I have recently acquired a Lightning after many years absence. Checking the bike over, I noted that the bracket which mounts the front mudguard to the forks does not contribute to the torsional stiffness of the fork tubes - they are located by the wheel spindle and the 2 top yokes. If I stand in front of the bike, holding the wheel between my knees, I can twist the handlebars more than I expected to. I have retightened the yokes, which made little difference. Does anyone know of a more robust bracket to mount the mudguard to the forks? I guess it needs to saddle shaped (horse, not motorcycle!)

Obviously these forks are common to a number of other models, has anyone seen a cunning solution to this? Is it actually a problem that needs a solution or am I overthinking it?

What year is the A65? If it's a 1971 or 72 OIF then you have rubber bushes in the top yoke through which the handlebar 'P' clamps are mounted. If any deterioration has occured you may experience the symptoms described.

It sounds like yours is an OIF model in which case that was one of the criticisms of the design. However, the handlebar twist is more likely to be the rubber mounts on the top yoke. Make sure the bushes are not worn or worse still the inner sleeve has broken away from the rubber. If getting new ones, specify that you want the LF Harris manufactured ones. Also, make sure the cup, rubber, dished washer arrangement is as per the photo.

Re the mudguard bracket a lot of owners make a stiffer 'horseshoe shape' bracket from bent tube that connects the stay bosses on the sliders over the mudguard pinned to the top of the guard with bolts. It's a job for a fabricator though.

Hope that helps

Please see attached for part number explanation.

Thanks for your suggestions; it's a 1965 so the handlebars are directly mounted, so none of these fancy vibration damping rubbers!