What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Rode my Commando for about 100 or so beautiful miles this afternoon. As future penance I mowed my grass in the morning.

Craig said:

Afraid of dark here too , more deer than people on roads from dusk to sunup , just too stressful now to take the risk …. Age?

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Not age Craig. Wisdom. Just because you're on a vintage bike that's very capable doesn't mean that you have to drive like "you stole it" all the time. At least I don't think so. I'm just getting used to these bikes and I enjoy cruising on the backroads in 4th at 2500rpm and I'm just fine with it. I only ride in the day and keep a keen eye out for cars and animals. Lots of deer out where I live too.

Today was to be a ride on my 961but, a sensor must have failed turns over and won't start. I'll look to see it's fix later. So I jumped on my 750 street tracker and went for a spirited ride thru Lancaster County. Always a good day!

mean gene said:

Today was to be a ride on my 961but, a sensor must have failed turns over and won't start. I'll look to see it's fix later. So I jumped on my 750 street tracker and went for a spirited ride thru Lancaster County. Always a good day!

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I love it out that way, beautiful country. Was going to ride out to the Rough and Tumble a couple of weeks ago but it was just too hot. On a constant look out for horse dropping too
Too bad about the 961
Pete

Hey there fellas. Well, I had a thought. Is there any interest out there in putting together a Zoom call, on some sort of a regular basis, to allow us to field topics of the month and have a general dialogue about our cool bikes?

John Twist from MG fame puts together a session like this once a month or ever two weeks. He picks a topic for each Zoom session and starts out with that, then starts answering questions that people post. It's a great way to get to know the other enthusiasts and get some really great tips.

Of course, I'm not volunteering since I don't have a Zoom account but just use a client to attend work meetings, but thought maybe someone in the group may want to moderate this thing. Just a thought.

Whaddayathink?

Starvingphotog said:

Hey there fellas. Well, I had a thought. Is there any interest out there in putting together a Zoom call, on some sort of a regular basis, to allow us to field topics of the month and have a general dialogue about our cool bikes?

John Twist from MG fame puts together a session like this once a month or ever two weeks. He picks a topic for each Zoom session and starts out with that, then starts answering questions that people post. It's a great way to get to know the other enthusiasts and get some really great tips.

Of course, I'm not volunteering since I don't have a Zoom account but just use a client to attend work meetings, but thought maybe someone in the group may want to moderate this thing. Just a thought.

Whaddayathink?

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No

Had a great ride through the Colorado mountains with the Colorado Members on the traditional “Old Bike Ride”. I rode my MK3 and it didn’t miss a beat. Fun day

Starvingphotog said:

Hey there fellas. Well, I had a thought. Is there any interest out there in putting together a Zoom call, on some sort of a regular basis, to allow us to field topics of the month and have a general dialogue about our cool bikes?

John Twist from MG fame puts together a session like this once a month or ever two weeks. He picks a topic for each Zoom session and starts out with that, then starts answering questions that people post. It's a great way to get to know the other enthusiasts and get some really great tips.

Of course, I'm not volunteering since I don't have a Zoom account but just use a client to attend work meetings, but thought maybe someone in the group may want to moderate this thing. Just a thought.

Whaddayathink?

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Many of us (me included) have been absolutely f*cking Zoomed out (be that Zoom, Teams, Google meet, etc) over this last year and a half.

There’s a genuine psychological negative connotation with all that for me now, so there’s NO WAY I’d consider bringing that world and my motorbike world together !

Decided to take Friday off work. Our local CVMG Section had a Memorial ride for 2 of our members that passed away this past year, Ross Thompson (a Norton guy) and Ian Sandy (a Suzuki 2-stroke triple guy). Had a nice 107 mile ride out to Grand Bend for lunch and back.

Once home, I did a quick check over of the Commando, packed up an overnight bag, put on my Joe Rocket autumn weather suit, and rode out to a local conservation area to meet up with my old high school riding buddies. We then spend the next 2.5 days riding up and around North Eastern Ontario, through Algonquin Park and some of the best twisties that Ontario has to offer. County Road 13 outside of Orillia was one that had intrigued me for a while - if Ontario had a "Tail of the Dragon", it would be a contender - 20+ miles of 2nd and 3rd gear curves and elevation changes. It was a bit wet, and there were a few pot holes that had to be weaved around, but it was still a blast.

Weather was amazing, only hit about 15 minutes of light rain at the end of the ride.

By the time I got home yesterday, I had covered 740 miles since Friday morning. Bike ran and handled great. Only a couple of minor issues: For some reason, it seems like the sheer plugs in the Alton drive train have failed - bike never kicks back or backfires, so weird. Also seem to have lost my brake light, probably a broken wire. But all things considered - doing this kind of trip on a 50 yo motorcycle - I will take it!!

Chuffed to bits!!

Derek! That is an awesome trip man! All those places bring back memories for me. I would love to do something like that some day. Next year when I make a trip up to Waterloo to see the family I'm going to bring my bike in the bed of the pickup truck and do something similar, but not as far.

Derek Wilson said:

Decided to take Friday off work. Our local CVMG Section had a Memorial ride for 2 of our members that passed away this past year, Ross Thompson (a Norton guy) and Ian Sandy (a Suzuki 2-stroke triple guy). Had a nice 107 mile ride out to Grand Bend for lunch and back.

Once home, I did a quick check over of the Commando, packed up an overnight bag, put on my Joe Rocket autumn weather suit, and rode out to a local conservation area to meet up with my old high school riding buddies. We then spend the next 2.5 days riding up and around North Eastern Ontario, through Algonquin Park and some of the best twisties that Ontario has to offer. County Road 13 outside of Orillia was one that had intrigued me for a while - if Ontario had a "Tail of the Dragon", it would be a contender - 20+ miles of 2nd and 3rd gear curves and elevation changes. It was a bit wet, and there were a few pot holes that had to be weaved around, but it was still a blast.

Weather was amazing, only hit about 15 minutes of light rain at the end of the ride.View attachment 81835View attachment 81836View attachment 81837

By the time I got home yesterday, I had covered 740 miles since Friday morning. Bike ran and handled great. Only a couple of minor issues: For some reason, it seems like the sheer plugs in the Alton drive train have failed - bike never kicks back or backfires, so weird. Also seem to have lost my brake light, probably a broken wire. But all things considered - doing this kind of trip on a 50 yo motorcycle - I will take it!!

Chuffed to bits!!

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Great Derek. Alma and myself aborted due to sketchy rain forecast and rented a Volkswagon Passat to London and back and glad we did due to rain. Today my new size 3 slides came in from Walridge with a pack of NGK BP7 plugs non resistor so fitted them and she fired up and idled much better. I'll test ride her tomorrow because I'm sick of driving .
But Alma can't get enough. So we are off for a week. East now Friday , to Geoff and Mariam Doherty's for the Wknd. , then off to Montreal. Then reverse. New maps of P.E. C. packed and ready.

Took my bike for a ride today and I decided to see how fast it would go. I backed off at 103 MPH. Holy crap that was fun! The bike didn't miss a beat and handled well. When I got home I noticed that my large primary inspection cover was missing. I think I've got a spare to use until a new one arrives so no downtime.

Larry S said:

Took my bike for a ride today and I decided to see how fast it would go. I backed off at 103 MPH. Holy crap that was fun! The bike didn't miss a beat and handled well. When I got home I noticed that my large primary inspection cover was missing. I think I've got a spare to use until a new one arrives so no downtime.

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Larry! That's pretty wild man! It'll be a long while I can ball up to do something like that. I'm still getting up to 50mph

Hilarious too that stuff was falling off your bike at that speed. Hilarious, but not really that funny because it sucks you lost your inspection cover like that, and who knows what else is just waiting to fall off the next time you go out or a ride. I was reminded by a friend of mine a while back to go over my bike every now and again to make sure all important nuts are tight and nothing's loose on the bike. I noticed one day I was out riding that the front end felt a little loose. When I got back, and after I had that conversation with my friend, I noticed that my axle nut was loose on the front tire. Yikes! Glad I had that call with my friend and he reminded me to look the bike over! Just goes to show that we've got to take good care of our bikes to avoid a mishap or a crash.

I'm glad you made it back home in one piece to tell us about your adventure. By the way, what is that image you posted of your speed? Do you have a digital instrument cluster on your bike?

Larry S said:

Took my bike for a ride today and I decided to see how fast it would go. I backed off at 103 MPH. Holy crap that was fun! The bike didn't miss a beat and handled well. When I got home I noticed that my large primary inspection cover was missing. I think I've got a spare to use until a new one arrives so no downtime.

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Sorry to hear your inspection cap came off
I've never managed to loose one
But I've lost count of how many triumph rocker caps/points covers/complete exhaust systems etc from my old triumph t140 !!!!

baz said:

Sorry to hear your inspection cap came off
I've never managed to loose one
But I've lost count of how many triumph rocker caps/points covers/complete exhaust systems etc from my old triumph t140 !!!!

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In spite of their reputation as vibrators, the only thing that came close to falling off my P11 was me... on more than one occasion!!
Mind you, 103 with peashooters? As teacher might have said: 'Could do better '

After deciding to get our 72 combat back on the road after 25 years, we've accomplished our goal. Completely rewired, new coils, carbs cleaned & rebuilt, new petcocks, Pazon ignition, new tires and a few minor things- an easy starting smooth running bike again. Was my wifes first bike, so shes been doing the riding. Got the last piece in place a week ago. First a 25 mile run as a shakedown run, then a 75 and 90 mile run- then this past weekend she rode 188 on a poker run with it. This all started by thinking we should get it running and sell it- that quickly progressed to its NFS . We forgot how much fun those little bikes were.

EstuaryBoy said:

In spite of their reputation as vibrators, the only thing that came close to falling off my P11 was me... on more than one occasion!!
Mind you, 103 with peashooters? As teacher might have said: 'Could do better '

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I can't remember ever loosing anything to vibration on any commando I've owned
I have cracked some stainless steel downpipes though

baz said:

I can't remember ever loosing anything to vibration on any commando I've owned
I have cracked some stainless steel downpipes though

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Rear master cylinder cap was my loss.. It was a Harris 13mm one from AN a few years back and the gasket supplied was like hardboard. Since substituted

10 min hack together - tin snips, vice, hand drill and a small rat tail file. Just needs a quick spray. It will never be seen.

5 points for guessing what it's for.

10 points for guessing where it goes.

Judging by the wood grain it’s pretty small, so my guess is a bracket for a speedo sensor or an ignition pickup?