up.

Current thoughts will be to use a grinder to remove the bulk (once disassembled) then finishing off with a lathe (using a 3 jawed chuck at the top and fabricating an adapter using the lower fender mount and axle mount to use a live center)

The lower fender mount will need to be finished by hand as I cant reach it with the lathe due to the axle mount

Or should I just bite the bullet and get a new set of forks?

[Ducati Scotty]

I 've taken apart my American C5 forks.  I don't think you'll find any surprises in there mechanically but it's not the greatest metal.  You'll find many stories of people cracking the tops of forks while prying out seals because it's very brittle.  I suspect there may be voids in there too once you grind away the outer metal.

If you want to try it go for it, the worst that can happen is you'll need to buy a new lower fork.  I'd say a lathe is a little aggressive.  Start by just cutting a little away and file/sand the last bit.  Then fine sand and polish it all up.  It's soft metal, it shouldn't take long.

Scott

[wokka]

Cheers Scott, I had another look today, (pics in the other thread) and it's not that bad. I mught just save a whole heap of heartache and just make a blanking plate and paint it drab olive to match the bike

[Ducati Scotty]

Or bolt on something cool!  Like razor wire and spikes!

Scott

[wokka]

Or bolt on something cool!  Like razor wire and spikes!

Scott

um, no.

[Ducati Scotty]

Spoilsport!

[GlennF]

meh ...

its a bobber just fit springers - or better yet girders,  telescopic forks are too modern

you know you want to

[GlennF]

Forgot to link a source for girder Forks for Enfields

http://vintageautoworld.trustpass.alibaba.com/productshowimg/112422421-101257158/Royal_Enfield_G_G1_G2_J_J1_J2_replica_girder_front_fork_Bobber_chopper_board_track_racer_vintage_British_custom_motorcycle_Harl.html

[Chiefharlock]

Holy crap those are awesome!!!!! Were they easy to install? How much did they cost? Better yet, how is the ride with the springer front?

[GlennF]

Holy crap those are awesome!!!!! Were they easy to install? How much did they cost? Better yet, how is the ride with the springer front?

Those pics are both girder not springer.

I haven't built a girder fork UCE Enfield myself as of yet, it is just an idea I have been researching on and off as a possible future project. My problem in Australia will likely be road registration issues. 

Girder forks seemed to fit the theme of the original posters bike so I thought I would throw them in as a suggestion 

[Kevin Mahoney]

I love the bobber!! I have been in the factory (very loose term) where the Indian forks are made. I refused to carry them because they are out and out dangerous. They have NO structural integrity. Please beware,

[wokka]

Thanks guys,

I love the look of the girders, but I would rather fabricate myself as I then know exactly what they are constructed from (instead of some cheese-like metal )
It also means I can build them a little lower to get the stance I'm after

This will be my daily rider, so want to make sure that the ride isn't sacrificed for looks, so I'll see if I can find an old set of girders to use as a template, and get them across in my next container

Oh and Scotty, If you post pics of razor wire and spikes on your bike, I will too

[cyrusb]

Kevins on to something there. Just look at it!  What a piece of crap. Too bad though, the potential is there.

[Ducati Scotty]

I love the look of girder forks but they need to be made super duper strong to hold up.

Scott

[GlennF]

The other thing that might help the "bobber" look is 21" front rims and drum brakes.

BTW ...  Hitchcock do a "half size" front drum for conversions like this but they also include a serious warning about it being unsuitable for safe everyday  road use.