hello everybody

Cookie said:

Wow,

I rode my old Commando from Augusta Maine to SF and I thought I'd had quite a ride. If you rode that magneto monster (I have magneto stories from my G15CSR) that far I am impressed.

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Cookie,

That 63'750 Atlas was one of the finest Motorcycles I've ever ridden or owned. I would travel 3-500 miles per day, file my points a little, check my primary chain, rear chain, and most important...my valve lash. The key is to stay on top of the machine...everyday. My Smiths speedo didn't work, so I just used the sound of the motor and the wind in my hair. My long hair days 8) Cheech and Chong style... All balls and no brains...spare armature for my Magneto. Clutch cable, throtle cable, links for primary and rear chain...points, etc.

Got lucky and only broke down once....primary chain(MASTER LINK) came apart and locked up my clutch hub in CA...good thing I was in 2nd gear..not 4th.

Good times...

I out ran a 1976 R90 with her in the Canadian Rockies...feller wanted to race a little in the twisties. Pretty funny at the time...

That is truly a bit funny. My failure was the primary chain after about 30 miles. I took it back home and changed that and the alternator because I had cut off a couple f wire on the stator.
After that I was off and I recall no further problems from that bike for years, I'm sure I must have done stuff, until I ran into a Dodge van in Sonoma.

Cookie said:

That is truly a bit funny. My failure was the primary chain after about 30 miles. I took it back home and changed that and the alternator because I had cut off a couple f wire on the stator.
After that I was off and I recall no further problems from that bike for years, I'm sure I must have done stuff, until I ran into a Dodge van in Sonoma.

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Dodge Vans are bad news...hope you didn't get hurt. Funny, I hit a deer on that trip on Hwy 101, and killed the deer without going down. Hit the deer's head with my front forks and head light. Bent my forks a little, but I made do until I made it back home from the trip...many miles later. Just lucky as ever on that one....very lucky.

I paid $700.00 for that Atlas in the winter of 1977. Paid $5000.00 for my 1975 6976 mile Commando back in 1994. Didn't know it, but it had a soft cam. I've got that stuff all sorted out and have about $7000.00 into mine now.

$4000 will get a fella's foot in the door, but......

Yup,

That Dodge van sure did hurt. After a brief court case the gentleman paid for two new front fork tubes and a few other bits. It seems after his license was removed in Nevada for poor eyesight he had continued to drive in CA.
It funny that I also recall paying $700 for my G15 CSR. maybe about 1966? It was used and I bought it from a friend.
I think the first Commando I bought was a 1970 at about $1100.
I bought this bike from my semi little brother for $3,000 which was what he had in it.
It has more family memories than it is worth. I have no rush to finally sort this bike, if I have it the way I want it in five years that will be fine.
I wish I had not given away my last Commando and odds on the next one that comes my way at a reasonable price I'll restore.
I've never even seen a G15CSR like mine so I have no hope of ever finding one to restore.

G15CSR - Matchlesss "Coffee Shop Racer" - Rearsets, reversed shift cam plate, swept back pipes right? I know of a couple basket cases, but the owner won't come off them.

This museum I went to on Jan 1 has a G15 basketcase, waiting for its time.

I'll post pictures of the '67 P-11 next time I'm there - its in the 'final assembly' room now, but still just a frame.

You nailed it Ron. I bought it from a sculptor who loved classic vehicles but didn't know anything about them. He had just bought it from a friend.
I thought the pipes were Dunstall and somebody had just done a nice job of cafeing it.
It was very quick for the time, and not a bad handler except at the very edge on pavement. The rear would break loose on mine and I am here today because you could bring it back by letting up on the throttle. It just did not inspire the confidence on pavement my featherbed does.