Early commando restoration to original

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Matt Spencer said:
Early commando restoration to original

Matthew
You have some great stuff there. I have some very early Commando road tests from the very early Australian Two Wheels magazine. The editor was a Marti Dunstan (or similar) and one tester was Chris Wright. Poor old Chris used to frighten himself silly riding powerful bikes. They gave him a Kwaka MkIII to test but he gave it back (sensible Chris, in my opinion). His greatest pleasure in life was riding a motor scooter over the Blue Mountains whilst munching on apples kept in a bag on the back of said scooter.
God, were they funny days?
But precious memories to me.

Phil
 
phil yates said:
Matt Spencer said:

Matthew
You have some great stuff there. I have some very early Commando road tests from the very early Australian Two Wheels magazine. The editor was a Marti Dunstan (or similar) and one tester was Chris Wright. Poor old Chris used to frighten himself silly riding powerful bikes. They gave him a Kwaka MkIII to test but he gave it back (sensible Chris, in my opinion). His greatest pleasure in life was riding a motor scooter over the Blue Mountains whilst munching on apples kept in a bag on the back of said scooter.
God, were they funny days?
But precious memories to me.

On that trip over the mountains on the scooter, Chris was on his way to the Bathurst Easter bike races. I think from memory Chris was worried what the bikies might do to him turning up on a Vespa. That they might wee on his machine. Maybe him as well!
My brother and I used to crack up laughing at his tests. I don't think, from memory, they ever even let him near the Commando. With the MkIII Kwaka, they probably thought (hoped) it would be the last they saw of him. Short of visiting him in hospital.

Phil

Phil
 
I remember it well . The Pictures anyway . SILVER Machine , would be good to post it here - for authenticity of Silver Fastbacks .
Remember the Royal Oilfield Interceptor test too , he had a dizzying helmet paint job . Explains why he thought it was quick , If it were He .

Two Wheels seems to have adopted modern journalism , emotive balderdash & opinions mostly . Motorcycle Sport came close to being level headed .
though the had ' some bothers ' with Commandos . Most mags are coloured picture hysteria now . Hardly Memorable though occasionally informative .
 
I had emailed the UK Vintage Motorcycle Club's librarian a few years ago for info on my machine, number 128336. I don't know if they still offer the same service but you could try:

rom: Library <Library@vmcc.net>
Subject: RE: despatch records request
To:
Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 5:23 AM

Dear Brendan

Thank you for your email. Your Triumph was despatched to JoMo on 13 February 1967. The Norton was sent to Berliner on 11 September 1968. The above is free of charge but if you would like the full factory record typed on headed paper the cost would be £12 (£6 if a member), or for a handwritten copy it would be £18 (£12 if a member).
You can pay by card, cheque, or postal order. Payment by debit or credit card is probably the easiest method. We don’t recommend you email card details. You can post them to VMCC, Allen House, Wetmore Road , Burton-on-Trent , DE14 1TR . Alternatively you can phone us on 01283 495102 or 01283 540557 or fax 01283 510547.

Regards
Annice Collett
VMCC Librarian
 
Thanks so much guys for all your input. Sorry I have dropped of the thread been busy at work preparing for the Easter madness. I own a takeaway food on a extremely busy highway packed with holiday makers.
I will get some photos up on Sunday. It's been a pleasure to get acquainted with so many informative and passionate people.
Happy Easter
Regards Matt
 
RandomMan said:
Thanks so much guys for all your input. Sorry I have dropped of the thread been busy at work preparing for the Easter madness. I own a takeaway food on a extremely busy highway packed with holiday makers.
I will get some photos up on Sunday. It's been a pleasure to get acquainted with so many informative and passionate people.
Happy Easter
Regards Matt
you didn't by chance by a early fastback tail in green on ebay a while ago?
 
RandomMan said:
No I am currently without a tail piece at the moment.
The reason why I asked, there was an Australian that was bidding on the tail I mentioned. I forgot to watch the auction and I got outbid. I was so mad at myself as the tail apparently had original candy apple green paintwork and I needed it for reference. The buyer never did come forth,( as I was willing to offer him a good profit for my stupidity) and I was afraid that he would have repainted it.
 
Shame, I am hoping to use an original but I won't hold up the restoration waiting for an original (with badge recess) to turn up, therefore I am considering a repro. I had a non badged one but I sold that on eBay to buy other parts I needed as it wasn't really the right one. I did consider building up the recess out of body filler but its hard to locate it perfectly without another one to use as a point of reference.
 
Seems I remember someone a long time ago (years) building a rear fairing and reproducing the badge too and it looked quiet good. May be worth a search unless you're not into fabricating things yourself.
 
I got very nice glossy print repros of the 68 Workshop manual and parts list from Old Britts about 5 years ago. The workshop manual is only about as thick as a magazine and isn't as useful as the later ones.
Brendan


Early commando restoration to original
 
Matt Spencer said:
I remember it well . The Pictures anyway . SILVER Machine , would be good to post it here - for authenticity of Silver Fastbacks .
Remember the Royal Oilfield Interceptor test too , he had a dizzying helmet paint job . Explains why he thought it was quick , If it were He .

Two Wheels seems to have adopted modern journalism , emotive balderdash & opinions mostly . Motorcycle Sport came close to being level headed .
though the had ' some bothers ' with Commandos . Most mags are coloured picture hysteria now . Hardly Memorable though occasionally informative .

I will dig the old mags out Matt and post photos of what might be interesting, now that I can post photos.
The intrepid Chris Wright did a road test on the BSA Rocket 3. For that he was dressed all in white, including shoes and socks. I think he was going for a game of golf when the phone rang to do the test.

Phil
 
The very early ones were all fastbacks, and all silver with the orange seat. I don't think any of them got out into the world with the "Green Globe" new Norton insignia dreamed up by some dip-shit PR firm. I think all the early production bikes had the "Norton" script logo in black on the silver tank.

I think I'd emigrated to the US (July 1968) before anything other than the silver fasback had hit the marketplace. I had a chance to buy a Commando at the employee price (I think £ 375), but was so strapped, I couldn't afford to do it. Boeing would have shipped it as part of our household goods. What an opportunity lost!

Quite honestly, though, after seeing all the geriatircs driving their full-size Buicks on the freeways at 45 mph and not even being able to see the end of the bonnet, I decided my motorcycle riding life was over. I've never ridden on the road in the US. I've done some desert riding, but geriatry has go to me at 72!
 
Brendan S said:
I got very nice glossy print repros of the 68 Workshop manual and parts list from Old Britts about 5 years ago. The workshop manual is only about as thick as a magazine and isn't as useful as the later ones.
Brendan


Early commando restoration to original

My original workshop manual is as yours minus the part? number. Nor stamp thing on top right.
Where is yours printed and by who? On back cover at bottom.
 
I have copies of some of the earlier Commando factory records. They show 126436 despatched to Berliner NY on April 29, 1968.
Stephen Hill
 
RandomMan said:
No I am currently without a tail piece at the moment.

A pity the thread is being spammed,you might have seen the link to two NOS tails posted some nine days ago.
The early one is gone,the later is re-listed.
 
RandomMan said:
Yes Dave your right, it has no plate but the serial number stamped on the head stock. My numbers match except my gearbox which has no number. I think this is correct as early bikes had no gearbox numbers. Someone may confirm this is the case.

I'm still learning how to use the site.
Who would I ask for permission to post pictures on this forum.
I currently have nowhere to store photos which I could link to.

I am in Australia. I have a feeling my bike could have come from the states but it has never been registered in Australia as far as I know.


My 68 is 127129, Stamped on the frame, (repaired), engine and transmission.

Mick
 
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