1946 Model 18 Handling

Large size TT100's are definitely going to make the bike handle differently compared to original skinny round profile tyres....Les

Concur with Les on the tyres'... especially if they are old and hard. They are not nice on a Commando even...

You mention renewal in the girders but have you set the spindles up; set the friction damper? The steering damper is kicking out some rust dust, that's working... but the travel damper needs to control the spring.

Hike the front wheel up; slack off both dampers and check for movement, longitudinal (head-stock bearing, fork spindle adjustment) and lateral (fork spindles, wheel bearing adjustment) ...

If all is good change the rubber....

Jon

Can't comment on a girder fork Model 18 but my girder fork Inter handles as well if not better than my Dad's Model 18 with teles. It's not as easy to throw into a corner as the model 18 but it feels a lot more planted. I've always put this down to the different wheel sizes though (21inch front on the Inter)

If the frame and forks on your 18 are straight and the wheels inline then it should handle every bit as well as a bike with teles. I'd try some new tyres, 3.25 on the front and 3.50 on the back seems to work well on mine.

My Dad bought a 1960 Triumph a few years ago that was awful! When we tried to fit a new tyre the old one wouldn't come off - we took it to a local tyre fitter and it actually bent the arm on their machine! When they finally did get it off and fitted a new rear tyre it was a totally different bike.

Andy

Hi Richard,

I can't see it clearly in the photo but the damper plates don't look to be in the right order. There are2 friction discs in series between the bottom yoke, the steel disc which attaches to the front down tube and the steel bottom plate with the 2 ears that bolt to the bottom yoke. The large sleeve nut which is slot bored so the bottom spindlecan past through then screws to the rod attached to the damper knob. I don't know if its the camera angle but the damper platesdon't look in line with the headstock? Also I notice there are no steering lock stop bolts, although this shouldn't affect the handling. Another factor you might want to check is the wheel alignment. These wheels have the rim off-set from the centre to allow for the brake drum but are quite often rebuilt centrally by mistake. If this is so the difference is doubled as the wheels are fitted opposite to each otherand this will affect the handling. You may want to check the tyre pressures, I use 23 PSI in the front and 25 in the back, more if you carry a passenger. Sorry, don't know what the equivalent metric figures are.

Regards, Richard.

I've got a 1948 ES2 and a !939 ES2. Both with plunger rear ends and one with a girder front and the other with Roadholders. Both have standard size tyres, Avon SM's and both are just about the same for handling. Just get new tyres and check pressure do not use the damper. They are mainly for sidecar use. The friction damper on the girders is only cosmetic as soon as you grease the spindles it comes out through the damper.

Previously richard_norton wrote:

Hi, I have the same model which I recently refurbed and put back into the road after a long lay up. Initially the handling/straight line stability wasn't up to much - I found it was down to old tyres (when I checked carefully I could see there was run-out on the rear) and possibly wheel alignment. After fitting new tyres and taking care to ensure wheel alignment was ok the handling seems fine now and the tendency to 'wander' has gone. The tyre sizes are 3.25/19 (front) and 3.5/19 (rear).

My '46 Model 18 just back from its first road run since November 1988.I bought the bike in 1982 with a Roadholder front end and used it regularly until I bought my Commando in 1988.My memories are that it handled well and I used to throw it around and regularly scraped the pegs. (well I was in my early 20's).I have never ridden a girder forked bike before and I hate to admit that I didn't enjoy my short ride. (or better to say that my grin was tempered by the horrible handling). Steering very vague regardless of steering damper setting and doing lifesavers was scary as the bike wandered all over the road as I tried to look over my shoulder.Comments on how a girder forked Model 18 should handle compared to a rigid with teles appreciated.I've included a pic of the damper to front down tube arrangement that I have some doubts about. (I now realise that the damper plate is upside down and that geometry of assembly is not correct).

Not discounting anything but can advise that the forks were rebushed, are straight and in good condition and as far as suspension goes appear to be operating well. (my recent runs included a farm track). Poor steering or tracking may be due to some issue with the forks but I'm still wondering about the tyres. Could the front be oversized? It's a3.60H19.Also the back, 4.10H19 looks and feels okay but it is pretty old.

Images at

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