The heavy subject of weight...

Yep, exhaust is another big one. Go with a Steve Maney Exhaust
Cut down on the exhuast not fins.

1up3down said:

I remember reading in Norton, The RACING STORY, that they got the Manx 500 featherbed race bikes well
under 300 pounds.

interesting

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The aluminum 500 dommie racer engine was 21 lb lighter than a Magnesium Manx engine. This is why Doug Hele had great plans for the twin engine. The twin engine also had a lower centre of gravity than the tall Manx engine and potentially could develop quite a bit more power.

Since the Commando comes from that twin engine, Ill bet it isnt all that much heavier. My guess is that an 850 is still lighter than a Manx.

The 1360 Vincent special Im building weighs 340 at present. By my calculations there is another 12 lbs to add in order to finish it, ready for the road. That is with that big lump of a Vincent engine in there, all 200 pounds of it with oil in the trans.
Anyone know the weight of a Commando engine and trans?
It doesnt surprise me that some very light bikes have been built around the Commando engine.

Glen

Re: The heavy subject of weight...

by Dances with Shrapnel » Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:35 pm



Cheesy wrote: You have to look closely at Ludwig's bike to spot the differences


I would not mind having a peak if Ludwig would oblige to post a few pictures. Sounds like Ludwig has done his homework.

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I second that. I would love to see 10 or 20 pictures of his bike and ideas.

Diablouph said:

Re: The heavy subject of weight...

by Dances with Shrapnel » Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:35 pm



Cheesy wrote: You have to look closely at Ludwig's bike to spot the differences


I would not mind having a peak if Ludwig would oblige to post a few pictures. Sounds like Ludwig has done his homework.

Click to expand...

I second that. I would love to see 10 or 20 pictures of his bike and ideas.

Click to expand...

There is a search feature on the forum. :mrgreen:

I had my racebike down around 270 lbs wet. DWS forgot a few things. You can cut the weight of the cam and intermediate gears in half with some whittling. I used a lightweight dirtbike rear wheel with only one brake shoe installed. I also used a lightweight cro-moly copy of a Commando frame and a thin painted fiberglass seat with no padding. Everything else was whittled down to what was absolutely necessary. {except for the paint] Jim

Oh my Jim. Ugh.

Burt Munroe counted the sanding strokes on frame members then raced till broke and did another with a few less strokes, many times, many injuries. Also shaved the tires.

Ball park factory engine + carbs is ~100 lb, the tranny another 30+ lb, cradle ~12 lb. Raw power unit with primary drive but minus drive chain and wheel is over 150 lb. Factory rear wheel 40+ and front 35+ lb, frame 28-ish. Dual exhaust system 23 lb.
Steel Roadster tanks a bit over 6 lb. Fiber IS tank a bit over 6 lb. Front rotor 6.25 lb. Forks about 25 lb. Tubes/strap almost 2 lb.

I saw Mr Munro's Indian and Velo in Invercargill NZ, there isn't much left of the Velo frame, more holes (some filled with corks painted black to look like frame) than metal. I don't think I would ride at the speeds he did. Graeme

ludwig said:

Inner tubes are around 1 lbs .
getting rid of them would mean 2 lbs less where it matters most :

http://www.alpinaraggi.it/en

My brother has these on his Bonneville , but sadly enough they don't have the sizes that would suit me ..

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I was going to ask, how can you use tubeless tyres on wire spoked wheels unless , I repeat, unless you have the spoke nipples producing from the side of the rim :?: -thus making the rim a sealed part-Moto Guzzi, BMW are some who have adopted this principle.
I am not knocking this idea ;
http://www.alpinaraggi.it/en

but, you are then dependent on all those little rubber seals holding & not perishing e.t.c.

Ludwig you must of weighed some cheap thin tubes as mine weigh over a lb and then must also add the rim valley strap too. If you didn't use the special nipples to seal rims, what have you done in that regard?

Reading Burt Munroe's riding history reveals more serious recovery times from as serious successful riding intact.

Yes please, I have always liked the look of your bike. How many miles do you guess you have put on it?