A nice shot of my Commando

chasesa · Jul 31, 2008

Hi All,
Here is a shot of my 1968 Commando just released from restoration on Sunday this week. Starts first half kick thanks to Jerry Wilcox of Fredericton, NB!

Below is the starting point.

All I need to do to finish is figure out how to attach the return spring for the mainstand (stand to frame bracket).
Cheers!
Stephen

MichaelB · Jul 31, 2008

Very nice. BRG is soooooooo right for that year. 8)

ntst8 · Aug 1, 2008

I'm not normally a fastback fan but that is one nice bike, well done.
And just noticed - looks like a matt (bead blasted?) finish on the recessed portions of the Z plates. I do like that.

Stuart SS · Aug 1, 2008

chasesa

Well ~ I really like the original fastback configuration including the outer tacho drive..

Very ~ very nice.. !!

Cheers 8)

Ron L · Aug 1, 2008

Very nice job! Actually the before picture shows one of the most complete original Fastbacks I have seen in quite a while.

I assume you don't have the "widowmaker" frame? Since it is a late '68 without the badges the frame should be the later braced type, but I have seen the early tanks and tailsections filled and ground to eliminate the badges.

Is that a 'glass tank? From the picture it looks very smooth. Someone took a lot of time on the prep and paintwork!

chasesa · Aug 1, 2008

Hi,
The tank is fiberglass. When it came into my possession there were no round badge circles on the tank, but the tailpiece did have the "ring". I reluctantly removed the ring after trying very hard to get a properly fitting round medallion. All I could come up with were tank medallions, which are larger & did not fit.

The frame is not the widowmaker, but has a proper brace.

I will create a proto album of the resto, shortly.

I am pleased to give credit to many members of this site for advice along the way. Thanks!

BTW, I'm still looking for help where to attach the spring for teh main stand. I see you have a '68. Can you help?
Thanks,
Stephen

grandpaul · Aug 1, 2008

Wow. What an awesome restoration, I'm humbled.

If my guess is right, those Z-plates were buffed, then polished only on the raised sections. That's a good look.

The British Racing Green is definitely eye-catching. I love it.

79x100 · Aug 1, 2008

chasesa said:
Hi,
The tank is fiberglass. When it came into my possession there were no round badge circles on the tank, but the tailpiece did have the "ring". I reluctantly removed the ring after trying very hard to get a properly fitting round medallion. All I could come up with were tank medallions, which are larger & did not fit.

Stephen, well done on the restoration. To my mind the Fastback with the horizontal exhaust line and the early headlamp brackets is the one where the styling really worked.

I don't know if you remember this thread :-

http://www.accessnorton.com/norton_comm ... t=fastback

If the brochure pictures are to be believed, a bike with a plain tank and a seat unit with badge carrier could be correct, probably even with no badge fitted ex-works.

mikegray660 · Aug 1, 2008

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! :shock:

dave M · Aug 2, 2008

Stephen, what a lovely bike, back to your main stand question. I am away on holiday at the moment, so I can't pop down to my workshop to take a look, but I seem to remember that on my earlier bike with the mainstand mount incorporated into the cross tube at the rear of the lower frame tubes. The lower end of the spring with the large radius loops round the lower tube of the mainstand and is located by a slightly raised tang on the bottom of the tube, the upper end of the spring goes into a hole on one of the small mounting plates welded to this lower tube where the mainstand mounting bolts go.

Jeandr · Aug 2, 2008

Superb! Very well done. I think the Fastback is the best looking Commando (I have one too

), very advanced styling wise and yours is an excellent example.

Ride safe. I know it<s far for you, but in Mosport for the vintage races (http://www.vrra.ca/events.htm), there is a show of vintage motorcycles, you could easily win the best in show.

Jean

A nice shot of my Commando

chasesa

MichaelB

"Sons of Arthritus"

ntst8

Stuart SS

Ron L

chasesa

grandpaul

79x100

mikegray660

dave M

Jeandr

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