Commando Versus Modern

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acadian said:
phil yates said:
Perhaps you live on the wrong side of the street?
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not likely there paco...
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Just a suggestion.
I got the sense you were trying to confess something to us.
PM is fine if you need, I'm not about to divulge your secrets to anyone.

Or you could just tell us your thoughts on modern day Commando riding.
We really didn't need to know anything about your neighbours.
 
Oh dear the Rz wont start....sod it! There i am bragging about 48000 rpm and the Lazy cow wont fire once...Modern Battery i think?
 
john robert bould said:
Oh dear the Rz wont start....sod it! There i am bragging about 48000 rpm and the Lazy cow wont fire once...Modern Battery i think?
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That little RGV of mine, if I remember correctly, used to spin out to 13000rpm. At Eastern Creek race track I was seeing 200kph (no hobbit, that's kph!) down the straight which is just amazing for a little 250cc. BTW, it had no battery.
 
Went to the Norton Rally here in Feb, my wife drove the 'support' van there and I rode the Combat, it was over 30 degrees C and the bike went well. Next day we rode the rally route 2 up.
Neither of us want to ride two up ever again on it. The seat is too short, and the bike is not that nice to ride cramped up over the tank.
On the way back the Norton went in the van. Its not a serious tourer, more a bit of fun from the past. ( ducks for cover)
We did 1200 kms a few weeks back on the R80ST, awesome pillion machine, not sure on the ST4 yet as she has not shown an interest in that.
Sorry ...I'll put my rose tinted Mk8 Goggles and Davida helmet back on now :roll:
 
72Combat said:
Went to the Norton Rally here in Feb, my wife drove the 'support' van there and I rode the Combat, it was over 30 degrees C and the bike went well. Next day we rode the rally route 2 up.
Neither of us want to ride two up ever again on it. The seat is too short, and the bike is not that nice to ride cramped up over the tank.
On the way back the Norton went in the van. Its not a serious tourer, more a bit of fun from the past. ( ducks for cover)
We did 1200 kms a few weeks back on the R80ST, awesome pillion machine, not sure on the ST4 yet as she has not shown an interest in that.
Sorry ...I'll put my rose tinted Mk8 Goggles and Davida helmet back on now :roll:
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I presume you have a Roadster? Are you a Maori and if so how big is your wife? :)
The Fastback seat is good two up and I expect the Interstate even better, never ridden one two up but it is the biggest of Commando seats.
The Roadster was intended as a short burst fanger from cafe to cafe, hopefully with a gas station in-between departure and destination. My ex wife got on the back of my combat Roadster once and once only. She was a tiny thing (then) but yes, I found myself up against the tank. Fortunately, she never got on it again. She never asked, and I never offered. It was the beginning of a very drawn out end.
 
Mark said:
I guess it all comes down to "The right tool for the job".
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Looking at your avatar Mark,
It certainly looks like you have the right tool for the job.
And a lovely lady to go on the back.

Phil
 
phil yates said:
72Combat said:
Went to the Norton Rally here in Feb, my wife drove the 'support' van there and I rode the Combat, it was over 30 degrees C and the bike went well. Next day we rode the rally route 2 up.
Neither of us want to ride two up ever again on it. The seat is too short, and the bike is not that nice to ride cramped up over the tank.
On the way back the Norton went in the van. Its not a serious tourer, more a bit of fun from the past. ( ducks for cover)
We did 1200 kms a few weeks back on the R80ST, awesome pillion machine, not sure on the ST4 yet as she has not shown an interest in that.
Sorry ...I'll put my rose tinted Mk8 Goggles and Davida helmet back on now :roll:
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I presume you have a Roadster? Are you a Maori and if so how big is your wife? :)
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No the Maori ( for those not familiar they are the original landowners here before the Europeans ( British) stole ( signed a Treaty) it like they did everywhere.

fellas don't ride old Pom Bombs anymore, they have moved up to Harleys and Triumphs.
 
phil yates said:
Well I actually do too. Not all but many. What bewilders me though is the seemingly endless number of Japanese motorcycles that all look the same. There must be something wrong with me (well that's an established fact) but I honestly can't tell one from the other. It wasn't always this way. Once upon a time a Kawasaki looked like a Kawasaki and a Suzuki looked like a Suzuki. And so on.

Now they all look like the same race bike in different colours to me.
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The advance in technology, racing and what sells is the simple answer to why they are the same.

Sportbikes are amazing technology getting 100 plus HP out of an 600cc engine is amazing. Is there a need for it? Do you really need to go 150MPH? Probably not but people wanted bikes that emulated the racing bikes. Race replicas.

In the USA Cruisers are the rage...they all look like Harleys, weigh more and are torque machines...the big ones never need to be shifted out of 3rd gear because they will go 75 in third and still have power to pass...a bit like driving your living room down the road...makes you fall asleep because there is nothing to do. But people want that...the look, the sound.

I've been into uprights lately. Just all around bikes with upright riding position. It just feels more comfortable to me. The Japanese are heading back in that direction with the new CB1100. Looks like it came from the 70's...and they are selling.

Like I said earlier, I love my Norton, but there are other bikes that are fun too. They don't have the sound or the mystique but they have their place.
 
[
No the Maori ( for those not familiar they are the original landowners here before the Europeans ( British) stole ( signed a Treaty) it like they did everywhere.

fellas don't ride old Pom Bombs anymore, they have moved up to Harleys and Triumphs.[/quote]

Captain Cook arrived in Australia on an early Commando. All the aboriginals were riding Harley's and Triumph's (from ex pat poms in NZ) so he was able to round them up VERY quickly and reported back to James that his motorcycles were first class.

All the Harleys and Triumphs were sent to NZ, and in turn the Maoris flogged them back to the ex pat poms for a small fortune.
The Maoris set up "British Spares" and the ex pats had no choice but to buy their parts from them.
What happened to the Harley riders?
Who cares?
 
dennisgb said:
phil yates said:
Well I actually do too. Not all but many. What bewilders me though is the seemingly endless number of Japanese motorcycles that all look the same. There must be something wrong with me (well that's an established fact) but I honestly can't tell one from the other. It wasn't always this way. Once upon a time a Kawasaki looked like a Kawasaki and a Suzuki looked like a Suzuki. And so on.

Now they all look like the same race bike in different colours to me.
Click to expand...

The advance in technology, racing and what sells is the simple answer to why they are the same.

Sportbikes are amazing technology getting 100 plus HP out of an 600cc engine is amazing. Is there a need for it? Do you really need to go 150MPH? Probably not but people wanted bikes that emulated the racing bikes. Race replicas.

In the USA Cruisers are the rage...they all look like Harleys, weigh more and are torque machines...the big ones never need to be shifted out of 3rd gear because they will go 75 in third and still have power to pass...a bit like driving your living room down the road...makes you fall asleep because there is nothing to do. But people want that...the look, the sound.

I've been into uprights lately. Just all around bikes with upright riding position. It just feels more comfortable to me. The Japanese are heading back in that direction with the new CB1100. Looks like it came from the 70's...and they are selling.

Like I said earlier, I love my Norton, but there are other bikes that are fun too. They don't have the sound or the mystique but they have their place.
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Sorry, if it's not a Norton, send it back to the shop and get your money back. There never was any other motorcycle in the world, and there never will be, it just isn't imaginable! Well, not in my tiny closed brain.

But yes, trends or fads come and go. I have drifted in and out of varying different motorcycle styles over the years, but always always come back to a Commando, just like a boomerang. It is a matter of choice and most motorcyclists are good guys.

But if you don't ride a Norton, you are on the wrong bike.
And you are not a good guy.
It is so simple to understand, why is anyone arguing about this?
 
phil yates said:
But if you don't ride a Norton, you are on the wrong bike.
And you are not a good guy.
It is so simple to understand, why is anyone arguing about this?
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Not arguing...the wind in your face can happen on a moped...there are bikes that have different purposes...like my Trikes. I enjoy riding. When my back can't take It I ride a trike so I can be on the road.

I have a small "flickable" commuter bike that is fun, fast and reliable.

I have a cruiser. I have sport bikes. I have a Norton.

The Norton doesn't like being in the same garage with all the imposter's tho. It tends to "bark" at them if I park it there.

I have to keep it in it's own shed or in the house...I think it prefers the living room. When it's parked there it makes me watch old James Bond movies and English sitcoms.
 
dennisgb said:
phil yates said:
But if you don't ride a Norton, you are on the wrong bike.
And you are not a good guy.
It is so simple to understand, why is anyone arguing about this?
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Not arguing...the wind in your face can happen on a moped...there are bikes that have different purposes...like my Trikes. I enjoy riding. When my back can't take It I ride a trike so I can be on the road.

I have a small "flickable" commuter bike that is fun, fast and reliable.

I have a cruiser. I have sport bikes. I have a Norton.

The Norton doesn't like being in the same garage with all the imposter's tho. It tends to "bark" at them if I park it there.

I have to keep it in it's own shed or in the house...I think it prefers the living room. When it's parked there it makes me watch old James Bond movies and English sitcoms.
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When I park at the pub, there is never a Japo bike to be seen there anymore. And no longer any of their riders at the bar. The message was clear inside, and outside. NOT welcome! There is a late night coffee shop just down the road for sissy's!!
 
phil yates said:
When I park at the pub, there is never a Japo bike to be seen there anymore. And no longer any of their riders at the bar. The message was clear inside, and outside. NOT welcome! There is a late night coffee shop just down the road for sissy's!!
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It's not because they are afraid Phil. It's because it's embarrassing when they start up their sewing machine and lawn mower sounding engines and you kick over the Norton.
 
dennisgb said:
phil yates said:
When I park at the pub, there is never a Japo bike to be seen there anymore. And no longer any of their riders at the bar. The message was clear inside, and outside. NOT welcome! There is a late night coffee shop just down the road for sissy's!!
Click to expand...

It's not because they are afraid Phil. It's because it's embarrassing when they start up their sewing machine and lawn mower sounding engines and you kick over the Norton.
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To be fair, Phil "Green Button" Yates doesn't "kick" over his Norton so I am sure he knows his way around that coffee shop just down the road.
 
pete.v said:
dennisgb said:
phil yates said:
When I park at the pub, there is never a Japo bike to be seen there anymore. And no longer any of their riders at the bar. The message was clear inside, and outside. NOT welcome! There is a late night coffee shop just down the road for sissy's!!
Click to expand...

It's not because they are afraid Phil. It's because it's embarrassing when they start up their sewing machine and lawn mower sounding engines and you kick over the Norton.
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To be fair, Phil "Green Button" Yates doesn't "kick" over his Norton so I am sure he knows his way around that coffee shop just down the road.
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I think you mean doesn't "have to" kick over his Norton.
And yes I know the coffee shop.
The boys and I went down there one Friday night. Belted crap out of them and kicked over all the bikes in the gutter.
Very satisfying it was! :) :)
 
I love my Norton. Last summer it gave me my best day's riding ever, in the company a group who like to ride briskly, on modern bikes, around the twisty roads of mid Wales. Managed to keep up with the Multistrada, Triumph Sprint, K1200, etc except when the road straightened out a bit. I was constantly amazed by the ability of this 40-year old bike to go round corners like it was on rails. Not to mention looking the part, and the soundtrack, as growl turns to snarl and then glorious howl as the revs rise, then that lovely resonant boom on the overrun.

For a while we were followed through some twisties by a young guy on an Aprilia. He got past after a mile or so, but we met up again at the cafe. He hadn't been able to work out from behind what I was riding, and said to one of my mates, "That guy on the moped was doing OK. I've got fatter tyres on my mountain bike."

I've got a Yamaha TDM900 which, objectively is a much better bike in all respects, and which I like very much. But given the choice, I'd ride my Norton.
 
ed.lazda said:
I love my Norton. Last summer it gave me my best day's riding ever, in the company a group who like to ride briskly, on modern bikes, around the twisty roads of mid Wales. Managed to keep up with the Multistrada, Triumph Sprint, K1200, etc except when the road straightened out a bit. I was constantly amazed by the ability of this 40-year old bike to go round corners like it was on rails. Not to mention looking the part, and the soundtrack, as growl turns to snarl and then glorious howl as the revs rise, then that lovely resonant boom on the overrun.

For a while we were followed through some twisties by a young guy on an Aprilia. He got past after a mile or so, but we met up again at the cafe. He hadn't been able to work out from behind what I was riding, and said to one of my mates, "That guy on the moped was doing OK. I've got fatter tyres on my mountain bike."

I've got a Yamaha TDM900 which, objectively is a much better bike in all respects, and which I like very much. But given the choice, I'd ride my Norton.
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Yes ed
The Commando is a very special piece of gear. 40 yrs down the track, it is still a thoroughbred handler. A true rider's machine in every sense. And those fat tyres the Aprilia guy was talking about, they are just shit when it comes to steering quality. No other motorcycle in the entire world has had such a lasting impact since inception as the Commando. Not even the famed Vincent.

The current crop of Japo's are forgotten in a year or so.
Forty years? Not a chance!! Just rusted pieces of poor quality metal shit.
But mostly plastic anyway!!

Phil
 
phil yates said:
The current crop of Japo's are forgotten in a year or so.
Forty years? Not a chance!! Just rusted pieces of poor quality metal shit.
But mostly plastic anyway!!

Phil
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All steel and cost more than a Commando these days,who would have thought.
I wonder if Redline in the USA got their H2 to run faster than a 7.7 ET / 177 mph.
http://classic-motorbikes.net/images/ga ... aki-h2.jpg

I'm sure most folk ride what ever makes them happy,classic,contemporary or both,easy to forget once once upon a time the former was the latter.
 
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