RIGHT TO REPLY TO A REPLY
As you gave Jim Hodges an immediate opportunity to reply [see ‘Fork Controversy’, Letters, CB February 2021], you might do the same for me. Jim does not say if he has ever raced himself or how he knows so much about the Norton forks when used under extreme circumstances. Most road riders, and bikes never get to this situation. He mentions the higher speeds in the Isle of Man, and here other facts will have more bearing; the first being the extra 140bhp now available and the opening out of many of the bends – particularly Quarry Bends, Windy Corner and Brandish, which bears no relation to its former self. Added to this is the much better tyres, it is of little wonder that lap speeds have risen, including the speeds of the classic riders having to suffer the Roadholder forks.
Just for the record, I myself raced there for 17 years, mostly on classics, and mostly with Norton-type forks. No one denies that forks have improved, but in their time Norton forks were the best, and far more capable than the people that ride with them, even today. Yes, of course there are better forks , but the one thing they are not is “rubbish”. That is all I am stating, based only my own and many others’ experience. Obviously, Jim Hodges has come to a different conclusion based on his experience.
Bruce Hosie