One owner 810 Dunstall interview - Tales from the Cul de Sac

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swooshdave

swooshdave

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First off, sorry, I've been MIA for a while. Too many other hobbies. I've got a couple winter projects lined up for the Nortons. Hopefully I'll get to some of them.

Our own @Mike T has been continuing his Cul De Sac series and has wrapped up this season with a stunner. A few of you might recognize this bike from a few places, most recently the Quail Show where it took Best British (and should have got Best of Show). Phil was kind enough to bring the bike by and document his adventures with his bike.

It's one thing to own a bike from new for 50+ years. It's another to have ordered a Dunstall from Paul new and still have it. It's a fabulous story and Phil is a great storyteller. You will, without a doubt, enjoy every minute of it. And as always Mike has crafted another fantastic video (you are subscribed, right?) about Commandos and other interesting machines.
 
Wonderful episode (and season finale?).

Had trouble getting my head around only 5000 miles original on the bike....that's 100 per year?!?
 
swooshdave said:


First off, sorry, I've been MIA for a while. Too many other hobbies. I've got a couple winter projects lined up for the Nortons. Hopefully I'll get to some of them.

Our own @Mike T has been continuing his Cul De Sac series and has wrapped up this season with a stunner. A few of you might recognize this bike from a few places, most recently the Quail Show where it took Best British (and should have got Best of Show). Phil was kind enough to bring the bike by and document his adventures with his bike.

It's one thing to own a bike from new for 50+ years. It's another to have ordered a Dunstall from Paul new and still have it. It's a fabulous story and Phil is a great storyteller. You will, without a doubt, enjoy every minute of it. And as always Mike has crafted another fantastic video (you are subscribed, right?) about Commandos and other interesting machines.
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Awesome!! You're right. Clicked on it to preview, watched the whole thing.
Will watch again.
Thanks for sharing...
 
being pedantic, Gordon Blair worked at Queens University , Belfast, which is Northern Ireland, not Ireland as stated.
 
jan nelder said:
being pedantic, Gordon Blair worked at Queens University , Belfast, which is Northern Ireland, not Ireland as stated.
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That is pedantic !

He‘s American remember. Some Americans understanding of European geography is bad (in fact, almost as bad as our understanding of US geography) !

When I’ve told Americans I’m from England I’ve had some strange responses, the best by far was:

“England huh? … Is that in London… ?”
 
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This is the Genuine (I have almost identical paperwork) + Hand written starting instructions by Paul Dunstall... Mk1 Dunstall Commando also known as the Sleeper, drum brake, Mk4 cam, quaife 5 speed, easier on my back in this style!
 
robs ss said:
The "perfect sense" meaning that "it's so shitty to ride that more than 100 miles per year is unbearable"?;)
It goes without saying that I'm not a fan of museum pieces.
Cheers
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But this was purchased by a teenager as a dream bike. How could he not have racked up big miles at that age. No way he was in the oldie mode of thinking about keeping it pristine.
 
Maybe he found out the problems with the Dunstall sleeves etc has, why the little miles on it, why have any motorcycle and not ride them, most of my Norton since new clocked up between 6K to 10K a year till 2013 now it's semi-retired but still ridden, a 100 miles a year just not right, but then a lot of people have bikes for show and tell (show pony and trailed to shows) I like the well ridden look myself.
 
ashman said:
Maybe he found out the problems with the Dunstall sleeves etc has, why the little miles on it, why have any motorcycle and not ride them, most of my Norton since new clocked up between 6K to 10K a year till 2013 now it's semi-retired but still ridden, a 100 miles a year just not right, but then a lot of people have bikes for show and tell (show pony and trailed to shows) I like the well ridden look myself.
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It's not important why someone wasn't able to ride a bike a lot. There are a lot of reasons and just because they don't apply to you doesn't mean they aren't valid.

What is important is there's a time capsule that shows exactly what Dunstall produced at the time. It's a unique experience that some of you should learn to appreciate. I know I do.
 
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