Just finished modding my Enfield Woodsman

Tarka · 07-19-2009, 03:05 PM

(Hoping it`s the right Forum....it`s kinda confusing nowadays).

I`ve just finished making a few changes to my Enfield 500 Woodsman and thought some of you may enjoy seeing what I`ve done.

Here`s the bike in brand new,stock condition.

Nothing wrong per se....I`ve loved the bike from day one...but at a recent Watsonian Squire Open Day I noticed that despite being built in limited numbers,the several Woodsman models there were all exactly the same bar the colour schemes.
I wanted to personalise mine.
Also,look at the excessive gap betwixt front tyre and mudguard due to the lowish profile road tyres instead of the original spec tall profile ones they used to have.
Additionally I thought the big rectangular tail light was a bit large.

With the tyres,I was going to fit the tall profile Mitas ones I use on my Urals but I`m planning on taking the Enfield to Italy and exploring the military forts and tracks in the Stella Alpina area so I decided on some trials tyres....these would also be fine on the road...so nice Mister Watsonian Squire sent me a pair of Ensign Trials tyres (front and rear both 3.75x19).

These are quite a bit taller than the stock tyres,so I also decided to buy and fit a polished alloy trials front mudguard and a powder coated trials external mudguard.....gets away from the far too modern style of front mudguard anway,heh heh.

Pop the wheels out.....the Enfield is great when you remove the rear wheel as the chain and sprocket stay in place....and change the tyres.
Unbolt the mudguard and bolt the external stay in its place.
Decide on the best fore and aft position for the new alloy guard,mark and drill the holes then bolt it all up....with new shallow headed domed bolts as the original hex ones will foul the tyre on refitting the wheel (DAMHIK).

Tyres and front end completed.

I didn`t re-route the speedo cable to use the mount that`s on the stay,as the cable would foul and melt on the wrap around header pipe fitted to the Woodsman.

Now then....that massive red plastic box masquerading as a tail light.
I bought a replica of the Miller lamp fitted to Vincents.....the round one with the word STOP across the upper bit.
It`s a 2 bulb unit (one for tail/number plate and one for brake,natch) with nasty clamp terminals so I soldered some cables directly and fitted a dedicated earth wire rather than relying on the bolts.
I traced around the chromed rear housing and made a curved topped plate to blank the space where the tail light was.....this was drilled to suit all the original mounting points,sprayed black and the new lamp unit was bolted to it.
Additionally,I mounted the number plate bracket about 2" higher than it originally was...helps with wheel removal,gives a tad more ground clearance and...more to the point....it looks better,ahem.
(Vain ? Moi ?? )

Then....the piece de resistance....
At the Uttoxeter Classic show I found a brand new Bullet Classic petrol tank in chrome with gold lined black sections for £75....about half price.
The headstock neck needed widening slightly and the front mounting holes had to be enlarged,but after that it dropped straight on and bolted up.
Here`s the tank in an arty photo from this evening which I like.

The Classic tank is meant to have a rubber knee pad each side but they are very thick and don`t look right.....I`m just going to look for a small side badge or similar to use up the mounting bolt thread,and probably extend the pinstriping where it ends abruptly.
A phonecall to Hitchcocks for a Classic filler cap and petrol tap,and the job was done.

I know this Thread`s a bit self indulgent but I`m very pleased with the results and thought someone else may enjoy reading about and seeing what I`ve done.

Uncle Ernie · 07-19-2009, 03:19 PM

Heck yeah!
I was going to say you need an aluminium tank, but then the chrome job showed up. That'll do I guess

I think it probably needed some light fitting because that's a different frame from the Bullet?

Does that exhaust have that PAV rigamarol? I took mine off, took one airbox off, and put a pod on the 2nd (or is it the 1st?) airbox. That added about 1 1/2 HP right there! I think yours is based on what we in the 'Statres call the Electra-X, so you may not have the crazy 2 airbox system.

How many miles on it now?

I'm almost done with mine. Mind comparing notes in the same thread in about a week? (be honest now)

If a Royal Enfield isn't Old School- I sure don't know what is.

Tarka · 07-19-2009, 03:23 PM

Cheers Uncle Ernie.

The Woodsman is indeed an Electra X 'leanburn' engine.

However,the Woodsman exhaust is specially made and there`s no gubbins attached to it.

One hidden benefit of the tyres is that the taller profile has raised the final gearing a tad and the bike is noticably more 'relaxed' and a bit smoother.

I`ve only got 1800 miles on the Enfield up to now,due to using all the other bikes as well.....

bpeckm · 07-19-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Ernie

snip

If a Royal Enfield isn't Old School- I sure don't know what is.

Yeah, man, Old School of the Brand New Vintage Line..... good looking bikes, and fun to see that the marketing people have caught on to the "what a bike should look like" theory.....

Good looking ride, and hey, we're all a little "self indulgent" as you call it... we love our bikes, and that's that, so there.

Pezz_gs · 07-19-2009, 04:38 PM

Oh my that looks nice

Modern Classic . . . . well done

Mista Vern · 07-19-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pezz_gs

Oh my that looks nice

Modern Classic . . . . well done

Indeed!

jeep44 · 07-19-2009, 05:46 PM

Very tastefully done!

Uncle Ernie · 07-19-2009, 07:27 PM

At 1800 mine was just getting good. Almost a milestone. 60-65mph will fel much better.

Until the trees get in the way...

Boon Booni · 07-19-2009, 07:29 PM

Those knobbies really change the character of the bike. Nice looking.

datchew · 07-19-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gramps

Those knobbies really change the character of the bike. Nice looking.

+1

I love it.

Please let us know how those perform on the road.
Seriously, I have a /2 with plans for knobbies and am still shopping around.

Putts · 07-20-2009, 04:58 AM

Yeah, seems to me Enfields and Urals get a pass on the age requirement in here. Indulge away!

I love the look of trials tires on a bike. They just look so "ready for anything."

Tasteful indeed.

jellycow · 07-20-2009, 09:35 AM

Airhead Wrangler · 07-20-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Putts

Yeah, seems to me Enfields and Urals get a pass on the age requirement in here. Indulge away!

If it's got drums on it, I think it should be exempt from age requirements. ABS and FI should be automatic disqualifiers.

Putts · 07-20-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

If it's got drums on it, I think it should be exempt from age requirements. ABS and FI should be automatic disqualifiers.

And computers.

Only good tool for computers on a bike is a hammer.

Ginger Beard · 07-20-2009, 11:41 AM

Very ,very cool bike man.

07-19-2009, 03:05 PM	#1
Tarka ^OP Confirmed Urallist Joined: May 2007 Location: Across the pond......in England. Oddometer: 1,614	Just finished modding my Enfield Woodsman (Hoping it`s the right Forum....it`s kinda confusing nowadays). I`ve just finished making a few changes to my Enfield 500 Woodsman and thought some of you may enjoy seeing what I`ve done. Here`s the bike in brand new,stock condition. Nothing wrong per se....I`ve loved the bike from day one...but at a recent Watsonian Squire Open Day I noticed that despite being built in limited numbers,the several Woodsman models there were all exactly the same bar the colour schemes. I wanted to personalise mine. Also,look at the excessive gap betwixt front tyre and mudguard due to the lowish profile road tyres instead of the original spec tall profile ones they used to have. Additionally I thought the big rectangular tail light was a bit large. With the tyres,I was going to fit the tall profile Mitas ones I use on my Urals but I`m planning on taking the Enfield to Italy and exploring the military forts and tracks in the Stella Alpina area so I decided on some trials tyres....these would also be fine on the road...so nice Mister Watsonian Squire sent me a pair of Ensign Trials tyres (front and rear both 3.75x19). These are quite a bit taller than the stock tyres,so I also decided to buy and fit a polished alloy trials front mudguard and a powder coated trials external mudguard.....gets away from the far too modern style of front mudguard anway,heh heh. Pop the wheels out.....the Enfield is great when you remove the rear wheel as the chain and sprocket stay in place....and change the tyres. Unbolt the mudguard and bolt the external stay in its place. Decide on the best fore and aft position for the new alloy guard,mark and drill the holes then bolt it all up....with new shallow headed domed bolts as the original hex ones will foul the tyre on refitting the wheel (DAMHIK). Tyres and front end completed. I didn`t re-route the speedo cable to use the mount that`s on the stay,as the cable would foul and melt on the wrap around header pipe fitted to the Woodsman. Now then....that massive red plastic box masquerading as a tail light. I bought a replica of the Miller lamp fitted to Vincents.....the round one with the word STOP across the upper bit. It`s a 2 bulb unit (one for tail/number plate and one for brake,natch) with nasty clamp terminals so I soldered some cables directly and fitted a dedicated earth wire rather than relying on the bolts. I traced around the chromed rear housing and made a curved topped plate to blank the space where the tail light was.....this was drilled to suit all the original mounting points,sprayed black and the new lamp unit was bolted to it. Additionally,I mounted the number plate bracket about 2" higher than it originally was...helps with wheel removal,gives a tad more ground clearance and...more to the point....it looks better,ahem. (Vain ? Moi ?? ) Then....the piece de resistance.... At the Uttoxeter Classic show I found a brand new Bullet Classic petrol tank in chrome with gold lined black sections for £75....about half price. The headstock neck needed widening slightly and the front mounting holes had to be enlarged,but after that it dropped straight on and bolted up. Here`s the tank in an arty photo from this evening which I like. The Classic tank is meant to have a rubber knee pad each side but they are very thick and don`t look right.....I`m just going to look for a small side badge or similar to use up the mounting bolt thread,and probably extend the pinstriping where it ends abruptly. A phonecall to Hitchcocks for a Classic filler cap and petrol tap,and the job was done. I know this Thread`s a bit self indulgent but I`m very pleased with the results and thought someone else may enjoy reading about and seeing what I`ve done. __________________ . I'd only waste my money if I didn`t spend it on all my bikes...... Tarka screwed with this post 01-12-2013 at 03:00 PM

07-19-2009, 03:19 PM	#2
Uncle Ernie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Asheville NC Oddometer: 3,978	Heck yeah! I was going to say you need an aluminium tank, but then the chrome job showed up. That'll do I guess I think it probably needed some light fitting because that's a different frame from the Bullet? Does that exhaust have that PAV rigamarol? I took mine off, took one airbox off, and put a pod on the 2nd (or is it the 1st?) airbox. That added about 1 1/2 HP right there! I think yours is based on what we in the 'Statres call the Electra-X, so you may not have the crazy 2 airbox system. How many miles on it now? I'm almost done with mine. Mind comparing notes in the same thread in about a week? (be honest now) If a Royal Enfield isn't Old School- I sure don't know what is. __________________ LOOK OUT IT'S COMING THIS WAY!

07-19-2009, 03:23 PM	#3
Tarka ^OP Confirmed Urallist Joined: May 2007 Location: Across the pond......in England. Oddometer: 1,614	Cheers Uncle Ernie. The Woodsman is indeed an Electra X 'leanburn' engine. However,the Woodsman exhaust is specially made and there`s no gubbins attached to it. One hidden benefit of the tyres is that the taller profile has raised the final gearing a tad and the bike is noticably more 'relaxed' and a bit smoother. I`ve only got 1800 miles on the Enfield up to now,due to using all the other bikes as well..... __________________ . I'd only waste my money if I didn`t spend it on all my bikes......

07-19-2009, 04:38 PM	#5
Pezz_gs Cant ride for crap Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Sydney Skunkworks Oddometer: 3,387	Oh my that looks nice Modern Classic . . . . well done __________________ Pezz :) Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2013 - Back 'O Bourke www.scrapheapadventureride.com.au I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are missing

07-19-2009, 07:27 PM	#8
Uncle Ernie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Asheville NC Oddometer: 3,978	At 1800 mine was just getting good. Almost a milestone. 60-65mph will fel much better. Until the trees get in the way... __________________ LOOK OUT IT'S COMING THIS WAY!

07-19-2009, 05:46 PM	#7
jeep44 junk collector Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Canton,Michigan Oddometer: 1,659	Very tastefully done!

07-19-2009, 07:29 PM	#9
Boon Booni Red Clay Halo Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Richmond, Va Oddometer: 11,196	Those knobbies really change the character of the bike. Nice looking. __________________ Maybe Old's Cool is a bunch of dirty old men who swear because , let's face it, old bikes run on blasphemy as much as they do gasoline and oil. --Jinx You can be Han Solo, and I can be another Han Solo...

07-20-2009, 04:58 AM	#11
Putts Gettin' there. Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Bozoman, Montana Oddometer: 10,959	Yeah, seems to me Enfields and Urals get a pass on the age requirement in here. Indulge away! I love the look of trials tires on a bike. They just look so "ready for anything." Tasteful indeed. __________________ . "Origin is right here, right now," said Klay. GTomic replied, "Many myth the point."

07-20-2009, 09:35 AM	#12
jellycow out there & loving it Joined: May 2005 Location: the Netherlands Oddometer: 481	__________________ [Sir Mix-a-lot mode] I like big tanks and I cannot lie [\Sir Mix-a-lot mode]

07-20-2009, 11:41 AM	#15
Ginger Beard I have no soul Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Sunny Northern Cuba (aka: South Florida) Oddometer: 5,592	Very ,very cool bike man. __________________ "I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it." ~Edgar Allen Poe~ My HD Scram-ster build Help Save a Pit-Bull

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode