Just a few questions to put out there. When did turn signals become standard on the Commandos? I have seen many with and without. My other question is about the rear grab rail and whether it was again a standard issue or an optional addition?
Mine is a 1973 750 Commando and I would like to make as correct as possible.
Thanks for the responses.

kingdaddyo wrote:When did turn signals become standard on the Commandos? I have seen many with and without. My other question is about the rear grab rail and whether it was again a standard issue or an optional addition?

Turn signals were probably fitted as standard from 1973, however they appear to have been optional since 1971.
I think grab rails were also introduced for 1973 (not counting the Hi-Rider grab rail), as they are not seen in earlier brochures, ads. or listed in parts books prior to '73.

L.A.B. wrote:

kingdaddyo wrote:When did turn signals become standard on the Commandos? I have seen many with and without. My other question is about the rear grab rail and whether it was again a standard issue or an optional addition?

Turn signals were probably fitted as standard from 1973, however they appear to have been optional since 1971.
I think grab rails were also introduced for 1973 (not counting the Hi-Rider grab rail), as they are not seen in earlier brochures, ads. or listed in parts books prior to '73.

Thank you for that information. I think the lines of the Commando are cleaner with out the grab rail but might fit one on just to see if I like it or not. Again, thank you for your response.

My '71 750 did not have the optional turn signals for the U.S. market. It had/has chromed bolts where they would have mounted on the headlamp and no old bolt marks on the taillamp mounting points.

Turnsignals were an option in '72. I remember being asked if I wanted them and I said yes. I took them off almost immediately - the first time the bike fell over in the driveway - stoned idiocy most likely. Hobot is right in that they are very easy to damage along with whatever they happen to be attached to (like headlamp ears and the shell). They are in a box now and have been there for maybe 39 years. Grabrails came out with the 850s in 1973 as I remember.

Some seats had a strap - for a passenger to hang on to ?
When did this start, and end ?
Don't often see them these days...

I remember that when I bought my '73 Roadster (May 1973), there were three Roadsters and two Interstates in the showroom, all 750's. The Interstates both had signals, none of the Roadsters did. When I took the bike back to have the exhaust pipe replaced in the fall, there were two 850 Roadsters in the showroom and both had signals. I asked why my Roadster did not have signals and the service manager told me, "we just install what's in the crate".

Someone somewhere said the seat strap was U.K. & Grab Bar U.S. when the grab bar came out , and they took the strap of as it was uncomfortable .??

'71 and '72 (Roadsters anyway) had the seat strap. It was uncomfortable and the placement was all wrong. Took it off right away and a garage mouse ate most of it!

Matt Spencer wrote:Someone somewhere said the seat strap was U.K. & Grab Bar U.S. when the grab bar came out , and they took the strap of as it was uncomfortable .??

A check of parts books, road test photos, ads. brochures etc. would seem to disprove that theory.

The seat "safety" strap and/or grab rail was a US (or California?) legal requirement originally, as Triumph "West Coast" models had seat straps from around 1963.

L.A.B. wrote:

Matt Spencer wrote:Someone somewhere said the seat strap was U.K. & Grab Bar U.S. when the grab bar came out , and they took the strap of as it was uncomfortable .??

A check of parts books, road test photos, ads. brochures etc. would seem to disprove that theory.

The seat "safety" strap and/or grab rail was a US (or California?) legal requirement originally, as Triumph "West Coast" models had seat straps from around 1963.

Parts books are not always correct.

Road tests, ads and brochures are created before the final specs are set.

Dealers would change stuff around.

Factory records were incomplete or non-existant at the detail level.

Pretty tough to be 100% sure what was factory original. It's fun to debate but you'd be better off discussing religion.