different engine commando frame

acotrel said:

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/rickman/kawasaki_rickman_900.htm

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That was my dream bike in the late 70s - I then bought one and did loads to it, including racing it. In the mid-80s I sold to my best mate - he still has it.

L.A.B. said:

fiatfan said:

That doesn´t look all that bad, can´t see if it still has the iso?

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Yes, it is the 'Trisolastic'.

fiatfan said:

And what is that brown bike to the right? Incredibly wide cylinders, and it looks like Amals back there?

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That's the Norton Wulf.

norton-wulf-t8747.html

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Trisolastic, fantastic, great fun :lol: . Read a bit on the Wulf, can´t find any exploded view pics, exactly what is a "stepped piston" engine?

fiatfan said:

Read a bit on the Wulf, can´t find any exploded view pics, exactly what is a "stepped piston" engine?

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http://users.breathe.com/prhooper/opads.htm

I've seen a couple of those Rickman Kawasakis over the years. There was something about them which was not quite right.They seemed to look too low in the rear end. A friend of mine raced one back then however did not do much good with it. I think the trouble was that, at the time there was a very competitive Triumph Trident racing and also a CR750 Honda which was very good, but a bit nasty. Also the two strokes were coming into their own.

acotrel said:

Your comment about why that Kawasaki engine featherbed bike might be on a race track - the answer is that it probably would not be. My comment was made because what you encounter on public roads is usually much worse than you would encounter on any race track. I said I did not think it would be too good on a race track - on a public road, it would be more dangerous. On a race track the rider practises entering and leaving the corners. On a public road, most riders are unpractised. So if the bike mishandles when things go pear-shaped, the result is often the big crash with no provision for run-off, so no escape.
The answer is - if you wouldn't race it, don't ride it on public roads.
I think there are a lot better things to do with a Z900 engine than fit it into a featherbed frame. A nice Harris or Rob North frame would be much better.
What you guys seem to forget or not know, is that after you've gone through your crash and burn stage in road racing, it is much safer than riding on public roads ever was. I'm 74 years of age and I wouldn't hesitate to race the Seeley tomorrow. I could not say the same, if I intended to ride on public roads. For a while up here, I had an RD250LC Yamaha - I always thought twice before riding it on the road. There are too many ways to go wrong.

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Hell yeah, er... Dude.

acotrel said:

Your comment about why that Kawasaki engine featherbed bike might be on a race track - the answer is that it probably would not be. My comment was made because what you encounter on public roads is usually much worse than you would encounter on any race track. I said I did not think it would be too good on a race track - on a public road, it would be more dangerous. On a race track the rider practises entering and leaving the corners. On a public road, most riders are unpractised. So if the bike mishandles when things go pear-shaped, the result is often the big crash with no provision for run-off, so no escape.
The answer is - if you wouldn't race it, don't ride it on public roads.
I think there are a lot better things to do with a Z900 engine than fit it into a featherbed frame. A nice Harris or Rob North frame would be much better.
What you guys seem to forget or not know, is that after you've gone through your crash and burn stage in road racing, it is much safer than riding on public roads ever was. I'm 74 years of age and I wouldn't hesitate to race the Seeley tomorrow. I could not say the same, if I intended to ride on public roads. For a while up here, I had an RD250LC Yamaha - I always thought twice before riding it on the road. There are too many ways to go wrong.

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You only ride on race tracks, where is the fun in that only able to ride your bike when there is a meet on or practise days, I get to enjoy my bikes every day, when I am feeling down out comes the bike, I have had no problems with riding everyday on our roads, yes you got to have eyes in the back of your head and be aware whats around you, very much the same as on the track, after 43 years of riding on roads, dirt bikes in the bush and still do, I have also done my share of riding on tracks, but riding around the same course does nothing for me and after 40 years of owning my Norton I have only been down 4 times in those 40 years, twice was my own fault (loose grave on tight corners) and 1 time when a car turned right in front of me but had her left indicator on and the last time when my 40 year old front brake let me down (got my first broken bone out of that one), I have been riding most of our mountian range roads for as long as I can remember so I do know my ride roads very well, but of course you wouldn't push your bike to the limits unless you know the roads and it also helps when you are still riding with the same mates that you grew up with and all got into motorcycles as soon as you got your first job (15 years old) so riding on roads can give you as much experances as riding on the track and I get to practise everyday.

Ashley

This is a Commando powered A 10. The A 10 frame is a sturdy construction with twin down tubes. The early post was correct, the BSA forks are too skimpy for this set up and have been replaced with Betor forks and a Grimeca brake. On the road this combination is terrific. It is a small light bike and does not use isolastics so at high rpm the buzz is there but for most street riding it is very smooth. Cannot say enough about the precise handling of this combination.