Preferred Commando model (2017)

"I am also confused as to how there appear to be so many apparent Combats in existence. It seems that almost every other bike mentioned in this forum is a Combat. I aways thought there was a limited number, certainly a short production time."

Reminds me of a statement from a car-collector friend. "Plymouth made 11 1971 Hemi Barracuda convertibles, of which over 100 still exist!"

I own a 74 Commando (since '06) but owned a 71 back in the day. My MEMORIES of the 71 make me prefer it to the 74. I recall it being lighter, quicker, with the 750 being a quicker revver, etc. BUT, as we all know, memories are often more "feeling" related than fact-related! The '71 had a 19 tooth sprocket as opposed to the 21 on my '74 so that, of course would make some difference in acceleration. No sure how the 71's front drum brake would stand up though I don't recall ever thinking it wasn't perfectly OK at the time. But, if you offered me my old 71 to swap for my 74 (assuming the '71 was in equal condition) I'd accept. Yeah, I might feel differently after some miles but I'd be willing to take that chance.

All righty then Full. Besides having no idea what your rambling sentence, apparently reference others who have based their opinions on journalistic articles' even means, your actual statement "Really, the attraction of the MKIII lies in its electric leg and the left hand change, for people who never understood that gear changes belong on the right, and who lacked the skills to adapt. And, who were attracted by the pretty array of lights in the dashboard, just like their Honda had ", does not have a lot to do with the actual machine but rather owners who IYP are no where near as clever as yourself. That's MY rambling sentence.

Jerry Doe said:

If i had to choose between my tuned 750 that I love and my mk3 i would choose my Mk3. Thats this Week. Mk3 is more comfortable and much easier on my screwed up back. Luckily i dont have to choose as i need both commandos that i own, for different road types. Next week as i am powering through the mountain twisties on my 750 then that bike wins. This week my mk3 wins as i am cruising down the freeway at 80, or pottering along at 45 down the coast highway.

I hate working on my mk3 compared to the 750. Especially the primary.

Cheers

Jerry

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I have a bunch of bikes here including 3 moderns.
On a really rough, pothole filled road, the MK3 is the best one to be on.
I'm not sure why it is more comfortable than something built 41 years later, but it is.
2 nd best is the 650ss. The Roadholder suspension claims weren't just gimmick.

Glen

Along that same line, my '74 handles the rough,cobbletone roads/speedbumps here in San Miguel de Allende much better than my 2014 BMW R9T! Go figure...

worntorn said:

I have a bunch of bikes here including 3 moderns.
On a really rough, pothole filled road, the MK3 is the best one to be on.
I'm not sure why it is more comfortable than something built 41 years later, but it is.
2 nd best is the 650ss. The Roadholder suspension claims weren't just gimmick.

Glen

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Glen, I have a theory to explain, possibly. Back in the day, the industry was a different animal. Bikes were actually built to ride on a daily basis. The Commandos are light for what they are, and the riding position is very comfortable, with the proviso that a Corbin seat is fitted. The standard seats are instruments of torture, but the Corbin puts it all in context. The Commando is a very together design with everything in the right place. They say that racing improves the breed, but I say only up to a point, and then it starts to compromise everyday use. More power, bigger beefier frames, suspension and brakes to handle it all. Huge tyres and power tuned towards the top end is not necessarily a good thing. Great for getting the knee down and looking flashy. Fine for a race track, where you have a known set of parameters, but next to useless in the real world. Once I get over 40mph, I don't touch the gear lever because I don't have to. Letting the torque do the work is much more relaxing and you can concentrate on other things like your line, upkeep of your momentum, and keeping it all smooth.

I also have Ikon shocks and the Landsdowne conversion. It never puts a foot wrong and I can even attack railway tracks leaned right over without a problem, while maintaining a really comfortable ride. Modern bikes have far too many "improvements" and refinements for my liking.

You'd be familiar with the term, "a number of brilliant engineering solutions to non-existent problems"? Applied to Vincents many decades ago, rightly or wrongly. I just apply that to a lot of modern bikes and look at the fashions that have come and gone without a trace. Anti dive forks, 16 inch wheels, variable cam timing to name a few.

Nortons are a complexity free zone. And so much the better for it.

Don't forget guys, moderns are designed to remain secure and planted at speeds at which the Cdo will disappear into an isolastic black hole...

Me thinks designers more focused on that than being smooth over cobbles...

That is true, of course. BUT, in the practical side of daily operation in the twisties, a Commando, with it's Isos properly set up, won't give up much to similar modern bikes. For example, my stock 2014 BMW R9T - which I'd call a modern sort of Commando - cannot be leaned over in the turns as far as the Commando can without dragging something. And my Commando has a center stand which I wish the 9T did! Obviously, the 9 has a lot more HP so it can power out of turns with much greater authority. But in a series of twisties, the Commando can actually out run it.

Fast Eddie said:

Don't forget guys, moderns are designed to remain secure and planted at speeds at which the Cdo will disappear into an isolastic black hole...

Me thinks designers more focused on that than being smooth over cobbles...

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Is that where your desire for more top end power for the Commando comes from? So it can "compete"? Go ahead and replace your Commando then. See what sort of satisfaction you get when services are a squillion dollars and you can't get horribly overpriced parts after a few years.

Think long term love affair, not a quick shag on the weekend.

This reborn thread has gotten very weird.

I also appreciate my Ducati 999S Touring.

I have this really cool model in 1/32 scale of a yellow early highrider tank model. 1971 ? Cool model , I wish I knew who produced it , Revell or whatever. It's my favorite Norton Model , as it never requires maintenance or wears out. Occasional dusting gently only. No insurance or plating or fuel too.

Fullauto said:

Is that where your desire for more top end power for the Commando comes from? So it can "compete"? Go ahead and replace your Commando then. See what sort of satisfaction you get when services are a squillion dollars and you can't get horribly overpriced parts after a few years.

Think long term love affair, not a quick shag on the weekend.

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No, that’s not the case at all.

MexicoMike said:

That is true, of course. BUT, in the practical side of daily operation in the twisties, a Commando, with it's Isos properly set up, won't give up much to similar modern bikes. For example, my stock 2014 BMW R9T - which I'd call a modern sort of Commando - cannot be leaned over in the turns as far as the Commando can without dragging something. And my Commando has a center stand which I wish the 9T did! Obviously, the 9 has a lot more HP so it can power out of turns with much greater authority. But in a series of twisties, the Commando can actually out run it.

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Remember that if the twisties are twisty enough to limit outright performance, then a slow bike will go as fast as a fast bike every time, and if it’s lighter and more ‘chuckable’ it will be faster, like how 125s or 250s can hold lap records at super tight racer tracks for example.

As an aside, I have an R9 also, but I replaced the shock (Ohlins) and fork internals (K-Tech) and there is no way I could make my Cdo keep up with my R9 on anything other than tight back lanes, and that is with my Cdo being quite ‘healthily’ modified too (hypothetically of course, assuming I could ride both at once).

Remember though, although the R9 may have roughly double the HP of most Cdo’s ... but it’s roughly half the HP proper top end sports bike! Quite a scary thought I think.

Anyway, don’t get me wrong, I personally have no need or desire for a 200hp+ sports bike and, I much prefer riding my Cdo to the R9.

Torontonian said:

I have this really cool model in 1/32 scale of a yellow early highrider tank model. 1971 ? Cool model , I wish I knew who produced it , Revell or whatever. It's my favorite Norton Model , as it never requires maintenance or wears out. Occasional dusting gently only. No insurance or plating or fuel too.

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Do you have a strategically placed oil puddle under it?

Fullauto said:

Do you have a strategically placed oil puddle under it?

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That wd be tough. He'd have to find some oil with 1/32 the viscosity of the full-size item...
Yeah, weird thread, you're right!

yep this has turned into a weird thread,also i can't remember any of the commando's i have owned ever leaking oil

baz said:

yep this has turned into a weird thread,also i can't remember any of the commando's i have owned ever leaking oil

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Real motorcyclers know Combats are cream of the crop to die for as lightest most paired down long range wheelie prone model.

Lead in on scope of strange cult of Commando 3 min

for the punch lines - 6+ min.


Peel gets many dangerous styling cues here though does not reveal her more realistic offensive weapons systems yet. Full movie
http://putlocker.io/watch/EvJNJRvW-i-bought-a-vampire-motorcycle.html

Hi Steve, Merry Christmas. - Pete

Based on a true story. They didn't show the proper ending with them all fighting over who was going to do the resto.