Looks like I'm gonna "convert" the Commando

My wife has finally bullied me into accepting her (and everybody I ride with's) opinion that I need to get a new bike that is more suited to Mexico riding than my Commando. I've been fighting this view for well over a year now but I think I have finally folded. I folded primarily because I suddenly realized that if I bought a new/recent machine - which will be a Triumph Tiger 800 - I could then change the Commando into a Yellow Peril look-alike and not have any concern about steering lock/ground clearance, etc that would make it unsuitable for a lot of riding we do here. I could have the Commando I've wanted since the early '70s and ride it on suitable rides but use the Tiger for the more typical rides which include some dirt roads/cobblestones.

So in the spring, when I'm in the US for an extended time, I'll order the fairing, clip ons, rear sets, etc and bring them back to Mexico. Hopefully by the fall it'll be done and running as the only "Yellow Peril" in Mexico!

I have seen several fairings on the internet that seem suitable but it's hard to tell from the pics. Since it will be for general riding, it needs to have a headlight opening. Is there a specific fairing that works/looks best as the Yellow Peril replica?

Here's some deserting Commando options to consider

https://www.google.com/#q=sv650+enduro+images

Or you could get one of these:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/22794316@N03/8686283779/

The trike is the one I take when I have the girlfriend along The one on the far end is hers when we ride solo.

The Norton is gonna be the fun bike and I don't want to mess that up for special pupose riding...seems a shame to do that.

A GENUINE Yellow Peril could be a good thing. I don't believe changing what could become a beautiful restoration into a replica Peril, is the way to go. - It doesn't matter what you do, your bike will always be a conversion and you will know that when other people are admiring it. 'The devil is in the detail'.
My own bike is somewhere near the Gus Kuhn F750 bikes of the 70s. I built it myself back in those years, it was not raced - has no history so it is a nothing bike . I still love every little bit of its patina. When I take it to a race meeting the kids always have a look at it. They have never seen one before and so they don't recognize what is out of character with it (however I do).

acotrel said:

A GENUINE Yellow Peril could be a good thing. I don't believe changing what could become a beautiful restoration into a replica Peril, is the way to go. - It doesn't matter what you do, your bike will always be a conversion and you will know that when other people are admiring it. 'The devil is in the detail'.
My own bike is somewhere near the Gus Kuhn F750 bikes of the 70s. I built it myself back in those years, it was not raced - has no history so it is a nothing bike . I still love every little bit of its patina. When I take it to a race meeting the kids always have a look at it. They have never seen one before and so they don't recognize what is out of character with it (however I do).

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So you can have a replica bike but no one else can. Makes sense. :roll:

I'm not trying to make a fake that I would try to pass off as something it's not. It's just a commando wearing another set of clothes…like a fastback or a Hi rider, or a roadster, or an interstate…or a Yellow Peril.

If we still lived in the US, my Commando would have been in that configuration years ago. It's the cobblestones/dirt/speed bumps that make it a non-starter for normal riding here in the San Miguel de Allende area.

SO.. does anyone know of the specific model/brand of fairing for the project? That's all I'm requesting, not advice as to whether anyone else thinks it's a good idea. I think it's a good idea and it's my bike so that's all that matters.

mike996 said:

SO.. does anyone know of the specific model/brand of fairing for the project? That's all I'm requesting, not advice as to whether anyone else thinks it's a good idea. I think it's a good idea and it's my bike so that's all that matters.

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Dang...you took all the fun out of it I've seen those JPS repro fairings somewhere on the web if that's what your looking for...I'll look around. Try a search.

Ive been searching for days - this one is the closest thing I have found so far. At least it SEEMS to look about right. http://www.gftpstore.com/Dunstall-Half- ... DUNHFA.htm

I was just hoping someone here knew specifically which fairing is typically used.

OOPS, after posting this I see that you posted in the interim re the same series. It must be a good choice!

I should have thought about Airtech...they have a bunch of different ones:

http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/vin ... nstall.htm

We should have known this one also:

http://www.clubmanracing.com/fairings.php

acotrel said:

A GENUINE Yellow Peril could be a good thing. I don't believe changing what could become a beautiful restoration into a replica Peril, is the way to go. - It doesn't matter what you do, your bike will always be a conversion and you will know that when other people are admiring it. 'The devil is in the detail'.
My own bike is somewhere near the Gus Kuhn F750 bikes of the 70s. I built it myself back in those years, it was not raced - has no history so it is a nothing bike . I still love every little bit of its patina. When I take it to a race meeting the kids always have a look at it. They have never seen one before and so they don't recognize what is out of character with it (however I do).

Click to expand...

swooshdave said:

So you can have a replica bike but no one else can. Makes sense. :roll:

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Typical... !

Don't they say that of the 275 Yellow PR built (was it ?), only about 775 survive.

LOL,

yeah - I first heard that quote in relation to Ford GT40s - I have a friend in MD that has an original and he once told me, when I asked how many were made, "105 Ford GT40's were made, of which 322 still survive!" It's a great quote, wherever/however it started out but it works well for everything from cars to guitars! I guess I can say re my 73 850 fastback, "Norton didn't make any fastbacks in 1973 and I have the only surviving one!

Nice bunch of fairings above, thanks!

Clubman and Glass from the Past both make the Ducati fairing that is very similar (no dashboard, used the stock Commando meter setup).

Clubman has an adjustable front mount that is just the ticket to retain full-lock steering.

mike996 said:

LOL,

yeah - I first heard that quote in relation to Ford GT40s - I have a friend in MD that has an original and he once told me, when I asked how many were made, "105 Ford GT40's were made, of which 322 still survive!" It's a great quote, wherever/however it started out but it works well for everything from cars to guitars! I guess I can say re my 73 850 fastback, "Norton didn't make any fastbacks in 1973 and I have the only surviving one!

Nice bunch of fairings above, thanks!

Click to expand...

There are a lot of those...one obscure one is the 1960 Edsel...it was a 1960 Ford with a grille with a little upright stamping in the middle with different tail light lenses. It was the end of the Edsel and they sold like 3 of them...but today there are thousands of them because some guy reproduced the grill and the tail lights and sold kits for a number of years.

Id look at getting an alloy gas tank made . A Dunstall or Kuhn would be as relevant for a period custom. Theres many non norvil PRs around allready .

This'd be one of my favourites . Ass ends the same as the one in front , as theyre the same .

Mike,

Try Airtech:

http://airtech-streamlining.com/vintage ... mmando.htm

I installed their quarter fairing on my Mk3. Easy installation with minimal modification required to mount to my pull-backs (it's MY bike and I can do what I want.) Headlamp hole fits perfectly. Paints beautifully. Very good customer service; call them to chat about your needs. I believe the link above pops up their full proddy fairing. I mounted the fairing for cold weather riding 2 years ago and have never removed it; functions perfectly and looks great in all seasons.

oh my Matt, thanx again for showing us more from your extensive archives. I really like that big tank, especially the knee cut out to not fly over bars braking or harsh fling ups plus appears most the fuel is unable to cross sides to avoid slosh jerks which is one of the only two issues limiters I've encountered on Ms Peel when front leaving surface accelerating 90' down slope out of decreaser sharpie. What would one ask for and where?

Also note worthy at least to me it the strut braced crash bars though I know the chrome would be soon wasted on mine.

THATs Ludwigs extensive archives . Thanking you kindly , young man . Thought the record was stuck in the groove , but it was just digging deeper . :lol: 8)

' Circuit de pyrnees ' . wonder if they DO have ' Duplex primarys , or is it the drive chain ? thanks Ludwig . Was in Motorcyclist Illustrated , I think .

mufflers seem to have ' tuneable ' end caps , too .