Best Norton in Southern Africa (I hope)

Ok,

Its been a long time.

I have a life besides bikes. Like trying to earn enough money to fix my Commando.


Here's what I started with.


Please note it shit the bed before I got it home and off the trailer.





After a really long time I thought I had all the parts and could well you know, assemble the bastard over a long weekend.




Clearly I've been in the sun way too long.

Turns out that just about every time a major assembly point was going to be reached, I needed more parts, average turnaround time from order to deliver about 30 days.

But finally under the tutelage of Tom Roundtree progress was made.




Rolling Chassis:





body work starting to go on, but......

All sorts of new shit turned up missing, worn out or otherwise fubard so another box should leave the states today. plus the local guy who did the paintwork fucked up the fenders needing a total respray and then he ordered the wrong base so it needs another respray.




So maybe with a bit of luck and consideration from the postal authorities it will be running in time for a shot at the most improved.

And thats about all there is to report from this side of the mud ball.

Chris in Omaruru, just off the edge of the map where there be dragons.

PS, I did complete my 1966 BSA C15, sold the Velo and the AJS, acquired a XS1100 and a W650.

Nice.

Do you have to worry about ethanol in your fuel down there?

Looks nice indeed, but on the pictures the exhaust pipes appear to be very close to the frame.
Has the movement of the engine in its isolastics been taken into account ?
it may be that the picture is a bit misleading here, but .. just a thought.
I do like the shape of the pipes anyway.

Peter R said:

Looks nice indeed, but on the pictures the exhaust pipes appear to be very close to the frame.
Has the movement of the engine in its isolastics been taken into account ?
it may be that the picture is a bit misleading here, but .. just a thought.
I do like the shape of the pipes anyway.

Click to expand...

I was sort of wondering the same thing too. My S pipes are what I consider too close to the down tubes, like maybe 3/8", but they don't hit. I have the issue of the pipes/silencers hitting each other too, but this setup looks like that wouldn't be a problem.

Dave
69S

Nice bike, shouldn't have any trouble staying ahead of those Dragons.... But if they have flashing red lights on their heads it's best to just pull over & don't act afraid.

Lookin' good!!

Note: There is no spare ethanol in Namibia, whatever is made is consumed by 2 leggers.

The comments about the exhaust pipes being to close to the frame are duly noted, appropriate level of panic has set in, as in WTF do I do now if they are too close???????

I'll post more as soon as Tom hits the next stage of assembly, which will wait until we get the box from the states.

Cheers.

C

Hey Chris,
Love reading your Afrikan slang, vee cool. And I really like the black rims, on white treatment, has the white got a pearl in it. It must be frustrating waiting for parts, but the joy of being the only old barstool in your neck of the woods with a Commando will make up for it. I am a kiwi and Omaru is a local place on the South Island, close to your Omaruru.

Cheers Richard, Sydney.

namibchris said:

Note: There is no spare ethanol in Namibia, whatever is made is consumed by 2 leggers.

The comments about the exhaust pipes being to close to the frame are duly noted, appropriate level of panic has set in, as in WTF do I do now if they are too close???????

I'll post more as soon as Tom hits the next stage of assembly, which will wait until we get the box from the states.

Cheers.

C

Click to expand...

Since the pipes were obviously designed for the Commando I wouldn't worry. It's probably just the camera making them look really close. If they hit the frame when you start it up... you'll know.

Picture two has decent angle on the left pipe and picture 3 has a good angle on the right. Both look like you could at least put a finger between the pipes and the frame. I think you are fine. I love those pipes by the way.

A friend has those pipes, and YES, they hit the frame. Lame-ass. Hope things go better for you. :shock:

I hope you're wrong concours, I'm surprised how close my S pipes are to the frame and they don't hit. If you've got a finger space and new isos, you should be good.

Actually I just went and checked, my right pipe which comes around the frame real close is maybe 3/16" and it doesn't hit. No way can I put even my little finger at the nail in there.

I'm sure you'll find out.

Dave
69S

I have those pipes, had them on a '70 commando, they didn't touch the frame, but they did touch the ground. If I get time on the weekend I'll take a picture of the hole the pavement burnt in them. Right where the pipe meets the muffler.

concours said:

Click to expand...

Concours is not wrong. This is my bike, and what I've found is if the pipes are out far enough so they dont rub the R/H frame tube they foul the kickstart lever when starting. (Brand new TIGHT isos) They also are made for the later style exhaust nuts that went with the crossover head pipes. When used with the earlier style nuts there is about a 1/2 inch or so of thread left exposed. I'll gladly trade them for a set of undented used stock pipes if anyone is interested.

I had a hooker setup sort of like that in the 70's only 2 into 2 and it didn't last maybe a week because it also scraped on the ground. I sold it recently.

Dave
69S

that's a shame, the pipes are really cool looking too and possibly a god weight reduction too?

hey Bluenoser, thats one way to stop the kick start lever from rattling loose on the gearbox shaft!!!!
Regards Mike