FF: Forks Fork Travel

Peter Holmes

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Hugo, sounds a bit precarious to me, but I totally get the logic as you are not preventing the front wheel from rotating, which it tends to do quite a lot with the Girdraulic fork, hence the John Emmanuel mod.
 

davidd

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Very good with the photos.

The damper looks like an Armstrong, which was stock on the Series D, but not the Series C. It looks like you have the short eyes at the bottom, which are usually not paired with this damper due to the Armstrong being a shorter damper than the stock Series C. The longer eyes offered on the Series D are usually paired with it.

You have a Series D breather on the Ex spring. It is OK if you are not having oiling problems.

The eccentrics look fine and they are in the solo riding position. I would drop some oil in the cracks.

It looks like you have Vincent Speet's brake on the front wheel. This is a very good after market brake.

It looks like it may be over sprung, as we guessed. It may be that you can get away with some softer or shorter springs. Ideally, with you sitting on the bike the lower fork link should be parallel to the pavement.

A shot of the whole front end would show its attitude.

David
 

Hugo Myatt

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Hugo, sounds a bit precarious to me, but I totally get the logic as you are not preventing the front wheel from rotating, which it tends to do quite a lot with the Girdraulic fork, hence the John Emmanuel mod.
Pete,
Never had a problem doing it until I reached 70 - years that is not MPH
 

Bowsh

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I'm going to try all methods and take more pics. Won't be for a few days though
 

Bowsh

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I think some strategic oiling has helped. I have taken some pics though. First pic is with me sat on with weight on bike, no stand.
B846A41A-CE68-4F89-A60A-3FDE2CCB701F.jpeg
 

davidd

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The loaded photo looks quite good. I have to take back the "over sprung" comment. The oil does a remarkable job.

It looks to me like the travel at full extension is a little short. I am wondering if it is due to using the short eyes with the short damper. You're wheel off the ground looks like many bikes look with their wheel on the ground with some spacers in the spring boxes.

David
 

Martyn Goodwin

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If it's like most Vincent's out there, the front end will be way over sprung. But you will need to remove the upper spring cases either side at the front to see what is lurking within, the inner springs can be removed and this will soften the ride quite a bit.
Greg,

It is my understanding the with a Comet inner springs in the front spring boxes should only be used with a sidecar - no sidecar=no inner springs
 

Bowsh

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Non-VOC Member
The loaded photo looks quite good. I have to take back the "over sprung" comment. The oil does a remarkable job.

It looks to me like the travel at full extension is a little short. I am wondering if it is due to using the short eyes with the short damper. You're wheel off the ground looks like many bikes look with their wheel on the ground with some spacers in the spring boxes.

David
I’m guessing that next steps are to see what springs I have. I have another damper, that I could try. I’m not certain what one it is though. I’ll take another pic?
 

greg brillus

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Your front shock absorber is an Armstrong which the factory used on later production bikes, they work ok for an early design.
 
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