Let’s mess with a 650 Interceptor

[Deleted account 240831001]

I've just fitted a s/hand set of these to my recently acquired MT-09. I haven't quite finished putting it back together yet but I'm hoping to a significant improvement to match the Öhlins on the rear.

https://www.brooksuspension.co.uk/r...-andreani-misano-evo-fork-cartridge-kit-18-23

I’m tempted by the offer Hitchcocks have where you get a complete set of new forks with K Tech internals, new springs etc built up ready to drop in for £1,200 on the basis that I can just remove them and sell them when the bike goes with none of the hassle of removing cartridges.

 

[Schtum]

I’m tempted by the offer Hitchcocks have where you get a complete set of new forks with K Tech internals, new springs etc built up ready to drop in for £1,200 on the basis that I can just remove them and sell them when the bike goes with none of the hassle of removing cartridges.

Apart from the fact that I got the Andreani cartridges used, one thing that put me off the K-Tech kit was reports of them being noisy. I discussed it with my local race shop / suspension guy who's a K-Tech agent and he had raised this with the company in the past and they'd said it was completely normal.

Having said that, the MT is probably going to get a fully adjustable K-Tech shock to replace the basic Öhlins that is on the rear just now.

£623 for a kit for the Enfield from K-Tech themselves. https://store.ktechsuspension.com/front-fork-cartridges-tracker-royal-enfield-interceptor.html

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Apart from the fact that I got the Andreani cartridges used, one thing that put me off the K-Tech kit was reports of them being noisy. I discussed it with my local race shop / suspension guy who's a K-Tech agent and he had raised this with the company in the past and they'd said it was completely normal.

Having said that, the MT is probably going to get a fully adjustable K-Tech shock to replace the basic Öhlins that is on the rear just now.

£623 for a kit for the Enfield from K-Tech themselves. https://store.ktechsuspension.com/front-fork-cartridges-tracker-royal-enfield-interceptor.html

Without springs, oil, fork tops and labour charges.

Admittedly I can do the work myself but it’s not a job I enjoy and I think you need a special tool to do the job. I’ve been thinking about calling Teut over at TW Suspension and asking him for a price to sort the forks out because he’ll do a good job, he’s local and he’ll be glad of the work outside the race season when he’s at race meetings every weekend.

 

[Schtum]

Without springs, oil, fork tops and labour charges.

Admittedly I can do the work myself but it’s not a job I enjoy and I think you need a special tool to do the job. I’ve been thinking about calling Teut over at TW Suspension and asking him for a price to sort the forks out because he’ll do a good job, he’s local and he’ll be glad of the work outside the race season when he’s at race meetings every weekend.

Or just to add to the choice dilemma, these might be nearly as good, a significant upgrade from stock, at least and much cheaper.

Worth a try...? https://www.tecbikeparts.com/produc...l-enfield-interceptor-650-continental-gt-650/

 

[abrasion]

Just dont try the upgrades on an eu 5 version.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Just dont try the upgrades on an eu 5 version.

Which upgrades and why not?

Mine is a Euro 5 and I’ve been told that the ECU will cope perfectly well with changing the air filter and exhaust and so far that appears to be the case. You can’t fit a booster plug but that’s no big deal and apparently there shouldn’t be any issues with a Fuel X Pro but the people selling them would say that wouldn’t they

 

[abrasion]

Interesting. I was talking to a company that fits upgrades ans builds specials. They only buy euro 4 bikes as they said euro 5 cant be.made to work properly with many of their upgrades.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Interesting. I was talking to a company that fits upgrades ans builds specials. They only buy euro 4 bikes as they said euro 5 can‘t made to work properly with many of their upgrades.

Agreed there are things that the ECU prevents owners from using (I think I mentioned supposedly tamper proof ECUs earlier) but as is always the case someone will find a way to work around it. In reality you have to look at what the ECU will accommodate or gamble that the claims made by the manufacturers of ‘add ons’ are true.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Should I trust an eBay seller who claims they’re selling genuine OEM forks for £171 a pair? Obviously there’ll be tax and handling charges to go on that price but I’m wondering if I’d be better just buying a pair of forks and fitting whatever upgrade I want over the winter then simply slide them into the yokes next spring and whip them out for resale when the bike goes.

It’s as much a case of having more time to work on the fork legs without the bike being balanced without a front end as it is about recouping costs later and I reckon I can swap the legs over in about 1hr if I don’t have to mess about gutting them and rebuilding them the same day, especially if I buy cartridges that require me to machine the fork tubes.

 

[Jazbee]

Should I trust an eBay seller who claims they’re selling genuine OEM forks for £171 a pair? Obviously there’ll be tax and handling charges to go on that price but I’m wondering if I’d be better just buying a pair of forks and fitting whatever upgrade I want over the winter then simply slide them into the yokes next spring and whip them out for resale when the bike goes.

It’s as much a case of having more time to work on the fork legs without the bike being balanced without a front end as it is about recouping costs later and I reckon I can swap the legs over in about 1hr if I don’t have to mess about gutting them and rebuilding them the same day, especially if I buy cartridges that require me to machine the fork tubes.

Guy called Raju Lax based in India, 100% trustworthy guy, on many RE Facebook groups, can get you ANYTHING RE related from the factory and suppliers. Reasonable pricing and sometimes no payment till delivered. Think I also have his email address somewhere

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Guy called Raju Lax based in India, 100% trustworthy guy, on many RE Facebook groups, can get you ANYTHING RE related from the factory and suppliers. Reasonable pricing and sometimes no payment till delivered. Think I also have his email address somewhere

Fire it over to me please, I’ll email him and see what he can do.

 

[craig614]

Interested to see what progress you've made since your last post.

 

[GSite]

If it helps, my E5 Interceptor runs very well with K&N air filter upgrade and Scorpion slip on cans.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

The bike is currently sitting in the garage waiting for me to re-book it’s first service that was cancelled when I was sent to Turkey.

Unfortunately life got in the way of things and that turned to death getting in the way of things but hopefully in a couple of weeks I’ll get back to looking into building a new set of forks ready to just drop in next spring. In an ideal World the plan is to buy the component parts needed to just build a set of fully adjustable forks and then it’s merely a couple of hours to fit them and get out on the road to mess about setting them up.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Happy days are here again. Apparently I’m due a tax rebate of £1,860 and man maths tells me that tax rebates aren’t real money so spending it on toys can’t be classified as pissing it down the drain.

That’ll be a new pair of forks ordered when the rebate hits my bank account

 

[cookie]

I like your thinking.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

I like your thinking.

It’s how men are supposed to think and act if they get an unexpected cash injection.

I need to do a bit of forward planning regarding how to drop the forks but it might simply be a case of put it behind my bike trailer on the centre stand and use a ratchet strap to keep the front up in the air.

Failing that a trolley jack or axle stands cunningly positioned usually does the job

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

I’ve finally got round to ordering a set of mounts for the Hepco and Becker panniers I bought from Al soon after buying the bike, it seemed a sensible way to spend the money I saved on my car insurance this year. Man maths rock

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

The pannier mounts arrived today so I suppose I need to expose the bike from behind the wall of junk that’s accumulated at the front of the garage but first job will be to get a die grinder and mess with the holes so both parts of each side mount go together. I shouldn’t be surprised because I’ve fitted Hepco and Becker parts before and it’s not unusual to have to take up to 1mm off the side of a hole to get bolts in straight.

Apart from that they’re nicely finished and shouldn’t be too obtrusive when the panniers aren’t on the bike so I’m happy enough.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

This doesn’t really count as messing with the bike but it finally had its first service today. Apparently 2 valves needed a slight adjustment but it’s done now so I can unleash a bit more of the power

The tech who did the service was so impressed by the noise made by the changed exhausts that he fetched the two guys on sales so they could have a listen and they made a note of the supplier so they can recommend them to anyone who asks about changing theirs, I should be on commission