ceriani on a commando?

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cafe_norton

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Hello I just lucked into a set of ceriani forks w a 4ls wheel on it. Has anyone ran this set up on their commando? If so whats involved? Considering the desirability and price these things go for, there is surprisingly very little info out there on them. The fork lengths are the same but the triple tree is a half inch narrower than the stock piece. Any clues or info? Thanks
 
Might be an early Laverda 750 SF front end? Good alternative to the Road Holder and a great looking hub.

Mick
 
Laverdas had 2ls front brake but some guzzis and morinis had 4ls so I do not think it will be off a Laverda .Guzzi brakes were crap , Morinis were ,i am told,good .(used to ride an early Laverda and used a guzzi brake , never used a Morini )
I have put a Marzochi on my Commando and this works really well
And Cerianis were always a cut above the rest so go for it
A picture could tell us more


ceriani on a commando?
 
There are a couple of things you'll need to sort out.
The offset of the triple trees needs to be about the same to get the right trail. Also , I think some later Commandos had the forks at a different rake from the steering stem which complicates the set up.
Then you need to make the stem fit the frame, the bearings may be different and the spacing between the bearings may be different. It's not that hard to fix. I once got a machine shop to make me a new steering stem to make a pair of forks fit.
 
pommie john said:
There are a couple of things you'll need to sort out.
The offset of the triple trees needs to be about the same to get the right trail. Also , I think some later Commandos had the forks at a different rake from the steering stem which complicates the set up.
Then you need to make the stem fit the frame, the bearings may be different and the spacing between the bearings may be different. It's not that hard to fix. I once got a machine shop to make me a new steering stem to make a pair of forks fit.
Click to expand...

I do not think (as am sure )that a small difference in ofset will make a difference . OK the trail might change but if it is 70s italian then it will decrease (all the italian yokes i know off that era would do that )and that would make the bike handier , unless you intend to use it for "cruising the highway "
mine is much more nervous and nimbler than a std and with that narower yoke it will clamp your wheel more ridgid,allowing your stanchions less flex
 
Great, thanks folks this is my first time on a forum. I appreciate the help. I bought a really ragged out 350 sprint that someone put high dollars wheels on and used it as farm bike best I can tell. I dont know its origins before that, however the brake plates are magnesium (ceriani or grimeca) it also has what looks like a Fontana rear hub. So I dont think it was ever off anything factory. The brake is the larger of the two sizes generally offered. Someone mentioned a new stem. I like the bearing set up on the commando can I turn down the stem to fit the bearings? Is that cool? Is there any sort of ceriani identification chart out there? Thanks again everybody.
 
cafe_norton said:
Great, thanks folks this is my first time on a forum. I appreciate the help. I bought a really ragged out 350 sprint that someone put high dollars wheels on and used it as farm bike best I can tell. I dont know its origins before that, however the brake plates are magnesium (ceriani or grimeca) it also has what looks like a Fontana rear hub. So I dont think it was ever off anything factory. The brake is the larger of the two sizes generally offered. Someone mentioned a new stem. I like the bearing set up on the commando can I turn down the stem to fit the bearings? Is that cool? Is there any sort of ceriani identification chart out there? Thanks again everybody.
Click to expand...

I have no problems modifying a steering stem ( see cafe-commando-build-thread-t8372.html ) but some people do. The first thing to try before any modifications, take one of the stering head bearings to your local bearing supply place along with the stem, if it is the right lenght, they might be able to find earings that match the commando's neck to the ceriani stem. You may get away with just a bearing change.

Jean
 
If memory serves, the two prototypes (and maybe the first dozen or so production bikes) had "real" Cerianis, before the "copied" version was made.
 
frankdamp said:
If memory serves, the two prototypes (and maybe the first dozen or so production bikes) had "real" Cerianis, before the "copied" version was made.
Click to expand...

And the very last Commando prototype was the Norton 76 which had a Ceriani front end with alloy wheels.

Mick
 
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