Commando Reverse Shift Lever

Any one know of a source for a reverse shift lever for my '74 Commando? To be use with rear sets. Thanks.

Like this ?

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/16647/gearchange-pedal-jpn-production-racer-06-3944-

Colorado Norton Works have a good one.

Andover said they do not have one but to try RGM.

I saw the title line and thought "a lever for reverse gear?????"

@dennisht the one that @Fast Eddie gave you the link for is from Andover, and is showing as being in stock.

It’s description is GEARCHANGE PEDAL (JPN & PRODUCTION RACER)

My JPN had one. It's pretty strange feeling leverage as it comes out at 45 degrees to the gearbox rearward facing and inverts the shift pattern. The linkage type rearset shifter feels better and maintains the shift pattern. With that I still kept the one you are asking about just because it was original to a JPN.

I d have to agree about it feeling a bit odd. The stock position follows the arc of your foot
pivoting on the footrest. The reverse lever is opposite. Linkage type is better.

Andover's reply was: "Sorry Dennis we do not, try RGM" Regards, Phil Albutt. So I guess I have to take his word that Andover does not have the reverse shift lever. As to changing shift pattern, I like it as it is similar to my modern bike shift pattern. Bad enough having a shift on the right side compared to bikes made from 1975 to left side. I mainly ride modern sport/touring bike and the Norton will be used less. So switching from left normal shift side to right side takes additional thinking every time I switch. Also I have found that using linkage type produces more sloppiness in the shifting process where the lever is direct. Just personal feeling. I had the reverse lever with rear sets on my '71 bike years ago that I should have never sold and I liked the set up. I just don't remember where I bought the lever then. Thanks guys for your ideas, they are very helpful. I have contacted Colorado Norton and they will be making some.

The cNw lever is designed to work with his own rearsets. And they are f***ing fabulous. The only negative to them is that they will almost definitely make the rest of your bike look shabby. Matt should considered a ‘distressed finish’ to address this fault !

I have cNw rear sets, I fitted them AFTER wasting a ton of time and money unsuccessfully trying to make cheaper, cruder, options work to my satisfaction!

I tried the prod racer lever with Norvil rear sets but it wasn’t nice. As someone has already said, the lever is at a strange angle and you’re kinda pushing it forwards and backwards, rather than up or down, to change gear. Not nice.

cNw rearsets are slightly higher, Matt put a lot of thought into the position and relationship of peg and lever to ensure good mechanical advantage. The gear change with the cNw rearsets is greatly improved vs any other set up I have used. Interestingly, my cNw gear-change lever fell off at Mallory Park last year (my own fault), and I borrowed a prod race lever until I managed to retrieve mine, the gear-change with the prod race lever and cNw pegs was horrible!

I’m like you, I have decided to ‘standardise’ the up-for-up shift pattern in my stable as I lack the mental capacity to handle too many variables at once!

Linkages can be made without slop, once again, it’s the cheapness of manufacture that’s the issue here. But linkage cause other issues on Cdos.

With a linkage set up, it all gets very clumsy and whatever I did, the kickstart was a PITA (well, pain in the ankle actually) and gearchange / kickstart positions were always an unsatisfactory compromise.

With the reverse lever, it allowed me to use a RGM T160 style kick start, which was the icing on the cake, now that whole area of the bike was tidied up, no ankle fouling, smooth change, etc.

My only regret is not buying the cNw kit in the first place. I now have a VERY expensive box of shit rearset parts taking up shelf space!

Here’s a couple of pics of my set up fo’ thee....

fast eddie ; that setup looks really nice, i concur that CNW does produce some very exquisite parts

Thanks for photos. I checked with Matt and he said none in stock but will be making some more in near future. Matt was honest enough to say that the piece is expensive, $152.50 just for the lever. RGM has the lever I will most likely use. They gave me the dimensions that I will check when rebuilt tranny is installed next week. I know a '75 kick start lever has a wider perch to help clear peg and header if needed. These can be bought from EMGO for about $60 bucks. I will check on RGM kick start to see what they have to offer per your note. I did rear sets before on my '71 that I got from Fast from the Past using the Tarozzi brand and they worked great. I did modification to suit my needs and nothing was difficult and they worked great.

Just an opinion on the Emgo kickers: thicker and heavier and slightly different shape than those from AN.

Hi Guys
Been riding now for a few months with Madass rearrests, good as they are I'm not 100% happy with them as the shear amount of physical lever movement is significantly more than OE
If i had more time I'd but cutting & shutting the lever on the box & the change lever to obtain the required amount of pedal travel.
Looking at the photos of Fast Eddie's set up yes i could purchase a CNW lever as this would allow me to use a T160 kick starter, but the price is prohibitive..
So I'm looking for other options?? ....one of which is to use a Reverse lever from RGM 065848, but the question is with a standard kickstart does anyone know if this lever can be used, or can it only be used without kickstart????

Thank you

The JPN / PR gear levers work with kick starts. Dunno if they work with the T160 style though. But RGM sell raw unplated ones so you could heat n tweak to fit…

Nigel, do you still have the reverse lever fitted?
I thought I saw a recent photo of your bike with linkage fitted, but I'm probably thinking of some other Commando.

Glen

worntorn said:

Nigel, do you still have the reverse lever fitted?
I thought I saw a recent photo of your bike with linkage fitted, but I'm probably thinking of some other Commando.

Glen

Click to expand...

No you’re not mistaken Glen!

I rearranged my set up and fitted a linkage…

That looks lovely, CNW again?
Did you lose the folding function?

Glen

There is now a reversible cam plate, as opposed to a reversed camplate.

worntorn said:

That looks lovely, CNW again?
Did you lose the folding function?

Glen

Click to expand...

Thanks! The Z plates are cNw, but the ‘stock’ ones rather than their rearsets ones. Bit more leg room this way. Other parts are a mix n match. Yes I removed the folding footrest with this set up just to keep it all a bit neater.

T’other side view…