50 years of Commando article...

Not sure if this belongs in the old or new Commando sections...

This months ‘The Classic Motorcycle’ has an interesting supplement on Norton twins, including an article celebrating 50 years of the Commando.

The editor James Robinson rode and old and a new one, as you can see they also hired a top male model to accompany him, and sourced two fine Commando examples to ride...

Good job Sir!

I like the new Commando a lot, but I absolutely love the old one (and yours has to be one of the most sorted examples on UK roads)!!!

How do you know that model is male?
It can be tough to tell sometimes.

worntorn said:

How do you know that model is male?
It can be tough to tell sometimes.

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That's harsh!

Reading what I could, it doesn't sound like the journo was a fan of the 961 experience.

But I'll bet he wanted to take that blue bike home!

Nice of you to say so Grant, thanks. But there are plenty of nice Cdos knocking around these days, mine is simply my take on the genre really.

Glen, I’ll ask the magazine to pass your comments on to the modelling agency, personally I say he’s a fine looking fellow...!

Actually, on the day, James (TCM editor) was rather complimtary of the new ‘un “it feels like a really well built special” he said “like a Buell engined featherbed”.

I should point out that James normally rides pre war bikes, most of his families extensive collection is pre war too. So his comment about fiddly indicators is a bit rich really as he’s obviously unused to them!

His comment about the harsh suspension is fair, we went done some fairly bumpy back lanes and I find it harsh, and he must be at least 3 stone lighter than me, but of course, that’s only adjustment.

I’m pretty sure he was intending to be complintary with “it is a great, fun, burbling, menacing back street brawler of a bike” ... I certainly like that line !

And I think he got the closing right when he said “it’s more like the real deal classic than most (dare I say anaemic) puesudo Cafe Racers”.

And his final sentance that “only you can decide” if all this rawness is good or bad is basically bang on as it’s purely down to personal taste (I love it).

So, I do think he liked it. But I’m also pretty sure it’d be the blue ‘un he’d have taken home given the choice, even though he can’t start the thing !

And I think he got the closing right when he said “it’s more like the real deal classic than most (dare I say anaemic) puesudo Cafe Racers”.

I wonder which brand(s) and models he's referring to here?
My guess is the Triumph Thruxton and Thruxton R,but could also be
something like the little MotoGuzzi V7, which is supposed to be a little peach of a bike, maybe a bit short on power for some.

I guess any modern manufactured bike that uses cafe styling is a " psuedo cafe racer" by definition.
The real deal were cobbled together bikes like my old BSA A10 with centre stand removed and clip ons added. Most of them were gutless with poor handling and not much for braking, but they had a look and a sound.

worntorn said:

And I think he got the closing right when he said “it’s more like the real deal classic than most (dare I say anaemic) puesudo Cafe Racers”.

I wonder which brand(s) and models he's referring to here?
My guess is the Triumph Thruxton and Thruxton R,but could also be
something like the little MotoGuzzi V7, which is supposed to be a little peach of a bike, maybe a bit short on power for some.

I guess any modern manufactured bike that uses cafe styling is a " psuedo cafe racer" by definition.
The real deal were cobbled together bikes like my old BSA A10 with centre stand removed and clip ons added. Most of them were gutless with poor handling and not much for braking, but they had a look and a sound.

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Strangely I have a BSA A10 matching that description !!

I do love my old BSA but it's best not to ride it right after riding the Thruxton R.
You need to wait a day or two to allow the palette to clear.

Sure, anaemic was hardly complimentary ... especially to owners of other modern Cafe Racers Glen!

But having ridden a few of the offerings he alludes to, I do agree. The R nine T epitomises the issue for me. In group tests the R nine T was described as having far more character and visceral appeal than the others.

But my own R nine T became completely redundant after the arrival of the new ‘un. And in a back to back comparison, I have to say that anaemic is a fair choice of word.

I imagine that if I did 30,000 miles a year, the R nine T would still be in my shed!

But I dont. So it’s not.

Anemic is a bit of a strange word for bikes that can outperform most riders.
(R9T, Thrux R. )

Mine still scares the crap out of me on a regular basis.
Still working on that 109 mph TT lap, not quite there yet.

Glen

Not really Glen.

I’ve said it plenty times before, the R nine T would outperform tha 961 in every practical way. No contest there at all.

But as a riding experience, when riding purely for pleasure, the 961 made the R nine at feel dull, sanitised, clinical, etc

(There you go mate, I avoided the ‘a’ word)!

Nigel we are similar but not quite the same: Your modern bike felt too sanitized and mine leaves me in need of sanitizing

Seriously , I think one of the biggest differences is something you touched on-the amount of riding done annually.
I will add that where the riding occurs is also part of the equation.
When in the UK on the Vincent, I lost my usual concern about a possible breakdown because there aren't any really long remote stretches of Highway like we have in the West.
The UK is really a wonderful place to ride older bikes, especially the B roads, which are everywhere.
That said I've had great luck with the Vincent (60,000 miles) good luck with the Commando (16,000 miles)and wouldn't chance it or want to endure it with the BSA . Not sure about the 650 ss yet. I might try it on a long haul one day.

If you do that type of middle of nowhere riding, it's a relief to take a modern bike that at worst might suffer a flat tire. For tools I bring tire inflator in a can and a cellphone. The cellphone doesn't work in a lot of the areas, but the tire inflator will.
The rest of the bike has to hold together.

The performance level of the modern is nice, but the reliability is really the most important thing.

Now watch I'll have a big breakdown on the modern bike!!

Glen

I rode motorcycles on public roads until I was 29, then I went racing because I was having too many near-misses. Most of my road bikes were highly modified café racers. The adrenalin rush was always stymied by the thought of getting booked. To me that takes all the pleasure out of motorcycling. I have elderly friends who have road-raced - when they ride motorcycles on public roads, it is with total disregard for the road laws. I cannot do that.

Not sure that the answer to fear of dying is to go racing!!

Nigel, I'm having trouble finding this magazine. When you say this month, is that June or May?
And the publication is " The Classic Motorcycle", correct?

Glen

If you don't race motorcycles, road racing looks dangerous. However it is much safer than riding on public roads, once you get past your crash and burn stage. The message is 'make haste slowly'.

worntorn said:

Not sure that the answer to fear of dying is to go racing!!

Nigel, I'm having trouble finding this magazine. When you say this month, is that June or May?
And the publication is " The Classic Motorcycle", correct?

Glen

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Yes, ‘The Classic Motorcycle’. It’s the JULY issue, got an AJS on the cover. I have it on subscription and it came today. Should be on the shelves soon, here at least, I guess it may take a little longer to reach the colonial outposts...

worntorn said:

I do love my old BSA but it's best not to ride it right after riding the Thruxton R.
You need to wait a day or two to allow the palette to clear.

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Glen as I read this post memory autofills ' but its best not to ride after dark' Lucas Prince of Darkness and all that

Great Article . Nice to have your bikes in the magazine .

I'm anxious to read the whole thing!