Help with making 70 commando correct.

I have a 70 commando (at least I think it is) that I have been tinkering with for a couple of years and now am trying to return to its original correctness. Engne and GB match and show early 1970 (135139), but the frame tag has long since been removed. It rigged as a roadster at this time although not sure if it started its life as such. :twisted:

Can anyone tell me how to tell if the frame is likely a 1970 frame?

Any other pointers for a 70 build?

Also, the side panels are the fibregalss type. Does anyone know when the metal side panels came in?

Thanks for any assistance,

B-stone

1970 should have the central oil tank, ignition switch on the left sidecover, ring around the headlight, featherbed type fork yokes. The sidestand was fitted to a clamp on bracket, the centrestand was different to the later cast ones as well. Roy Bacon's "Norton Twin Restoration" actually lists the first roadster as 135140, the bike following yours on the assembly line. Not sure how accurate this is though. I like this model very much. Almost the same as the "S" but with low pipes. Hope this helps.
Cheers, Ben

Look for the centerstand mounting lugs on the frame, not the tranny cradle.

Also, there should be no crossover frame tube at the bottom front of the frame.

70 Cammando

Well the frame does not have the front cross bar and it does have the mounting brackets on the frame which I assume are for the centre stand. The current centre stand is mounted to the cradle.

The oil tank is not the centre "older" variant. Is thos still correct?

Thanks

Help with making 70 commando correct

Hi B-Stone
I forgot my password yesterday remembered today. Just to place yours in its time frame my 69 Fastback has origional headstock plate and is stamped 12/1969 and engine/frame number is 135134. I guess that places yours very early 1970

Ian

Someone's buit a "bitsa". Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just sold one that I built from 3 or 4 different sources.

It's my understanding that the older style centerstand that bolts to the frame are getting hard to find, but I got that second hand (haven't needed or tried to find one myself).

The oil tank is definitely a newer model and dead give-away to show judges and purists.

Commandos are are about the best fun mix and match bikes available.

It sounds as if you do have a 1970 or so frame. Does it have the Featherbed type fork clamps ?

You can build a tidy looking bike around whichever trim kit takes your fancy and always convert it back again when you get bored.

I have always assumed (a bit dangerous that) that bikes with steel fuel tanks had steel panels and glass fibre likewise. It seems logical but I bet there were exceptions.

Maybe your bike was once a fastback and when it was converted to a Roadster, that was done with slightly later parts.

I reckon you'll have a long wait before you come across a Commando 'purist' anyway. If it's in the spirit of the original, most of us are happy :wink:

One problem with the later style oil tank is you cannot use the earlier style right side cover. No matter, if you carefully paint your oil tank, the sidecover is virtually reduntant!

Now, not to stip the wasps, bees, hornts and fire ants, but I think Triumphs have more flexibility than any other in building "bitsa" bikes, as you can go back from the early 60s and get parts that work on early 80s bikes!

grandpaul said:

Now, not to stip the wasps, bees, hornts and fire ants, but I think Triumphs have more flexibility than any other in building "bitsa" bikes, as you can go back from the early 60s and get parts that work on early 80s bikes!

Click to expand...

I think that we have to compare like with like. If we restrict ourselves to Commandos then we have to stick with Oil in frame Triumphs. In the UK that meant either Europe or Export tanks. Nothing like the range available for Commandos...and I did say "best fun" - not most flexible. 8)

I agree with 70X100, this could also originally have been a fastback with the longer side mounted oil tank.