What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Poured in some Octane boost product .
Ready for 300 Kms. ride Total kms . , tomorrow east , then west , 401 , then home , to Ganaraska . New fishing hole , wife on back , her idea . Poison Ivy everywhere . New front end test . Gas prices up . Lunches in the fridge and big zip locks in the saddlebags for hopefully a few browns and watercress , by the un-named creek ( intentionally ) . Livin' the life .
 
Torontonian said:
True , but Ash , I promised the wife kick start days are over , after 2 misfortunes .
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Got rid of the Big battery . Now a regular sized L.A. , can't notice any difference , just touch the magic button and she fires up before the time it takes to get the thumb off the trigger . Thanks D.D. and CNW .
 
Try changing a tire, front or back without a center stand?
That's why they gave your two tire spoons in your tool kit for getting your tire off the rim. Most riders don't do that anymore. AAA or CAA to the rescue or calling a friend with a trailer. That is if he's home. Tow truck on the road. +++ expenses.??? For its weight, I would keep it on.
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CanukNortonNut said:
Try changing a tire, front or back without a center stand?
That's why they gave your two tire spoons in your tool kit for getting your tire off the rim. Most riders don't do that anymore. AAA or CAA to the rescue or calling a friend with a trailer. That is if he's home. Tow truck on the road. +++ expenses.??? For its weight, I would keep it on.
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I have total CAA Plus coverage . . Total North America . That means any breakdown on wheels . That includes if the skate board wheel falls off , the bicycle tire gets a flat , the e- bike breaks down , the Norton breaks down or gets a flat for ANY reason . Enjoy .
 
Torontonian said:
I have total CAA Plus coverage . Total North America . That means any breakdown on wheels . That includes if the skate board wheel falls off , the bicycle tire gets a flat , the e- bike breaks down , the Norton breaks down or gets a flat for ANY reason . Enjoy .
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Up to a mileage they will cover. Or the nearest repair shop. After that you pay by the Km or miles. Enjoy that! I have it as well, but if your in West Virginia trying to motor home with +700 km. to go....well you live and learn.
 
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Torontonian said:
Got rid of the Big battery . Now a regular sized L.A. , can't notice any difference , just touch the magic button and she fires up before the time it takes to get the thumb off the trigger . Thanks D.D. and CNW .
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Never had troubles kicking my Norton to life for 48+ years so think I have it down pat always a one kicker to start.
nortonmargie said:
Question: If you have no center stand, how do you grease your chain? Check oil? Do maintenance?
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Haven't had a centre stand for over 44+ years and my modern Triumph Thruxton don't have one as well, never had any problems lubing the chain without one, but last few years invested in a small bike scissor jack and life table for the workshop just to save my old back.
CanukNortonNut said:
Try changing a tire, front or back without a center stand?
That's why they gave your two tire spoons in your tool kit for getting your tire off the rim. Most riders don't do that anymore. AAA or CAA to the rescue or calling a friend with a trailer. That is if he's home. Tow truck on the road. +++ expenses.??? For its weight, I would keep it on.
​
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Have you ever used those two tyre/tire spoons that came with the tool kit, and have you used them to break the bead, you need decent tyre irons design for motorcycle rims and 3 irons work better than 2 and a good rubber mallet also helps when putting tyres on with plenty of slippery stuff, I have also removed wheels without a centre stand.
In my early days of owning my Norton a week wouldn't go past without getting a rear flat, I got good at fixing punches on the side of the road, found out later my new K81 tyre had a fault inside the tyre a small split that caused the cube to pinch and took a very keen eye from my local Honda dealer to fine, sent to the supplier of the tyre and was replace for free after about 10+ times of fixing punchers, they tried to charge for wear but after I told them all the hassles/frustrations I went through because of a faulty tyre they caved in, that was 46 years ago and haven't had a flat on the Norton since, but I got good at changing tyre and have fixed plenty of dirt bike tyres in my time.

Ashley
 
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Nice blast through the Cotswolds today. Definetly the kind of roads these were designed for !

Still getting used to the handle bars and fuel bowser, I think I’m liking it.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Looks great, Nigel. It has a real streetfighter look to it. Nothing extra, all business. Do your maxton fork dampers have compression in one leg and rebound in the other? Is the fork slider a non-norton brand item? I'm guessing you also have the top slider bushing extentions too??
 
o0norton0o said:
Looks great, Nigel. It has a real streetfighter look to it. Nothing extra, all business. Do your maxton fork dampers have compression in one leg and rebound in the other? Is the fork slider a non-norton brand item? I'm guessing you also have the top slider bushing extentions too??
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Thanks!
Yes, compression in one and rebound in t’other.
Sliders are the Production Racer type and are from Norvil, as were the front discs, calipers and hub. Very pleased with it all too (so far).
Yes again, cNw slider extensions fitted.
 
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marshg246 said:
Isn't that the truth! I call the cNw e-start an "instant on" rather than a starter! The last one I installed was on a freshly built Combat - still "instant on" the first time I touched the button.
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It's all good if you can afford a new CNW E-start, not all owners of our beloved Nortons have that money to spend, it is a great bit of kit for those who have troubles kicking from injuries or just can't get use too how to kick them, or old age, I spent all my hard earned money on my upgrades when I was working before I planned on retiring, but no longer working (forced retrenchment after 31 years on my last job) and living on a tight budget each fortnight, I am glad the money I did spend on it over 15 years ago made my Norton an easy kicker even with its high compression motor, but my Norton has always been a reliable bike, sheer luck or just good maintenance, it's showing its age now but it will last me out the way it is, since owning my Norton from new I have learned a lot in looking after the maintenance and full custom build back in the 80s and doing all my own work as well learning by some mistakes (not too many) but the idea of spending over $5k for just one upgrade is beyond my measly means.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
It's all good if you can afford a new CNW E-start, not all owners of our beloved Nortons have that money to spend, it is a great bit of kit for those who have troubles kicking from injuries or just can't get use too how to kick them, or old age, I spent all my hard earned money on my upgrades when I was working before I planned on retiring, but no longer working (forced retrenchment after 31 years on my last job) and living on a tight budget each fortnight, I am glad the money I did spend on it over 15 years ago made my Norton an easy kicker even with its high compression motor, but my Norton has always been a reliable bike, sheer luck or just good maintenance, it's showing its age now but it will last me out the way it is, since owning my Norton from new I have learned a lot in looking after the maintenance and full custom build back in the 80s and doing all my own work as well learning by some mistakes (not too many) but the idea of spending over $5k for just one upgrade is beyond my measly means.

Ashley
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Everyone's situation is different. For me, retirement is death. Anyone with a marketable skill, desire, and willingness to learn can make themselves well off. That was and continues to be important to me. Most sane people at some age decide to stop working and "enjoy life" whatever that means. I am not one of them.

Many think the key to success is to slave away for one company until they retire. I took a different approach. For many years if I was offered less than a 20% raise I simply move to another company that would offer me at least 20% more. Of course, I have no company retirement. Please don't think that was due to education. From about 1985, every job and later every contract I had required a Master's degree which I did not have. What I did have was skill sets that I taught myself and a name.

Also, you, and many here, are stuck with paying way more that people in the US do. The cNw e-start kit plus shipping is around $3200 USD in the US. I'm not shocked that it is $5000 AUD, in fact, I figured it was more with your taxes and duties. In the US, life is simply taxed differently.

None of that has anything to do with what I said, and you've written it in various forms many times!
 
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Quote from ashman,

"Have you ever used those two tyre/tire spoons that came with the tool kit, and have you used them to break the bead, you need decent tyre irons design for motorcycle rims and 3 irons work better than 2 and a good rubber mullet"

Ash,
I guess we were tougher in the 70's/ 80"s but as we get older we also get wiser. I use a set of 8" X 3 tire irons to change those tires. Not a problem. You will need to prop the bike and clear those tires.... with maybe a log or a big stone but a "center stand" works just nicely. What would you think!!! Oh and by the way don't use the thin spoons as they pinch the tubes. They were use for tubeless. tell me how I know.

😏

And another one.... by the way.... I never had a mullet in the 70's and 80's Never!
I have a Mallet to use for a bit of persuasion.
 
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I always do that write mullet instead of mallet, my old fisherman brain at work and it's our mullet season now, a very oily fish and not many like its but I love it full of the good oils for the brain, hasn't worked on me yet lol.
You be surprised in what you can use to prop up a back wheel and if stuck on the side of the road always someone will stop to help no matter what bike we ride, I do the same for others.

Greg our Aussie $$$ is 66c to the US $$$$ now, I was lucky when I brought all my upgrades for my Norton 15 years ago the Aussie $$$$ was equal to the US $$$$ at the time and anything under a $1000 imported from OS at the time was tax free, so new Joe Hunt maggie, new PWK carbs from Jim, Lansdown internals, and complete front brake upgrade kit + a few more things so RGM, Lowbrows and JH got a good hit at the time, was good for my hip pocket with savings.
In Aus we pay high taxes for everything and we are only a small population 24 million for such a big country, we have more Kangaroos, about 80 million lol, we also have to many people in power with Federal, state and local and idiots running the country who are just taking a free ride.
But then that happens over your way as well.
I say a cWn starter would be over $6k here now, a lot of money indeed, but I enjoy kicking my old Norton to life, it seems to be a dying art form.
If I repeat myself well that's old age creeping up, but then I live with a deaf wife so am always repeating myself lol.

Ashley
 
"I always do that write mullet instead of mallet, my old fisherman brain at work and it's our mullet season now, a very oily fish and not many like its but I love it full of the good oils for the brain, hasn't worked on me yet lol"

Get that Omega 3 pumped into you, Ash. It's really good fish oil and good MoJo workin for you.

Those who can afford the cNw starter or the Alton system... well I won't comment other than, It makes the bikes that we love more accessible to older riders that owned their bike from new.
Not for everyone... but, its there and options. Or Try to find a Mk3.... good luck.

as for Aussie $$$ ......you get what you vote for.
 
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