Pictures of your Norton Commandos

Yes CNW bag mounts, i also have the small teardrop bags they used to do. Bought both years ago, it may have been from Doug Macadam just after he and Matt parted ways. They are very small, good for carrying wet weather gear and not much else, so day trips only.
The leather throwover bags in the original photo - someone found those under a house and passed them on to me, they have Norton tooled into the cover, they just get strapped to the mounts.
Motor has a Australian made Fullauto head, and a PW3 cam otherwise stock. If the PW3 ever had to come out i would likely go back to stock, i don't ride at high revs.
Front fender also CNW, i added the mudflap as the short guard resulted in a lot of muck being caked under the tank and around the wiring loom. That and the 90/90 tire made the front end a bit flighty so i added the steering damper.
Carbs, also ex CNW, bought before Amal released their premiers and before madass was doing his carb gantry. I got sick of worn out, out of sych Amals. Pricey but always in synch and on a par with a single Mikuni for fuel economy. A bit scary starting on the frosty morning though - no choke/enrichener so need to hold above 3000rpm from cold until there is some heat in the engine.
Paint - inspired by BMW R90S silver smoke, thought it would make the interstate tank look a bit less bulbous, which has worked well to my eye at least.
Other than that, Alton starter, from before CNW were doing their one. I think CNW is the better mechanical design but Alton is less intrusive visually. Not sure which way i would go if buying now. And hidden but a Motogadget MoUnit blue looks after the electrics, trispark ei and trispark mosfet reg/rect.
One final detail, i prefer the roadster sidecovers but the dzus fastener over the battery box didn't play well with the big tank so that is gone and a quicklatch does the duty instead.
Nearly forgot - hydraulic clutch conversion FANTASTIC, matching Brembo brake master and CNW switchgear - again from before someone smart worked out how to mount old switches onto Brembos.
And that's how to spend 40 years worth of pocket money : )
Iain,
Thanks for your reply. I have the CNW bags that work for me but would like something a bit larger. I really like the way they mount without a lot of extra support.You made a great find with the bags you found!My bike has a Comstock built RH10 along with the factory cam along with Amal Premiers. I use one of Don Penders gantry and haven’t had to touch the carbs for quite some time. I have always liked the looks of the shortened front fender but don’t like the debris flying up on the engine.These are great bikes once sorted out for what you are after and love to see them ready for extended trips. I still think the best money I have spent is on the electric starter as I am a small man and not getting any stronger.Thank you again for your feedback.
Mike
 

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Iain,
Thanks for your reply. I have the CNW bags that work for me but would like something a bit larger. I really like the way they mount without a lot of extra support.You made a great find with the bags you found!My bike has a Comstock built RH10 along with the factory cam along with Amal Premiers. I use one of Don Penders gantry and haven’t had to touch the carbs for quite some time. I have always liked the looks of the shortened front fender but don’t like the debris flying up on the engine.These are great bikes once sorted out for what you are after and love to see them ready for extended trips. I still think the best money I have spent is on the electric starter as I am a small man and not getting any stronger.Thank you again for your feedback.
Mike
I have to compliment you on your set up as well, very nice.
 
Couple of recent photos of my MK3 and the lovely Essex countryside!




View attachment 110414
@Bilko I just noticed you installed Amals with a thin ham can filter. Looks great. As you know there has been a lot of discuss in the past about how best to do this on a MK2A and earlier, but I never saw it done on a MK3. Can you provide details where you bought it and any modifications you need to do on it? Were you able to still use the MK3 battery tray?
 
@Bilko I just noticed you installed Amals with a thin ham can filter. Looks great. As you know there has been a lot of discuss in the past about how best to do this on a MK2A and earlier, but I never saw it done on a MK3. Can you provide details where you bought it and any modifications you need to do on it? Were you able to still use the MK3 battery tray?
I used the earlier battery tray (06.1651) which drops straight into the MK3 and positions the battery along the bike rather than across it.

The narrow ham can filter was a kit from RGM:

COMPLETE TWIN CARB NARROW AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY, STAINLESS STEEL
Part No: 050744

It makes for a nice clean finish!
 
I have to compliment you on your set up as well, very nice.
Iain,
2 more questions; What is the can behind the starter.

What are the straps on the frame tube behind the side cover on the left side for
Thanks,Mike
 
Hi Mike,

The can is an empty beer can (Epic Hop Zombie) being used as a catch can for the breather from the oil tank. A bit of fun really. The mount is a modified bent and battered number plate bracket from the "might be useful one day" bin, upside down with the wings cut off.
The straps are grab rail clamps being used to support a mounting plate for the Mo.Unit and the Alton starter relay. There is a thread in the Restorations section Rewiring with Mo.Unit Blue that gives a bit more detail. I have progressively pruned the mounting plate to make it easier to remove for battery access, works well now. Also added the Quiklatch for the side cover fixing, works very well.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos
Pictures of your Norton Commandos
 
Hi Mike,

The can is an empty beer can (Epic Hop Zombie) being used as a catch can for the breather from the oil tank. A bit of fun really. The mount is a modified bent and battered number plate bracket from the "might be useful one day" bin, upside down with the wings cut off.
The straps are grab rail clamps being used to support a mounting plate for the Mo.Unit and the Alton starter relay. There is a thread in the Restorations section Rewiring with Mo.Unit Blue that gives a bit more detail. I have progressively pruned the mounting plate to make it easier to remove for battery access, works well now. Also added the Quiklatch for the side cover fixing, works very well.

View attachment 111559
View attachment 111558
Iain,
Do you like the MoUnit?Nice job on your wiring.
Mike
 
Thanks. Yes it is a nice toy. Not cheap and you need to do a full custom rewire to fit one, i was rewiring anyway so worked for me. If you use standard switchgear as i did then there a lot of wires.
 
Nothing special about the bike or rider, however the interesting thing was that my Thruxton R let me down with a dead battery. I should blame that on the maintenance man as the bike and battery are 2016 model year.
Anyway, I was all set to go and timed right for the 9 am ferry to Vancouver Island when the Thruxton starter went click click. The 9 am Ferry was the only option as I also had a 120 mile ride up island on the other side to attend a memorial service for a clubmate, held at 1 pm.

What to do?

Quickly transfer things to the Commando, which luckily still had enough fuel on board to make the 40 mile run to the ferry. It always starts quickly, it always gets me there and back. The e start is sure nice on the Ferry, for firing up to load and especially for getting going on exit.
It's been a great bike for the 20 years I've owned it. This was a highway run. The Commando always amazes me at how smooth and happy it runs at 70-75 mph, for just as long as you need it.
Screenshot_20231216_192826_Gmail.jpg
 
Nothing special about the bike or rider, however the interesting thing was that my Thruxton R let me down with a dead battery. I should blame that on the maintenance man as the bike and battery are 2016 model year.
Anyway, I was all set to go and timed right for the 9 am ferry to Vancouver Island when the Thruxton starter went click click. The 9 am Ferry was the only option as I also had a 120 mile ride up island on the other side to attend a memorial service for a clubmate, held at 1 pm.

What to do?

Quickly transfer things to the Commando, which luckily still had enough fuel on board to make the 40 mile run to the ferry. It always starts quickly, it always gets me there and back. The e start is sure nice on the Ferry, for firing up to load and especially for getting going on exit.
It's been a great bike for the 20 years I've owned it. This was a highway run. The Commando always amazes me at how smooth and happy it runs at 70-75 mph, for just as long as you need it.
View attachment 111583
Glen,
Are you using your electric vest on your Mark III? If so,does it have positive earth?
Thanks,
Mike
 
Just make sure you wire it correctly and fuse the negative wire too. That bare pin on the SAE will short out if it contacts any part of the bike (on a positive ground system).
 
Glen,
Are you using your electric vest on your Mark III? If so,does it have positive earth?
Thanks,
Mike
Yes , the MK3 still has positive earth as delivered. The vest is one item that works ok with positive or negative earth, so I do use it on the MK3.

Glen
 
Just make sure you wire it correctly and fuse the negative wire too. That bare pin on the SAE will short out if it contacts any part of the bike (on a positive ground system).
So, will an iPhone lightning cable...

🤣⚡

When you lose control of it for just a second.

They melt quick
 
Just make sure you wire it correctly and fuse the negative wire too. That bare pin on the SAE will short out if it contacts any part of the bike (on a positive ground system).
Deets,
So you have both wires fused ?
Mike
 
Seems like one fuse in either battery lead would have you covered. Am I missing something?
 
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