A Commando that wheelies!

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The Japanese learned early on to keep a firm lid on things when issues became apparent with their bikes/cars (Toyota, for instance?), so Joe Public still believes them to be the best, while it was a fashion necessity to slag off the Brit stuff. Good ol' fashioned Media manipulation, perhaps?

I heard a story where a guy had bought a popular middleweight UJM and it developed handling issues.- the frame had broken around the headstock.
The UK Concessionaire was contacted, and they instructed the dealer to give the customer any bike he wanted there and then - on the understanding he kept his mouth firmly shut (he did, but mechanics talk...).

I'd be suprised if the new Norton was 100% perfect, and I sincerely hope this guy's problems are an isolated case, but it does seem like they're still getting the organisation in place - I just hope they can succeed; Bloor's early Triumphs weren't issue-free, but they're clearly established in the mainstream now.
 
Too many stories of wheelying Commandos had additional stories regarding the same bikes blowing cranbkshafts through the cases.

...some other stories of blown cranks didn't even involve wheelies!
 
That footage is from the '74 Australian movie "Stone." I don't think wheelying Nortons are anything new. The only problem with the movie is that he trades it on a Kawasaki 900!!
 
Gino, England was certainly colonised by your glorious forebears, but not Scotland,
Click to expand...

Dave, friends of mine were in Hong Kong for the past 6 weeks and reported seeing a Commando, yours perhaps? there can't be too many going around there?

Terrys, I'll keep you posted, hopefully a one off or some teething issues, just reread the Alan Cathcart test in Classic Bike Guide, seems positive on the whole but ends with a statement about the bike being almost ready? If you want a copy PM me and I'll scan it for you

The wheelies were almost certainly done by Chris Walker, "Sales manager" and Superbike racer.
 
Fullauto said:
The only problem with the movie is that he trades it on a Kawasaki 900!!
Click to expand...

That and the fact that they couldn't afford proper cigarettes - frequently resorting to smoking strange looking home-built ciggies which seemed to influence their subsequent activities.

Never did understand that sort of thing.....
 
Gino, It wasn't my bike as I was actually in Scotland visiting family during this time, but may have been one that I built - there are at least 7 or 8 on the road here that I know about, plus about the same number awaiting restoration. If you or any classic enthusiasts are visiting Hong Kong drop me a line and I will let you know whether there are any activities planned by our classic bike club.
 
Eh, That's nothing new. I've had the front wheel of my 70 Commando off the ground before. I had an old set of Barnett clutch plates that were really grabby. The third time I kick started it at the front of the line at a stop light on Hennepin Ave...

Greg
 
A Commando that wheelies!


http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/news/view.php?id=461
 
Andy - thanks for finding the Stone movie Commando wheelie, I'd
heard of it but couldn't ID what bike was what, cool.

The fact that Commandos tends to leap forward rather than
upward is a great advantage against moderns below 100 mph.
Maxing out a Combat in 2nd can plant more torque-power than
moderns I've tested with. Just can't keep stronger pull up over 100.

I hope some day a nice new Norton like current crops makes a go of it.
Prefer to roll my own thank you.

hobot
 
Photo of wheelie on Pre-Peel, was end of 1st week -locals invited me
to ride and camp with them. Never again will I camp with bolsterous
Harley die hards. Next day time trials began, so I practiced
take off on hwy a few times then a muffler broke off so
removed it mate for pleasing top end improvement.
That's when decided to get in line on drag strip for fun before
competitions started. 4 th run was folded tire and injured me.

But pashaw, straight ahead wheelies just means less G's ahead.
After 6 months and 14 leaks and finding world of help online,
decided to take Combat apart and spiff up some, so
last ride new year's 2000 dusk, decided to see what she
could really do in special place chiance.
About 6800 felt like another piston kicked in and while
mostly side ways she lifted at top of first then top of 2nd.

So began my addiction to Cornering Commandos!

hobot
 
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