Final Proddy Build

rpatton · Oct 16, 2011

You really are going to have to decide if you want that bike for ridin or stylin. On the other hand, now that you've accumulated a vast amount of expertise in the process of building a Commando, it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Do it, I dare ya.

It's going to be a long cold winter and we need a good long thread to get us through.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/73-Norto ... 2c5bb53487

swooshdave · Oct 16, 2011

rpatton said:
You really are going to have to decide if you want that bike for ridin or stylin. On the other hand, now that you've accumulated a vast amount of expertise in the process of building a Commando, it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Do it, I dare ya. It's going to be a long cold winter and we need a good long thread to get us through.

Ridin' AND stylin'!

Keep in mind I have the Roadster tank and seat at the ready once I get too old to ride a racer. I'm not worried, mostly because I'm not as old as most/some of you. :mrgreen:

grandpaul · Oct 16, 2011

A nearby hardware store had all the stainess screws, washers, nyloc nuts and rubber washers to fit up the windscreen on my project lickety-spit. Make sure to start in the front and work your way back on alternating sides, re-drilling for proper clearance so you don't have any stress on the plexi with the hardware. Cracks will quickly result otherwise.

Matt Spencer · Oct 16, 2011

Theres horror stories of drilling perspex . Might pay to check ; drill bit edges & speed , and leave screen in sun so flexable
definately window seals are not a winters day job . Some put masking tape to mark , and use an awl to ' centre punch ' ,
as without a mark , if the drill wanders on the perspex it leaves snail trails . Id reaserch it a bit .

Looking at the seat , some cycles manadge to get the rear edge on the frame tube, stocxk build . Maybe the later wider
guard is set up for larger tyre clearance so holds the seat high rather than slipping down over the frame rails. Fastback
rear guard is stock , & to be reproduced were told . :wink:

A soft , felt ? bottomed tank bag could be usefull , but could let you nod off . Looking over your shoulders the biggest pain
the Bar End type mirrors , ? good rear vissability needs a look , maybe ive got a stiff neck .

A hydraulic telescopic steering damper ?? for the lock stop ?

cmessenk · Oct 16, 2011

Matt Spencer said:
Theres horror stories of drilling perspex . Might pay to check ; drill bit edges & speed , and leave screen in sun so flexable
definately window seals are not a winters day job . Some put masking tape to mark , and use an awl to ' centre punch ' ,
as without a mark , if the drill wanders on the perspex it leaves snail trails . Id reaserch it a bit .

FYI...Gustafsson's offers specialized drill bits just for this purpose.

http://bikescreen.com/products.asp?cat=107

batrider · Oct 16, 2011

McMaster-Carr has the bits too:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#metalworking-d ... ts/=eismr9

Drillbit point is 60 degrees. For drilling plastics and laminates it says.

swooshdave · Oct 16, 2011

Pre-drilled holes. :mrgreen:

I have a soft tank bag… called my GUT.

Someone needs to design some bar end mirrors with turn signals built in. That would be genius!

jsouthard · Oct 16, 2011

Looking really good Dave. I love it!

rpatton · Oct 16, 2011

swooshdave said:
Keep in mind I have the Roadster tank and seat at the ready once I get too old to ride a racer. I'm not worried, mostly because I'm not as old as most/some of you. :mrgreen:

It's not the tank and seat that might be a problem, it's the bars. I had a set of clubmans/drop bars on my bike for a few weeks once. It wasn't that it was all that uncomfortble, but it really was a problem to be able to see what was going on around you in traffic.

What's up with the bike is that on your avatar? Especially interested in the exhaust.

swooshdave · Oct 16, 2011

rpatton said:
swooshdave said:

Keep in mind I have the Roadster tank and seat at the ready once I get too old to ride a racer. I'm not worried, mostly because I'm not as old as most/some of you. :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

It's not the tank and seat that might be a problem, it's the bars. I had a set of clubmans/drop bars on my bike for a few weeks once. It wasn't that it was all that uncomfortble, but it really was a problem to be able to see what was going on around you in traffic.

The bike is as about as subtle as Scarlett Johansson naked. I'm not worried about being seen or heard. Going to state the obvious but such a configuration is not a daily commuter. :mrgreen:

rpatton said:
What's up with the bike is that on your avatar? Especially interested in the exhaust.

the-official-2011-barber-ahmra-event-thread-t10762.html

RennieK · Oct 16, 2011

swooshdave said:
I may need to build a dash to hold that switch plus the turn signal and high beam indicator.

If you build a dash you might consider mounting your instruments directly into it, eliminating the alu cups and solving your clearance problems. That's how the Dunstall fairing works.

splatt · Oct 17, 2011

I know it's all part of the Podgy racer theme, but those great big yellow number plate panels on the seat look stupid , you'll have a new experience now, trying to look up when climbing a step hill, your neck just doesn't bend enough

grandpaul · Oct 17, 2011

swooshdave said:
Pre-drilled holes.

Yeah, right. Like I said; I've done 5 of these already...

cash · Oct 17, 2011

swooshdave said:
cash said:

Swooshdave,
I've just spent Friday looking round the British Motorcycle Museum and your bike has a double on show yellow with a matt alloy tank. The clip-ons didn't look too close to the tank either.

Sorry no photo I forgot the darn camera.

Cash

Click to expand...

Which museum? The Birmingham one?

Yes, it's my first visit since the fire and they've done great job. We were told there are 200 unfinished bikes outstanding, hell we were there all day and still needed more time.

Cash

swooshdave · Oct 17, 2011

splatt said:
I know it's all part of the Podgy racer theme, but those great big yellow number plate panels on the seat look stupid , you'll have a new experience now, trying to look up when climbing a step hill, your neck just doesn't bend enough

Yoga, plenty of yoga. :mrgreen:

chapmanmd · Oct 17, 2011

Very nice, Dave. Very nice.

GRM 450 · Oct 17, 2011

Dave I've had success drilling perspex and fiberglass with drills rotating in reverse. Or you can grind the sharp "chisel" edge of the drill bit flat so it doesn't dig in to what you are drilling and draging the drill into the perspex and cracking it. The chisel blades on the drill bit need to be ground flat in the same plane as the drill shaft so they don't tend to pull the drill into the material (brass drills). Use little pressure and you won't have any problems. GP is correct on how to start fitting the screen. I'd avoid a pre drilled screen as you can almost be certain its holes won't line up.
graeme

swooshdave · Oct 17, 2011

GRM 450 said:
Dave I've had success drilling perspex and fiberglass with drills rotating in reverse. Or you can grind the sharp "chisel" edge of the drill bit flat so it doesn't dig in to what you are drilling and draging the drill into the perspex and cracking it. The chisel blades on the drill bit need to be ground flat in the same plane as the drill shaft so they don't tend to pull the drill into the material (brass drills). Use little pressure and you won't have any problems. GP is correct on how to start fitting the screen. I'd avoid a pre drilled screen as you can almost be certain its holes won't line up.
graeme

So you guys are saying to ignore the pre-drilled holes and just re-drill new ones?

GRM 450 · Oct 17, 2011

If you can get a screen that's drilled exactly to your fairing holes then that's the way to go for sure, but I've never seen that (in Ducati land anyway)

swooshdave · Oct 17, 2011

GRM 450 said:
If you can get a screen that's drilled exactly to your fairing holes then that's the way to go for sure, but I've never seen that (in Ducati land anyway)

All the parts came from the same vendor. 50/50 chance they'll line up.

Final Proddy Build

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