134059 awakes! (and speedometer bezel question)

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Ted Lang

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A fireflake blue 1969/70 Commando S, she was asleep in my garage since about 1982.... Spruced up a bit over the last year with new tires, SS spokes, new rear rim, fork tubes, grease, seals & gaskets, swing-arm clamp, new isolastics, elbow grease.... finally some Av Gas and OHHH YeaHHH ! The sweet sound of her voice resounded once more! Now I remember why we could never part....

A small question: One thing I neglected was to make sure the speedometer turned freely. It didn't, and I now have a new cable on order. I later got it to turn, but the needle barely twitched. So, I destroyed the old bezel and teased in some light oil at base of the needle, which seems to be just the ticket. I ordered and just got a replacement bezel on E-bay, however, I was a little disappointed with it. It looks OK, but not an exact match with the Tach. Does anybody know where a good quality bezel can be had? I see a lot of sources, but I don't want to get another inferior one. They don't usually tell you that part.

I would add a picture of both the bike and the bezel, but I can't seem to find the 'attachment' button.

Ted
 
One of the long time famous name vendors at full reasonable retail is safest bet or one of the few shops that repairs them as may be searched up in forum for or tech section to find.
 
I would add a picture of both the bike and the bezel, but I can't seem to find the 'attachment' button.


You hit ' img ' up the top there , and the thingo number , and its all done .
 
134059 awakes!    (and speedometer bezel question)


134059 awakes!    (and speedometer bezel question)


134059 awakes!    (and speedometer bezel question)



I finally SUCCEEDED IN ENTERING PHOTOS !!! Thanks for the "how to add photos" posting at the beginning of the forum. As you can see, the bike is again in fairly nice "rider" condition. I purchased it as second owner in 1974, and it is better now than then. It is titled as a 1970, but was manufactured in 1969 from what Dave told me last year. (Probably that's why the tag on the frame head was removed) I removed the "S" pipes in about 1974 and installed the roadster pipes with dunstall decibel silencers. (I still have the S pipes although I never had one of the heat shields)

In the photo of the speedometer and Tach, you can see the difference in the bezels. I just replaced the speedo bezel, and as you can see, it is sort of wider and less deeply crimped on the front. I guess its OK for now, for a rider, but I was a little disappointed once they were sided by side. This came from "eurotrash jambalyah" (or something like that).

Ted
 
I got a bezel alone from the crook in Chicago and it was just like the other one. So they must be out there, it's been 5 years though. Try Walridge, RGM, or Burton's Bits, Brit Cycle or British Only, or maybe even one of the shops that work on them. Someone must have them besides Eurotrash. The thickness of the crimp most likely has to do with the gaskets or lack thereof around the glass, one of mine is thinner too because I didn't have the replacement gaskets. You should be able to specify the thickness of the bezel face before buying.

Yeah, mine has Apr 69 on the plate but is registered (sold) as a 70. I think it's pretty much the rule they were registered a year after manufacture at least in the US. Don't know how long they took to ship them here, but they probably didn't sell or distribute real fast.

Looks good, is that a re-paint FF Blue, it looks dark, but it may be the color balance in the pic or my screen?

Dave
 
thats a beauty - love that year of seat etc etc - nice!

Ted Lang said:
134059 awakes!    (and speedometer bezel question)


134059 awakes!    (and speedometer bezel question)


134059 awakes!    (and speedometer bezel question)



I finally SUCCEEDED IN ENTERING PHOTOS !!! Thanks for the "how to add photos" posting at the beginning of the forum. As you can see, the bike is again in fairly nice "rider" condition. I purchased it as second owner in 1974, and it is better now than then. It is titled as a 1970, but was manufactured in 1969 from what Dave told me last year. (Probably that's why the tag on the frame head was removed) I removed the "S" pipes in about 1974 and installed the roadster pipes with dunstall decibel silencers. (I still have the S pipes although I never had one of the heat shields)

In the photo of the speedometer and Tach, you can see the difference in the bezels. I just replaced the speedo bezel, and as you can see, it is sort of wider and less deeply crimped on the front. I guess its OK for now, for a rider, but I was a little disappointed once they were sided by side. This came from "eurotrash jambalyah" (or something like that).

Ted
 
I like the early seats too, don't look so much like a banana.
 
Thanks. I like it too-- and I do smile when I look in the garage!

I suppose its possible that the bezel I got does match SOME years, just not mine. You really have to be careful -- so many ways to screw up!!

That is original paint and the color rendition is very close to the way it appears. The seat is original too, but has some cracking not visible in the photos. It often seems that the fireflake blue I see in photos of others looks too light to me. So, maybe they had some variations in batches.

Ted
 
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