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.