The first time

baz · Apr 28, 2023

Just reflecting on my first time

The first time I rode a commando after being used to the vibes and limitations of Brit singles and twins I bought a MK2a
I bought it from the pub landlord across the road from me
He let me pay for it weekly
I took it out for a test ride just around the heavily congested roads where I lived
And I wondered what the fuss was all about with these bikes
I used to go over to the pub and mess with the bike polishing it up until it was paid for
Then the big day I had paid for it i was insured to ride it legally
And off I went
What a revelation compared to the other old nails I had ridden
As the speed went up the vibes went down
I remember putting my boot against the chaincase to feel the engine vibes

concours · Apr 28, 2023

trident sam · Apr 28, 2023

baz said:
Just reflecting on my first time
The first time I rode a commando after being used to the vibes and limitations of Brit singles and twins I bought a MK2a
I bought it from the pub landlord across the road from me
He let me pay for it weekly
I took it out for a test ride just around the heavily congested roads where I lived
And I wondered what the fuss was all about with these bikes
I used to go over to the pub and mess with the bike polishing it up until it was paid for
Then the big day I had paid for it i was insured to ride it legally
And off I went
What a revelation compared to the other old nails I had ridden
As the speed went up the vibes went down
I remember putting my boot against the chaincase to feel the engine vibes

My first Commando was a 750 Interstate and it was the first time I had ever slipped back on the seat when I opened it up.
Wish I'd kept that bike , it wasn't pretty but went like sh*t off a shovel. I sold it to a lad who'd has his Commando nicked by Birmingham HA
I wonder if it suffered the same fate.

baz · Apr 28, 2023

trident sam said:
My first Commando was a 750 Interstate and it was the first time I had ever slipped back on the seat when I opened it up.
Wish I'd kept that bike , it wasn't pretty but went like sh*t off a shovel. I sold it to a lad who'd has his Commando nicked by Birmingham HA
I wonder if it suffered the same fate.

Was it a combat interstate ?
I had one in later years
The one I had was extremely quick
The only hassle was it was running on Castrol R
It had a glass fibre tank and when I sold it to a German he insisted I swap tanks from my MK2a
This was in the early 80s he claimed the fiberglass tank was not legal in Germany?

trident sam · Apr 28, 2023

baz said:
Was it a combat interstate ?
I had one in later years
The one I had was extremely quick
The only hassle was it was running on Castrol R
It had a glass fibre tank and when I sold it to a German he insisted I swap tanks from my MK2a
This was in the early 80s he claimed the fiberglass tank was not legal in Germany?

Yep, black 72 Combat Interstate with a fibreglass tank, I think that glass tanks were legal in the UK till 73 ?.. got it in 83 or thereabouts ,it was a great bike

Richard Tool · Apr 28, 2023

My first time -1974 or so - swapped my Husky 360 Sportsman and some $$ for my buddie’s 750 Combat Roadster. He made it a “ chopper “ by simply putting in ridiculous long fork stanchions then promptly ran it into the back of a car . I rebuilt it as a cafe racer with a home made fiberglass tank and seat . Parts and Dunstall goodies from YBM in Bryn Mawr PA . Anyone remember them ?

daveforty · Apr 28, 2023

Mine was a Mk2a Interplod. Being sold by a car dealer very near where I lived, asking price £485 in Sept '83. Took a lot of kicking to get it running, but they let me ride it up the road. Was (pleasantly) surprised by the smooth running, and how fast I was going behind the big white fairing. I had (still have) a T140 at the time, the Norton was (still is) a lot smoother. Dont regret dumping the fairing and white mudguards, but should have kept the Fastback LR tank. A local dealer (Dougie Clark in Southgate) took the Chronometric speedo in PX for a Roadster petrol tank.

baz · Apr 28, 2023

daveforty said:
Mine was a Mk2a Interplod. Being sold by a car dealer very near where I lived, asking price £485 in Sept '83. Took a lot of kicking to get it running, but they let me ride it up the road. Was (pleasantly) surprised by the smooth running, and how fast I was going behind the big white fairing. I had (still have) a T140 at the time, the Norton was (still is) a lot smoother. Dont regret dumping the fairing and white mudguards, but should have kept the Fastback LR tank. A local dealer (Dougie Clark in Southgate) took the Chronometric speedo in PX for a Roadster petrol tank.

Dougie Clark was a legend
I loved the way he never changed VAT and wouldn't allow the taxman into his shop etc etc

Matchless · Apr 28, 2023

The first Commando I rode was in 1981, a 750 Combat Interstate owned by a mate. We used to go to the pub, me on my 650ss & him on the Combat. We would sometimes swop bikes & I was amazed by the performance, & loved to gun it under a railway bridge to hear those peashooters.
Happy days.

marinatlas · Apr 28, 2023

My first time was a 850 in 1974 , bought new with my first wages in the merchant navy ( 4 months and half ) , after an old BSA A50 ( from french government) which engine broke after one year , then go in 1972 to visit Dave Crouch -Bohemian garage somewhere in the south of Sussex (or Surrey) to fit a 650 Thunderbolt engine which broke in the next 6 months , so you can imagine when I ride that 850 Interstate for the first time , whahoo!! 30 K (miles ) in 18 months all over France , still have her .

daveforty · Apr 28, 2023

baz said:
Dougie Clark was a legend
I loved the way he never changed VAT and wouldn't allow the taxman into his shop etc etc

I notice that I mis spelled his surname, it should be Clarke. I do remember some sruffy sofas in the shop, and some even scruffier terriers sitting on them... legend at the time was that he had some brand new / uncrated Mk3 Commandos stashed away in a garage somewhere...

I found this on the 'net from 1951. Entry no 138, page 3

https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/thruxton29091951.pdf

A lot of historic names at that meeting.

Chris · Apr 28, 2023

I think J H motorcycles at Watford brought Dougies stuff. He still had his Manx at home or so he told me. Sold a lot of spares to Belgium & Holland, dont remember seeing any new bikes but I remember the shop & the room at the back being full after a big spending spree at Andover that required a couple of trips. I saw a works over head camshaft engine on the floor & Dougie suggested I buy it! I had just brought a house & had put my T160 up as deposit.
He used to say I live at Wareham Ware it Herts. Lol

baz · Apr 28, 2023

daveforty said:
I notice that I mis spelled his surname, it should be Clarke. I do remember some sruffy sofas in the shop, and some even scruffier terriers sitting on them... legend at the time was that he had some brand new / uncrated Mk3 Commandos stashed away in a garage somewhere...

I found this on the 'net from 1952. Entry no 138, page 3

https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/thruxton29091951.pdf

A lot of historic names at that meeting.

He probably had some brand New Norton's tucked away
I used to race a 350 and a 500 Manx
The terriers were rescued by him himself when he saw them being beaten
If you went in the shop on a Saturday very often his mate Charlie would be there
He was a Scotland yard retired detective and a triumph man
I remember one time I was there Dougie had been on the phone to raliegh bicycles because he was going to by his grandkids a bike each for Christmas
But when he found they weren't made in the UK he refused
His advert in the TT program caused a stir!

baz · Apr 28, 2023

Chris said:
I think J H motorcycles at Watford brought Dougies stuff. He still had his Manx at home or so he told me. Sold a lot of spares to Belgium & Holland, dont remember seeing any new bikes but I remember the shop & the room at the back being full after a big spending spree at Andover that required a couple of trips. I saw a works over head camshaft engine on the floor & Dougie suggested I buy it! I had just brought a house & had put my T160 up as deposit.
He used to say I live at Wareham Ware it Herts. Lol

He had one of his manxs stolen I believe

Chris · Apr 28, 2023

Baz I remember Charlie. Was it his son who ran a T160 with peashooter. I loved it! So roarty compared to my black caps. Bella was my favorite the alsatian. The mongrels were closer to the ground & well grubby. I sat on those sofas & drank tea with Dougie when he was bored lol. I felt honoured when he took me over the roundabout to the cafe for egg & chips.

daveforty · Apr 28, 2023

I think I remember Charlie, didnt his son (Tony) have a bike shop in Camden? and do drag racing? i.e. accelerate along a runway for 1/4 mile.

I used to go to JH in Watford for Triumph parts after Roebuck closed down.

p.s. anyone remember Hamrax? now that was a place...

baz · Apr 28, 2023

Chris said:
Baz I remember Charlie. Was it his son who ran a T160 with peashooter. I loved it! So roarty compared to my black caps. Bella was my favorite the alsatian. The mongrels were closer to the ground & well grubby. I sat on those sofas & drank tea with Dougie when he was bored lol. I felt honoured when he took me over the roundabout to the cafe for egg & chips.

I didn't know Charlie's son but it sounds likely
I remember a story about someone riding on the IOM on an outfit dressed in gorilla suits

Jdub · Apr 28, 2023

After haggling, rode 308305 home with Carmen in her rusty 356a coupe (nice car!) thumbs up in front of me. She'd have nothing to do with my VF700F and I was desperate to have relations with this beauty (shallow!).

Carmen is gone but I have such fond memories of that bike - Roadster panels and Interstate tank in British racing green. The lurking Portuguese bearing led me on to gain confidence with wrenching and for me the Norton is the only bike I'd own (in my price range, anyways!).

sportsroof · Apr 28, 2023

Test rode my '73 750 Interstate before I bought it and by luck it involved a very long uphill road which the bike effortlessly blasted up. The lack of apparent vibes sealed the deal. That bike is long gone but it's identical replacement resides in my garage now. Still does it for me.

B+Bogus · Apr 28, 2023

First ride was swapping bikes with a mate - he got my T140 for the afternoon, I got his 850 Roadster. I still remember the twittering peashooters and the long-legged motor, in stark contrast to my buzzy Bonneville, which felt like it was being thrashed at anything above 70 mph.

The first time

Similar threads