Blood, sweat and tears or the story of my Seeley Commando

The love story between the Norton and me is very old, almost 40 years: (sorry for my poor english)
In the early 70's I was 20 years old and was working at the Belgian Distributor from Kawasaki, I rode a 750 H2 tri-cylinder two stroke ( the fastest bike between two gas stations) and as a stupid kid, I was the King of the road, till the day, on a B road i meet a guy with a Norton Production Racer, the road was full of turns and breaking zones and the King was not able to follow the Norton, i was not a King anymore, not even a Prince.
This was the begining of a love story with the Commando but it's take moore as 30 years before we sheer the same bed.
I don't stay without bike so long of course, and I own 500 and 750 Kawa, a Harley 750 from 1943, a Zundapp 200 cc, a Thunderbird, a Bonneville, two Ducati 900ss, a Krauser Domani Outfit, and more recently a Bimota SB6R and a yamaha 750 R7 superbike with full factory racing kit with a real 160BHP (that bike was almost going as fast in first gear as the Commando on top) I pay almost the price of the bike in fines so my wife say end of the story and no bike anymore! as As a good husband I sold the Yam and stay without bike for one full year, then I convinct my wife to let me buy a classic bike, "you know Honey, a Norton Commando, this bike go no faster as 100km/h" so after a lot of flowers she allowd me to buy a Commando, the next day the bike was in the shed, becouse I prepair everithing long before she give me the green light. the bike was a MK 2 A in good condition and I did around 6.000km in one year, with less fines...
But I was a sidecar racer from 68 till 81 and always involded in races (sidecar and jet ski) so I wish something else as a normal Commando, why not a Seeley,two legends of the fine art ot motorcycle on two weels, a Seeley frame with a Norton engine, i start searching the Seeley frame but quite difficult to find and the new replica's never ready for sale, but one day I meet a guy who as a frame coming from the first owner in Germany, a classic rider, the frame was made by Titmarsch in the UK and the belgian guy buy it from the german but never find the time to fit a engine in it.
the frame was without forks, with full fairing (how can you hide sutch a beautyfull engine) the general shape was good but far from my wishes for the look.
The tank was paint in green, so I decide to take the paint from it to have a bare alloy tank, under the paint a discover almost one pound of filler in some dents, so i cut holes in the bottom of the tank to give the tank his original shape, this take me, including the polishing by hand almost 80 hours of work, i take the engine and gearbox from the Commando to fit in the frame, but before I wish to ad some power to the engine; Here in Belgium we got a very good specialist in British bikes: Frank Jordens, so I go to him to make the extra HP, my knowledge of the Norton engine was to poor to do it alone, so we put a PW3 camshaft, bigger inlet valves, high compression pistons, and we give the Crank the good balance factor for the Seeley, we put also new shells, bolt and nuts on the conrods (very important detail to know if you wish to know the end of the story)
After a lot of work on the Seeley, like making new engine plates for the Seeley and a lot of cosmetic work I put the engine in the frame and lets go for the first ride: everithing fine so far, the only thing was that the oil pressure gage was giving me a very low pressure when i was reving-up the engine and back to normal at idel
as long as you see the oil returning in the tank, dont worry!, I speak with different specialist about the problem and most of them say " dont worry, this gage never work accurate" On a other brake -in ride i push the engine to 3.500 rpm and a big "bang" happens, the road was like the parts catalogue of the Norton engine, crankcase like Irak after the visit of the US bombers, pistons broken, cylinder broken, camshaft destroy, only the crankshaft was still good and the head. the reason of this disaster: one of the nuts of the conrod was coming lose, so when reving-up the oil escape from the gap between crank and conrod and at the end the conrod broke with all the damage you can imagine. So Frank and me we decide to rebuilt the engine, I take my riotgun to go to my bank and we start the work on the engine, new crankcase (MK 3)
new alloy cylinder made by Steve Money, sorry Maney, new pistons from Maney, new US made full alloy conrods, new camshaft (PW3) new oil pump and a new wife becouse the old one dont wish to spend our money any more! so far so good, i did 9.000 km this season without major troubles or maybe one:
I was on the highway at 160 km/h and the shaft that holds the swinging arm in the frame broke at one side just between the arm and the frame and I was tinking that I was back on my Kawa 500; I keep the bike on the road and i am still in live. The next day the local newspappers report that the highway police arrest a truck driver sitting near is truck and telling the police that he saw Chubby Cheker singing "let's twist again" on a Commando using the 3 lanes of the highway!!

Here you go for the "specials" on the bike:
First a lot of thanks to Frank Jordens who take a lot of parts in warranty after the disaster and all my friends from the norton comunity for the help

Pipes made by Steve Maney and Black Chrome platting here in Belgium, very good mid range and top power, a must!
Cylinder Steve maney full alloy and 5kg lighter as the stock one
High compression pistons also from Maney, trouble fee so far
PW 3 camshaft from Mike Hemings, very good all round
Belt drive by Mike Hemings
TTI 5 speed gearbox realy great! and you must know that i meet Brian, the European Distributor at a classic race here in Belgium, telling hem that I was intrested in a TTI box, " I gat one in the truck if you like to buy one" "but I dont have the money here" "take it with you and send me the money later! great man!
Keyhin FCR carbs from CNW, very good on the stock Commando but a lot of work after tuning the engine, but now wonderfull
Pazon ignition: great but be care for the conextions if you dont have a back-up ankel
Triple trees from minovation, amasing good work!
Top fairing from Norvil, easy to fit on a Seeley
Disk brake from RGM with a japanese Nissin master cylinder (12mm)
Tires: Bridgestone
Chain: 520 becouse of the sprocket on the gear box.
Rear shocks: modern ohlins

so you understand now why I call my bike the "Big spender" if i have one $ in my pocket I will spend two $ on my bike!
For the future, i will ask Steve Maney to do more work on the head, I will buy a lightweight crank from Maney to and I wish to find a Ceriani GP fork and a yamaha TZ 260mm drum brake and before I forget I wish to buy a bigger riotgun to go to the bank
Cheers

Great story Yves. A fantastic trip through all the ups and downs. I'm glad you use it and not just sit it in the shed and stare at it.

Hello Yves, that's the best story I've read in a long time.

Thank you for sharing, very funny.

Regards Graeme.

Great read Yves.
No apologies needed for your English, it's fine.
Looking forward for the update.

Cheers, Mike

A man living his dream, That's a very good story. The only thing better than the story is the bike, Awesome machine. Thank you, Oh and don't rob the bank someone else may get your bike.

That is an excellent "love story".

P.S. I speak from experience as well, one ex-wife is one too many!

Great Yves ! Reading al the steps you've gone through, I assume you could write a complete and exciting book about this Seeley Commando story.

I really enjoyed reading that Yves, especially the "new wife" quip.......I just showed my wife that line in the hope that my spending power for my classic bikes will not be curtailled :lol: :lol:

I've just come back from visiting Belgium last week. I really enjoy visiting your country, beautiful beer and architecture.

Brilliant story Yves...my Seeley story is almost as long. I got rid of my wife first though! 2 cranks, 4 split barrels, one set of Mk3 crankcases, 1 Quaife gearbox, 2 sets of conrods (one Carrillo, one MAP...I'd never use MAP again)....and thats just the "normal" 750 motor. I've got a short stroke motor as a spare, it's only been run once, need 2 new inlet valves so far, haven't even stripped the rest yet, but everything else on both motors is Maney...lotsa Money

http://www.sport-pics.co.uk/2009_season ... ca0963.htm

I spent seven years restoring a classic boat, I call that story "Blood, sweat and beers". I would gladly buy you one! You deserve it!

Re: Blood, sweat and tears or the story of my Seeley Command

like to build a seeley for the road, where can a bay a frame and tank.

fabton denmark

Re: Blood, sweat and tears or the story of my Seeley Command

Roger Titchmarsh is the best for frames, he should be able to supply a tank too, and Minnovation are very high quality frame parts!

Roger Titchmarsh Racing
Address: Primrsoe Cottage
East Cottingwith
York
Yorkshire
YO42 4TH
Contact: Roger Titchmarsh
Telephone: 01759 318562


http://www.minnovationracing.co.uk/138/ ... do_gallery

Re: Blood, sweat and tears or the story of my Seeley Command

A great story, Yves. When I was racing my Production Racer in the '70s one of my main competitors rode a 750 Kawi triple. He had lots more horsepower than I did, and usually beat me, but I could still pass him in the corners. His frame was heavily reinforced, and he was running slicks, but he still had serious wobbles and weaves in fast sweepers. He was a brave man just to ride that beast.

Ken

Re: Blood, sweat and tears or the story of my Seeley Command

Yves, comforting to know how similar motorcycling genetics run$ in our blood.
Much as I respect a fella's cycling survival skills, its more tricky to handle one's spouse while over spending and risking their sense of security that you will come home in functional order or not just leave em for a better ride. Ie: use kitchen and cooking items w/o asking and when challenged - decide to take a more dangerous way through a turn by responding with -"Well its easier to ask forgiveness than Premission!" WoooHoo, fancy handling skills invoked to recover that upset and survive.

My 1st motorcycle was mid 10 sec 1/4 mile P!! Ranger, it flat left anything legal on the road in its wake to over the ton, but sat so low, a ratty worn H1-H2 or even a WaterBuffalo etc could easy out handling it in mild turns on a highway.
I tired a number of bikes Harleys to inline 4's in city test rides, on-off for 35 yrs but gave up as nothing was half as exciting or dangerous as that P!!. Then moved to rural Ozarks, a rider's mecca and stumbled on a Combat while shopping for a used riding mower - Took a week of me-wife grinding over - Mower or Motorcycle, to use up last of money left over in move with no place even decided on where/when to get a living going again. First week and 6 crashes later on THE Gravel, local big twin riders took me under wing to dragstrip camp out I'd only planned to watch - until some hwy practice take offs blew rusted peashooters off and really opened up the Combat 2S cam breathing so got in line on pre-race time trials to fold up rear tire in sideways wheelie slap down that took out my R knee to just hang by the skin. Whole 'nother thread how I was able to start and run home 160 miles at night in shock - to set the flavor of my new ear of Norton heavy twin adventure$.




10's of $1000's later - I'm about a year away form Goldwing smooth trial bike heavy cargo hualer any weather elite sports bike spanker Ms. Peel. Hope your project works out to make it worth a life time of joy and terror before ya go.

Steven 'hobot' Shiver