What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Installed a horn and braided fuel lines on a survivor
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Fitted new front brake pads, tweaked the EI timing with a strobe and set up the carbs for a nice steady tick over.

I don't want to curse it, but it starts so easy. First kick every time.

Really impressed with the premiers. Smooth & precise with accurate adjustment.

Finally tidied up the under-tank wiring (until winter re-wire time).

Tomorrow = test ride.
 
I just got through installing a set of cheap eBay, plastic turn signals on the 1974 Commando. I like having turn signals. It gives me an added sense of security knowing that even if there is a flashing light the guy behind me will ignore it and run me down anyway. I had to make a set of brackets so that the round lights fit just over the license plate and just to the side of the tail light bracket. I am pleased. They work great. A special thanks to Cycle Terminal where I got the exact male/female connectors to match the items on my cheap, eBay turn signals. I also got a few mult-port female connectors that made the ground wire routing and cheap eBay, plastic turn signal set up a snap. It's a real joy to use the correct connectors.
 
Big_Jim59 said:
I just got through installing a set of cheap eBay, plastic turn signals on the 1974 Commando. I like having turn signals. It gives me an added sense of security knowing that even if there is a flashing light the guy behind me will ignore it and run me down anyway. I had to make a set of brackets so that the round lights fit just over the license plate and just to the side of the tail light bracket. I am pleased. They work great. A special thanks to Cycle Terminal where I got the exact male/female connectors to match the items on my cheap, eBay turn signals. I also got a few mult-port female connectors that made the ground wire routing and cheap eBay, plastic turn signal set up a snap. It's a real joy to use the correct connectors.
Click to expand...
BigJim,
Just went to the source for your connectors.Never knew they were out there and was pleased with what they offer. Thanks,Mike
cycleterminal.com is the site
 
I bought a set here in the UK from Alchemy Parts , (part no 5141) They are machined from billet aluminium and polished ,only the size of your thumb, they are the dogs bollocks , It's well worth a look at their web site.,
 
Today has been a good today. Nah, it's been a bloody fantastic day.

Today I got my first (proper) ride on a mk2 850 Commando.

I got the bike a few months ago, a lovely mk2 that had been standing for a while, aware that it would need some attention. I got less than 2 miles on the bike before it started coughing & spluttering due to old fuel gunge & rust particles in the carbs. Then it was time for the exhaust rose nut to pop off because the only thing holding it in was RTV silicone. That was back in May.

Anyway, getting it back to even looking like a bike again has been a journey for me. A massive learning curve laced with equal quantities of frustration and reward. I imagine when a young George Harrison took a liking to the sound of a sitar, swiftly buying one, only to discover that in order to get the best out of it he found he had to immerse himself into a whole new philosophy, well, that strikes a similar chord (sorry) with me picking up a Commando. Probably.

I enjoyed a 45 mile ride out today in the sunshine. Bugger me, what an engine! Most, if not all, of you will already know this, but for me this was a completely new experience. The way the motor pulls out of corners in top or third, is addictive! Talk about traction. Handling too. I renewed the Isolastics as part of the 're-commission' and pretty much took an educated guess on the adjustments, figuring I'd try it, then fettle until it's right, but I seem to have landed on a pretty sweet spot. Only now do I truly realize why you all rave about these bikes. If I was visiting you all at a church, I reckon you'd be declaring me 'saved' and turning the bath taps on.

Thanks to the Pazon, it starts first kick every time. I've also got to mention the NYC sump breather. Astounding! Easy kick over and not a weep of oil from the engine. I got a drip from the oil feed pipe until I realized I hadn't nipped the clamp up enough after sliding it over to gain access to the timing case tube.

Issues? Really only one. The clutch appears to be dragging, but I'll comment/seek adjustment advice on a separate thread, rather than baulk this one up. When I got back, I re-torqued the head and checked the clearances.

All in all, I'm delighted to be the present custodian of this wonderful machine, and hereby do sweareth unto the congregation that I will do everything within my power (wallet) to keep it running at its best, so that future rides can be as rewarding as todays.

One last thing. Thanks, as always, to everyone on this magnificent forum for all the help, advice, banter and camaraderie.

Disclaimer: I know I'm waffling. I promise I didn't park in a field and yam a load of mushrooms earlier today, I'm simply experiencing a classic British bike induced natural high :D
 
Bonzo said:
Today has been a good today. Nah, it's been a bloody fantastic day.

Today I got my first (proper) ride on a mk2 850 Commando.

I got the bike a few months ago, a lovely mk2 that had been standing for a while, aware that it would need some attention. I got less than 2 miles on the bike before it started coughing & spluttering due to old fuel gunge & rust particles in the carbs. Then it was time for the exhaust rose nut to pop off because the only thing holding it in was RTV silicone. That was back in May.

Anyway, getting it back to even looking like a bike again has been a journey for me. A massive learning curve laced with equal quantities of frustration and reward. I imagine when a young George Harrison took a liking to the sound of a sitar, swiftly buying one, only to discover that in order to get the best out of it he found he had to immerse himself into a whole new philosophy, well, that strikes a similar chord (sorry) with me picking up a Commando. Probably.

I enjoyed a 45 mile ride out today in the sunshine. Bugger me, what an engine! Most, if not all, of you will already know this, but for me this was a completely new experience. The way the motor pulls out of corners in top or third, is addictive! Talk about traction. Handling too. I renewed the Isolastics as part of the 're-commission' and pretty much took an educated guess on the adjustments, figuring I'd try it, then fettle until it's right, but I seem to have landed on a pretty sweet spot. Only now do I truly realize why you all rave about these bikes. If I was visiting you all at a church, I reckon you'd be declaring me 'saved' and turning the bath taps on.

Thanks to the Pazon, it starts first kick every time. I've also got to mention the NYC sump breather. Astounding! Easy kick over and not a weep of oil from the engine. I got a drip from the oil feed pipe until I realized I hadn't nipped the clamp up enough after sliding it over to gain access to the timing case tube.

Issues? Really only one. The clutch appears to be dragging, but I'll comment/seek adjustment advice on a separate thread, rather than baulk this one up. When I got back, I re-torqued the head and checked the clearances.

All in all, I'm delighted to be the present custodian of this wonderful machine, and hereby do sweareth unto the congregation that I will do everything within my power (wallet) to keep it running at its best, so that future rides can be as rewarding as todays.

One last thing. Thanks, as always, to everyone on this magnificent forum for all the help, advice, banter and camaraderie.

Disclaimer: I know I'm waffling. I promise I didn't park in a field and yam a load of mushrooms earlier today, I'm simply experiencing a classic British bike induced natural high :D
Click to expand...
Glad you’re up and running Bonzo !!
 
This is going to sound silly but I took the Norton to the gas station for the first time. I had been feeding it on zero ethanol gas, brought to the house in jugs, but I had to go out of my way to get it. I had been using it in my '66 Triumph T100 project. I decided that if I was going to actually use the bike then I have to use available petrol. I made one concession and filled up with the top end 94 octane. I only miss shifted once and thankfully it was at low speed. The good news is she fired right up, first kick after fueling up. After the Guzzi the riding position takes some getting used to.
 
75 miles on the '74 this afternoon. Poor morning wx but by midday turn lovely. Late summer/early autumn along the coast.
Only two months of good wx remaining have to make a point of riding.
 
I made about 40 miles today on mine.... After so much time on the old Wing it's good to feel something solid under my rear.... I only ride her once or twice weekly to keep the miles down.
 
Big_Jim59 said:
This is going to sound silly but I took the Norton to the gas station for the first time. I had been feeding it on zero ethanol gas, brought to the house in jugs, but I had to go out of my way to get it. I had been using it in my '66 Triumph T100 project. I decided that if I was going to actually use the bike then I have to use available petrol. I made one concession and filled up with the top end 94 octane. I only miss shifted once and thankfully it was at low speed. The good news is she fired right up, first kick after fueling up. After the Guzzi the riding position takes some getting used to.
Click to expand...
That doesn't sound silly at all Jim. I do the same thing. I have gas cans filled with non-ethanol and fill up the bike after each ride and generally get about 100 miles out of a tank (I ride quite slow so I get good mileage). If I do take it for a longer ride over 60 or so miles I fill up at Shell with their 93 octane and haven't had a problem yet. I've had to do that a couple times this year, but yeah, this year was the first year I did that and experienced my first time at the gas station with the Norton. In fact, I was nervous kicking it over in public like that. No worries though, I ended up flooding it and it started after 3 kicks. A little embarrassing, but all good.
 
jbruney said:
I made about 40 miles today on mine.... After so much time on the old Wing it's good to feel something solid under my rear.... I only ride her once or twice weekly to keep the miles down.
Click to expand...
Why keep the miles down, mine seems to go better being ridden all the time, my Norton was a everyday rider from new till 2013 till I semi retired it but now not riding it as much I seem to do more work/maintenance on it than when it was a everyday rider, it never wet sump and now it does since I ride my Triumph Thruxton more and in over 46 years has only let me down 4 times ( one major fire, one damaged black box one week after the fire and 2x broken chains) not bad for well over 160k miles, only on its 1st rebore and still running original valves with one major rebuild (converting to the Featherbed frame back in the 80s) and 2 minor rebuilds (replacing crank cases from a few fractures) but has had a few major upgrades just over 12 years ago (new PWK carbs, Joe Hunt maggie, Lansdown internals in the front end, full front brake upgrade and old Koni's fully rebuilt) but now just fitting the old Amal's back on with full rebuild and clean.
Don't be afraid to ride them and clock up the miles, keep the maintenance up and they can be very reliable, but sometimes things do break twice I broke chains from once a big burn out in my younger days and a few years ago giving it to it from a set of traffic lights, but that time it just threw the joining link and the chain was caught up between the primary and gear box so a trailer home.
But back in 79 I had a bad run of flat rear tyre 10 flats in about 1 month, very frustrating but found out was a faulty new K81 tyre (had a split inside that was pinching the cube) and was replaced free of charge after the tyre suppler investigated why I kept getting a flat rear in such short time, have never had a flat on the Norton since, but I got good at fixing flats.
My Norton is showing its age now but it still fires up on first kick every time even when it's been sitting for a little while, it's my hotrod Norton.

Ashley
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 

Similar threads

Schwany
What did you do with your P11 today. he he
2 3
Replies
45
Views
1,351
Schwany
Schwany
Shelby-Right
What did you do with your Triumph today .
Replies
10
Views
621
Matt Spencer
M
CanukNortonNut
  • Locked
Ok what are you getting for mileage with your commando.
2 3 4 5
Replies
93
Views
8,738
CanukNortonNut
CanukNortonNut
V
What did you do to your Norton today?
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
5,521
Richard Tool
Richard Tool
Back
Top