Bonneville or Commando. Which was better?

this is still around , in zactly the same state . not tarted up .

Of Course , the Command's the road version of the P II .

"
That's Mike Patrick's P-11 Norton desert sled. In the heyday of the desert sled a nice wide 450x18 tire on the front was what all the hot shoes used. Don't forget that these things were called "sleds" for a reason. They didn't fly across the desert, due to their weight they slid though and not over. A big wide tire floated on the sand and didn't knife in.

Here is Mike on that bike with a 450x18 Trials tire on the front. "


Just to show we're not biased .



The Engines not to bad . But we're not too Sure about these Commando's , there .

Back to reality !

Mixed Bag.



New line in zorst eaders ." Tiny Maxwell and here is a photo of him on his 1964 Norton 750 scrambler.above -before 1968 when he rode one of the first p11's. "

Decent sizeone offthis :


Left any unitary stuff off , as theyre not really real motorcycles .

Matt Spencer said:

Mixed Bag.

New line in zorst eaders ." Tiny Maxwell and here is a photo of him on his 1964 Norton 750 scrambler.above -before 1968 when he rode one of the first p11's. "

Decent sizeone offthis :

Left any unitary stuff off , as theyre not really real motorcycles .

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Ten posts in a row - c'mon, you can do better that that!
Who needs a forum when we've got you!

Matt Spencer said:

Obviously , Pre units are BETTER .

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No not obvious at all.
Slapping a bunch of pics up justifies nothing. I guess putting up almost 6,000 posts one figures out a method of posting pictures...thanks to JD and many others.
Consider reading Jerry Doe's NON Paying members post

IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, my '75 e-start MkIII 850 was the finest highway bike I've ever owned (as far as classic bikes go). In fact, it took me on my longest single-day ride ever - 620 miles in 12 hours. We cruised at 80 about half of the time (I rode with two Harley riders), and I topped the ton more than once. When we got to the twisty stuff, I left the HD guys way back in my mirrors (when I could see them at all). My only gripe after that ride was, that I wished I had some sort of wind screen, ANYTHING. The Commando was simply flawless, essentially a thoroughly modern (albeit carbureted) bike - disc brakes, e-start, electronic ignition...

I now have to balance the above with the fact that the MkIII is an 850 (not a 750), and I've never really put a lot of hours or miles in the seat of any of the 750 Triumphs that I owned (twins and/or triples). So personally, not a good comparison subject rider.

I also have to add that OVERALL, I have enjoyed my Triumphs more than my Nortons as far as actually riding them in all/various conditions.

Just as a reference, I've owned 48 Triumphs, and only 21 Nortons; I still own 6 Triumphs and 2 Nortons. Also, I really only ride my modern Triumph Legend 900 triple regularly, my 2 Nortons are pretty much show bikes due to the rarity/value.

BOTTOM LINE:

' there I was , at 20.000 , with 300 on the clock ' .

And when a picture is worth a thousand words , It'd take several lifetimes for mostoffem to figure it out .
Did you Know shakespears complete works was written by an infinate number of monkeys with an infinate number of typewriters .

One Could FIGURE , maybe a Commando with a replica Chrome Molly Frame might be stiff enough not to dart off into the bushes ,

If you figure a Mk III , at 500 lb , dosnt qualify ( 25 % overweight ) . The Commando , at speed , you feel ' once removed ' from the surface .
perhaps . Which is part of its ' Isolastic Super Ride '. Surtees Vincents into the Right Hander at Pukekohe , did 2 or 3 ' Hinges ' . seldom ONE.
just like a STOCK 360 Charger in a PRODUCTION Race . Blah Blah . Yer Commando , stock , has got a hinge or two . Under Duress / at the limit.

To quote Williams , word of mouth , on the Monococque ( or spaceframe ) Vs P R Commando , on steering - Handling . " Oh No . Theyre Not the Same Thing . At All . "

Given that a Commando would out Roadhold Anything japanese , off its era , one cant complain . Unless one meets something Italian , as it were . from Then .
But MOST Jouralism is hogwash . The read between the lines , take with a dose of salt , etc .

did ANY STOCK COMMANDO ( fairly stock - frame & driveline - ) compete top line , off road , races . ?

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Looking at that Bonneville with the funny bars , So Youve GOt ' some leverage ' inadvertantly .
And 4.10 TT 100s .
Tooned length 1 3/4 pipes .
Augmented Zorst - perforated tubes go ( something like ) incandescent , IF
you run , on the ' rolled sealed road ' Twist Grip just back off on the stop ,
Stock Gearing - at 93 / 94 - the explosions start then merge - and your under way .
However , normal use - hot - it'll come in at 3500 , On.

Whereas the 2S Ported ( they both were ) Commando - would also pull like stink from 3500 .
But 7200 was the Higest id been caught , Whereas our t120 ran 110 in third ( work it out ) .
The SHIFT , there , required exactitude . 105 was saner . The Equivilants in TOP , then
woulda runna nuther tooth . 25 rather'n 24 . on the Primary . Up as fast as Malcolms , then .
unfaired .


typical undulateing , grippy ( for wet ) nasty road .
Which BRINGS US TO =

triumph - Lay it Over - get it , on the throttle . STEER with that and brawl with the rest . of it. Them .

commando - lay it over - D R I F T . Certain cormners , always , wet , she'd always drift . 2 wheel drift .
Not One . likea Triumph .
Some , entering , as cables were set to fully close carbs , youd throttle - clutch out - into . Pushing the F & R .
cack eyed byt still esentially a 2 wheel drift . On dunlops . On AVON roadrunners 3.60 F 4.10 R , was way more
chuckable .
On continetals it was suicideal , at Dunlop Speed .

A bloody great K 70 on the back , ( with the avon f ) covered lots quickly , uprightish . in toretial rain .
winter commute . However 40 foot + roostertails of roadside debri are frowned upon , even if 2 miles a minute arnt .

Work out 3rd & top on full hight 4 inch K 70 , on 23 tooth gearbox output . top in towns a menace unless the roads are clear .

Both are beteer , out in the country . Both are crankey old british rubbish if ' worked ' The Commando less catankerous ,
but more liable to run away with you . Much off a muchness . Not the same at all . When you get right down to it .

Lineslinger said:

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NO, I WIN.