Café Commando build thread

[swooshdave]

I also made my own swing arm spindle locks

Jean

And I assume you won't be using a stock swingarm, because those look like they would hit.

 

[ML]

Jean,
are you going to add a cross brace tube above the front Iso - between the front down tubes? I noticed Ludwig and several others have done this and if may stiffen the tie rod beneath.

Mick

 

[Jeandr]

And I assume you won't be using a stock swingarm, because those look like they would hit.

The stock swing arm fits with about ¼" to spare and I am still not shure if I will use a stock one or make one.

Jean

 

[Jeandr]

Jean,
are you going to add a cross brace tube above the front Iso - between the front down tubes? I noticed Ludwig and several others have done this and if may stiffen the tie rod beneath.

Mick

While I am sure adding a cross brace would stiffen up the frame, the tie rod is welded in the middle of the space where the bottom brace is and where the bolt holding the front ISO is. That big bolt is holding the frame together quite well at that point, if it's good enough for the ISOs, it should be good enough for my link.

Jean

 

[swooshdave]

And I assume you won't be using a stock swingarm, because those look like they would hit.

The stock swing arm fits with about ¼" to spare and I am still not shure if I will use a stock one or make one.

Jean

Oh, I forgot that the distance I was thinking included the collars so you'll be about the same spacing. Never mind, carry on.

 

[Hobot]

Now its really gotten interesting to me Jean. Rather brave to punch through the frame for a stud but elegant solution. Effective looking way to place the links. I found each rod by itself could be felt and each seemed to add to the pleasures of the others. i found handling was secure w/o the head steady but the head steady took out the nuance wind eddies and road texture jiggles you feel through the tank as much as bars seat and pegs. Nothing to do with engine isolation. Very delicious when all 3 set slack. I don't think just the few inches of vertical leverage separation of the 2 lower links on frame tubes is quite enough to replace the benefits of the top link. Hm wonder what the factory rubber steady would feel like with the lower 2. Might teach me something to try it. The links improvement can be felt as soon as rolling to me. Like going from a 300 series Lexus to 400, both have fine ride and handling but things jussle through in the small one that the big one isolates.

I tied the rear frame loops together and the middle of down tubes with 1/2" tube and also the rear of cradle. May not matter with your geometry as you are not putting links loads on those areas and both your links are between rigid frame areas, cool.

 

[grandpaul]

Jean, Windy's front link is so simple it's nor funny. No welding required.

Nevertheless, your solution should result in the desired effect.

(don't ask me why, it looked like that link was at the rear 'till I looked closer)

 

[Jeandr]

Jean, Windy's front link is so simple it's nor funny. No welding required.

Nevertheless, your solution should result in the desired effect.

(don't ask me why, it looked like that link was at the rear 'till I looked closer)

While thinking of what I would do, I collected a number of pictures from other hackers, these are all bolted on links for the rear, front and top. All would be fairly easy to add to any Norton, on my build, I was cutting up the frame anyway for the oil tank so welding in mounting points for the links is only a side trip, also I wanted to have all the links to be close in lenght and to be anchored on the same side in order to keep the up and down movement as close as possible to stay in the same vertical plane.

Here are pictures of other bolt on links, I don't know who made all of them, the front one is very simple, the top I think is made by Keith (the-keith1069-headsteady-t5862.html?hilit=keith1069) and the rear :?:

There is always more than one way to skin a cat :mrgreen:

Jean

 

[britbike220]

I have a couple questions and I know this has probably been hashed over before, but I'm still curious. What advantages or disadvantages are there to using rod links instead of the stock set up? Are there also differences in using Just a head steady rod link or a front link or a rear link alone or in different combination's?

 

[Jeandr]

I have a couple questions and I know this has probably been hashed over before, but I'm still curious. What advantages or disadvantages are there to using rod links instead of the stock set up? Are there also differences in using Just a head steady rod link or a front link or a rear link alone or in different combination's?

I will go with what I *think*... The stock set up needs some clearance to let the engine move up and down, it is not much when measured at the ISO (0.010" :?: ) but the same clearance is amplified by the lenght of the swing arm and could affect handling, it's probably not something I would feel but it is there. The biggest single improvement IMOHO would be the top head steady since Norton went cheap on that one, just look at the production racer head steady, it is really different from the simple cheap rubber mounts because they needed better handling on the racers.

Why am I doing all 3 :?: well it is a special so why not :?:

Jean

 

[speirmoor]

I really enjoy following this build.keep up the good work!

 

[Mark]

What would be the benefit of this link?

 

[britbike220]

I have a couple questions and I know this has probably been hashed over before, but I'm still curious. What advantages or disadvantages are there to using rod links instead of the stock set up? Are there also differences in using Just a head steady rod link or a front link or a rear link alone or in different combination's?

I will go with what I *think*... The stock set up needs some clearance to let the engine move up and down, it is not much when measured at the ISO (0.010" :?: ) but the same clearance is amplified by the lenght of the swing arm and could affect handling, it's probably not something I would feel but it is there. The biggest single improvement IMOHO would be the top head steady since Norton went cheap on that one, just look at the production racer head steady, it is really different from the simple cheap rubber mounts because they needed better handling on the racers.

Why am I doing all 3 :?: well it is a special so why not :?:

Jean

I was curious and have read the headsteady mod with mixed reviews, so don't know what to really think. Since I am not of the mechanically inclined crowd I am slow to absorb a lot of improvements a lot of people do, but enjoy reading about the changes and effects.

Tim

 

[swooshdave]

I was curious and have read the headsteady mod with mixed reviews, so don't know what to really think. Since I am not of the mechanically inclined crowd I am slow to absorb a lot of improvements a lot of people do, but enjoy reading about the changes and effects.

Tim

I'm not sure I've really seen a mixed review about the affects of the headsteady, but more on the source of the headsteady. I'm not sure I've read that anyone thought that it didn't help.

 

[norbsa48503]

With a rod link you can have no side slop and total freedom of movement. When you have to add in .005 slop to keep the vibes at bay then the clearance is felt as a shifting as the bikes G forces get flung from side to side. So just a small thing made into a big thing by people who can feel such things. Having ridden with a bunch of “Norton” folks in the U.S.A. (maybe 100 of you as time has gone by) I don't think most of you will feel anything. Like a small bug under the seat cover for you. But some of us have found that Commandos have something special and that feeling that you could have done that last bent a maybe double that speed just doesn’t go away. Am I the only one to play double the speed on posted bends?

 

[bill]

Am I the only one to play double the speed on posted bends?

I use that as rule in Fl but I DON'T DARE DO THAT IN Tn :mrgreen:

 

[britbike220]

I think double in curves is a universal rule, but I generally use it on a sport bike.

 

[Jeandr]

The main benefit of links for me are: probably cheaper than buying all new parts to get the ISOs like new and secondly, they look trick thus enhancing the "racer" part of café racer. With Windy's front link and CNW's / Jim Comstock's (and others) top link both being bolt on $olutions, all that remains is for Jim Comstock to developp a rear bolt on link so that everyone can improve their Commandos if they feel like it.

Jean

 

[slimslowslider]

Jean, looks the works.
The nice rod ends you use, what make are they?

More stuff on background of links can be found in the Buell patent in link below:

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4776423.html

Here a sketch from it that resembles the Commando frame somewhat:

 

[prmurat]

The main benefit of links for me are: probably cheaper than buying all new parts to get the ISOs like new and secondly, they look trick thus enhancing the "racer" part of café racer. With Windy's front link and CNW's / Jim Comstock's (and others) top link both being bolt on $olutions, all that remains is for Jim Comstock to developp a rear bolt on link so that everyone can improve their Commandos if they feel like it.

Jean

I do agree 100% for the trick look!!! Who is making the front one?? With all these nice rods/kits around I wonder why no one is doing something better than the Isos, someting like on the Buell/FXR or even the XS650 last prototype?
Philippe