Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part - EDITED 2/26

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Do you think a P51 Mustang has any little faults you could mention. I sure it does. But oh my, what a ride. And what about the hours and hours of maintainance compared to the brief time in the air. Do you think it's worth it?


That's what it's kinda like for me. Hours and hours of maintainance, but, oh my, what a ride!

I know comparing these aspect of a Norton and a P51 may be a little unfair, but I think I can relate.
 
I like the name too. "I ride a COMMANDO"! "Yah man, a COMMANDO"! "What have you got there little fella"? "it's ah, er, ah a cb 750 sir". :(
 
One of my little fantasies (at least one I could mention here) would be to pull together the best parts from the three Brit bikes I have on the road and make the best bike possible. They are a 72 Commando, a 78 Triumph Bonneville and a 70 BSA Thunderbolt. From the Norton, definetely the isolastic frame, also the sexy z plates, diaphram clutch, the large sludge area in the crank and the tilted forward cylinder. From the Triumph the unit construction with the 5 speed box, the ball and roller bearing bottom end, front disc brake system and the plunger oil pump (no more wet sumping) and the stepped seat. From the BSA, the single gear driven cam, enclosed push rods and one piece rocker cover, the oil tank mounting and outside filler and the chrome gas tank. I'm sure I could think of a few more. You could see where the big three British manufacturers were copying each other but each had its own little quirks and some were just better than others. I don't see where hurts to point out the flaws.
 
htown16 said:
One of my little fantasies (at least one I could mention here) would be to pull together the best parts from the three Brit bikes I have on the road and make the best bike possible. They are a 72 Commando, a 78 Triumph Bonneville and a 70 BSA Thunderbolt. From the Norton, definetely the isolastic frame, also the sexy z plates, diaphram clutch, the large sludge area in the crank and the tilted forward cylinder. From the Triumph the unit construction with the 5 speed box, the ball and roller bearing bottom end, front disc brake system and the plunger oil pump (no more wet sumping) and the stepped seat. From the BSA, the single gear driven cam, enclosed push rods and one piece rocker cover, the oil tank mounting and outside filler and the chrome gas tank. I'm sure I could think of a few more. You could see where the big three British manufacturers were copying each other but each had its own little quirks and some were just better than others. I don't see where hurts to point out the flaws.
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That would be a funny looking bike tho :D
 
One thing I've gleaned over the years is if ya mix & match much together you better be thick skinned as tends to piss off each brand's devotees and please none of them.
 
850cmndo said:
Had an R00/7 for a year and it bored me to death. Nothing to do on it. Give me what I have, some cold beer, a ball game on the radio and I can stare at it and be happy.
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Excuse me, but I think that you're doing it wrong.
Try this:
Put down the beer, turn off the radio, get on the dependable motorcycle and go for a ride.
 
I am an Atlas guy, so I'm not entitled to vote for most despised Cdo part, but I can opine on the efficacy of a horn on a motorcycle.

I took off the horn on my new Atlas after a week or two. I prefer to get some idiots attention by pulling in the clutch, twisting the throttle, and giving him the sound of an angry tiger, rather than the "meep..meep" of a roadrunner.

I put the horn back on for one hour per year, just long enough to get some inspectors nod, and my sticker.

Slick
 
Ole Slick knows loud pipes work in stead of Norton anchor horn. I've had the weak horn get me in trouble, on a 2 story bridge w/o rails, idled almost across to see a big black cow blocking the path, so bee'd under my bonnet at it, it swung around to face me, to reveal long bull horns, steam jets out nostrals pawing ground, chest to rump muscles bunched up about to knock me over the side, so I SNORTON'D at it > which shocked bull so much from its charge it shifted weight a second onto rear legs, so I let out clutch and sprinted past him before he could regain posture I was out of there...
When I beep at deer they just look at me in curiosity and keep coming not at all startled to move away.
 
hobot said:
Ancient accepted southern red neck hillbilly motto is ...
If its got balls ovaries or an engine, expect trouble with it.
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hobot in a past life i would certainlly been a southern "gentlemen"...;)
that's why I fall in love with my commando...she was raised up in Alabama...
 
Yeah even in Texas I was told not to say where ya was from, 'cause if they weren't from Texas just plain politeness not to embarrass them. My current almost runner Trixie with most the factory warts was rescued out of New Orleans, so I like to think it was a black buck in military, ass and grass getter. In my region the hippies and hillbilly's discovered long ago they had essentially same life style and fun, so I fit right in. I guess you like smoked ham and red eye gravy with some chittlin's and hoe cake eh.

Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part - EDITED 2/26
 
Well I voted for the horn because it just didnt have to be that way :shock:

Its like they sat down and said what's the most bizarre, just plain dumb place we could hide this thing. I owned my 850 for nearly 20 years before I bothered to find out where the horn was actually supposed be fitted.

On the other hand things like the breakable rear axle were done with good intent. To have a QD rear wheel. The fact it breaks is just bad execution of a good idea.

Likewise the exhaust mounts. In the beginning they were on the featherbed bikes - Got a much easier life and were pretty reliable. Mounted on a engine that bounces about a bit on the isolastics - not such a great plan.

And by the way having the pipes held in by a screw in ring which keeps the exhaust heat away from the head as soon as possible is excellent engineering intent. If you get the chance to visit the British Natioanl motorcycle museum and look a the last real genuine factory Manx 350. (about 1952 or 3 - Im sure Rohan will correct me :roll: ). It has the exhaust pipe isolated for the head as soon as possible. So a very good plan but not so great execution.

cheers
 
hobot said:
One thing I've gleaned over the years is if ya mix & match much together you better be thick skinned as tends to piss off each brand's devotees and please none of them.
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Yes an learning as I go... I have run into a few of them.... they are way to proud of there brit products & I believe very narrow minded as well... being a country boy,redneck with garage full of tools & nothing better than to piss off a bunch of thin skin brits..... is to take a bunch of part AJS, Matchless,Triumph, BSA, Chevy, Ford, Desoto, Buick & almost forgot Harley..... & throw them at a Norton bastard .... I have thick skin....the meaning of life is to live it
 
So the Norton enthusiast requires an appreciation for mechanical art, needs to be slightly eccentric and masochistic with the desire to live the dream - all the while knowing imperfection is what makes it perfect and it becomes a part of your personality no matter how you put it together as long as it's good for you
No matter what it is there will always be someone who won't like it
Commando has many faults for sure and I wish I could say the horn was the worst but apart from the fact you virtually need to pull the bike to bits to get at it and it weighs as much as a pillion - removing the tank is what gives me the pip
Words can not describe the popularity of the bike but the ride says it all
 
Ah dear Grasshopper, observe the wrists of our sensor monks, they show you are not real Nortoneer til you can snatch the horn from its mount w/o removing anything else and tuning its tone adjuster and remount functional in one afternoon... Many seek it and some even claim it - a fully fettered bullet proof Commando that sparkles and never leaks or loosens parts...

Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part - EDITED 2/26
 
hobot said:
Ah dear Grasshopper, observe the wrists of our sensor monks, they show you are not real Nortoneer til you can snatch the horn from its mount w/o removing anything else and tuning its tone adjuster and remount functional in one afternoon... Many seek it and some even claim it - a fully fettered bullet proof Commando that sparkles and never leaks or loosens parts...

Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part - EDITED 2/26
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All that AND the power of ten billion butterfly sneezes..
 
Ah so, it riles them to believe, we perceive the webs they weave,
Keep On Thinking Free... Thinking is the best way to travel, unless on a Commando, reflecting on anything that can happen so does, unless fully fettered, for a time.
 
hobot said:
Ah so, it riles them to believe, we perceive the webs they weave,
Keep On Thinking Free... Thinking is the best way to travel, unless on a Commando, reflecting on anything that can happen so does, unless fully fettered, for a time.
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It's all true..
 
My hardest part is actually believing it is so, till it sure is.

Useless items removed or already missing from my ""factory" Combat Roadster Trixie, turn signals, pilot lamp, assemulator & lamp, foot stalks and all the police dead end loneytoons loops plus the 12v accessory plug and chain oiler. Mods added back are rear sets. LED vom, oil filter, and two under slung ovalish mirrors and lug rack. I"ve gotten 2 hi end 4 LED each pencil beam driving lamps I may adapt for nights as even the halogen bulb is still too much like old carbide candle light lamps to be effective over 45 mph. Those are really meant for Peel when she awakens to hunt down deer to splatter down and video while I try not to ride to dusk on my other cycles. Oh yeah no cam washer tabs remain thank you very much.
 
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