Commando forks on a slimline frame

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Just to get your opinion , what's about longer forks (commando one ) in a featherbed slimline , with the correct lenght of rear shocks of course , wouldn'it be too high , specially if keeping the 19" wheels .........!
 
Just to get your opinion , what's about longer forks (commando one ) in a featherbed slimline , with the correct lenght of rear shocks of course , wouldn'it be too high , specially if keeping the 19" wheels .........!
Don't do it, unless you are going for the chopper look. It's pretty easy for anyone with a screw cutting lathe to shorten the fork sanctions, you'll need the shorter springs, unless you intend to cut the springs down also.
 
Hi Marin
I fitted a Commando disc front end to my slimline Triton 40 years ago. I have heavy feet lol, running round the North Circular I came over a crest & found a car pulling out on me. " signs said she couldn't but she was, & she was looking for an opening in the traffic i.e. not looking at me" The single lever front brake was pinned to the lever I stood on the rear brake which was rod operated. I never thought it was any good as you could watch the rod bend. Well it did! Tyre locked & squealing certainly got the driver's attention. The look of horror on her face as the bike fishtailed towards her & the bike went sideways & slammed into her car was a delight!. The bike came out ok. Footrest put a hole in the wheel arch panel in front of the door. And she had the joy of me looking at her through the windscreen as I lay over the wing. The audience was huge as the North Circular came to a standstill to watch. Embarrassed is not the word! Mortified more like.
Anyway I fitted a disc front end. I was always on 18 inch wheels it ran like that for a few years until I got a twin leader with the bracing kit & longer levers.
I also ran the Seeley MK4 with Commando front end cos that's what I had at the time. Darley tight circuit & it handles well.
Front sits up a bit & you can see that but I would not worry about running it.
 
The main issue with commando fork stantions is they are paired with the longer damper body.
You must change both. The damper rods AND the springs are not changed from commando to featherbed.
The short featherbed damper bodies with the springs on top control the sitting height.
http:// atlanticgreen.com/forks.htm
remove space zenforo modifies bare URL and substitutes "title"

Regular stock featherbed slimline does NOT have external springs like hot rods...cafe racers
 
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I've had commando forks in my 650 since 77' no issues, but did the master cylinder upgrade for the disc brake. Works a treat for me, but I'm a slow plodder now. No idea how to post a pic, but you may be able to expand my profile picture.
 
A question for those who fitted Commando yokes to Featherebed or G12/G15 frames: Position of the steering lock is different. Will it still work? I guess not, but I could be wrong.

These parts weigh quite a bit. The Domi top yoke and stanchion nuts weigh no less than 1.6 kg, stem nuts not included. Is someone offering an aluminum top yoke which includes the steering lock, either Domi or Commando style?
I am aware of the NRP yoke, which does'nt offer a steering lock. I'd like to retain the original design as far as possible (no pinch bolt clamp necessary).

Thanks.

Knut
 
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A question for those who fitted Commando yokes to Featherebed or G12/G15 frames: Position of the steering lock is different. Will it still work? I guess not, but I could be wrong.

My Atlas (‘65) had an early Commando lower yoke fitted, the type with flat bottom with pinch bolts that had studs for fitting the halo headlight and no holes for fitting shrouds. The steering stop (not lock) was of the same type as the frame. The Atlas used two different types of steering stops.

 
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A question for those who fitted Commando yokes to Featherebed or G12/G15 frames: Position of the steering lock is different. Will it still work? I guess not, but I could be wrong.

These parts weigh quite a bit. The Domi top yoke and stanchion nuts weigh no less than 1.6 kg, stem nuts not included. Is someone offering an aluminum top yoke which includes the steering lock, either Domi or Commando style?
I am aware of the NRP yoke, which does'nt offer a steering lock. I'd like to retain the original design as far as possible (no pinch bolt clamp necessary).

Thanks.

Knut
Hi Knut, my N15 pile 'o parts came with a 1963 Royal Enfield Interceptor yoke. I was scratching my head on what the heck it was from, quite an interesting piece. Sold to someone in India and did quite well on it.

I researched as many pics as I could find and took a chance on what was advertised on eBay as a Commando fastback complete yoke. I wasn't super concerned about the lock and haven't got one for it. As I peer down the hole it appears it would impede, but trimming some metal back on the frame stop would be possible. If you would like a picture let me know and I will post one. Definitely is a solid lump as is that frame.

Commando forks on a slimline frame
 
I been running a full Commando front end on my 57 Wideline frame and Commando Koni shocks on the rear since I built it in the early 80s I run Commando wheels Akront alloy rims 19" back and front, I have a 1960 Manxman Project bike it has 18" wheels and the stock frontend and stock short shocks (new set of Ikon shocks on the rear in slimline size), be easy to convert to Commando set up as be better with decent brake set up, but the Slimline is on hold as deciding to a complete frontend set up as its being build as a caferacer and is a ex race bike, the single leading shoe brake really do not appeal to me for safety reasons.
IMG_20210608_123208.jpg
 
Can you use a centre stand or side stand with that setup?
The frame never came with a centre stand but I have a bolt on side stand for the Featherbed frame, but when I built the bike back in the early 80s it was built for throwing it into the corner so pipes where built to tuck into the frame rails and foot pegs mounter up higher so for 25 years the Norton didn't have any stands at all, no stands no scraping, every one knew my bike as it be leaning on a fence, a post or side of a house, the Slimline centre stand be to short for the Wideline with 19" wheels, my Norton was built so nothing could scrape at all, even now I still have a habit of leaning it on a fence when parking, old habits hard to kill lol.

Ashley
 
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