An Introduction from a new owner

Hello everyone

I'm new to the board and new to owning British Bikes. I recently acquired several as part of a debt settlement and thought
I'd see what I could do. My father has restored a couple of bikes and it piqued my interest.

I am an aircraft mechanic by trade, and am relatively mechanically-minded so I think, with the advice from this forum I should be able
totake on these projects.

The first project is a complete do-over of a hybrid commando. By hybrid I mean that the frame and engine don't match and the previous owner
had begun but not finished a number of modifications.

The frame is a hyrider and by the number it appears to be a 74 850, but the engine is a 71 750. My work so far has been to take it down to piece part and I am in the
process of having the paint work done. Since it's not a restoration I'm going with 2 tones of British racing green.

I am not an electrician however so the electrics part are a bit daunting. I've been considering converting the bike over to a negative ground and installing
LED lights etc. as well as upgraded electrics.

From what I've been able to see so far, two of the suppliers I will be relying on are FairSparesAmerica and OldeBritts. If there are any others you all might recommend I'd be glad to hear from you.

I've posted what she looks like now and will post as progress is made and I seek advice or suggestions.

Welcome to the forum. That's a nice looking Commando. We don't see a lot of Hi-Riders here. I think they must be considerably rarer than the Roadsters.

Ken

Welcome. Search and read, ask lot's of Q's, post detailed pics to help ensure quick, concise answers, drink Newcastle and sit for hours musing at the old girl... oh, wait, we don't have time for that anymore :mrgreen:

Thankyou for the welcome.

I'm not sure if it will remain a hi-rider. I have parts to convert it to a roadster so I'm toying with that concept right now.

From what I can see the only real differences are handlebars, seat and headlamp. The switch should be pretty straight forward. Cable lengths etc.

Not much enthusiasm for hi-riders from what I can tell. I find the handlebars a little uncomfortable.

concours said:

Welcome. Search and read, ask lot's of Q's, post detailed pics to help ensure quick, concise answers, drink Newcastle and sit for hours musing at the old girl... oh, wait, we don't have time for that anymore :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

Thankyou

I will certainly search and ask lots of questions.

I think Bass Ale helps me find that karmic connection with Cecilia the best.

I've named her Cecilia because she was my first...

As far as the pictures thing goes I will try to re-format so that they fit. I still have to learn how to do that.

A little info on what you have there, different from stock, from what I can see in the pictures:

Rear MK3 disc brake conversion with Grimeca caliper
Incorrect headlight shell, looks Japanese
Front Master Cylinder is the later style.
Mirror looks Japanese
Single Mikuni
Luggage rack.

The few bits that make it a HI-Rider are the seat, tank and handlebars, That's it.

All the base bikes are similar, with just a change in seat, side covers, handlebars and tank.

You do have the 1974 taillight. What number is on the transmission, frame or engine?

It's a good start you have there.

bwolfie said:

Rear MK3 disc brake conversion with Grimeca caliper

Click to expand...

Brembo caliper?

bwolfie said:

Incorrect headlight shell, looks Japanese

Click to expand...

I think it could be the standard Hi-Rider 6 inch MCH66 Lucas headlamp unit.

bwolfie said:

Front Master Cylinder is the later style.

Click to expand...

Looks like the early type to me?

bwolfie said:

Mirror looks Japanese

Click to expand...

Possibly a German Bumm (BMW/Triumph) mirror.
http://www.triumph-spares.co.uk/cat_det ... ad=Mirrors

What are the first three digits of the frame number? It might be a MkIII which would explain the rear brake.

Welcome and ebay the Hirider stuff to someone who cares. :mrgreen:

L.A.B. said:

bwolfie said:

Front Master Cylinder is the later style.

Click to expand...

Looks like the early type to me?

Click to expand...

Or the Triumph version


If you list the Hi-rider stuff on Ebay as a package, I think you could get close to $1000 for it.

swooshdave said:

What are the first three digits of the frame number? It might be a MkIII which would explain the rear brake.

Click to expand...

Frame doesn't appear to be MkIII type.

bwolfie said:

Or the Triumph version

Click to expand...

Looks like a Norton master cylinder, not late Norton (MkIII) and not a Triumph unit although it may have the standard replacement "Lockheed Triumph" cap.

Howdy from Arkansas Dixieland Martin.
You must have good sense of self and manhood to ride a HyRyder once you understand the majority opinion views of Commando bunch of elite exotica. Its missing the handy sissy bar to really set them off.

There are very few if any LED conversions that can equal the over all scope of view and function of plain factory filaments expect the BulbsThatLastForever kit which has option of running light function as well as blinkers and bright spiking tail light dazzle.

Baxter's Cycle has piles of anything and everything you need if the others don't and so do about a dozen other world wide vendors. Part the fun of Commandos it asking questions around the world of various vendors on cost and alternatives of anything you can come up with. Definitely open the heading post of how to post pictures etc as has much info or hard copy and online resources every serious Commando owner should have on hand.

The main down side of the HyRyder besides pillion crotch strain while shoved onto pilot is the tiny tank means stops every 100 miles or so which mean about everyone 1.5 hr of riding which ain't hardly a fling of a good Commando and knocks the poop out of interstate time making.

Do note that your only grace not to be bad mouthed on your slutty chopper degenerate sheep dating nature here is its pure factory issue not your own design. It takes a great sense of self and manhood to ride and own a semi chopper Commando let alone a real righteous one. You ain't going to impress any sports modern with handling power leans so beware of discovering THE Hinge.

Close Cousin to this sucker , if youre after inspiration .

Carbs & Ignition are priorities / necesities for good running & longivity . Must be A.O.K.

Checking Oil Pressure & a Compresion Test should tell you if alls healthy & as it should be.

Welcome to the fold .

There was Mk III Hi Riders , too . heres a french make over : http://www.motos-anglaises.com/

Thanks everyone for your input so far.

I have every intention of building a custom Norton out of this bike. I'll be posting more pictures and information as we go forward. Give me a few days.

I really want to go out and do things to the 21st century for this one.

I have a 75 MKIII electric start that I really will be trying to do as a classic restoration.

This one, who I will call Cecilia is an experiment in doing everything we can to put another Norton Commando on the stage demonstrating that there is still a possibility of merging tradition, history art and performance.

bwolfie said:

A little info on what you have there, different from stock, from what I can see in the pictures:

Rear MK3 disc brake conversion with Grimeca caliper
Incorrect headlight shell, looks Japanese
Front Master Cylinder is the later style.
Mirror looks Japanese
Single Mikuni
Luggage rack.

The few bits that make it a HI-Rider are the seat, tank and handlebars, That's it.

All the base bikes are similar, with just a change in seat, side covers, handlebars and tank.

You do have the 1974 taillight. What number is on the transmission, frame or engine?

It's a good start you have there.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. It will be a busy week so I'll reply on the weekend.

L.A.B. said:

bwolfie said:

Rear MK3 disc brake conversion with Grimeca caliper

Click to expand...

Brembo caliper?

bwolfie said:

Incorrect headlight shell, looks Japanese

Click to expand...

I think it could be the standard Hi-Rider 6 inch MCH66 Lucas headlamp unit.

bwolfie said:

Front Master Cylinder is the later style.

Click to expand...

Looks like the early type to me?

bwolfie said:

Mirror looks Japanese

Click to expand...

Possibly a German Bumm (BMW/Triumph) mirror.
http://www.triumph-spares.co.uk/cat_det ... ad=Mirrors

Click to expand...

It is a Brembo...will show pictures this weekend

Lamp is correct as you id

I'll also upload pics of the brake master cyl.

The mirror is irrelevant methinks..

swooshdave said:

What are the first three digits of the frame number? It might be a MkIII which would explain the rear brake.

Welcome and ebay the Hirider stuff to someone who cares. :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

Rear brake is aftermarket mod...stay tuned though...this weekend I'll be posting a lot more information and asking for advice.

I have a bunch of hi-rider stuff...

bwolfie said:

L.A.B. said:

bwolfie said:

Front Master Cylinder is the later style.

Click to expand...

Looks like the early type to me?

Click to expand...

Or the Triumph version

If you list the Hi-rider stuff on Ebay as a package, I think you could get close to $1000 for it.

Click to expand...

That would be cool...

Close to a Grand would pay for me to upgrade the electrics. I'm looking at OldBritts for this part of the modification...

Welcome XMarlin ,that Hi=Rider gas tank is smaller than a roadster but has some real nice lines to it Lots of good folks here with tons of norton experience, you've landed at the right place. Cj

XMarlin said:

Hello everyone

I'm new to the board and new to owning British Bikes. I recently acquired several as part of a debt settlement and thought
I'd see what I could do. My father has restored a couple of bikes and it piqued my interest.

I am an aircraft mechanic by trade, and am relatively mechanically-minded so I think, with the advice from this forum I should be able
totake on these projects.

The first project is a complete do-over of a hybrid commando. By hybrid I mean that the frame and engine don't match and the previous owner
had begun but not finished a number of modifications.

The frame is a hyrider and by the number it appears to be a 74 850, but the engine is a 71 750. My work so far has been to take it down to piece part and I am in the
process of having the paint work done. Since it's not a restoration I'm going with 2 tones of British racing green.

I am not an electrician however so the electrics part are a bit daunting. I've been considering converting the bike over to a negative ground and installing
LED lights etc. as well as upgraded electrics.

From what I've been able to see so far, two of the suppliers I will be relying on are FairSparesAmerica and OldeBritts. If there are any others you all might recommend I'd be glad to hear from you.

I've posted what she looks like now and will post as progress is made and I seek advice or suggestions.

Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum, and luv the pic. Yer choice what to do, but I luv the look. 8) If it were mine, I wouldn't change a thing ... but then again, I'm one of the few that like the Norton OEM Hi-Rider "chopper" look. Most people seem to "not like" them so much, cept' for me an "hobot" . Guess there is one thing I would do, 6" over fork tubes, yeah baby :mrgreen:

My best buddy Wes on his ex-HyRyder still sports the cute tiny tank but he's learned to carry a quart of gas with him everywhere and we must stop on long trips every hour or 60-80 miles. Its a throw back to bell bottom pants daze, not that comfy to live with and as there will always be some brazen HyRyders to show - do what ya must to live with it and we will understand.