The first time

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

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and I read recently he might be the same as a racer. Anyone know?

daveforty said:

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..

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daveforty said:

Hamrax: yes, I went there in my mother’s Morris Minor around 1976 to keep my first bike, a Triumph Tiger Cub, in the spare parts it was accustomed too... plenty...

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The site was rebuilt as flats later.

Did (Happy) Hamrax move to Tollesbury???

First 750 Commando 1982
First 850 Commando 1986

1976 at 17 I owned a Honda TL250 trials bike my mate Don had a hot 750 Commando in a Wideline Feartherbed frame he loved playing on the TL and we swapped bikes for the day, I was hooked after that day 2 weeks later I put down a deposit for a new 74 850 Commando (Roadster in black) was only two 74 Commando's left in Brisbane at the time, told no one that I bought it as they were all Honda and Japanese guys.
Was the best day of my life picking it up and riding it out the front door of the shop on a busy Saturday morning, first kick and I was out of there, this skinny kid on a new 850 Commando (what a sight it must have been for everyone in the shop including my 4 mates) well after 46 years I still own in but in Commando/Featherbed form my dream Norton built by my own hands way back in the early 80s.

I was interested toread the original post on this topic. When I was a kid, I rode mainly old British bikes. I have only ever been on one Commando, and that was on the pillion seat. It seemed to be very strong and comfortable - felt great. And that is what is pribably needed in a road bike. I do not ride on public roads, because for me, with motorcycles there are only two speeds - srop and go. When I race, after the finish, I do not even ride slowly back to the pits. If you watch road races, often you will see someome drop their bike whileriding back to the pits - lose concentration, find thenselves pat the braking point for a corner and grab the brake. If I ever ride on public roads, I keep passing the traffic - if you do that your future is in your own hands - so I always run the risk of getting booked - I need my licence. In Australia, you lose one licence, you lose them all.

i am new to commandos, i have had tridents for last 12yrs, i just love the planted feeling of the commando when leaned over, i was out today and riding the roads i use on the tridents.. i have an 850mk3 and it is somewhat lacking in power compared to my 830 trident. but i love the bottom end grunt and just the way bike rides. the new renthal bars make it feel like a modern bike

Al you need to get on your bike so sad hearing all your old stories and it's been so long since you rode, a Norton will happily cruise all day without overtaking cars but we have plenty of open roads in Aussie land where you can happily ride as hard as you want, you could easily convert your Seeley into a great road going bike but then being scared to ride on the road maybe not, I don't know how you can own a Norton and not ride it, such a shame really and a waste.
All you got is memories myself have ride times of 50 years of riding and even in retirement a week not on my 2 bikes Norton and Triumph is way too long the hardest part which one to take out.

acotrel said:

I was interested toread the original post on this topic. When I was a kid, I rode mainly old British bikes. I have only ever been on one Commando, and that was on the pillion seat. It seemed to be very strong and comfortable - felt great. And that is what is pribably needed in a road bike. I do not ride on public roads, because for me, with motorcycles there are only two speeds - srop and go. When I race, after the finish, I do not even ride slowly back to the pits. If you watch road races, often you will see someome drop their bike whileriding back to the pits - lose concentration, find thenselves pat the braking point for a corner and grab the brake. If I ever ride on public roads, I keep passing the traffic - if you do that your future is in your own hands - so I always run the risk of getting booked - I need my licence. In Australia, you lose one licence, you lose them all.

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do you have a commando? excuse my ignorance i am new to the forum

I was 15 years old and helping a very attractive mature neighbour lady to replace her hardwood flooring. It was a warm summer afternoon so she stripped down to her bra... we were both sweating profusely when her shoulder touched mine.....

sorry, wrong forum!

worntorn said:

I was 15 years old and helping a very attractive mature neighbour lady to replace her hardwood flooring. It was a warm summer afternoon so she stripped down to her bra... we were both sweating profusely when her shoulder touched mine.....

sorry, wrong forum!

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carry on it sounds good LOL got any pics

Sadly no. It took forever to complete that flooring job!

Glen

Late 70's I test drove a 74 850 roadster. The tranny/clutch broke before I left the long farm driveway! No I wasn't beating it!!! Owner spent so much on repair he wouldn't sell it till he got some use out of it. I have tried to buy the bike at least 2 times since. The last time I thought he was going to give it up but the last minute he thought he would restore it, it is still in the barn untouched!!!! What a waist!

The first time for me,
I was about 21 and had owned my T160 for about three years but always hankered for a Commando.
By 1980 pommie bikes had all but disappeared from the mainstream bike seen but I came across a lonely red 850 Mk3 Interstate in a Japanese bike shop very reasonably priced at $1100. The salesman seemed to know little or care less about the bike that was rather out of place in the sea of Japanese chrome. I managed to impress him by knowingly wobbling the back wheel and pronouncing that the isolastics were slightly worn (I had absolutely no idea) so he offered me a test ride if I could start it (Obviously the electric start wasn’t working). Once I kicked it, it ran on one cylinder, the other stubbornly refused to fire. Nevertheless I took it out on the street and putted it around the block like a gut shot duck. Suddenly the other cylinder kicked in and I felt that express train torque launch the bike forward in that smooth loping way that only a Norton can. I was hooked.
Strangely I didn’t buy the bike, I agonised but money was short, I still wish I had of bought it then and there and thrown caution to the wind.
The next 850 I rode was the one I bought for my 40th birthday in 1999 and frankly I was disappointed. It was immaculate and ran well after a complete refurbishment but somehow could never recreate that joy explosion of power I felt on that first bike. It was so different in nature to my Trident I just tended to let it sit around. It took me another 15 years to appreciate what Norton are all about. Now it is my bike of choice.
It has been amazingly trouble free and I just love it. The problem with this forum is it makes me hanker after the ‘go fast’ bits that contributors write about but I can’t justify pulling down a perfectly serviceable motor
alan

It's the Mk3 plastic airbox that gave you that big torque shove.

Glen

worntorn said:

Sadly no. It took forever to complete that flooring job!

Glen

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depends what was getting laid, I suppose....

worntorn said:

I was 15 years old and helping a very attractive mature neighbour lady to replace her hardwood flooring. It was a warm summer afternoon so she stripped down to her bra... we were both sweating profusely when her shoulder touched mine.....

sorry, wrong forum!

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Black box?? Or was it going grey by then?

my first experience was as pillion on a low mileage Mk 3, and the torque and smoothness were watch captured the attention.
I then bought an earlyish Commando Fastback that had an 850 motor fitted , Triumph-type TLS brake plate and cowboy handlebars. Stripped and rebuilt it with clip-ons and replica JPN twin headlight red fairing, bought from Gus Kuhn in Stockwell, London. Used it for a TT week ( 1979) and some commuting to work in outer SW London. Eventually sold it to a friend of a friend, from whom it was later stolen.
Still have a later version of that style, but with twin discs, and a Mk 3 engined feet-forward custom with the JS pistons/rods/road cam, which revs very nicely.

EstuaryBoy said:

Black box?? Or was it going grey by then?

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Follow along, the man specified it was "hard wood floor"

concours said:

Follow along, the man specified it was "hard wood floor"

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Perhaps Bonzo's post might have been helpful: