Traded for another one...

Jonez69

Jonez69

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My small stable of bikes is comfortable holding 4. A good friend of mine bought this 73 850 Roadster this summer and hadn't touched it. I owned a 65' Triumph TR6SR and a trade was made! He and I have swapped bikes before and in fact the Triumph was his at one time and he decided he would like it back! Now I own 2 Triumphs and 2 Commandos. I have owned several Triumphs over the past 6 years and having just acquired my first Norton earlier this year, I see a trend developing!
It came from a decades long owner but still needs some TLC and upgrades. The tank is spotless inside, original paint which I will be keeping. 10,000 miles on the clock. Engine seems strong though I haven't done a compression test. Running the original carbs and points, the exhaust is in need of replacement. Tri-Spark, Premier carbs and new tires along with all the other needed replacements and adjustments should make for a good time and great riding!
Traded for another one...
 
Looks like the head gasket is leaking maybe? Unless the exhaust is horrible, use that $ and buy a good pair of shocks, add a 13mm master cylinder. Nice looking bike, don't see that color often.
 
milfordite said:
Looks like the head gasket is leaking maybe? Unless the exhaust is horrible, use that $ and buy a good pair of shocks, add a 13mm master cylinder. Nice looking bike, don't see that color often.
Click to expand...
The timing side silencer is dented in a couple places. I think the bike might have been laid down at a slow speed at some point its life. Yes, a new 13mm M/C is likely in its future, a front brake overhaul at the very least. Here's a look at the tank. My wife calls the faded paint, "the Ombre look"...
The rust on the cylinders cleaned up nicely with a brass brush...
Traded for another one...
Traded for another one...

Traded for another one...
 
I suggest Commandos are better when they are not modified in ways which are obvious. I like looking at motorcycles which are correct. If I had a road going Commando and wanted more performance, I would change the gearbox internals, which cannot be seen. Close ratio gears can help most motorcycles to perform better. A Commando first gear with the top 3 from a Manx might be good, and just rev it further in 1st gear.
 
A lot of original goodness going on there.
If there is a small hole on the inboard side of the mufflers at the end, they are original.
That is where the screw was for the mutes..

Nice score BTW...
 
Jonez69 said:
My small stable of bikes is comfortable holding 4. A good friend of mine bought this 73 850 Roadster this summer and hadn't touched it. I owned a 65' Triumph TR6SR and a trade was made! He and I have swapped bikes before and in fact the Triumph was his at one time and he decided he would like it back! Now I own 2 Triumphs and 2 Commandos. I have owned several Triumphs over the past 6 years and having just acquired my first Norton earlier this year, I see a trend developing!
It came from a decades long owner but still needs some TLC and upgrades. The tank is spotless inside, original paint which I will be keeping. 10,000 miles on the clock. Engine seems strong though I haven't done a compression test. Running the original carbs and points, the exhaust is in need of replacement. Tri-Spark, Premier carbs and new tires along with all the other needed replacements and adjustments should make for a good time and great riding!
View attachment 117619
Click to expand...
Jones,
Nice motorcycle! I was looking at it and wondered how the return oil line off of the junction block is routed.
Thanks,
Mike
 
MichaelB said:
A lot of original goodness going on there.
If there is a small hole on the inboard side of the mufflers at the end, they are original.
That is where the screw was for the mutes..

Nice score BTW...
Click to expand...
Thank you! I thought it was worth owning. I love resuscitating original machines that have been mildly neglected. My version of animal rescue, I guess!
Yes, the screw holes for the mutes are in each muffler. The exhaust is functional and if I could find a used drive side down pipe and a couple good used nuts, I might consider saving it. (Providing it comes apart nicely!) I don't mind the battle scars of an original bike to a point, some riders like restored perfection. I want a safe and reliable bike that performs well and I can ride 3-4 hundred miles in a day comfortably.
Traded for another one...
Traded for another one...
 
YING said:
Jones,
Nice motorcycle! I was looking at it and wondered how the return oil line off of the junction block is routed.
Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...
Mike, sorry I can't provide photos of the oil lines right now. I'm in the process of moving and I have the bikes stored at my friend's warehouse. It is still sporting the original Herringbone oil lines, so if you're looking for the factory routing, this might be the bike to look at. ??
 
Jonez69 said:
Thank you! I thought it was worth owning. I love resuscitating original machines that have been mildly neglected. My version of animal rescue, I guess!
Yes, the screw holes for the mutes are in each muffler. The exhaust is functional and if I could find a used drive side down pipe and a couple good used nuts, I might consider saving it. (Providing it comes apart nicely!) I don't mind the battle scars of an original bike to a point, some riders like restored perfection. I want a safe and reliable bike that performs well and I can ride 3-4 hundred miles in a day comfortably.
View attachment 117636View attachment 117637
Click to expand...
One of the absolute best bike exhaust pipe weld repairs I've seen done (apart from the guys that insist on using 713 very short bits of pipe all welded up into a single header)
 
Jonez69 said:
Thank you! I thought it was worth owning. I love resuscitating original machines that have been mildly neglected. My version of animal rescue, I guess!
Yes, the screw holes for the mutes are in each muffler. The exhaust is functional and if I could find a used drive side down pipe and a couple good used nuts, I might consider saving it. (Providing it comes apart nicely!) I don't mind the battle scars of an original bike to a point, some riders like restored perfection. I want a safe and reliable bike that performs well and I can ride 3-4 hundred miles in a day comfortably.
View attachment 117636View attachment 117637
Click to expand...
That is a professional weld repair.
Functionally just fine.

Esthetically your call.
 
grandpaul said:
One of the absolute best bike exhaust pipe weld repairs I've seen done (apart from the guys that insist on using 713 very short bits of pipe all welded up into a single header)
Click to expand...
concours said:
That is a professional weld repair.
Functionally just fine.

Esthetically your call.
Click to expand...
Good points, gentlemen, I appreciate it and it gives me something to ponder. A complete new exhaust system would be expensive and sometimes fitment can be an issue. As I said, the pipes work fine, no leaks or odd noise, so maybe they will stay with the bike as part of the whole "survivor look". I can at least move it down the priority list several notches. There are plenty of other things to spend time and money repairing. Fixing oil leaks, tires, ignition swap and new premier carbs (came with the deal!) along with all new cables will be done once I have set up shop in our new digs! Also the front brake will be overhauled, most important! Thanks again!
Traded for another one...
 

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