What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

nortonmargie said:
Lots of bikes Saturday AND Sunday. Grocery store and gas station on the left going South, Alice's Restaurant and gas station on the right.
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I usually came up from the South via Woodside Road or from Saratoga 9 to Skyline. I forgot about that gas station being there close to the grocery store. I probably topped off there many times. It's been 20 years since I've ridden there and 37 years since owning a Commando, which I basically did nothing to but change oil, fill the fuel tank, and keep the tires inflated.
 
worntorn said:
Terry did much of the restoration of my 650ss which Herb Becker donated to the CVMG as a project in 1999.
Other CVMG members worked on it as well. Ross Thompson looked after the metal finishing. Herb Becker rebuilt the head, including some port reshaping.
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Sounds like a great group effort . The 650 SS is one beautiful machine .
 
revisited six fork sliders to get rid of more minor scratches using a new large plastic abrasive mesh wheel and some 1200 wet and dry etc: worked well.
 
I just received a solo seat for the Interstate configuration. Price was right so I went for it for the sake of evaluation. Overall, fits well though in the pics below the tanks is not yet fully buckled in.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Removed the cow horn handlebars and fitted flatter Euro style to get some forward lean riding position going. Will make some adjustments next then take a test ride. Swapped out the almost fresh g box oil for a guaranteed GL 4 recipe. Expensive but makes me feel better anyway.
 
Jdub said:
I just received a solo seat for the Interstate configuration. Price was right so I went for it for the sake of evaluation. Overall, fits well though in the pics below the tanks is not yet fully buckled in.

View attachment 111880
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Rob,

That looks like a nice setup.Where did you find that tank?
Mike
 
Hey Mike, it's John in reply - The Interstate tank is one I found on eBay and sprung for. Off a MK3 and there was some rust for sure. Sent it to Metalworks in Eugene OR where they dip to first remove all paint and interior coating, then dip for rust removal, then finish dip with temporary protectant. It's in pretty nice shape now and I will paint it a very deep green with gold pinstriping.

Just FYI the seat is from Vietnam, from a company called Texavina - see their Interstate seats here: https://texavina.com/commando-interstate-750-850-1972-1975/. The saddle is nicely stitched and the seat has nice foam/gel padding interior. The entire plastic seat pan however is rectangular so you don't have the nice rear curve to a rounded point as you see on the Corbin Gunfighter and others. It employs the side bracket setup and unfortunately you cannot drill this seat pan for swapping to a Corbin as the mast lock on the Corbin fixture will poke your rear end right through the padding - not the kind of room you get with the traditional Interstate OEM seat with this modification.

I am a fan of the bump seat with Endurance-style tank look which you may see via the links below. I am going to put together a separate thread on all of the research I've done on configuring a bump seat with Interstate. I spoke with Corbin and with Matt as well as several folks on the BBS and the nicest result is working with Corbin after you have chopped your Gunfighter / Smuggler seat for fit to your specific Interstate tank. I have done upholstery work so I have a Wanted ad in the Classified for a Corbin seat to perform the work.


 
Pulled the battery into the great indoors . Brought out the second cover for the great street outdoors winter storage plan . TTC to end of line for a pickup to Motorcycle Supershow at the Airport in 2 hrs .
 
Torontonian said:
Pulled the battery into the great indoors . Brought out the second cover for the great street outdoors winter storage plan . TTC to end of line for a pickup to Motorcycle Supershow at the Airport in 2 hrs .
Click to expand...
$pent $400 at the Walridge booth . New Pazon Surefire kit and other goodies . Trucker central out there .
 
Jdub said:
Hey Mike, it's John in reply - The Interstate tank is one I found on eBay and sprung for. Off a MK3 and there was some rust for sure. Sent it to Metalworks in Eugene OR where they dip to first remove all paint and interior coating, then dip for rust removal, then finish dip with temporary protectant. It's in pretty nice shape now and I will paint it a very deep green with gold pinstriping.

Just FYI the seat is from Vietnam, from a company called Texavina - see their Interstate seats here: https://texavina.com/commando-interstate-750-850-1972-1975/. The saddle is nicely stitched and the seat has nice foam/gel padding interior. The entire plastic seat pan however is rectangular so you don't have the nice rear curve to a rounded point as you see on the Corbin Gunfighter and others. It employs the side bracket setup and unfortunately you cannot drill this seat pan for swapping to a Corbin as the mast lock on the Corbin fixture will poke your rear end right through the padding - not the kind of room you get with the traditional Interstate OEM seat with this modification.

I am a fan of the bump seat with Endurance-style tank look which you may see via the links below. I am going to put together a separate thread on all of the research I've done on configuring a bump seat with Interstate. I spoke with Corbin and with Matt as well as several folks on the BBS and the nicest result is working with Corbin after you have chopped your Gunfighter / Smuggler seat for fit to your specific Interstate tank. I have done upholstery work so I have a Wanted ad in the Classified for a Corbin seat to perform the work.


Click to expand...
John,

I like what you did with your tank.Do all the mounts for the tank line up swinging the forks both ways?My tank from India had to be modified extensively to make it fit so I am glad you got a good one.Did you ask Corbin if they could sell you just the base?Your project looks like it is coming along nicely!
Mike
 
Stevo said:
Removed the cow horn handlebars and fitted flatter Euro style to get some forward lean riding position going. Will make some adjustments next then take a test ride. Swapped out the almost fresh g box oil for a guaranteed GL 4 recipe. Expensive but makes me feel better anyway.
Click to expand...
Stevo,
Keep us posted on how you like the new bars. I like the look of the flatter ones but how you feel after some miles
Mike
Also how tall are you?
 
YING said:
Stevo,
Keep us posted on how you like the new bars. I like the look of the flatter ones but how you feel after some miles
Mike
Also how tall are you?
Click to expand...
Hi Mike - Not speaking for Steve but I had the euro spec low bars on my roadster originally and they were fine - now have even lower clubman bars from Flanders fitted in the upright road position. They are even better for me . Footrests in original position. I am 5’10” - 30 “ inseam .
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Be aware that with these low bars the master cylinder only fits in one position.
Hope this helps
RT
 
Richard Tool said:
Hi Mike - Not speaking for Steve but I had the euro spec low bars on my roadster originally and they were fine - now have even lower clubman bars from Flanders fitted in the upright road position. They are even better for me . Footrests in original position. I am 5’10” - 30 “ inseam .
View attachment 111931
Be aware that with these low bars the master cylinder only fits in one position.
Hope this helps
RT
Click to expand...
Thanks Richard,
That information helps me on this question. I am 5’5” so I would be stretching on these.Really nice looking project you have going!
Mike
 
YING said:
Thanks Richard,
That information helps me on this question. I am 5’5” so I would be stretching on these.Really nice looking project you have going!
Mike
Click to expand...
Old pic from build log here on Access Norton - couple years ago .
I’ve put a couple thousand trouble free miles on it since . Recent pic here that may help illustrate riding position.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Interesting to see Richard’s bars that to me, look very similar to those on my bike. Pics of bar forms can be very deceptive. In an attempt to reassure myself before buying, I mocked these up using 12/2 cable using the dimensions quoted by various suppliers. 😂 Turned out to be quite close to actual bars, not recommended for use on the road though. 🙄😏

As Richard says, mc position is restricted somewhat.

Mike,
Btw I’m 6’2” with 33 leg and dodgy knees, need to do more riding to make a final judgement when weather improves.
IMG_1834.jpegIMG_1833.jpeg
 
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