New Guy Building a Commando from Parts

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If you are resourceful, as most Brit bike owners with more time than money are, it'll be a fun project. There are a ton of parts out there in people's piles and occasionally they will let some of it go. Keep a build thread going and as people see what you are working on next they may offer up some help.
 
THIS has possibilities, before diving into loads of parts THEN trying to figure out what you are missing-
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Jerry (forum owner) says he'll take $2,500 - maybe he'll take less?

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Plus one on that GP.

I don’t really understand why one would choose to build a Commando from parts. There are lots of them around, and cheap too.

When you consider that people break them for parts because they make more money that way, it stands to reason that building one from parts will be more expensive than buying a good donor for your resto.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Plus one on that GP.

I don’t really understand why one would choose to build a Commando from parts. There are lots of them around, and cheap too.

When you consider that people break them for parts because they make more money that way, it stands to reason that building one from parts will be more expensive than buying a good donor for your resto.
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Because sometimes a good starting point is hard to find.
 
I don't know if you are trying to build a correct rebuild. If not, much can be saved by buying a Japanese complete front end and rear wheel from a breaker (I mean salvage yard, I've been conversing with these British chaps too much, LOL). This would also give you the 18" rear wheel which is a common alteration so you can run a better tire on rear.

Best of luck.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Plus one on that GP.

I don’t really understand why one would choose to build a Commando from parts. There are lots of them around, and cheap too.

When you consider that people break them for parts because they make more money that way, it stands to reason that building one from parts will be more expensive than buying a good donor for your resto.
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There is an old thread somewhere that asks how much of a bike does one need before people see motorcycle instead of parts. I think the consensus ended with the idea that most of us could start with a horn as the only part required to see an entire build start from it. You then throw the horn away and start building.
 
grandpaul said:
I have a 100-point spreadsheet with all the main components listed, makes it handy for planning purposes (it doesn't list every nut, bolt and/or washer)

I'll email it to anyone that wants it.
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yes pls
 
Fast Eddie said:
Plus one on that GP.

I don’t really understand why one would choose to build a Commando from parts. There are lots of them around, and cheap too.
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i don't get the "There are lots of them around, and cheap too" part

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i picked up some basic bits for a few hundred, frame, z-plates, cradle & swingarm, complete jap engine, 5sp, e-start & dohc for another c note,

complete front end/back wheel, swingarm options are a dime a dozen including inverted forks or single sided swingarm etc,

could care less about originality for this one
 
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Well there’s one in the for sale section on this site for (probably) less than $2500.

I would be willing to bet that most folk would spend more than that putting one together from parts.

IF you’re the kind of person who has barns full of parts, then it’s a different story. But if you’re a normal bloke who’s got to build it by buying the parts from jumbles and ebay, then it just ain’t worth it IMHO.
 
84ok said:
i don't get the "There are lots of them around, and cheap too" part

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i picked up some basic bits for a few hundred, frame, z-plates, cradle & swingarm, complete jap engine, 5sp, e-start & dohc for another c note,

complete front end/back wheel options are a dime a dozen etc,

could care less about originality for this one
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It's a matter of TIME as well as money. I've been involved in a lot of restoration projects of people I have known over the years and in the vast majority of cases, folks starting out with bits and pieces or a box of parts end up some years later with nothing but bits and pieces and boxes of parts they end up selling or that end up in a corner of a garage. ;)

As long as you approach it KNOWING that it WILL take a lot of time AND probably more money than you are thinking it will, then it will work out OK. I have to admit that my experience with folks starting from scratch is that the completion rate is probably not even 20% but again, if you are mentally prepared for it, no reason you can't end up with a good motorcycle!

I don't understand the term, "complete jap engine." ??
 
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MexicoMike said:
It's a matter of TIME as well as money. I've been involved in a lot of restoration projects of people I have known over the years and in the vast majority of cases, folks starting out with bits and pieces or a box of parts end up some years later with nothing but bits and pieces and boxes of parts they end up selling or that end up in a corner of a garage. ;)

As long as you approach it KNOWING that it WILL take a lot of time AND probably more money than you are thinking it will, then it will work out OK. I have to admit that my experience with folks starting from scratch is that the completion rate is probably not even 20% but again, if you are mentally prepared for it, no reason you can't end up with a good motorcycle!

I don't understand the term, "complete jap engine." ??
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lotsa folks run & wrench a buncha bikes, then get started new on a norton, i'm likely goin a jap engine, norton frame mixed other bits combo
 
84ok said:
lotsa folks run & wrench a buncha bikes, then get started new on a norton, i'm likely goin a jap engine, norton frame mixed other bits combo
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That’s fair enough, why not indeed, build whatever floats your boat!

It’s not really building a Commando though is it...

Apples n oranges.
 
took me about 19 months from start of 'project' to first ride it was a challenge but the satisfaction of doing it is enormous....next...homebuilt aircraft
 
with the value/cost of nortons as they are today, i expect many will start out new on nortons with bits,

not to mention this history
I had long been interested in the reported poor reputation of MKIII Electric-Start Commando and was going to learn as much as possible about this variant. How bad was the MKIII and were the rumors true?

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Story 5: I started picking up parts, flea market RH4 head $75, 20m3S cam $20, 06-4791 prestolite starter NOS $150(British Only). I was on my way. I had it on the road running for $1100, and a lot of my own work. Maiden Voyage was @ the Hiawasi GA INOA rally in 1996. I rode it for 4 years until the battery died and I then put it away for a few years.
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https://www.accessnorton.com/Norton...our-norton-commandos.5804/page-78#post-407961

New Guy Building a Commando from Parts
 
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