Fiberglass MkIIA and MkIII side covers? (2015)

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Ron L

Ron L

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I have always believed the last Commando that had fiberglass side covers was in early 1972. However, there are so many MkI/IIA side covers (Rotolok at lower right on battery cover) and MkIII covers (Rotolok at top front) in fiberglass that I am beginning to wonder if all of them are reproductions. I have met many owners over the years that are convinced that these are original. I have seen (and owned) a number of steel MkIII covers, but I can't recall seeing a steel MkIIA. My parts books only show one part number for the covers, so that would tend to make me believe that the factory only supplied steel.

Does anyone have any evidence that the factory did make fiberglass MkI/IIA or MkIII side covers?
 
I've had several MK3s, Interstate and Roadster, and all had steel covers.

Ken
 
My Feb 74 850 MkII has steel side covers. Definitely as delivered.
 
I have a set of steel interstate side covers from a MKIII. My '73 850 came with a steel Roadster tank and fibreglass side covers.
 
Ron L said:
I have always believed the last Commando that had fiberglass side covers was in early 1972.
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This was discussed here just recently, don't recall quite where unfortunately,
but LAB had details of some Mk2 850 sidecovers (was it ?) that were in fibreglass, even though the tanks were steel.
So 1972 wasn't the end of them....

Every fibreglass shop ever since has made all of them as copies in glass,
so telling rijjinal from copies may be a real skill too... !
 
My MK2a Interstate Nov 73, when I bought it in late 70's came with fibre glass side panels, have replaced them with steel.
 
triumph2 said:
I have a set of steel interstate side covers from a MKIII. My '73 850 came with a steel Roadster tank and fibreglass side covers.
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My 1973 had been sitting since 1983 when I got it in 1995. It had a steel oil tank cover and a fiberglass battery cover. I've always wondered if it came that way from the factory or if someone replaced a cover during the first ten years.
 
triumph2 said:
I have a set of steel interstate side covers from a MKIII. My '73 850 came with a steel Roadster tank and fibreglass side covers.
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If they are just hanging around would you sell them to me?
 
AntrimMan said:
triumph2 said:
I have a set of steel interstate side covers from a MKIII. My '73 850 came with a steel Roadster tank and fibreglass side covers.
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If they are just hanging around would you sell them to me?
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They go with the matching interstate tank and occasionally see service on longer trips when the comfort of the bigger seat is appreciated.
 
Ron L said:
I have always believed the last Commando that had fiberglass side covers was in early 1972. However, there are so many MkI/IIA side covers (Rotolok at lower right on battery cover) and MkIII covers (Rotolok at top front) in fiberglass that I am beginning to wonder if all of them are reproductions. I have met many owners over the years that are convinced that these are original. I have seen (and owned) a number of steel MkIII covers, but I can't recall seeing a steel MkIIA. My parts books only show one part number for the covers, so that would tend to make me believe that the factory only supplied steel.

Does anyone have any evidence that the factory did make fiberglass MkI/IIA or MkIII side covers?
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Both "Steel" and "Glass Fibre" side covers for Hi-Rider, Roadster and Interstate models are listed for 1973 (750 and 850 Mk.1) so there's no doubt original "850" fibreglass panels exist, and this practice seems to have continued into the Mk.2/2A series although the 2/2A supplement only identifies the oil tank covers as being "Steel", however, several battery or "Accessory" cover part numbers match those listed as steel for '73, but there are additional battery cover part numbers, presumably these are the 2A items (although they are not identified as such or what they are made of :roll: ).
Also "061206..Grommet (for glass fibre covers)" appears in the 2/2A supplement further down the page which suggests some covers were likely to have been fibreglass.

http://bigdcycle.com/tempbooks/nor/1973_1974.pdf (pdf p.54).


From this and previous discussions it isn't unknown for the 2A Interstate to have a steel oil tank cover and fibreglass battery cover!

Mk.3 Roadster/Hi-Rider and Interstate covers were steel, as far as I know.
 
Fiberglass tanks and fiberglas covers went the way of the Dodo at the same time. If there were any 'glass cover left when they switched to steel tanks, and the factory used them up (cheap bastards) a few bikes might have escaped with the mix. This has zero to do with the mixes-and-matches owners and the aftermarket have been doing ever since.

I have acquired a steel Hi-Rider tank to replace the 'glass roadster tank that cannot tolerate ethanol-laced pump gas. I've also acquired some steel sidecovers to go with it. The fiberglass will be retired as a set, to be displayed on the garage wall as moto-art.
 
Danno said:
Fiberglass tanks and fiberglas covers went the way of the Dodo at the same time. If there were any 'glass cover left when they switched to steel tanks, and the factory used them up (cheap bastards) a few bikes might have escaped with the mix.
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I can't agree. Steel Roadster and Interstate tanks were introduced sometime during 1972 however, the factory continued to fit fibreglass tanks for some while after that, so there doesn't appear to have been any immediate switch-over to steel tanks, therefore it cannot be a case of using up leftover side covers, especially as any fibreglass "A" covers wouldn't have been available until late '73 and the "A" battery covers don't fit earlier non-"A" models so they couldn't have been leftover parts.
 
L.A.B. said:
Danno said:
Fiberglass tanks and fiberglas covers went the way of the Dodo at the same time. If there were any 'glass cover left when they switched to steel tanks, and the factory used them up (cheap bastards) a few bikes might have escaped with the mix.
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I can't agree. Steel Roadster and Interstate tanks were introduced sometime during 1972 however, the factory continued to fit fibreglass tanks for some while after that, so there doesn't appear to have been any immediate switch-over to steel tanks, therefore it cannot be a case of using up leftover side covers, especially as any fibreglass "A" covers wouldn't have been available until late '73 and the "A" battery covers don't fit earlier non-"A" models so they couldn't have been leftover parts.
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I've never heard of or seen a factory orignial steel-tanked Commando with 'glass sidecovers. I'd like to see one and a 'glass-tanked example with a later VIN than a steel tanker. Why would they start using steel tanks and continue the use of the 'glass tanks? I guess it wouldn't be the first time the (old) British motorcycle industry did something that didn't make sense.
 
L.A.B. said:
Danno said:
Fiberglass tanks and fiberglas covers went the way of the Dodo at the same time. If there were any 'glass cover left when they switched to steel tanks, and the factory used them up (cheap bastards) a few bikes might have escaped with the mix.
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I can't agree. Steel Roadster and Interstate tanks were introduced sometime during 1972 however, the factory continued to fit fibreglass tanks for some while after that, so there doesn't appear to have been any immediate switch-over to steel tanks, therefore it cannot be a case of using up leftover side covers, especially as any fibreglass "A" covers wouldn't have been available until late '73 and the "A" battery covers don't fit earlier non-"A" models so they couldn't have been leftover parts.
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And this is what perplexes me. We believe they did not supply fiberglass tanks after 1972, but continued with some side covers in fiberglass. The late 750/850 parts book you referenced shows fiberglass Interstate covers in blue and black (and fiberglass Interpol in white or black), but Roadster covers in steel only as well as Interstate covers in blue, black and candy red. But this same parts book lists fiberglass Interstate fuel tanks in blue and black as well. It is my understanding that fiberglass tanks were outlawed by 1973 (at least in the U.S.), so I'm not certain these fiberglass items were actually supplied on machines built after 1972.

Has anyone evidence of a post '72 Commando supplied from the dealer with 'glass side covers?
 
Ron L said:
And this is what perplexes me. We believe they did not supply fiberglass tanks after 1972, but continued with some side covers in fiberglass. The late 750/850 parts book you referenced shows fiberglass Interstate covers in blue and black (and fiberglass Interpol in white or black), but Roadster covers in steel only as well as Interstate covers in blue, black and candy red. But this same parts book lists fiberglass Interstate fuel tanks in blue and black as well. It is my understanding that fiberglass tanks were outlawed by 1973 (at least in the U.S.), so I'm not certain these fiberglass items were actually supplied on machines built after 1972.
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I don't know who "we" are, but from previous discussions it's known the factory continued to fit fibreglass fuel tanks (at least to 750 models) into 1973 but what that has to do with them fitting fibreglass side covers I cannot fathom? Fibreglass side covers were never outlawed to the best of my knowledge so I don't see the apparent problem with the factory continuing to fit fibreglass covers to bikes with steel fuel tanks? :?

Fibreglass tanks were not outlawed on newly built machines in the UK until 1st. July 1973.

1973 Riders manual mentions both steel and glassfibre Roadster tanks:
http://britmoto.com/manuals/Manuals/Riders_3.pdf

"Fibreglass" Hi-Rider tank mentioned in the 1973 850 brochure specifications.
http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... LineUp.pdf
 
Sorry for the ambiguous "we" reference. A fellow longtime Norton owner and I have been trying to understand this for some time, hence the "we". My reference to the fiberglass tanks was simply to point out that the tanks and side covers were both listed in the same color choices, black and blue (not fireflake). Logic would indicate these would have been offered as a set. If fiberglass tanks were allowed in the U.K. until July of '73 then this might make some sense.

I agree that steel tanks could have been used with fiberglass side covers, but once the dies were made to stamp out steel covers, it would seem much cheaper to fill the need with steel only.
 
Ron L said:
I agree that steel tanks could have been used with fiberglass side covers, but once the dies were made to stamp out steel covers, it would seem much cheaper to fill the need with steel only.
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I don't know, but additional die sets would then have been required for the 1A and 2A Roadster and Interstate battery covers (due to the recess for the Dzus fastener) and forum members have certainly mentioned "A" models having either one or both covers made of fibreglass.

So, are there any steel 1A/2A (Interstate or Roadster) battery covers out there with the recess at the lower rear and the hole for the "A" Dzus fastener (but not the "tabbed" Mk3 Interstate battery covers which have the recess without the hole)?
 
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