First long'ish trip

click · Jul 30, 2010

Hi Lads,

Nipped over to Wales on the Ferry for 5 days touring around on the MK3.

Was VERY lucky with the weather, didn't do a lot of miles, about 450, but it was on twisty, narrow bike friendly roads

Had to re-adjust my mind to touring on a classic bike, I'd normally cover 1500-2000 miles on a biking holiday.

Parking was an issue as you had to make sure you where on level ground so you could kickstart the bike, on more modern bikes it's not as much of an issue.

Overall I enjoyed the trip, my wife said it's a very comfortable bike, more comfortable & more room than the FJR!!! :shock:

Bike did not miss a beat & ran really well. Here's a few pics of the bike kitted out for touring & on the ferry.

Kevin

Hobot · Jul 30, 2010

Arighty click, you know how to equip to live it up on a Commando.
I can relate to the pensiveness to kick off on un level surfaces and not drop it or roll into more trouble. Throw in mud-clay layer on boot bottom and find out if you are up to the karate aerobatic athletics.

hobot

swooshdave · Jul 30, 2010

click said:
Hi Lads,

Nipped over to Wales on the Ferry for 5 days touring around on the MK3.

Was VERY lucky with the weather, didn't do a lot of miles, about 450, but it was on twisty, narrow bike friendly roads

Had to re-adjust my mind to touring on a classic bike, I'd normally cover 1500-2000 miles on a biking holiday.

Parking was an issue as you had to make sure you where on level ground so you could kickstart the bike

You know, there's a magic button on your bike...

click said:
Here's a few pics of the bike kitted out for touring & on the ferry.

Kevin

Um, as sexy as the hold of a ferry is maybe you could share some more pictures of the trip? :mrgreen:

click · Jul 30, 2010

swooshdave said:
click said:

Hi Lads,

Nipped over to Wales on the Ferry for 5 days touring around on the MK3.

Was VERY lucky with the weather, didn't do a lot of miles, about 450, but it was on twisty, narrow bike friendly roads

Had to re-adjust my mind to touring on a classic bike, I'd normally cover 1500-2000 miles on a biking holiday.

Parking was an issue as you had to make sure you where on level ground so you could kickstart the bike

Click to expand...

You know, there's a magic button on your bike...

click said:

Here's a few pics of the bike kitted out for touring & on the ferry.

Kevin

Hi,

The 'magic button' is only an assist on my bike, you still need to give a good stomp on the kickstart, it's the original starter, original wiring etc. It does not have enough umph to turn an 850 over let alone one with a 920 conversion :lol:

I was not going to inflict this forum to my holiday snaps; castles, underground mines & steam trains!! If you insist I'll post a few so you can see what Wales looks like :mrgreen:

Kevin

Click to expand...

Um, as sexy as the hold of a ferry is maybe you could share some more pictures of the trip? :mrgreen:

swooshdave · Jul 30, 2010

Considering that I don't get to Wales that often, one or two pictures can't hurt.

click · Jul 30, 2010

OK Dave, just for you :mrgreen:

All taken around Northern Wales & Snowdonian National Park.

Flo · Jul 30, 2010

Bleeding 'eck mate, if you want level ground, Wales ain't the place to go!
Methinks you are starting it on the centrestand. As I haven't got one, I don't get that problem.
Stick to the Somerset Levels myself :lol:

Flo · Jul 30, 2010

By the way, is that the Slate mines perchance?

swooshdave · Jul 30, 2010

click said:
OK Dave, just for you :mrgreen:

Like I'm going to be the only one who will appreciate them. :mrgreen:

Diablouph · Jul 30, 2010

uh...uhh ...yeh, yeh, Steam Trains.. Yeh, yeh. More....more....more....

Flo · Jul 30, 2010

THat is alright Mr. Swoosh.
Been there myself & I apreciate them, it is a beautiful place to go. Problem is, it rains a lot.

swooshdave · Jul 30, 2010

Flo said:
THat is alright Mr. Swoosh.
Been there myself & I apreciate them, it is a beautiful place to go. Problem is, it rains a lot.

Rains a lot in many places.

Flo · Jul 30, 2010

Yeah, but it rains more up there.
Off to the pub now.

pelican · Jul 30, 2010

thanks for the pics. Helped subside my MAJOR case of cabin fever that I have right now.

click · Jul 30, 2010

Flo said:
By the way, is that the Slate mines perchance?

Hi Flo,

Yes slate mines LLechwedd. Was not expecting much but came away with an appreciation of the hardship the miners went through.

Kevin

click · Jul 30, 2010

Diablouph said:
uh...uhh ...yeh, yeh, Steam Trains.. Yeh, yeh. More....more....more....

Be careful what you ask for :lol: :lol: :lol:

Reggie · Jul 30, 2010

click wrote;

Overall I enjoyed the trip, my wife said it's a very comfortable bike, more comfortable & more room than the FJR!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I did just over 1,000 miles on the Norton (temporarily in Interstate trim) in 5 days with my wife riding pillion. She would also agree that the Norton is indeed a comfortable bike. I also run a *onda Pan European 1300 (and a T160), and I did wonder if a longish trip on the Norton would attract complaints when compared to my *onda which is the bike I usually use for tours into Europe, but no, it got the thumbs up, so much so that I have considered selling the *onda, as it doesn't get used very much these days. But then a mans got to have one absolutely dependable machine

click wrote;

Parking was an issue as you had to make sure you where on level ground so you could kickstart the bike, on more modern bikes it's not as much of an issue.

click, it is quite easy to get your MK3 Norton starting on the button which will stop this being a problem. I have a Dave Comeau starter on mine, and this starts the motor instantly. A friend of mine has said that out of all of the aftermarket mods that he has made to his Commando, this Dave Comeau starter has been the most impressive improvement. I can't comment as I have never used the standard starter motor. I very rarely kick start my Norton these days 8)

Nice pics.

splatt · Jul 30, 2010

Reggie,all your bikes shift on the wrong side

click · Jul 30, 2010

Reggie said:
click wrote;

Overall I enjoyed the trip, my wife said it's a very comfortable bike, more comfortable & more room than the FJR!!!

Click to expand...

A couple of weeks ago, I did just over 1,000 miles on the Norton (temporarily in Interstate trim) in 5 days with my wife riding pillion. She would also agree that the Norton is indeed a comfortable bike. I also run a *onda Pan European 1300 (and a T160), and I did wonder if a longish trip on the Norton would attract complaints when compared to my *onda which is the bike I usually use for tours into Europe, but no, it got the thumbs up, so much so that I have considered selling the *onda, as it doesn't get used very much these days. But then a mans got to have one absolutely dependable machine

click wrote;

Parking was an issue as you had to make sure you where on level ground so you could kickstart the bike, on more modern bikes it's not as much of an issue.

Click to expand...

click, it is quite easy to get your MK3 Norton starting on the button which will stop this being a problem. I have a Dave Comeau starter on mine, and this starts the motor instantly. A friend of mine has said that out of all of the aftermarket mods that he has made to his Commando, this Dave Comeau starter has been the most impressive improvement. I can't comment as I have never used the standard starter motor. I very rarely kick start my Norton these days 8)

Nice pics.

Hi Reggie,

Interesting to hear another thumbs up from a pillion on the Norton. The one thing I got from this trip is the Norton would be happier doing bigger milage. I'm already planning a bigger European trip for next year.

I have the starter upgrade on my 'list' it's something I hope to do over the Winter.

Have you had any hassle with your sprag bearing?

Kevin

Reggie · Jul 30, 2010

click wrote;

Have you had any hassle with your sprag bearing?

Funny you should mention that :!: The sprag turned itself over about a week before this trip that I referred to, and I was in a supermarket car park, and due to my lack of current practice, it took me about 3 attempts to crank 'er up on the kickstart.

I am aware of what the Norvil site says about replacing the three items at once if the sprag fails, and so not being a very trusting sort of person (not in this case), thought that I would get a second opinion and so rang Mick Hemmings up who said " the tolerances are quite critical, so you would be better buying the set of three, or you are at potential risk of ruining another sprag" and so that emptied my walet nicely. All is well at the moment, and I did chek the dimensions of the new versus old parts, and there was some wear, although IIRC only a few thou.

The sprag that self destructed was about three years old and had started the engine hundreds of times, but I had put that on the original gear wheel and sprocket that came with the bike. Still, I was a bit disaappointed with the failure. :evil:

splatt wrote

Reggie,all your bikes shift on the wrong side

You are correct, you see, my feet aren't all that clever, so I have to keep it simple.