Commando's finiished; I'm bored.

My bike's done, at least for now. There is no more work to do on it and I'm lost! Yeah, there might be an E start in it's future some day though it's not necessary now. And the 520 chain conversion that I was sure I was going to do a few months ago has been dropped, at least temporarily, from my list of "things to do." So the list is empty now. re the chain - Lubing chain isn't THAT big a deal and I don't put touring miles on the bike where it would turn into a daily requirement so I decided to wait and see. I'm not sure that for my use, spending 500 bucks is worth it for the complete mod. I do admit that I would like to drop the 22 tooth front sprocket a tooth or two for better acceleration but that's not really a big issue. Obviously the 22 is a better "cruising" sprocket.

Anyway, all I have to do now is ride it. But doing that here in Mexico City to any degree other than early on a Sunday morning is just too annoying - the traffic at any other time makes NYC traffic look like Mayberry. So serious riding will have to wait until I take it up to San Miguel de Allende (about 170 miles north) where it will be living permanently about a block away from Art Bone and his two Commandos (and several other bikes). Not sure when I'll be able to do that, hoping it will be fairly soon but who knows. That 170 mile ride will be the longest single ride I have taken on this Commando and since if you are not going 90MPH+ on the Autopista (same as the interstate but with toll) the trucks will just run over you, it'll be a good "test" to see if it's still a "superbike!"

But for now it feels weird to NOT be going to the garage fiddling with it...

Wish I was done with mine.

I see a basketcase commando somewhere in your near future lol :lol:

Find another bike to work on. After I finished my Commando I restored a 53 MG TD, Got that done and am working on a 1970 Triumph Tiger right now. Should have that buttoned up in a couple months.

While I do enjoy riding, seems as though I always have to have a project going. I'm starting to reach critical mass though in maintenance, 17 bikes, jet skis, quads, cars. Pretty soon I will just be in a maintenance mode. But at least I'll be busy.

Mike, I am quite confident that your Commando will not let you down. It will ALWAYS need constant tinkering attention, it will never be "perfect".

I truly believed I had mine in perfect shape, but today the front brake caliper's seals let loose and fluid was all over the disc, time to order a rebuild kit.

It is always somethin.

Yeah - my problem is that I have several projects but they are in different geographic locations. Bike is here (Mexico) car and boat are in MD. I'm there for about 4 months out of the year (though not consecutively). I wouldn't mind another Commando to work on - wife wants another bike - she sold her HD before we left NY - and she'd be fine with a well-sorted MKIII - has to be e-start and the left-side shift. If we were in the US I'd find a MkIII and get started but it's not practical to find one in the US and get it down here. My Commando was part of our "household goods" when we moved here (for her job) so it was in the truck with the rest of the stuff.

A new Bonneville is a distinct possibility - buy one in Laredo and ride it back - maybe I could talk Art into doing it with me - maybe ride up double on one of his bikes and back with the two. Or we could just buy one here ...for 30% more than the US price.

But if we bought a new Bonnie, it wouldn't give me a project bike. Well, I would hope it wouldn't.

Of course, once I actually start riding my Commando regularly, it might BECOME a project bike :mrgreen:

MexicoMike said:

Of course, once I actually start riding my Commando regularly, it might BECOME a project bike :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

Absolutely! Start putting some miles on that bike and I guarantee it will keep you busy! :mrgreen:

Looks like my 750 has blown the headgasket. I didn't know you're supposed to retorque the head every year. :? Always something!

Debby

Sounds like a problem most of wish we had.

Move up a restoration level?

Find a BSA A75 Rocket 3 or Triumph X75 Hurricane/T150/T160 Trident "project" next?

Next time be a little more carefull how you word your subject for the post. You nearly scared me to death.

I have nine bikes in my garage today, there are usually four or five ready to go. I think I may be actually falling behind on maintenence. I'd wonder if you could find an interesting rpoject in Mexico? If you could find some bike racers they might know of something fun to work on.

hehe, yeah constant restoration, recovery and modification have become my life style. Fortunately Commando's or about any BI are like aricraft, for each hour ridden they require maintenance time to stay nice reliable ride-able.

Hope there's another with your name on it out there.

hobot

There are lots of old cop Harleys in Mexico. I've seen pictures of a lot full of pans and shovels just sitting there in the sun. Most have car batteries in them now (like everything down there) but still. Go rescue an old FL! That should keep you busy for about 3 or 4 years.

Report this postReply with quoteRe: Commando's finiished; I'm bored.
by debby » Tue Jul 20, 2010 4:29 pm

Looks like my 750 has blown the headgasket. I didn't know you're supposed to retorque the head every year. Always something!

Never heard of that one!