The first time
- Thread starter baz
- Start date
Deckard
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I think there should be a shrine for Bob Trigg, otherwise a Commando would not be a motorcycle you could appreciate today alongside modern motorcycles. No vibration or excess weight, except rider :-( so very good power to weight ratio. Even older Harley guys respect mine when they see it. Younger riders don't have the sense of history we all have of riding in the 70's with no directionals or drivers with cell phones. And yes, you could lug that long stroke motor a little if you wanted to give your girlfriend passenger a cheap thrill.
I'd only ridden a BSA Lightning prior to buying a 750 in 1971. The BSA vibrated so much it was hard to hold onto the bars at higher speeds, so a Commando was even faster and smoother. Really hadn't owned anything else until the Duc for long distance touring. They're similar, but the Commando has a much smoother shifting transmission. They both behave well in the twisties.
I'd only ridden a BSA Lightning prior to buying a 750 in 1971. The BSA vibrated so much it was hard to hold onto the bars at higher speeds, so a Commando was even faster and smoother. Really hadn't owned anything else until the Duc for long distance touring. They're similar, but the Commando has a much smoother shifting transmission. They both behave well in the twisties.
Well my first time kinda Similar to a few stories here…1976 had a TS125, broke its chain and one my mates gave me a lfit in his 750 midnight blue Interstate….I was hooked ! few weeks later test passed then TS written off when Triumph spitfire turned across me and stopped..
. £££ …Bought BSA Lightning with sidecar fittings - the ignorance of youth- which handled like a pig but lo and behold 6 weeks later an advert in MCN read 72 Roadster for sale in Birmingham or part ex BSA Lightning with sidecar fittings !! 
Replied to the ad - by post, no internet - and one week later I was in Birmingham after my mum lent me the cash difference.
Hadn’t a clue what I was looking at but it was a Commando !!!. Deal done, epic ride home included running out of fuel on the M1 ( roadster tank not 4 gallon BSA ) , getting lost in north London etc etc. had n’t said a word to my mates, just turned up at the pub Friday night…turned out to be a late 72 disc braked Combat.
Had it ever since , all over Europe , lotsa mods and it makes me
EVERY time I ride it…and tempting fate…has never let me down 
. £££ …Bought BSA Lightning with sidecar fittings - the ignorance of youth- which handled like a pig but lo and behold 6 weeks later an advert in MCN read 72 Roadster for sale in Birmingham or part ex BSA Lightning with sidecar fittings !! Replied to the ad - by post, no internet - and one week later I was in Birmingham after my mum lent me the cash difference.
Hadn’t a clue what I was looking at but it was a Commando !!!. Deal done, epic ride home included running out of fuel on the M1 ( roadster tank not 4 gallon BSA ) , getting lost in north London etc etc. had n’t said a word to my mates, just turned up at the pub Friday night…turned out to be a late 72 disc braked Combat.
Had it ever since , all over Europe , lotsa mods and it makes me
EVERY time I ride it…and tempting fate…has never let me down 
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2009
- Messages
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First Commando was a 1970 S Model , purchased from Capital City Cycle Ottawa Canada for $ 1200 Cdn . at age 16 . Only one on the showroom floor , the dealer saw I was interested in only that , hot dog pipes and painted a blue . He kick started it up for me on the store floor front window view place and I said " Sold " . Made a point of showing him my bank book ( anyone remember those ? ) which showed $1350 in teenage savings . This covered the sale and the then $ 5 % sales tax . I asked that the silly high bars be changed to straight bars and wrote my first ever check . The date was set for a week later pick up . I popped by on the back of my buddy's bike 5 days later to see how things were going . We went to the back shop door and witnessed the mechanic swear " Goddam British Shit ! " , as he flung a throttle cable towards us out the door . I just smiled , too late to go backwards on this one . 2 days later I returned with 2 pals on motorbikes ( one an 850 Commando ) , to accept delivery and packing a borrowed helmet . The ride back home was great with both buds escorting me on each side .
My “ first time “ with a Commando was in 1976 …… I had my very first ride that summer.
I’d previously run several BSA and Triumph 650’s and also a Velo 500 but having been abroad for a couple of years I returned home and bought a Honda CB125T 17 hp @ 11,000 revs ( my mate got made redundant and needed cash so it made sense )
That summer I was staying in Tenby, West Wales and outside a pub late one night a group of “ bikers “ decided to take a run from there through the coastal lanes to Pendine, twisty narrow and good fun…. read this as exciting especially in the dark!
Sure sounded like fun so I said so however someone decided they would take the piss out of the 125 owner and said “ you can come along if you can keep up “ !!
Ever one for a challenge I said you bet I will …… little did they know I knew the lanes well - they were all on holiday from England.
Had a great ride and kept my end up arriving second to a Moto Morini 350 sport, the Commando 750 came third
The rider who took the piss was a Jota owner, he gave me a pat on the back and apologised ( he was 5th )
The Morini owner said he only beat me by a few yards and had to wring it’s nuts to do so
The Commando owner was so impressed he wanted to ride the Honda back to Tenby !
I was delighted ….. mainly ‘cos I’d always fancied a Commando
I enjoyed the Commando ride so much I bought one a few weeks later, kept the Honda as my winter salty road hack.
My first Commando was a 1973 Roadster
I often take the coastal lanes to Pendine and often smile to myself about my first time, never told my wife as to her it would be stupid
I’d previously run several BSA and Triumph 650’s and also a Velo 500 but having been abroad for a couple of years I returned home and bought a Honda CB125T 17 hp @ 11,000 revs ( my mate got made redundant and needed cash so it made sense )
That summer I was staying in Tenby, West Wales and outside a pub late one night a group of “ bikers “ decided to take a run from there through the coastal lanes to Pendine, twisty narrow and good fun…. read this as exciting especially in the dark!
Sure sounded like fun so I said so however someone decided they would take the piss out of the 125 owner and said “ you can come along if you can keep up “ !!
Ever one for a challenge I said you bet I will …… little did they know I knew the lanes well - they were all on holiday from England.
Had a great ride and kept my end up arriving second to a Moto Morini 350 sport, the Commando 750 came third
The rider who took the piss was a Jota owner, he gave me a pat on the back and apologised ( he was 5th )
The Morini owner said he only beat me by a few yards and had to wring it’s nuts to do so
The Commando owner was so impressed he wanted to ride the Honda back to Tenby !
I was delighted ….. mainly ‘cos I’d always fancied a Commando
I enjoyed the Commando ride so much I bought one a few weeks later, kept the Honda as my winter salty road hack.
My first Commando was a 1973 Roadster
I often take the coastal lanes to Pendine and often smile to myself about my first time, never told my wife as to her it would be stupid
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It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but rather the size of the fight in my dog.
I can still keep up with my mates on modern exotica but deep down I know it’s not the Norton, not my ability, it’s just I have to try a little harder.
loved your post
al
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