Commando High Speed Stability

phil yates said:

........ Anyone who hasn't tried riding (or is it called driving?) an outfit ought to have a go just for the sheer fun and learning experience. There are a lot of forces in play and getting to understand them is fascinating.
phil

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Quite right. For a short time I had an AJS 650CSR with a Steib. First time that I rode it was in an industrial estate when there was an inch of snow on the ground. Used to love going round roundabouts steering with the throttle....only when no-one else was around of course. I was just getting the knack of lifting the sidecar wheel when I sold it.
cheers
wakeup

wakeup said:

phil yates said:

........ Anyone who hasn't tried riding (or is it called driving?) an outfit ought to have a go just for the sheer fun and learning experience. There are a lot of forces in play and getting to understand them is fascinating.
phil

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Quite right. For a short time I had an AJS 650CSR with a Steib. First time that I rode it was in an industrial estate when there was an inch of snow on the ground. Used to love going round roundabouts steering with the throttle....only when no-one else was around of course. I was just getting the knack of lifting the sidecar wheel when I sold it.
cheers
wakeup

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Sorry to hear you sold it wakeup. I'm only a novice but each day I go out in it I realise how much more I've learnt than what I knew the last time. I think with further practise you could get very fast around corners, maybe even give hobot a whipping!

That would shock him!!

phil

No it's not a Norton. Stop sobbing and screaming hobot. The boys from Joadja only know me as a Norton man. But they fell in love with the outfit idea. I haven't been out there to see my mates for over a year. They asked, where is that Norton you had? I tell them I now have two special ones in my backyard.

phil

Photos attached associated with last post.

I built an outfit out of a BMW K100RS and an old Watsonian sidecar a few years back and it was great fun to ride. I built it to use for European winter rallies and it did the job perfectly except for the fact that I thought throwing a bag of sand in the chair made a decent substitute for my camping gear when I was trying it out but when I added a passenger as well I discovered that the shock absorber in the chair was shot to bits :roll:

Everyone should own an outfit at some point in their life because the laughs you can have lifting the chair at speed can't be beaten on two wheels only.

Andy_B said:

I built an outfit out of a BMW K100RS and an old Watsonian sidecar a few years back and it was great fun to ride. I built it to use for European winter rallies and it did the job perfectly except for the fact that I thought throwing a bag of sand in the chair made a decent substitute for my camping gear when I was trying it out but when I added a passenger as well I discovered that the shock absorber in the chair was shot to bits :roll:

Everyone should own an outfit at some point in their life because the laughs you can have lifting the chair at speed can't be beaten on two wheels only.

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Andy
The 86yr old chap I bought mine from thoughtfully included two 20kg sand bags but I would have none of it and removed them. I preferred to go "cold turkey" and learn right from the start how to deal with an empty chair. It is fun alright!! Hurtling around a corner with the chair in the air is more fun than you get scraping pegs on two wheels, and possibly requires more skill.

phil

Older Utilitarian vintage BMW hacks are a dime a dozen and belongs in the Other Motorcycles section though a wise choice even to me not to fall over so much, no fault of my own but leaving home. Now ya got a low maintenance&performance sidecar to fascinate old farts - time to solve your annoying Commando sensation. I've never been in or driven a sidecar but see how much fun they are to race into serous over powered slides so looking forward to one on Peel.

hobot said:

Older Utilitarian vintage BMW hacks are a dime a dozen and belongs in the Other Motorcycles section though a wise choice even to me not to fall over so much, no fault of my own but leaving home. Now ya got a low maintenance&performance sidecar to fascinate old farts - time to solve your annoying Commando sensation. I've never been in or driven a sidecar but see how much fun they are to race into serous over powered slides so looking forward to one on Peel.

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Well now!!
You didn't or haven't made one mention ever regarding member comments about high powered rice burners on this forum. You even posted a photo of yourself on one piddling around in the snow, a blue one of all things. I think Mr hobot, you have just been caught with your pants down and what we see is……..well, let's not describe it.

You are quite right, this is not the place to discuss it, but I am going to just to make the hair stand up on your furry hobbit feet. A long time ago I dismissed the 650 beemer as an underpowered little brother. Every boxer I've owned before has been 800cc and above. And everyone (especially the modern offerings) has been a rather heavy bastard. This light little puppy is a revelation. Not a lot of torque down low but wind her up and kapooooow! For a 650 it fangs. Especially with the throaty Staintune exhaust system fitted. Brakes are good and with the chair off I reckon she'd fang around corners too.

It was my intention to restore a Dominator and fit a chair, but god pointed me in this direction for some reason. The minute I saw it I turned to madam butterfly and said, I'm buying this. My snap decisions always terrify her and she pleaded with me to at least think about it, but I already had, for approx 1 second. The owner was 86yrs old and had lost his wife and wanted his outfit to go to a good home. So here it is and you are going to hear about it whether you like it or not Mr furry fellow!!

phil

Phil, In the olden days we raced in classes determined by machine capacity and rider grading. These days I can recognise an inexperienced rider and watch out for myself. If they dive under you and lose it, the can knock the wheels out from under yo - over the top is not so bad. THe trouble is that the kids can by an R6 or R1 or Fireblade fairly cheaply and they are a lethal motorcycle. The only modern bike I've ever ridden was a VFR400 Honda, and it was excellent, except it is speed controlled so reaches a point where it won't go any faster in top gear. I believe what happens with modern bikes is everything moves up a notch and the same slippery dangerous conditions are eventually found. I know the way I ride and I'm not prepared to get off that fast. As far as the BMW and sidecar is involved, my wife has told me point blank that she will not get into a sidecar. I think they are a really lovely thing - almost as good as a Morgan Aero.

acotrel said:

Phil, In the olden days we raced in classes determined by machine capacity and rider grading. These days I can recognise an inexperienced rider and watch out for myself. If they dive under you and lose it, the can knock the wheels out from under yo - over the top is not so bad. THe trouble is that the kids can by an R6 or R1 or Fireblade fairly cheaply and they are a lethal motorcycle. The only modern bike I've ever ridden was a VFR400 Honda, and it was excellent, except it is speed controlled so reaches a point where it won't go any faster in top gear. I believe what happens with modern bikes is everything moves up a notch and the same slippery dangerous conditions are eventually found. I know the way I ride and I'm not prepared to get off that fast. As far as the BMW and sidecar is involved, my wife has told me point blank that she will not get into a sidecar. I think they are a really lovely thing - almost as good as a Morgan Aero.

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Track ride days were a dangerous joke. Fast bikes, slow bikes, good riders, poor riders - all blasting around the track at the same time. Racing in classes would be entirely different.

I just happen to have a gal who loves motorcycles and aeroplanes. I won't teach her to ride, no way would I travel on the back, NEVER!! But flying no problem, I've got a prong too. The chair has a rear boot for shopping etc. I'm real sorry your wife wouldn't get in one. I don't think my ex would have either, but I can't even remember her name let alone what she would or wouldn't do. I don't remember her doing anything at all but chain smoking and drinking coke. I've got a handle on this airborne chair cornering technique and expect to get better and better at it. What starts off feeling so strange very quickly becomes second nature to the point where you stop thinking about how you are doing something. Much the same as we do with a normal motorcycle, it just happens.

I don't think there is any end to loving beautiful old machinery. My Piper is a 1967 model and I love it too. It's not that I don't like new things as well, but there is an old world charm about machinery of old. And in a clinical sense, they are generally a reasonable place to sink spare money without losing large chunks of it in depreciation. So you get the best of both worlds. A passion that doesn't send you broke in the long run. Mind you, I plan to never ever sell anything of what I own. I wanted to buy my last combat back but by the time I was ready it had gone to a chap in QLD. But he absolutely loves it apparently so good for him.

This is the time of our lives to enjoy with the hard stuff and children (also ex wives, one or two or three) behind us. I reckon we get out there and give it all we've got!!

phil

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phil yates said:

olChris said:

phil yates said:

Major Dummy Spit??

I think I'd better explain this one to our American friends (not that I've got any…cept Cap't Rocket Ship living in LA).

When a baby has a tantrum and starts screaming uncontrollably, he spits out his dummy in the process….hence a dummy spit.
If it's a serious tantrum, it's known as major. Hence a major dummy spit.

Now let's see if Cap't Rocket Ship is going to have another major dummy spit!

Phil

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Dummy Spit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RuYuyAOZSs#t=15

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The WORST dummy spit is the silent type.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFa4X6jGJSM
Highly dangerous!!
Like when your girlfriend doesn't speak to you for a week or more, the likely ailment is a MAJOR MAJOR dummy spit.
But it's really safer not to ask!!

Phil

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Now this is a MAJOR MAYJOR Dummy spit......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFa4X6jGJSM

[quote
Now let's see if Cap't Rocket Ship is going to have another major dummy spit!

Phil[/quote]

Dummy Spit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RuYuyAOZSs#t=15[/quote]

The WORST dummy spit is the silent type.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFa4X6jGJSM
Highly dangerous!!
Like when your girlfriend doesn't speak to you for a week or more, the likely ailment is a MAJOR MAJOR dummy spit.
But it's really safer not to ask!!

Phil[/quote]


Now this is a MAJOR MAYJOR Dummy spit......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFa4X6jGJSM[/quote]

Yes, that's the one Chris. Never EVER let your wife drive one of these!!

Phil

Ref. high speed stability noise. Ref olChris

I was getting a ticketing noise the other day at about 60 , it went away when I stopped. But at sixty back again.

Just wondering should I check my tappets, reset my chain guard or put two new grommets in my side pannel.

Worried from Wolverhampton .

auldblue said:

Ref. high speed stability noise. Ref olChris

I was getting a ticketing noise the other day at about 60 , it went away when I stopped. But at sixty back again.

Just wondering should I check my tappets, reset my chain guard or put two new grommets in my side pannel.

Worried from Wolverhampton .

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Check that your shirt collar is tucked into your jumper properly. A flapping collar can set up harmonics at certain speeds which translate to and replicate more serious problem noises. But I apologise, your question was to olChris who knows a lot more about this than I could ever hope to. As pete.v would say, just sayin!

phil

Ref..flapping at high speed .

No problem phil.

I find if you forget to fasted the top strap on your trail master it does make a racket hitting your lid . Dag nab it phil I think you've got it . I am well pleased that saved me thousands on a total rebuild .

You're the man phil .

Pleased fron plumbstead .

auldblue said:

Ref..flapping at high speed .

No problem phil.

I find if you forget to fasted the top strap on your trail master it does make a racket hitting your lid . Dag nab it phil I think you've got it . I am well pleased that saved me thousands on a total rebuild .

You're the man phil .

Pleased fron plumbstead .

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I'd rebuild it anyway, very sloooow project. Otherwise some nosy f…er will ask you, why don't you ever ride it??

phil

Ref . High speed engine noise.

Phil I know you like endless droning , that's what happens when you sit next to Aircraft engines all day.

J

'Like when your girlfriend doesn't speak to you for a week or more, the likely ailment is a MAJOR MAJOR dummy spit.
But it's really safer not to ask!!'

Phil always ask and if it continues tell them to stuff off. My ex's father was a war hero and he belted the tripe out of her when she was a kid. After our first minor disagreement I was dead forever. No issue was ever resolved and I walked on eggshells for 32 years. One day I came home from work and she said 'I think I want a divorce'. I answered 'you've got it'. We sat down and split every single thing right down the middle without solicitors. I simply cut my losses, moved into a new town house, found a job up the bush and remarried to a woman who will fight and not take the piss weak path of poisonous passive resistance. I am now retired and spend most of my time with a loving forgiving smart woman who has vey little baggage, and kisses her father (most important).

acotrel said:

'Like when your girlfriend doesn't speak to you for a week or more, the likely ailment is a MAJOR MAJOR dummy spit.
But it's really safer not to ask!!'

Phil always ask and if it continues tell them to stuff off. My ex's father was a war hero and he belted the tripe out of her when she was a kid. After our first minor disagreement I was dead forever. No issue was ever resolved and I walked on eggshells for 32 years. One day I came home from work and she said 'I think I want a divorce'. I answered 'you've got it'. We sat down and split every single thing right down the middle without solicitors. I simply cut my losses, moved into a new town house, found a job up the bush and remarried to a woman who will fight and not take the piss weak path of poisonous passive resistance. I am now retired and spend most of my time with a loving forgiving smart woman who has vey little baggage, and kisses her father (most important).

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Well I didn't suffer 32 yrs, only a lousy ten. But it was ten yrs spent with a mentally ill woman I didn't need. After that, I wrote relationships off forever. But the gal I see now is so very special, it makes me understand what a relationship was always meant to be. I gave the example of a major major dummy spit for those unfortunate enough to have witnessed one ( certainly not a reflection on my Jenny). I am a very independent person because I've had to be, nearly all my life! But when you find the right companion it makes your life ten times better than it ever was. Maybe even eleven times better!

phil