Commando awakened today

Onder · 2026-05-12T12:47:36-0600

Today I awakened the Commando and put 50 miles on it. First kick and it spit back and elevated me. Don't wear trainers and don't be half hearted about it!
Pazon Altair. I have a new Pazon analogue on the shelf and had considered
putting it on. At the petrol station it refused to start. It never likes to start on
the side stand but putting on the centre stand risks having fall over in public.
But no choice. Fortunately got it up and third kick burst into life. I must apply the SureFire though.
Ride went well, bike runs like a top and I avoided death, hospitalization and arrest. They really are a nice bike. So the season has begun!

Fast Eddie · 2026-05-12T14:34:17-0600

Onder said:
Today I awakened the Commando and put 50 miles on it. First kick and it spit back and elevated me. Don't wear trainers and don't be half hearted about it!
Pazon Altair. I have a new Pazon analogue on the shelf and had considered
putting it on. At the petrol station it refused to start. It never likes to start on
the side stand but putting on the centre stand risks having fall over in public.
But no choice. Fortunately got it up and third kick burst into life. I must apply the SureFire though.
Ride went well, bike runs like a top and I avoided death, hospitalization and arrest. They really are a nice bike. So the season has begun!

Tri Sparks anti kick back function is reason enough to buy one IMO !

concours · 2026-05-12T15:03:14-0600

Onder said:
Today I awakened the Commando and put 50 miles on it. First kick and it spit back and elevated me. Don't wear trainers and don't be half hearted about it!
Pazon Altair. I have a new Pazon analogue on the shelf and had considered
putting it on. At the petrol station it refused to start. It never likes to start on
the side stand but putting on the centre stand risks having fall over in public.
But no choice. Fortunately got it up and third kick burst into life. I must apply the SureFire though.
Ride went well, bike runs like a top and I avoided death, hospitalization and arrest. They really are a nice bike. So the season has begun!

I'll be interested to see the results, changing from Altair to Sure-Fire.

batrider · 2026-05-12T15:08:33-0600

The Pazon Altair will kick you back if you give it a wimpy kick. The Pazon Surefire does not. I went Tri-spark for the Norton and Surefire on the 350 ~M~.

Torontonian · 2026-05-12T17:44:08-0600

Onder said:
Today I awakened the Commando and put 50 miles on it. First kick and it spit back and elevated me. Don't wear trainers and don't be half hearted about it!
Pazon Altair. I have a new Pazon analogue on the shelf and had considered
putting it on. At the petrol station it refused to start. It never likes to start on
the side stand but putting on the centre stand risks having fall over in public.
But no choice. Fortunately got it up and third kick burst into life. I must apply the SureFire though.
Ride went well, bike runs like a top and I avoided death, hospitalization and arrest. They really are a nice bike. So the season has begun!

Love it .

Onder · 2026-05-13T00:52:04-0600

Today I shall have at it. Read on here that the Altair has issues and the guru from Andover says he binned the sample they had at their shop. My experience has been the Commando will go first kick
with the Altair or it will be another 10 and a wait. Wish I could put on the longer T160 type kicker but it won't clear the TTI gearbox. Had one on the RE Interceptor and never really had any problem. But kicking over the Inter is easier than the Commando and suspect that is part of it for Mr. Eight and a half stone. Older TriSpark on the Trident and almost always a first kicker. Compression is not an issue with the little cylinders.
Stayed tuned...

trident sam · 2026-05-13T01:08:00-0600

I've had Surefire on 3 Commandos and never a fault with any.

Madnorton · 2026-05-13T01:19:20-0600

Not sure why the bike is not more stable on the centre stand than the side stand? You can do a lot damage starting the bike on the side stand.

ashman · 2026-05-13T02:09:24-0600

I stick to my Joe Hunt magneto, first kick every time, well till I lost my kicking leg sadly.

Sorry couldn't help myself and should never use a side stand or a centre stand for that matter to kick start a Norton.

Fast Eddie · 2026-05-13T02:22:53-0600

Madnorton said:
Not sure why the bike is not more stable on the centre stand than the side stand?

I think Onder is referring to the physical act of putting it on the centre stand… rather than the stability once on the stand…

@Onder… get yourself an OIF Triumph, they have to be the easiest 750cc motorbike to get onto the centre stand EVER !

SteveBorland · 2026-05-13T03:53:12-0600

Fast Eddie said:
I think Onder is referring to the physical act of putting it on the centre stand… rather than the stability once on the stand…

@Onder… get yourself an OIF Triumph, they have to be the easiest 750cc motorbike to get onto the centre stand EVER !

Hmm - I can put both the 850 Commando and my Ducati 750 bevel on the center stand while sitting in the saddle. Actually, that's only really true if I have the PR seat on the 850, the dual seat is too high to do that.

Commando awakened today

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