Earles Fork Handling

I have a 1971 MZ ES Trophy. Marvellously styled earles fork'd 250 two
stroke [1].

It handles very nicely; certainly a lot better than the C15 and
Superdream I had.

However, If I put a heavy load (say two Moto Guzzi barrels and heads) on
the rear rack the handlebars shake to the point of losing control if I
take my hands off the bars.

I'd like to sort it out before I load it up like the little red donkey it
is and take it to Elmerland in January.

What could be the cause?


[1] For those who haven't seen it:
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/mzes250/

--
Simon

On 18/11/07 10:20, in article xn0fdu930570dt002@news.individual.net,
"sweller" <sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

> I have a 1971 MZ ES Trophy. Marvellously styled earles fork'd 250 two
> stroke [1].
>
> It handles very nicely; certainly a lot better than the C15 and
> Superdream I had.
>
> However, If I put a heavy load (say two Moto Guzzi barrels and heads) on
> the rear rack the handlebars shake to the point of losing control if I
> take my hands off the bars.
>
> I'd like to sort it out before I load it up like the little red donkey it
> is and take it to Elmerland in January.
>
> What could be the cause?
>
>
> [1] For those who haven't seen it:
> http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/mzes250/

I've always fancied one of those - whats it like speed and reliability wise?
Would one handle a 60 mile a day commute?
As for handling issues that's a lot of weight to put behind the rear wheel
spindle , but I don't know how you could cure it....

Steve

--
1936 BSA B18
1979 Guzzi T4
1992 Ducati 750SS
2000 K1100LT
2007 HD VRSCDX

"sweller" <sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
<xn0fdu930570dt002@news.individual.net>:

>I have a 1971 MZ ES Trophy. Marvellously styled earles fork'd 250 two
>stroke [1].
>
>It handles very nicely; certainly a lot better than the C15 and
>Superdream I had.
>
>However, If I put a heavy load (say two Moto Guzzi barrels and heads) on
>the rear rack the handlebars shake to the point of losing control if I
>take my hands off the bars.
>
>I'd like to sort it out before I load it up like the little red donkey it
>is and take it to Elmerland in January.
>
>What could be the cause?

Dunno. I've got a steering damper you're welcome to. Bought it for the
sidecar but it seems unnecessary after I've set it up.
--
K75RT, K1100LT, ZXR750H1, 5TA, Z500/Velorex chair.
ST1100.

"Feel sick and dirty more dead than alive"

sweller wrote:

> I have a 1971 MZ ES Trophy. Marvellously styled earles fork'd 250 two
> stroke [1].
>
> It handles very nicely; certainly a lot better than the C15 and
> Superdream I had.
>
> However, If I put a heavy load (say two Moto Guzzi barrels and heads)
> on the rear rack the handlebars shake to the point of losing control
> if I take my hands off the bars.
>
> I'd like to sort it out before I load it up like the little red
> donkey it is and take it to Elmerland in January.
>
> What could be the cause?
>


You're taking a Guzzi heads with you?

Anyway, usual suspects are; tyres, tyre pressures, swing arm bearings,
fucked shocks/bushes or just too much weight too far back.

--
Mike
FJ1200

Steve wrote:

> > [1] For those who haven't seen it:
> > http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/mzes250/
>
> I've always fancied one of those - whats it like speed and reliability
> wise? Would one handle a 60 mile a day commute?

It'll cruise at 60 quite happily but it's a nigh-on 40 year old two
stroke. I used to use it regularly as a commuter on a similar journey.
Not every day, 2 or so times a week but that was on B roads.

Dual carriageway constant thrashing wouldn't be good but I think economy
would be the killer. It runs at 33:1 two stroke mix and about 40ish to
the gallon.


> As for handling issues that's a lot of weight to put behind the rear
> wheel spindle , but I don't know how you could cure it....

Possibly not at all.

--
Simon

deadmail@burnt.org.uk wrote:

> > However, If I put a heavy load (say two Moto Guzzi barrels and heads)
> > on the rear rack the handlebars shake to the point of losing control
> > if I take my hands off the bars.

> > What could be the cause?
>
> Dunno. I've got a steering damper you're welcome to. Bought it for the
> sidecar but it seems unnecessary after I've set it up.

What type of steering damper?

Hydraulic would be impossible (or at least very difficult) to fit. The
MZ dampers are friction type. I have one for the later TS but it's
missing an important bit.

--
Simon

In communiqué <xn0fdu930570dt002@news.individual.net>, sweller
<sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>However, If I put a heavy load (say two Moto Guzzi barrels and heads) on
>the rear rack the handlebars shake to the point of losing control if I
>take my hands off the bars.
>
>I'd like to sort it out before I load it up like the little red donkey it
>is and take it to Elmerland in January.
>
>What could be the cause?
>
>
>[1] For those who haven't seen it:
> http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/mzes250/
>

They are like leading link sidecar forks, so perhaps the weight on the
back reduces the tyre contact patch and hence he tendency to weave.
Counter-intuitive perhaps, but you could try a lower tyre pressure in
the front when loaded up to the gunnels at the back.


--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: Peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

"sweller" <sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
<xn0fduakc771cb006@news.individual.net>:

>deadmail@burnt.org.uk wrote:
>
>> > Hydraulic would be impossible (or at least very difficult) to fit.
>> > The MZ dampers are friction type. I have one for the later TS but
>> > it's missing an important bit.
>>
>> It's a hydraulic one; fits to the fork and then a frame tube or similar.
>
>Could be tricky:
>http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/mzes...tos/photo3.jpg

You may have a point...
--
K75RT, K1100LT, ZXR750H1, 5TA, Z500/Velorex chair.
ST1100.

"Feel sick and dirty more dead than alive"

On or around 18 Nov 2007 10:20:04 GMT, "sweller"
<sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> enlightened us thusly:

>I have a 1971 MZ ES Trophy. Marvellously styled earles fork'd 250 two
>stroke [1].

WTF are you smoking?
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy! Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\
>> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/ << \ ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

sweller wrote:
>
> [1] For those who haven't seen it:
> http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/mzes250/

Oh bless it.

Do people vomit on it much?

--
Si - XV535