T160 style folding kickstart and rear set pics please...

Fast Eddie · Aug 1, 2015

Ladies,

I'm wanting to re-do my rearsets. The current set up is OK (Norvil) but whatever I do with it, the kickstart is in the way.

So I got looking at the idea of the T160 style kickstart lever. But can't seem to find many pics of one in situ.

Can folk please post photos of theirs on here for inspiration?

Photos of the T160 style kick starter in situ and / or of other good rearsets options / ideas please.

I'm planning to fit a high level 2:1 exhaust system, so am therefore planning to remove the Z plates and fit the smallest / simplest / neatest footrest hangar plates I can come up with. So ideas and inspiration for this would be greatly appreciated as well please chaps.

trident sam · Aug 1, 2015

Nigel,
can't help you with the kickstarter but the product here might interest you. He seems to sell some decent gear, but I have no personal experience of it.
ebay number 321819624790.

see you at BZ
sam

Fast Eddie · Aug 1, 2015

Thanks Sam, but I'm thinking a lot more minimalist than even those!

Because I've no pillion pegs or exhausts to hang, I think I can make do with far less material. For example, there is no need for the plates to encompass the cradle mounting point.

The most inspirational pic I've found so far is this one, does anyone know if this is a forum members steed?

T160 style folding kickstart and rear set pics please...

Chris · Aug 1, 2015

Hi Eddie

There is a thread about this kickstart. Lots of work using Japanese cranked kickstart lever with more length.
I use avery products "Tweedy" If you would like I can I could lend you one?

Are you at Donnington?

Chris

cjandme · Aug 1, 2015

That is a really beautiful example of what a commando can be. It was posted in 2013 from a fella in Perth, peter nelson. If you go to page 37 of the "post pictures of your norton commando" thread there are other shots and you can probably pm him from there. Cj

Fast Eddie · Aug 2, 2015

Chris said:
Hi Eddie

There is a thread about this kickstart. Lots of work using Japanese cranked kickstart lever with more length.
I use avery products "Tweedy" If you would like I can I could lend you one?
Are you at Donnington?

Chris

Won't be at Donnigton Chris. Are you at Beezumph?

Fast Eddie · Aug 2, 2015

cjandme said:
That is a really beautiful example of what a commando can be. It was posted in 2013 from a fella in Perth, peter nelson. If you go to page 37 of the "post pictures of your norton commando" thread there are other shots and you can probably pm him from there. Cj

Thanks for digging through the picture posts there CJ!
Am now in contact with Pete.

lcrken · Aug 2, 2015

I just got a message from Peter about the lever. It's a Honda CB750 kicker grafted onto the splined end of a Commando lever. It was done by Murray Chamberlin in Perth. I think I'll hunt up a lever on eBay and try doing one myself for my MK3. I think you could probably do a similar approach with a T160 lever, or any one of a number of Japanese levers.

Ken

gtsun · Aug 4, 2015

Do some searching, I know someone sells the folding levers made for Nortons. Maybe RGM, Oldbritts or Norvil?? Whatever you come up with please post pictures.. Also have a look at the rearsets at NYC Norton. His stuff is like Moto jewelry.

Fast Eddie · Aug 4, 2015

gtsun said:
Do some searching, I know someone sells the folding levers made for Nortons. Maybe RGM, Oldbritts or Norvil?? Whatever you come up with please post pictures.. Also have a look at the rearsets at NYC Norton. His stuff is like Moto jewelry.

"Moto jewellery" indeed!

I like that description ... because Kenny is in the process of sending me some of his rear sets as we speak!

I'll be knocking up the smallest, simplest 1/4 plate alloy mounts that I can to mount these on.

Kick start options (if using rear sets and a linkage for the gear lever) appear to be:

A T160 lever with modified knuckle (RGM temporarily out of stock at present though)

A Terry Weedy trails / MX style (see http://www.terryweedy.com/)

Norvil, they advertise one that looks like it could be Terry Weedy's

Honda CB 750 with home made / modified knuckle.

I'm still mulling over the various kicker options ...

ashman · Aug 4, 2015

I have the RGM T160 folding kicker on my Norton for over 4 years now, the orginal kicker use to come loose after 2 kicks and the motor being in my Featherbed frame and the way everything is set up the orginal kicker use to sit in the back of my leg when riding and i had to sit my foot on the outer foot peg, but the folding kicker fixed that problem, it folds right out of the way and since its been on it has stayed tight on the shaft, as well with the extra length it makes it easier to kick my high compresson motor with ease.

Not the best pick and its not fully folded, the pic was taken to show what i use to let me know to turn on my oil feed .

Ashley

Stephen Hill · Aug 5, 2015

RGM is no longer selling this item. Something about an interruption in supply, if I recall their response a few months ago. Sounded like they hope to be stocking them in the future.

Stephen Hill

Fast Eddie · Aug 5, 2015

That's a nice shot of the 'knuckle' end Ashley, thanks for that as most pics don't tend to show it well.

Stephen, according to Roger, the forging company lost the tool to make the knuckle! It seems a solution has been reached though and RGM hope to have them in stock later this year IF all goes well.

ashman · Aug 5, 2015

Fast Eddie said:
That's a nice shot of the 'knuckle' end Ashley, thanks for that as most pics don't tend to show it well.

Stephen, according to Roger, the forging company lost the tool to make the knuckle! It seems a solution has been reached though and RGM hope to have them in stock later this year IF all goes well.

If you need more pics I be happy to take some more close ups for you, I think it would work good with rear sets, I am going to make a few rear sets soon for my project Manxman Norton and a set for my mate's Commando and if they work out good maybe a few more in the pipe line.

Ashley

peter nelson · Aug 15, 2015

Hi , in case anyone is interested I'm posting a few pictures of rear sets for a MK 3 that were hand fabricated by murray chamberlain for a bike he built, the kickstarter is CB750 folding lever grafted on to the bottom of the stock norton part, the footrest and brake pedal fold up for clearance, cheers peter

Boxerfan · Aug 23, 2015

Boyoboy there's a lot to like on that Mk3 'S'!

cjandme · Aug 23, 2015

Boxerfan said:
Boyoboy there's a lot to like on that Mk3 'S'!

+1 ......thanks for posting the shots of that Mk3 Pete, Murray definately does some f-i-n-e fine work :mrgreen:

cjandme · Aug 23, 2015

Boxerfan said:
Boyoboy there's a lot to like on that Mk3 'S'!

+1 ......thanks for posting the shots of that Mk3 Pete, Murray definately does some f-i-n-e fine work :mrgreen:

73JohnPlayer · Aug 16, 2017

Hi all, first post here. I have a '73 Commando with John Player Norton livery and I'm looking for a folding kickstart. Getting the RGM to Oz is 150 quid! Wondering if anyone has since come across an alternative. Or can someone put me in touch with someone like Murray Chamberlain as mentioned above who may be able to make one? Cheers

T.H · Aug 16, 2017

73JohnPlayer said:
Hi all, first post here. I have a '73 Commando with John Player Norton livery and I'm looking for a folding kickstart. Getting the RGM to Oz is 150 quid! Wondering if anyone has since come across an alternative. Or can someone put me in touch with someone like Murray Chamberlain as mentioned above who may be able to make one? Cheers

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