An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ride'

After getting my gearbox closed back up (thanks guys), I've been having some fun. However, one thing stands out. At 6'3", I seriously need to stretch out my legs now and again, as the bike seems... small. I figure I really need to get one of those 'engine guards'? Crash guards? Anyway, whatever they're called, with foot pegs, mounted forward of the engine. Just to uncomfortable after a long ride. At my age, and with my back and joint problems, I've come to realize I need to bogger the lines a bit, get an adjustable back rest that can slide up and support my spine... and foot pegs well out in front.

The question: will any shop be able to know which will fit, or is there a specific brand name I should pursue? Can't seem to find anything on it with search, and I've never had to mount the guard pipes (always were on my previous bikes).

Any help, guys? Some place I can find what I'm looking for with a quick search?? TIA!

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

Rake the front and add a hard tail to the back. :mrgreen:

Whatever you do, don't pinch the front downtubes!

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

Generic "crash bars" with highway pegs will bolt up, but BE CAREFUL, Norton front downtubes will kink very easily if you tighten them up too much (several folks here can testify to finding evidence of that).

There are also simple bolt-up highway peg bars with folding footpegs on the end.

Check out Denis Kirk and J & P.

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

swooshdave said:

Whatever you do, don't pinch the front downtubes!

Click to expand...

Great minds think alike?

You hit "enter" a few seconds before I did...

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

Dennis Kirk? J and P? As in a website search? (psst, newer Norton greenie, here).

And how aboput a luggage rack with that adjustable (slide forward) back support? (As my late father used to say, the aging process really sucks as time goes bye...)

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

Check the for sale section of the forum.

The two names I mentioned are aftermarket onlie vendors for generic stuff.

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

If I remember correctly, the Norton factory always maintained that no type of crash bar or engine protection bar should ever be used on a Commando, because even a minor low speed accident could result in a bent frame.

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

Aren't used to modern bikes are you?
The Norton does seem small in comparison, although it did seem big to me when I bought mine in 1976 as I was used to 50's & 60's bikes.

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

Do you have a stock Norton seat? I have found that the oem fastback or roadster seat (the only two I have ever used) offer a good bit of ability to slide back, effectively lengthening the reach to everything. The fastback seat seems noticeably higher than the roadster but that may because it is wider. But, of course, a fastback seat would look silly on a non-fastback. I have never liked single seats or any of the Corbin-style seats for exactly that reason - they force you to sit in one spot. This is fine for a short run between coffee shops but is quite uncomfortable (for me) on anything more than 30-40 miles. On longer runs I am often well back on the seat for long periods. The ability to move around is really helpful.

Obviously, if you have a standard seat that allows you to move and you still have a problem due to your height, then some of the other methods you are looking at may provide the relief you need.

Re: An easy question for you guys -OR- 'to tall for comfy ri

I'm 6'3" again and now find stock set up cramps legs and shoulder
after an hour or more.
Two things I did that worked out so well I am more comfy on Ms Peel
than walking around or sagging in my rocking lounge chair.

Put rear sets on with peg back by the bottom of Z plates.

Put fork brace on and a foot bar bolted, clamped to that.
This will act as a fairly good crash bar at slow drops
but may help take off the stem stop nobbin, which is
too wimpy for any of my bike modern or vintage to remain.
BTW with feet following the motion of the sliders,
you will have more knowledge of what is actually
going on in turns than most elite engineers.

Crash bars will not help stretch legs much as are much too close
for Ickabod Krane's legs.
I"m putting crash bars on my 2 Combats but will triangulate
like the modern stunt riders do by a brace further back on frame.
or expect twisted frame tubes on much a drop.

Triumph T140 bars worked the best of a bunch I've tried
after bending first T140 bars and experimenting and not
liking the long haul or the tight twistie tossing.

hobot