Commando Frame Test Film

Dances with Shrapnel · Aug 7, 2017

NortonMKIIA850 said:
Unless my eyes are deceived by some spell (!) isn't the frame (frames?) carrying a mini tank already braced? If so, maybe the film's intended more to prove that the new frame's safe than anything else?

Spot on. Good eye for detail and I agree with your assessment.

grandpaul · Aug 7, 2017

frankdamp said:
... we moved to a small seaside town (Anacortes) ...

Virtually neighbors with Fred & Ella at Old Britts. It Texas, you'd be considered "right next door"

Ron L · Aug 7, 2017

L.A.B. said:
cliffa said:

cliffa said:

Looks like NV were cheating a bit though as the red bike doing the jumps is a Ranger isn't it?

Click to expand...

Perhaps they were checking those too but as you noticed, there's also what appears to be a silver pre-production 'S' Type doing the jumps.

Edit: The "Ranger" RJD 45E was registered in May '67 according to the DVLA database (last taxed in '81), so must have been an early P11A, not a Ranger. Who knows what it was doing there but perhaps it was a factory hack or development bike?

Click to expand...

That is the same P11A that was tested in Motorcycle Sport (May 1968 issue). Quite odd as it has the steel license bracket/taillight of the hight pipe P11. Rumor has it that is was indeed the development bike that started life as a high pipe P11 and was the basis for development of the P11A.

Perhaps it was included in the testing to assure they would not suffer the same failure as the early Commando as it was expected to be subjected to tough desert racing in the western U.S.

Ron L · Aug 7, 2017

kerinorton · Aug 7, 2017

Mr. Rick said:
You're headed out to the test track, trying to break a frame that's already killed 5 guys, and figure the proper attire is a pair of bathing trunks? :roll:
Whoa! Who's in charge here?

Isnt that the norm for some. While my wife and I were riding down the motorway north of Brisbane, wearing full leathers and on a hired Hardley Doodle, we were passed by a local on a modern biker who was wearing shorts and tee shirt [ 110 kph ].

wakeup · Aug 7, 2017

".... modern biker who was wearing shorts and tee shirt [ 110 kph ]."
Obviously this biker has never seen the result of sliding down the road on bare flesh.....REALLY painful!!
cheers
wakeup

kerinorton · Aug 7, 2017

They obviously needed a [ wakeup ] call from you.

Dereck

NortonMKIIA850 · Aug 8, 2017

I know it's easy to be wise after the event, but picturing the Commando frame without that bracing tube does make me wonder how anyone ever thought it'd stay together ...

MexicoMike · Aug 9, 2017

wakeup said:
".... modern biker who was wearing shorts and tee shirt [ 110 kph ]."
Obviously this biker has never seen the result of sliding down the road on bare flesh.....REALLY painful!!
cheers
wakeup

That attire (or less) - often no helmet - is pretty much standard in TX in mid summer.

olympus · Aug 10, 2017

Elf & Safety police would have a field day (or coronary) if done now..

Malc

Commando Frame Test Film

Similar threads