Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part - EDITED 2/26
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
I always liked TT100 tyres. Nice feel and very predictable when they get near the limit.
72Combat said:
I always liked TT100 tyres. Nice feel and very predictable when they get near the limit.
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
Footrests or, more precisely, their position. They are too far forward and rear-sets are too far back.
Also the standard switchgear. Why anyone thought it was sensible to have a switch that moves up and down to designate that you wish to indicate left or right, is beyond me. I spent a year talking to myself while riding saying upright, down-left before I gave up and junked that switch for one that moved left and right.
Ian
Footrests or, more precisely, their position. They are too far forward and rear-sets are too far back.
Also the standard switchgear. Why anyone thought it was sensible to have a switch that moves up and down to designate that you wish to indicate left or right, is beyond me. I spent a year talking to myself while riding saying upright, down-left before I gave up and junked that switch for one that moved left and right.
Ian
rvich
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
Are there any parts that people like? Why do we ride these things? Meanwhile we have a thread going that is trying to figure out why these bikes are so heavily modified. Like...uh...hello!
As for the switch gear it is easy to remember which way to flip the switch if you wire it so it flips the same direction the handlebars tilt when you turn. It seems natural to me anyway.
Laughing in Alaska
Are there any parts that people like? Why do we ride these things? Meanwhile we have a thread going that is trying to figure out why these bikes are so heavily modified. Like...uh...hello!
As for the switch gear it is easy to remember which way to flip the switch if you wire it so it flips the same direction the handlebars tilt when you turn. It seems natural to me anyway.
Laughing in Alaska
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
I have a switch on car that turns the same way as steering wheel turns when I'm going round a corner. The up/down on bike just seems illogical to me. Also to the several friends who went for a test ride on my Commando when I first had it. They all asked how I lived with the indicator switch.
Ian
chasbmw said:
I have a switch on car that turns the same way as steering wheel turns when I'm going round a corner. The up/down on bike just seems illogical to me. Also to the several friends who went for a test ride on my Commando when I first had it. They all asked how I lived with the indicator switch.
Ian
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
I don't run turn signals on either of my Nortons so I am not concerned about the switch.
I do have a turn signal switch like that on my Suzuki T500 and it is indeed oriented so it flips in the same direction as the handlebars tilt. Easy enough once you get used to it. I've thought about getting a different switch but of course I do not because that would not be "correct". :wink:
rvich said:
I don't run turn signals on either of my Nortons so I am not concerned about the switch.
I do have a turn signal switch like that on my Suzuki T500 and it is indeed oriented so it flips in the same direction as the handlebars tilt. Easy enough once you get used to it. I've thought about getting a different switch but of course I do not because that would not be "correct". :wink:
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
Now ya gone into all m/c's excess baggage with the turn signals which are about most vulnerable thing drops remove on mine except Combat Creamers thank goodness which didn't come with any but hand signals. My 1st '72 had em but didn't work all the time though kicking them would for a time get some conduction again.
Now ya gone into all m/c's excess baggage with the turn signals which are about most vulnerable thing drops remove on mine except Combat Creamers thank goodness which didn't come with any but hand signals. My 1st '72 had em but didn't work all the time though kicking them would for a time get some conduction again.
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
Yes...they are actually awesome motorcycles...great looking, fantastic sound, great ride when set-up properly...but the quirks have to be fixed IMO if you want to use it.
The first thing that struck me when I got on the MKIII after 35+ years and owning a bunch of bigger, heavier motorcycles was the balance of the bike. Most motorcycles of this size have grown heavy and bulky to suit the "cruiser" or high performance tastes. The Commando is so light and flickable and well balanced. Many manufacturers have tried for years to get that sort of balance. Honda calls it "Mass Centralization" on their sport bikes. My CBR's are balanced pretty well, but they still feel heavier than the Norton...and they are smaller in cc's. Road tests on big cruiser's always talk about how they feel once they are rolling...but that is true of a unicycle also...when you slow down or stop and the bike feels heavy and hard to hold up, that get's old after a while. The Norton has balance and beauty...what more could you ask for Not many mortocycles you can say that about.
comnoz said:
Yes...they are actually awesome motorcycles...great looking, fantastic sound, great ride when set-up properly...but the quirks have to be fixed IMO if you want to use it.
The first thing that struck me when I got on the MKIII after 35+ years and owning a bunch of bigger, heavier motorcycles was the balance of the bike. Most motorcycles of this size have grown heavy and bulky to suit the "cruiser" or high performance tastes. The Commando is so light and flickable and well balanced. Many manufacturers have tried for years to get that sort of balance. Honda calls it "Mass Centralization" on their sport bikes. My CBR's are balanced pretty well, but they still feel heavier than the Norton...and they are smaller in cc's. Road tests on big cruiser's always talk about how they feel once they are rolling...but that is true of a unicycle also...when you slow down or stop and the bike feels heavy and hard to hold up, that get's old after a while. The Norton has balance and beauty...what more could you ask for
Not many mortocycles you can say that about.Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
Once the horn is mounted properly you have no problems.
Switchgear, it works, so......
Exhaust collars? don't know but I just don't have problems and I use the stock tabs to lock them down.
Now the chain oiler. That is the one superfluous item that truly could be done without (which I disabled but left in place for looks). Otherwise Mine is 100% stock and I have no problems at all. It all just works fine.
Once the horn is mounted properly you have no problems.
Switchgear, it works, so......
Exhaust collars? don't know but I just don't have problems and I use the stock tabs to lock them down.
Now the chain oiler. That is the one superfluous item that truly could be done without (which I disabled but left in place for looks). Otherwise Mine is 100% stock and I have no problems at all. It all just works fine.
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Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
Oh yeah the chain oiler gets removed or disabled so often I'd forgot about its great usefulness on chain life just not pretty enough for us fancy pants old farts with cash to spare and time for quality fettering time instead of to school work and dating time.
Oh yeah the chain oiler gets removed or disabled so often I'd forgot about its great usefulness on chain life just not pretty enough for us fancy pants old farts with cash to spare and time for quality fettering time instead of to school work and dating time.
Re: Most disliked / Least Useful Commando part
MKIII
. Electric start - I have used mine probably 10 times in the 20 years that I've owned the bike.
. Tach drive - perpetual oil leak
. That little electrical PTO plug/outlet deal - I have yet to see anyone who actually uses it.
MKIII
. Electric start - I have used mine probably 10 times in the 20 years that I've owned the bike.
. Tach drive - perpetual oil leak
. That little electrical PTO plug/outlet deal - I have yet to see anyone who actually uses it.
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