Thanks Dan. Comforting words I'll try to hang on to rationalizing fate. i took my P!! from Fla to Houston in mid 70's. Loop 610 over pass over I 45 was steep enough to catch some air. Gas was cheap and traffic not so bumper to bumper.
Its a crazy state for me to feel at ease testing traction in tights but feel so pensive going slow enough deer can hit from the sides. My buddy Wes sees deer too but none ever got real close so far. Time dulls pain so by time I've a runner I'll just try it again - maybe with video to find.

Dan

I too bought a new Combat in '72--at Elis's emporium in Geneva IL. As a twelve-year-old I bought my first Norton, a '62 650SS in '64 which had been wrecked by an English tin mining engineer in Jos, Nigeria--for thirty quid.

I ride every day the streets are dry. Unlike many on this list I've racked up enormous mileages because the Combat has been my only bike for many years--and because I commuted on it when I was working and because I took hundred-mile pleasure cruises every suitable afternoon after the NYSE closed at 3 PM Central--more or less continuously since 1989. The rear TT100 tire showed visible wear every afternoon until i put on a fat 18-inch tire and quadrupled tire life.

There has been no mechanical device that's given me greater pleasure over the last 38 years--and I've got rich friends with new toys.


Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
Three Commandos

I've had my 850 for close to 3 years now - its been on the road for a little over two, as it was a collection of parts when I got it. I don't ride it every day, but I do ride pretty often, and have put 10,000 miles on it since its resurrection.
After the first six months of sorting the Commando out, it has been relatively trouble-free. No electrical gremlins, no oil issues, no carb issues. The last big thing was snapping the primary chain about 6000 miles ago. Generally, I alternate between the Norton and the Speed Triple, and don't really pick one over the other for a particular ride. To me, each is a competent bike, with similar comfort on rides of various length. The Triumph has twice the power and much better brakes and suspension, but these usually don't come into play for most of my riding. I haven't done any modifications to the Commando, but generally ride with my feet on the passenger pegs when on the Interstate.

Between work and having a couple of strokes this past year, I haven't been riding nearly as much as I want to, but hope this will change in '11. I've mainly been working on the Ranger the past six months, and am FINALLY ready to start putting it together this week. I've got 26 days before the local AMCA show and want to bring both the Commando and Ranger there, even if the Ranger is not quite done.

Once the Ranger is up and running, it WILL be ridden on a regular basis, and fit into the rotation.

There has been no mechanical device that's given me greater pleasure over the last 38 years--and I've got rich friends with new toys.

Amend Tim, same with so many of us. I love living on a Commando, but can I.

Bill life is too short to miss out the good stuff. I'm just pensive to be tough enough to take the next hit w/o the delayed side effects like you.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab ... ookieSet=1

http://www.matlinmfg.com/ProductPDF/sagital_curves.pdf

Holy Cow Bill, you have had strokes and still riding. I had CHF and surprisingly recovered and still find it hard to muscle the Commando around with my lack of strength and endurance.

Go for it. Norton Rules. Got to feel the pull.

Dave
69S

Thanks for the life sharing, I wonder if I'm ever so infirm I can't get up if I'll flash back on my rides and the tall tales of others. Since loss of ride buddies and family I tend to mental mark new vista's and sort though old ones just in case. Life is pretty surreal to me, want to spend it with least pain and most time just rolling along bouncing with easy bumps thank you. The cold air that bites till it hurts reminds me of riding times as impressed to the bone I guess.

great thread here Steve...

Not nearly the hell bent rider I was 30 years ago, this bike I've had since '98 gives me something I can't get any other way.

With the 19 tooth sprocket, it still surprises me how fast it will hit 60, yet by 85 or so, I can tell its time to ease off the throttle. Just the same, when I do take it out and to its (make that my) limits, I'll spend the next 5 to 6 hours, just sitting in a chair, in some kinda transcendental trance... no herbs or any other substances required.

At 53, my own rules to remain in one piece for those who depend on me to do so are:
1. know where I'm going, the faster I'm going I should know that road really, really well.
2. do it sober; there's a time and place for everything.
3. I don't ride hard at night; had a few bad experiences with that in my youth, the only reason I've lived to be old and somewhat wise (that's debatable) is an ability to remember my mistakes, the important ones anyway.

All that said, the commando is by far my most prized possession, and the several hours a week I spend riding are well worth any risks. Being defensive and cautious will prolong that fun for as long as me and the bike can maintain it all.

whatever ya do, take care of yourself, ride safely. no need to push our inevitable, forthcoming demise any sooner than what we're already looking at.

Cheers,

Don

I see I am not the only one to subscribe to the view that "The older I get the faster I was"

60 year old exept whilst on a bike.

No by gosh the older I get the bolder I get having tried it both way slow and steady with self take to take care everywhere and devil may dare having a thrill aggressively. D/t side impacts with big animals, the only one I won happened at 75 and the best deer encounters staying up right to ride off again were deer strike over the legal speed limits. I can't ride below 80 mph at night any more or I can't hardly see straight tensing up on deer or hogs leaping out from the sides. Same in city traffic if I act a bit aggressive I have no close encounters but I don't past where I can't see whole situation no blind spots or splat. Most my big animal events were going real slow and careful w/o enough energy to blast right over or thru them, crazy making that normal logic just don't apply too often even if its the best chance we have. A log thrown into you and bike would hit as hard as deer.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZAjJ-g0UDw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZAjJ-g0UDw

That guy didn't say the F word did he? Boy, I think if a Commando hit a deer like that it would be all over the road sideways. I almost hit a German Shepard running across Route 1 going into DC one time and it scared the bejesus out of me. All I could do is lift my feet as high as possible, luckily he ducked and we missed. I wasn't doing any 80, maybe 45, but I was convinced I was going down when it happened.

Dave
69S