My Street Commando is...

My Commando is...


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What are cotton reel mounts?

AV mounts...
My Street Commando is...

...due to their similarity to what's often referred to as a 'cotton reel' in the UK.
My Street Commando is...
 
Interesting... The "Heavily Modified / Customs" have surpassed the "Originals" (albeit only by 1)
 
They were wooden when we were kids... Two matchsticks, a candle and rubber band, and we used to race them! Simple times !!
I did too, my dad ex-RAF made them and told me they were based on a strange ’bomb’ type of thing.

I’ll have to go and Google what they were somehow.
 
And I found it. It was called a Panjandrum. Read below


Yes... did read and believe there may even be footage of experimental firing, like two giant catherine wheels and totally uncontrollable!!
Again, I'm sure I have reference to 'walking' sea mines, possibly as experiments for use beneath pontoon mounted nets...

Apologies OP... Thread drift !!
 
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I can recall a TV programme not too long ago that built a version themselves - they couldn’t make it work either.
 
how do brake upgrades feature on the scale of modifications? I have a sleeved down master cylinder, Norvil fork leg, 12" floating disc, Lockheed alloy caliper etc.

p.s. if my bike was truly original, it would still have a big white fairing, fastback LR tank with a radio tray, a single seat with a rack over the huge mudguards etc. And a chronometric speedo and no tacho.
 
how do brake upgrades feature on the scale of modifications? I have a sleeved down master cylinder, Norvil fork leg, 12" floating disc, Lockheed alloy caliper etc.

p.s. if my bike was truly original, it would still have a big white fairing, fastback LR tank with a radio tray, a single seat with a rack over the huge mudguards etc. And a chronometric speedo and no tacho.
"Lightly Modified"
 
We have achieved centenary success.

Our Nortons are, MAINLY (by a significant margin), restored or refurbished to lightly modified spec. A safe assumption is that MOST of these bikes have electronic ignition, and suspension & braking upgrades, with other cosmetics changes such as seats & handlebars.

The rarest (also by a significant margin) are totally original bikes, and bikes that have been restored to original condition.

Also in their own minority are full-on customs, which probably include at least one race bike.

The other sectors run the fairly evenly-split spectrum between totally original and full-on custom.

It might be interesting to compare this survey with the "Age of our Members" survey that was done some time ago. i wonder if there is any correlation?

aasurvey.jpg
 
Part of the equation is how long you've owned your Norton. Mine was bought new and even though it has the typical upgrades (and a few not typical), it's never been "restored" or "refurbished", it's been a well maintained semi-original since new. Basically, it's been in a constant state of restoration from the day I rode it off the dealer's lot.
 
Interesting survey grandpaul . If it is of any help I can volunteer some more info about me/mine .
I’m 68 ( in a couple days ) . I have owned my current Commando for 17 years - was all original when I bought it with the exception of one rim which had been replaced with a Radieli . (spelling ?)
It had stood unused in a heated machine shop for many years.
I got it running, put tires on it and rode it for a few years then began to tear it down and build my dream Commando. Life got in the way for a bit ( including the Commando getting a seawater bath when Sandy hit us ) but I eventually got it done . I know you and others followed my build log here.
So the extent of my mods were -
Rebuilt wheels w / SS rims & spokes.
Drilled & Blanchard ground rotor .
Sleeved master cylinder
SS front fender
Old Britts cast Aluminium tail lamp
Amal Premiers
Braided SS oil lines
Dave Taylor type head steady
Most fasteners replaced with SS
Corbin seat
I purchased TriSpark ignition / coils but have not installed it - running beautifully on old fashioned points .
Not really a mod but main frame replaced with new from AN because of rust issues with the original due to the salt water dunking .
There you have it - Thanks again for starting this interesting bit.
Cheers to all - RT
 
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