- Joined
- Jan 25, 2014
- Messages
- 506
Just a couple excerpts from a buried reply that clarifies my intent on starting this thread...
I do not intend this as 'why did I buy this POS' rant.
Just wanted a chance to vent (and maybe find solutions) about poor design / cost saving original parts that are driving us nuts - many probably fixable.
I love this (very flawed) machine because I owned a new one when I was young, dumped it (& sold it) too soon, bought efficient Jap bikes subsequently, and always longed for a bike with SOUL!
Now I have one! AGAIN!
That was my thought after 'Biscuit; said:
I've owned my Commando for a bunch of years. At 5000miles on the clock while on a ride back to my home town from Colorado to Massachusetts a valve seized, WHAT THE F. This was back in 1976 and from that day on I've realized you could have bought a Commando and ridden it as is and dealt with it as is, or gotten rid of the damn thing, or in the case of many of us here, "made it our own". We could have said f' it and bought a Honda or other soulless POC but who among us has ever been to a "ride in" or a cruise night for bikes and not felt eyes on you when kick it over once or twice and it settles down to that shaky steady idle as you get your gear on. And you pull away with that perfect "brrrrrrrrrr...ba, brrrrrrrrrrr...ba, brrrrrrrrrrr...ba, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". And you say to you're self "that 's right people, not the fastest, not the most reliable, but what just left was a real motorcycle". Good Day
---------
OK - I'll start.
Having spent more than my share of time mucking around with Amal & PWK carbs / air cleaners in the short time I have had this 72' Roadster, I can easily nominate the air cleaner backplate.
Does it serve any purpose if you never intend to put the original air cleaner on?
I does nothing to hold the battery on the other side.
I see a bunch of tubes running down behind it that would also be more accessible.
Am I missing something that relies on that structure to function?
Ignition switch attachment is easy to move elsewhere.
tomas
I do not intend this as 'why did I buy this POS' rant.
Just wanted a chance to vent (and maybe find solutions) about poor design / cost saving original parts that are driving us nuts - many probably fixable.
I love this (very flawed) machine because I owned a new one when I was young, dumped it (& sold it) too soon, bought efficient Jap bikes subsequently, and always longed for a bike with SOUL!
Now I have one! AGAIN!
That was my thought after 'Biscuit; said:
I've owned my Commando for a bunch of years. At 5000miles on the clock while on a ride back to my home town from Colorado to Massachusetts a valve seized, WHAT THE F. This was back in 1976 and from that day on I've realized you could have bought a Commando and ridden it as is and dealt with it as is, or gotten rid of the damn thing, or in the case of many of us here, "made it our own". We could have said f' it and bought a Honda or other soulless POC but who among us has ever been to a "ride in" or a cruise night for bikes and not felt eyes on you when kick it over once or twice and it settles down to that shaky steady idle as you get your gear on. And you pull away with that perfect "brrrrrrrrrr...ba, brrrrrrrrrrr...ba, brrrrrrrrrrr...ba, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". And you say to you're self "that 's right people, not the fastest, not the most reliable, but what just left was a real motorcycle". Good Day
---------
OK - I'll start.
Having spent more than my share of time mucking around with Amal & PWK carbs / air cleaners in the short time I have had this 72' Roadster, I can easily nominate the air cleaner backplate.
Does it serve any purpose if you never intend to put the original air cleaner on?
I does nothing to hold the battery on the other side.
I see a bunch of tubes running down behind it that would also be more accessible.
Am I missing something that relies on that structure to function?
Ignition switch attachment is easy to move elsewhere.
tomas
