New British 650 twin

I think I would rather have a brand new replica of the Works Replica with a Rekluse clutch.
Cheese cutter optional.

New British 650 twin
 
EstuaryBoy said:
'Devoid Of Trouble' was the message, no? Trouble is, not taking anything away from their competition successes, I believe all postwar machines were Villiers two stroke powered machines of 250cc or less.. Perhaps not the most prestigious of names to conjure with?
Might be there's James, Francis Barnett or Corgi waiting in the wings somewhere?
Or maybe Dot could merge with Cotton and open a factory in Walford??
Click to expand...
'Devoid of trouble; immediately sends a negative message. If I bought a new motorcycle, I would like to be delighted rather than kept out of trouble.
 
Yeah I know he’s got history, just wondered if anyone knew any specifics about the DOT situation ?
 
British motorcycles usually reflect the British mentality - frugal but sneaky. I never believed in the Commando 850 engine, until I used one for racing. 'Some things are so bad that they are good'. To my mind a long stroke and a heavy crank are silly, but it actually works very well. The only thing which stuffed the design was trying to be as smooth as a CB750 Honda - it was never going to be. But I love the feel of it.
 
acotrel said:
British motorcycles usually reflect the British mentality - frugal but sneaky. I never believed in the Commando 850 engine, until I used one for racing. 'Some things are so bad that they are good'. To my mind a long stroke and a heavy crank are silly, but it actually works very well. The only thing which stuffed the design was trying to be as smooth as a CB750 Honda - it was never going to be. But I love the feel of it.
Click to expand...
Al you keep coming out with the same thing over and over
A commando is in fact smoother than a cb750
It handles a whole lot better
And is faster
You really should try one!
 
I have ridden both. The CB750 is disgusting. The Commando is better, but is that any recommendation ? I would much rather have a Norton Atlas, or a better - a 650SS. I think the only reason people ever bought a CB750 was Agostini's race bike had four cylinders, and most guys had never ridden anything which handled. A 1963 Triumph Bonneville would kill any of them.
I was actually alive back then - where were you ?
The biggest joke was the Honda CBX 1000. - Real fast in a straight line. But who needs it ? Most roads have bends in them.

 
Last edited:
acotrel said:
I have ridden both. The CB750 is disgusting. The Commando is better, but is that any recommendation ? I would much rather have a Norton Atlas, or a better - a 650SS. I think the only reason people ever bought a CB750 was Agostini's race bike had four cylinders, and most guys had never ridden anything which handled. A 1963 Triumph Bonneville would kill any of them.
I was actually alive back then - where were you ?
The biggest joke was the Honda CBX 1000. - Real fast in a straight line. But who needs it ?

Click to expand...

Which commando did you ride Al??
 
acotrel said:
I have ridden both. The CB750 is disgusting. The Commando is better, but is that any recommendation ? I would much rather have a Norton Atlas, or a better - a 650SS. I think the only reason people ever bought a CB750 was Agostini's race bike had four cylinders, and most guys had never ridden anything which handled. A 1963 Triumph Bonneville would kill any of them.
Click to expand...

baz said:
Which commando did you ride Al??
Click to expand...
It was an early 750. It seemed to be very good. Much better than a CB750. One of my friends was an A-grader back in the 1960s. In thec 1970s, I watched him win a road race on a Command0 850, which was sponsored by S.R.Evans, a dealer. I have been going to road race meetings since 1954. That was the only Commando I ever watched win a race. The only thing is, a result in a road race does not mean much. There are plenty of excellent bikes which have never won a race.
I once saw a Laverda 750 SF in the back of a ute. I waited around for the owner to turn up, but he didn't seem to be around. These days, we probably would not be able to get bits for one.
 
acotrel said:
It was an early 750. It seemed to be very good. Much better than a CB750. One of my friends was an A-grader back in the 1960s. In thec 1970s, I watched him win a road race on a Command0 850, which was sponsored by S.R.Evans, a dealer. I have been going to road race meetings since 1954. That was the only Commando I ever watched win a race. The only thing is, a result in a road race does not mean much. There are plenty of excellent bikes which have never won a race.
I once saw a Laverda 750 SF in the back of a ute. I waited around for the owner to turn up, but he didn't seem to be around. These days, we probably would not be able to get bits for one.
Click to expand...
Then you will know what a fantastic chassis the commando has
Maybe try an 850 that's even better than the superb 750
 
The isolastics of the Commando were designed to stop vibration, because the CB750 was extremely smooth running. I like the way old British bikes feel when you ride them. The CB750 gave me none of that feel. And the bloody thing handled like brick. These days, they are raced in Historic Period 4 , over-bored to 1100cc, and they still don't handle.
 
acotrel said:
The isolastics of the Commando were designed to stop vibration, because the CB750 was extremely smooth running. I like the way old British bikes feel when you ride them. The CB750 gave me none of that feel. And the bloody thing handled like brick. These days, they are raced in Historic Period 4 , over-bored to 1100cc, and they still don't handle.
Click to expand...
We all no the history and the reason for the isolastics
What I find remarkable is the precise handling
 
baz said:
Then you will know what a fantastic chassis the commando has
Maybe try an 850 that's even better than the superb 750
Click to expand...
I have to laugh. THese days I sometimes talk to Bob Rosenthal. He is the Victorian 500cc historic champion. In the 1970s, he was a sponsored A grader on TZ750s. He has not seen my Seeley 850, so thinks it is a normal Commando. When I talk to him, I know he does not believe me about what it can do. When I built the bike back in the 1970s, I also felt I was wasting my time, but it was just a good thing to build. Because I never believed in it, the bike sat unraced for 20 years. But when I actually got around to racing it, I discovered how good the Commando 850 motor actually is. I absolutely love it. When I race, many of the other bikes have probably got 100 BHP, and they need it !
The guys at Norton must have known something about motorcycle motors, I thought that crank was a bloody joke.
 
acotrel said:
I have to laugh. THese days I sometimes talk to Bob Rosenthal. He is the Victorian 500cc historic champion. In the 1970s, he was a sponsored A grader on TZ750s. He has not seen my Seeley 850, so thinks it is a normal Commando. When I talk to him, I know he does not believe me about what it can do. When I built the bike back in the 1970s, I also felt I was wasting my time, but it was just a good thing to build. Because I never believed in it, the bike sat unraced for 20 years. But when I actually got around to racing it, I discovered how good the Commando 850 motor actually is. I absolutely love it. When I race, many of the other bikes have probably got 100 BHP, and they need it !
The guys at Norton must have known something about motorcycle motors, I thought that crank was a bloody joke.
Click to expand...
I know how he feels
For years you have been telling us you have never ridden a commando
And now you are telling us you rode a 750 !
When did this happen?
Must have been in recent weeks I'd guess?
 
acotrel said:
I have ridden both. The CB750 is disgusting. The Commando is better, but is that any recommendation ? I would much rather have a Norton Atlas, or a better - a 650SS. I think the only reason people ever bought a CB750 was Agostini's race bike had four cylinders, and most guys had never ridden anything which handled. A 1963 Triumph Bonneville would kill any of them.
I was actually alive back then - where were you ?
The biggest joke was the Honda CBX 1000. - Real fast in a straight line. But who needs it ? Most roads have bends in them.

Click to expand...


In 63 even my Mum and Dad were still at School Al!

Gotta confess… in nearly 10 years on the forum that’s the first time I recall you ever saying you’ve ridden a Commando!

Of course WE all think a Commando is better than a Honda 4. Tridents too. And Bonnies (on the right road).

But the market as a whole disagreed. Guess not everyone else likes putting the same shed hours per mile as we do !
 
Al nothing better than a Commando on the road and I mean road, not a race track, I use to eat Honda 4s in my younger days all my mates went the Honda 4 way and didn't they give it to me for buying a new Norton 850 Commando, they even gave me crap when I use to run circles around them, but I had tough skin, but where are their old Honda 4s now, nowhere to be seen and long gone, although my 850 is set up in the Featherbed frame and has been since the early 80s it still runs circle around a lot of bikes up in the tight twisties.
And the old Commando's are pulling more money these days than any old Honda 4s will ever pull.

Ashley
 

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