If you were going to pick a year of fastback which one

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savingclassicmotorcycles

savingclassicmotorcycles

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Hi everyone :)

Thinking of getting rid of my GSA bmw for another norton, and leaning towards a commando fastback,

what year would you guys go for and why? Done the reading up about the combats etc bit thin on the ground to find proper fastbacks over here but hunting away for one,

Cheers,

Tom
 
This 2014 Model. :P
 

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If you were going to pick a year of fastback which one
I like 69, for me anyway but all fastbacks have an allure .

If you were going to pick a year of fastback which one


My bike pictured with an auxiliary fuel tank fitted!
 
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I went through a 'Fastback' phase recently but have now changed to a 'Roadster' phase, so have Fastback body parts available if you want to make one out of a non-FB donor bike. FG tank fully lined with Ethanol-resistant resin.
Cheers, Martin
 
There is a Fastback long range on eBay at the moment but pricey. The Long range tank is not the best fit and doesn't look as good as the standard tank but it is steel and holds an extra UK gallon (4) Early ones will have the 2LS front brake. Buy the newest one you can afford with matching numbers and re-worked brakes IMHO
 
I wish I had pictures of the Fastback I had in '77 out Costa Mesa Calif. way. It was a 1970 and had the peashooter pipes. The front brake was a drum and did not stop too well. I don't know if they had a disk in '71 but if so that would be my choice. The '70 had bags of torque and I got pretty good with it in the San Bernadino Mts. I had the pegs on the pavement at all different speeds between 10mph and 90mph. What a cool machine.
 
travelerjerry said:
This 2014 Model.
Click to expand...

Note that this is only vapourware (photoshopped), they didn't actually build anything like this.
Interesting design exercise though.

I rather like the idea of an 850 Fastback - there have been (quite) a few of these built lately, when you look around.
Even though none came from the factory, obviously.
One of these steel tanks from India may be the go here ??
 
gripper said:
There is a Fastback long range on eBay at the moment but pricey. The Long range tank is not the best fit and doesn't look as good as the standard tank but it is steel and holds an extra UK gallon (4) Early ones will have the 2LS front brake. Buy the newest one you can afford with matching numbers and re-worked brakes IMHO
Click to expand...


Can you post the listing ? I would love to see it.

Thanks, Brian
 
That Alleged Fastback L.R seemed to have had a few quid spent on it ,a set of Lucas red reflectors on the tail would have made all the difference. Don't know for sure but apparently only 400 were made and they ,so I was told were mostly shipped to OZ.i have seen dozens on eBay all with the "super rare" tag in the advert.

Jg
 
I think that is a nice LR replica, the tank is Interpol, given away by the forward slanting filler cap.
 
holtcorseaux said:
I think that is a nice LR replica, the tank is Interpol, given away by the forward slanting filler cap.
Click to expand...

LR tanks also had the filler in that position.
 
Re: not mine but nice

jimbo said:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/mcy/5767968000.html
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Yep that one is loverly Jimbo, and I think a good price to boot, what with all of the listed items and upgrades. You might want to check out the shipping costs, Tom :mrgreen:
 
Re: not mine but nice

cjandme said:
jimbo said:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/mcy/5767968000.html
Click to expand...
Yep that one is loverly Jimbo, and I think a good price to boot, what with all of the listed items and upgrades. You might want to check out the shipping costs, Tom :mrgreen:
Click to expand...
Oops ,I did not notice the OP's location :?
 
Probably the year to avoid is 1968 if it still has the widowmaker frame.
The upswept silencers always look better IMHO, and they came out in 1970.
The disk brake came out on some bikes in 1972, and on all bikes in 1973, last year they made the Fastback.
Some folks will tell you the nicest Fastback is the 850 version, which the factory never made.
Bottom line is you make any year bike a nice looking, nice riding Fastback, especially if you are not hung up on factory correctness.

Stephen Hill
 
sportsroof said:
I went through a 'Fastback' phase recently but have now changed to a 'Roadster' phase, so have Fastback body parts available if you want to make one out of a non-FB donor bike. FG tank fully lined with Ethanol-resistant resin.
Cheers, Martin
Click to expand...

How much do you want for the bits and what colour and condition?
 
Stephen Hill said:
The disk brake came out on some bikes in 1972, and on all bikes in 1973, last year they made the Fastback.
Click to expand...

1972 was really the last year of the Fastback, those sold in '73 were left-over '72 (Fastback MkIV) models.
 
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