a long overdue introduction and build pics

I have been using the site for over a year and figured I should give an introduction. My name is Josh Tjeerdsma and I am in Rapid City, SD. I purchased a 72 combat commando in early 2015 and proceeded to tear it down for a resto mod rebuild. The bike was good and had low miles, but I decided to change out the original bearings in the lower end and gearbox after research on the forum. Because I have a problem with going too far with repairs, I ended up doing a complete refurbish of the bike and did a lot of the recommended upgrades. You may remember that I tried to sell the project on the forum for a bit when I was short on cash. I have since decided to finish and keep the bike, which I'm sure I wont regret. This was my second motorcycle. My first was a 1957 BSA C12, but I wanted something more capable of tearing around the beautiful mountain roads out my back door (the same roads that bring the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally here every year). I also purchased a cheap 1974 Moto Guzzi 850T locally after the Norton to ride while the Norton was in pieces. I did some minor work to the Guzzi to make it reliable and fun (I cant help but tear into everything I own). I just finished painting the tank and body parts on the Norton and Leo Goff is finishing up the engine work. Here are a couple pictures of the Norton as it stands, and a picture of my old BSA and the Guzzi. This forum is great and I appreciate all the help the members have given me.

Very nice to have all those toys. And room to play with them. Envious. From the downtown dude. Enjoy.

Great to hear the $$$ and the bikes lined up to keep you going!

Have to hook up that kid trailer and drag the kids along for the ride. :lol:

Dont have the BSA anymore. Sold that to a guy in town and turned that cash into the Guzzi. I wont need the kid trailer with the giant stock seat on the Guzzi. I can haul the whole family.

That's a great blue you've applied there, maybe good enough to be called "Blue Bomber II" !!

What is the blue you've used?

Fast Eddie said:

That's a great blue you've applied there, maybe good enough to be called "Blue Bomber II" !!

What is the blue you've used?

Click to expand...

Looks like Tardis blue to me Nigel

Beautiful bike Josh, well done.

It is actually Subaru WRX blue. I thought it would be a good color to go with the silver frame. Just need to put the vinyl decals on. Its not show quality, but its a 10 footer.

I like the seat.

Looks like one of Madass' front brake master cyclinders. I have one on my '72 also. Hope you bend better than me. The clipons and rearsets don't work for me at all...too painful. Got rid of a JPN in 2003 for that reason.

It is a madass master cylinder. Im still fairly young, spry, and a bicyclist so hopefully I can handle the position. I'm more worried about the clearance between my calf and the kicker and the comfort(or lack therof) of the seat.

I rotated the kicker a tooth forward on the shaft and it helped keep it off my shin. Just make sure you can get the KS to release fully at bottoming out on the kick.

I rotated the kicker a tooth forward on the shaft and it helped keep it off my shin. Just make sure you can get the KS to release fully at bottoming out on the kick.

Hi Josh,
Beautiful bikes. What fuel tank is on the Norton?

Ed

It is the alloy Novil/production racer tank from rgm norton. It is made by Bartel and seems to be good quality. I did have to do some minor tweaking at the front mounts with a rubber mallet to get it to clear the triple trees. Not much tweaking though. Here is a link: http://www.rgmnorton.co.uk/buy/aluminiu ... p_3007.htm. Thanks for the compliments.

Gunna be real nice when she's finished. I love the contrast between the tins and the frame. Still not got my engine back together after a little mishap that has ended up costing around 4K ( lots of goodies from Matt & JIM), due to me getting the shovelhead rebuilt.
Finally going to weld a couple of rear fender mounts into the rear frame loop so as to get rid of the OEM fender come tail lamp fering mount that has been pissing me off on every Commando I have owned.
Going to re-paint the frame in silver, just like yours, for contrast with my yellow tins. Seeing yours has only strengthened my resolve.
Welcome to the site.
JUG

Awesome!

I love build threads.

I just joined the forum, waiting to start my restoration until after I finished my '85 Guzzi LeMans 1000.

Once the Norton's done, I'll decide which to keep. I'm already torn!

Here's the Guzzi restoration, I'll be doing the same here for the Norton.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=74056.0

Looks to me like you've got a good start. Nice blue, I love blue. Keep up the good work and be careful. It's prolly cold there in SD by now. Nice to see youngsters on the forum.