Continuous Improvement

Since completing the initial rebuild of my '74 850 a few years ago, I have been whittiling away at the improvement list. The good news is, the improvements work and I can physically feel the difference. The bad news is, I've done all of the less expensive improvements first, leaving the more costly stuff for later. My 30th birthday is approaching and my wonderful wife suggested that she would like to cross another item off the list for me. I decided to get new spokes and wheels by Buchanan's this winter.
In the spring of this year, I put new NJB shocks on. I really have no idea if the shocks are good, but compared to the exisiting setup, the change was very noticeable. It just flat out handles better. I would've liked to have done the Lansdowne front forks at the same time, but I couldn't swing it. I hope to get as much of a tangible result from the front suspension as I did the rear.
I would love to replace my Acewell tach and speedo unit with Smith's Electronic gauges, but I think I'll stick to the mechanical improvements first. Belt primary may be next. Then possibly upgrade the charging system and maybe go to a new ignition before the Boyer gives out.
Where does it end?
I love it....

Ben

Brly said:

Since completing the initial rebuild of my '74 850 a few years ago, I have been whittiling away at the improvement list. The good news is, the improvements work and I can physically feel the difference. The bad news is, I've done all of the less expensive improvements first, leaving the more costly stuff for later. My 30th birthday is approaching and my wonderful wife suggested that she would like to cross another item off the list for me. I decided to get new spokes and wheels by Buchanan's this winter.
In the spring of this year, I put new NJB shocks on. I really have no idea if the shocks are good, but compared to the exisiting setup, the change was very noticeable. It just flat out handles better. I would've liked to have done the Lansdowne front forks at the same time, but I couldn't swing it. I hope to get as much of a tangible result from the front suspension as I did the rear.
I would love to replace my Acewell tach and speedo unit with Smith's Electronic gauges, but I think I'll stick to the mechanical improvements first. Belt primary may be next. Then possibly upgrade the charging system and maybe go to a new ignition before the Boyer gives out.
Where does it end?
I love it....

Ben

Click to expand...

You think it ends !?!

>>Belt primary may be next.....

not sure thats a real improvement - if your sprockets are in good shape a new chain from Andy will make it bullet proof (though it may leak a bit if you don't assemble it perfectly)

i have both setups, and for the $500 for the belt unit , in retrospect i would of spend the $ else where

Thanks for the advice Mike. The primary is in good shape as it sits now, so I'll leave it alone for awhile.

Ben

Why do you think the Boyar will give out, I ran mine for 34 years before going to a Joe Hunt maggie but my old Boyar is now in my mate Norton and is still going good.

Ashley

Do you mean 'continuous improvement' which means an unbroken sequence, or 'continual' which refers to the type of improvement not being a one off but planned and ongoing even if discontinuous ?
Sorry, not being nit-picking, I am stuck on 'attention to detail' and 'doing it right first time'. That topic on the Colorado Norton Works has inspired me. There is real value in that.
It is great to hear what you are doing with your bike. I work that way myself, these days I have very limited resources however I still plan where my bike is going. I'm amazed that the 850 engine can be so good with so little modification.

This thread (and acotrel's post)

acotrel said:

I'm amazed that the 850 engine can be so good with so little modification.

Click to expand...

Has me asking the question........... How much improvement is really necessary?
Fixing the broken/worn out stuff is of course a given but isn't everything else is just "bling".

These bikes are pretty cool old technology that works well as it is but trying to make them behave like new machines is kinda futile in my mind.
I like that my air cooled pushrod bike shakes, rumbles and shows it's personality along with it's patina.

If it ain't broke - don't fix it....... ride it!!!!! When something does break fix it better than it was so it can be ridden some more.

If a person buys a motorcycle and then changes the majority of it to make it fit them and their needs - maybe they bought the wrong bike.
This is all IMHO of course and just posted for the sake of discussion.

EDIT:
After re-reading my post, I figured that i better change it up a bit because it didn't quite come out as intended.
What I really meant to say is:
These are pretty cool machines as they are and there isn't any shame in keeping them old school and running them like that.

Disk brake was pretty ordinary on the 850s, even from new back then.
And definitely something that can usefully be improved, for safety on an otherwise totally stock bike.

At least with CB750 you could simply bolt on an extra disk.

mikegray660 said:

..........if your sprockets are in good shape a new chain from Andy will make it bullet proof .......

Click to expand...

I've been thinking the exact thing, as I get closer to getting mine back on the road

Ta.

Mark said:

These bikes are pretty cool old technology that works well as it is but trying to make them behave like new machines is kinda futile in my mind.

Click to expand...

Until you want to actually stop with the old crappy Lockheed brakes or you hit a bump and the suspension bottoms out.

Then to, trying to get the bike to idle and run right with the old Amals will keep you busy too.

I suppose the oil leaking on the garage floor is not a problem as long as you put some cardboard and rags under there.

There is a long list of things that were "wrong" with these bikes. Since we have better technology and an understanding how to "fix" these issues why not do it? If your riding the bike what is wrong with making it better, safer and more reliable?

I have no problem with leaving original patina if a bike looks presentable...but only go so far with this. Not into the rusty old crap look.

A few of my most influencial mentors were split brain schizophrenics who advised me that if I found something I really liked - get two of em - like me & hobot.
" Continuous Improvement" can be taken two ways, improving the cycle parts or improving the owner involvement.

I found to play modern level road games with a stock Combat is stupid-risky for both bike and pilot yet even skilled pilots on worlds most repected new machines trying to dissasociate the clunky factory Commando from their pack > could not/would not risk that level of performance in Mt hwy's - which pleased me no end to piss them off - couldn't shake me-, while I was pissed off that such an obsolete cycle took so much wearing down effort I swore off doing it again on a stock Commando. Point being a factory Commando is more than adequate for fun semi-sane flings up over the ton but may break something fatally trying very much of that. Most lasting impression I got testing factory pecking order was the joy of Combat acceleration over the ton being enough to stick with them after 6 of em took their time passing cars/trucks before next tight turn leaving me little time-space to power around harder than they did to make it through the closing gap in time. The other deeper depressing impression was how hard to keep a hinging Commando stable enough to take turns almost as fast as they would, uhg. Was very similar to the real racers getting spread out on the opens to all bunch up at a turn so race started all over again. If on regular open hyw's where the corner cripples could use their modern capacity the Combat would be all alone in a matter of seconds. One neat thing here was how othen locals would see us comming and pull over to let the squad pass.

To me to keep a stock Commando road worthty is the real test of owner will power and mechanical skill disicipline. When I got 1st Combat in '99 almost everyone that modified anything did so with defensive cravate that it was reversable back to factory so they wouldn't be put down as real Commmando destroyers. So kind of schrizophrenic here that those with points keepping up with AAU servicing, compensating for factory brakes with dissolving Amals slides on clunky Roadholders with only a few candle power head light have not caught up with the times, sheeze.

On the otherhand a non Norton Commando that drops jaws and embrasses corner cripples has distracted me a decade but its my factory Trixie that appeals to me as permantent keeper as so easy to operate and automatically keeps sanity in riding limits. So which appeals to your never ending involvement, getting a Powerarc to behave or snagging a good AAU? I say have it both ways if ya can.

hobot said:

So kind of schrizophrenic here that those with points keepping up with AAU servicing, compensating for factory brakes with dissolving Amals slides on clunky Roadholders with only a few candle power head light have not caught up with the times, sheeze.

Click to expand...

I tend to agree. It's a slippery slope...but to question those who want to improve the bikes to make them safer, more reliable and fun to ride always amazes me...maybe we should question those that don't as strongly as they question those that do. It really should be to each his own. Strong opinions seem to be rampant here. Who's right? Who cares? Enjoy your bike(s) and let other's enjoy theirs.

Subject line could just as well of been 'never ending' process to keep a stock one going bad as it is or maxing out on good as it gets upgrades. Too many routine frights refresh my basic logic point - never forget all cycles are stupid risky business and any improvement in performance just makes ya more a risk taker if taking much advantage of it. Thank goodness enough Commandos out there to span whole scope of life styles and states of denial - some reversible some not till our time it up. I remember when I mentally-emotionally crossed point of no return on Peel's deal, very freeing in one way but made me feel dirty guilty in eyes of my early mentors so I got Trixie to keep the full faith going and have common hobby with my brother Dale, but the jerk died off before Trixie road worthy. What to invest in with whatever we got left on?

Btw after seeing how sports bikers snears changed on Ms Peel Combat after they caught up at stops - making next Peel even better with mostly 40 yr old technology is a test for me and new age concepts on what makes a motorcycle go around best. Us Commando owners will know how much Peel is a modern nonNorton cheater but not the UN-initiated I plan to rub their tire patches in with basically obsolete isolastic push rod Drouin Commando. Peel's other purpose is to be sacrificial armored wind protected non Norton for daily risks to preserve plain Jane Trixie after me. So if only one of hobot Commandos to buy which one would appeal most? If I had my way, I'd shoot hobot and take em both.