What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

ashman said:
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
View attachment 99321
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I have to agree with Ashman. I think that the more you ride it the better it runs!
Mike
 
Well guys, for any of you who have been salivating over that accessory plug on our bikes, I found one on ebay. It's a genuine UK replacement, complete with the cap plug that we all seem to be missing. I've bought from this seller many times and he's one of us Norton peeps.

Check it out!

www.ebay.com

Norton Commando,1970-77, OEM, Accessory Plug & Socket with Hardware, UK 06-2666 | eBay

Ever wondered what that little wired (weird) plug is on the side of your 1970-77 Norton Commando?. Most Commandos when you see one, have just the socket with two small holes staring at you. The plug went MIA decades ago.
www.ebay.com
 

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Starvingphotog said:
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.
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Exactly my feeling! Remember when kick starting was no big deal? It was just the way you started a bike. I am getting pretty confident that I can get it to light off, if not on the first kick at least by the third.
 
Starvingphotog said:
Well guys, for any of you who have been salivating over that accessory plug on our bikes, I found one on ebay. It's a genuine UK replacement, complete with the cap plug that we all seem to be missing. I've bought from this seller many times and he's one of us Norton peeps.

Check it out!

www.ebay.com

Norton Commando,1970-77, OEM, Accessory Plug & Socket with Hardware, UK 06-2666 | eBay

Ever wondered what that little wired (weird) plug is on the side of your 1970-77 Norton Commando?. Most Commandos when you see one, have just the socket with two small holes staring at you. The plug went MIA decades ago.
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
Apologies if I appear as a nit picking pedant... But is it OE?
It's just that on my Mk3 the 'live' terminal metalwork is recessed, so the earth makes contact first...
But a useful find nonetheless, I searched high and low for the matching 'plug', as many have odd sizing for the pins instead to ensure correct orientation...
 
Well, according to the listing it is OE. The seller I chat with all the time and he's quite adamant about getting authentic parts and staying true to the original equipment. If there's a decent aftermarket he has those too and tells me about them, but I usually go with the OE parts. I hope that helps. I don't think that you'll be disappointed. I think that he's now looking for a supplier that will make shavers that will connect to this plug...:)
 
Clocked up 68 miles today.

I notice that when accelerating and coasting with throttle, the bike is smooth, but when I let off the throttle, like coming to a junction & changing down etc the vibes are felt through the bars and after a lengthy ride my hands start tingling.

Time to tweak the front Isolastics?
 
Yesterday I got my paperwork back from the Texas DMV. Everything is in order to get a Texas Bonded Title for my Silver "74 Norton Commando. Today I talked to my insurance guy and purchased the bond for $100. That paperwork for that should be in my hands next week. Once this happens I will take my happy self down to the county tax office, deliver my sheaf of papers, pay 8% sales tax on the DMVs valuation of $6090, plus other fees and walk out with new Texas plates and a for real title. It has not felt like the bike has been really mine but I am getting close. All that remains is for me to pry open my wallet and throw heaps of cash into to state coffers.
 
TomU said:
8% :oops:

TX sux
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Yep, that sales tax is kind of steep especially since it's a tax on $6090 and I actually paid $4000. Here is the deal, for the longest time people here would buy and sell bikes and wink wink, nudge nudge they would fudge the amount actually paid for the bike or car to save a little sales tax. The state knew what was going on and fixed the issue by assessing the value of the transaction themselves. The sales tax is a little high but Texas dosen't have a state income tax so it evens out.
 
Got front mudguard sorted after one rivet on center bracket had sheared. Drilled out all remaining rivets, which were thankfully soft Alu not stainless. Took opportunity to dress up the bracket with an hour of wire wheel work and a few coats of Rustoleum gloss black. Found some #8 3/8" stainless slot head screws to fit it all up until fancy button heads show up in the mail fresh from China. Was a bit worried these screws protrude too much towards tire but a quick check while fitting showed they are well clear of rubber.
Had considered drilling/fitting the forward stay onto this MKIII front stay-less type guard as I think this contributed to the failed rivet. Decided to leave it as is for now.
 
maylar said:
Do they inspect the vehicle or use Kelly Blue Book?
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They use KBB but it has been my observation that everything is valued at a base of at least $6000. There is nothing you can do. They set the value. They did print out what looks like a KBB page that shows the "good" valuation for a "74 Commando Roadster at $6090. That seems fair.

By the way, if you are moving to Texas and you only wish to change your state title to Texas you do not have to pay sales tax. The only reason I am having to do this is due to an actual title transfer from one individual to another.
 

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