How old are you? Are you still riding?(Poll)

If you are still riding:

  • Less than 40 years old

    Votes: 16 4.8%
  • 40-49 years old

    Votes: 14 4.2%
  • 50-59 years old

    Votes: 41 12.3%
  • 60-69 years old

    Votes: 178 53.5%
  • 70-80 years old

    Votes: 80 24.0%
  • Over 80 years old

    Votes: 4 1.2%

  • Total voters
    333
Mines the old iron barrel/carb model it does an indicated 85mph flat out
And around 80 without the screen
It was slower than this
I found the rubber inlet manifold had closed down to 23mm
I fitted an amal pancake air filter and I have drilled the silencer out all the way into the downpipe
I raised gearbox sprocket one tooth and went up on the jetting
thanks
 
My 3,500 mile 500efi managed 83mph on the speedo, flat out. So probably 80mph or just under. It's all as it came from the factory, incl. 18 tooth rear sprocket.
 
My 3,500 mile 500efi managed 83mph on the speedo, flat out. So probably 80mph or just under. It's all as it came from the factory, incl. 18 tooth rear sprocket.

So not one forthe motorway, nomatter i find it a delight..even with the monstrous exhaust silencer
 
So not one forthe motorway, nomatter i find it a delight..even with the monstrous exhaust silencer
I can hold 65 steady and comfortably. 70 is starting to feel like bike abuse, but it will hold it fine. Not tried it, but I'd expect it to be tiring holding 70 for long periods. The problem comes with overtaking, it needs a run at it. If you are happy to stick with the heavy traffic, with overtaking when there's space, it is fine on motorways and dual carriageways. A 19T sprocket is the way to go for regular higher speed routes. Apparently, it lowers revs enough to calm it down around 70, but won't improve overtaking.
 
I can hold 65 steady and comfortably. 70 is starting to feel like bike abuse, but it will hold it fine. Not tried it, but I'd expect it to be tiring holding 70 for long periods. The problem comes with overtaking, it needs a run at it. If you are happy to stick with the heavy traffic, with overtaking when there's space, it is fine on motorways and dual carriageways. A 19T sprocket is the way to go for regular higher speed routes. Apparently, it lowers revs enough to calm it down around 70, but won't improve overtaking.
I think one needs 10or 15 mph on top of the speeds the Enfield will manage. it might be a 19t sprocket would be good for higher speed cruising but over taking and getting caught by traffic moving at 80 to 90 will still leave it gasping. Scenario 1 you are passing srtuff inthe second lane and travelling at say 70 to 80 for a shortish burst. meanwhile another vehicle has come up behind and is far too close . Scenario 2 isthat when you do pull over this is notime for edging play. the car behind will almost certainly begin to accelerate just as the gap bewteen it and the bike narrows, You are on the hypotaneus of a triangle , going slower and with further to travel

even onthe commandothishas been an issue with cars that seeminly were determined to copulate with its attractive green fastback... Example come on to A50 at uttoxeter and road alignment takes me intothe fast lane .. just as i change into top at about 90 mph the car thatI thought wss by now hundreds of yards behind is about 15ft way and flashing his lights for me toget out of his way . On the ZZR this wouldnot have been anissue it accelerates really strongly at 90 in a lower gear... but the Norton does not by contemporary standards

btw there is a 70mph speedlimit on motorways and fast dual carriage ways..
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: baz
I think one needs 10or 15 mph on top of the speeds the Enfield will manage. it might be a 19t sprocket would be good for higher speed cruising but over taking and getting caught by traffic moving at 80 to 90 will still leave it gasping. Scenario 1 you are passing srtuff inthe second lane and travelling at say 70 to 80 for a shortish burst. meanwhile another vehicle has come up behind and is far too close . Scenario 2 isthat when you do pull over this is notime for edging play. the car behind will almost certainly begin to accelerate just as the gap bewteen it and the bike narrows, You are on the hypotaneus of a triangle , going slower and with further to travel

even onthe commandothishas been an issue with cars that seeminly were determined to copulate with its attractive green fastback... Example come on to A50 at uttoxeter and road alignment takes me intothe fast lane .. just as i change into top at about 90 mph the car thatI thought wss by now hundreds of yards behind is about 15ft way and flashing his lights for me toget out of his way . On the ZZR this wouldnot have been anissue it accelerates really strongly at 90 in a lower gear... but the Norton does not by contemporary standards

btw there is a 70mph speedlimit on motorways and fast dual carriage ways..
I think Paul Henshaws asbo bullets are probably a lot more practical for dual carriageways and motorways
 
I think Paul Henshaws asbo bullets are probably a lot more practical for dual carriageways and motorways
Probably so, but even the Velo which will do 100mph is not an ideal motorway bike , but i love the Enfield , A velo can be hard work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: baz
I think one needs 10or 15 mph on top of the speeds the Enfield will manage. it might be a 19t sprocket would be good for higher speed cruising but over taking and getting caught by traffic moving at 80 to 90 will still leave it gasping. Scenario 1 you are passing srtuff inthe second lane and travelling at say 70 to 80 for a shortish burst. meanwhile another vehicle has come up behind and is far too close . Scenario 2 isthat when you do pull over this is notime for edging play. the car behind will almost certainly begin to accelerate just as the gap bewteen it and the bike narrows, You are on the hypotaneus of a triangle , going slower and with further to travel

even onthe commandothishas been an issue with cars that seeminly were determined to copulate with its attractive green fastback... Example come on to A50 at uttoxeter and road alignment takes me intothe fast lane .. just as i change into top at about 90 mph the car thatI thought wss by now hundreds of yards behind is about 15ft way and flashing his lights for me toget out of his way . On the ZZR this wouldnot have been anissue it accelerates really strongly at 90 in a lower gear... but the Norton does not by contemporary standards

btw there is a 70mph speedlimit on motorways and fast dual carriage ways..
Yep, I didn't buy it for motorway cruising. But, I'd be happy to do it, if it were my only bike. I find the Norton is much more useable. I've been promising myself a tour of Italy since I retired. Covid got in the way. I hope to do it next year. If I can improve my confidence in the Commando's reliability, that's the bike I'd choose.
 
Reliability is surely not a Commando issue... oddly the only bike that has let me down is the normally super reliable bullet proof ZZR .
 
I'm sure that's right. I hope so! I've had some teething troubles. Bike new to me in March and it had a few issues. Partly PO workarounds and partly very little use for 8 years. Plus, I'm no mechanic, just keen to learn. So, things seem daunting until I've finished them! So, I'm cautious.
 
Wise to be cautious... yes but caution should extend to consideration of replacement value...Easy enough toreplace a stolen Enfield, not necessarily so a Commando,and it has one enormouse advantage . It is much easier to carry luggage on the Enfield...
 
One of my ambitions is to touch 150mph on my commando
I know this is easy on a modern sports bike
But I would like to do it on a commando
I'm not clever enough to tune my engine to produce the amount of power needed but I do have a drouin supercharger on the shelf and a 920 kit that may enable this?
I only want to do it once so I'm not looking for reliability or longevity
But if the drouin doesn't hold out I also have an aisin 500 as back up
This months (October) classic bike there is a nice supercharged commando using a Subaru blower if the drouin doesn’t work out ,wouldn’t mind a go myself
 
Last edited:
might as well pitch in one wife lasted 6 months til found out 'oh alan i'm pregnant' was carefully crafted false alarm ...2nd one lasted 1 1/2 years til caught the red headed bitch with her boyfriend........lots and lots of girls friends followed (the chinese one still brings a smile) but married to current wife (hopefully the last one) 35 years..she puts up with me i dont know why....
 
Back
Top