Hints for first ride on a commando

westernjesus said:

If you're not used to 1 up, 3 down, practice.

Have fun and don't get into trouble.

Dave
69S

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Thankfully I have the norvil rear sets on her, so it is 1 down 3 up just like the bonne. Whew!

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One of these days you find out that what you has is actually backwards.

swooshdave said:

westernjesus said:

If you're not used to 1 up, 3 down, practice.

Click to expand...

Thankfully I have the norvil rear sets on her, so it is 1 down 3 up just like the bonne. Whew!

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One of these days you find out that what you has is actually backwards.

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I saved all the stock parts during my build, while I still have the back vertebrae for it, I think I'll do the café style. When I'm done with that, I will return this machine to pure stock, and stock roadster shift pattern... But also, weren't the factory racers 1 down 3 up? That's what I read when I was doing this build and went the way I did.

I never knew anything but 1u3d until I mistakenly bought a CB450 once. Since I started with a BSA B33 it's what I got used to. When I got the Norton after the Honda, I was back home, only better. It just seems natural to me, besides why would you want to shift on the same side as the clutch?

Dave
69S

DogT said:

I never knew anything but 1u3d until I mistakenly bought a CB450 once. Since I started with a BSA B33 it's what I got used to. When I got the Norton after the Honda, I was back home, only better. It just seems natural to me, besides why would you want to shift on the same side as the clutch?

Dave
69S

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feels much more natural to me too....FWIW on bikes with a shift linkage it is often easy to convert to GP shifting by flipping the shift lever on the gearbox end, did this on my Ducati and it is now 1 up 5 down (but on the left :wink: )

I dont know how you guys do it to be honest.The brakes on one side and the gear/clutch on the other makes perfect sense to me as thats all I've known.I did borrow my friends old Sportster one time for a spin and kept slapping in to first when I wanted rear brake.Really rocky and that has the same gear configuration as modern bikes.Couldn't wait to give it back but I shouldve given it more practice.

All I can say, is that I cannot wait to qualify to post on this thread.

Hey Jesus. I see your from Oregon. Do they pump your gas for you?
If so, I would suggest for your first ride I'd bring along a rag to wipe up the spills from those pump jockey's as he is looking at the bike and not what he is doing.

Guido said:

Hey Jesus. I see your from Oregon. Do they pump your gas for you?
If so, I would suggest for your first ride I'd bring along a rag to wipe up the spills from those pump jockey's as he is looking at the bike and not what he is doing.

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Hmmmnn... I don't know how or where you saw that. I'm in PA. But regardless, I do always keep a rag tethered to the handle bars for wiping up gas, because I'll spill while brooding over my own machine ={ )

First ride on a Commando was in January after buying Combat sight unseen on the inneret......
Flew down to pick it up.
Owner showed me the 'starting technique"
flood carbs, 1/4 throttle and kick over
ignition and 1/4 throttle and kick it with intent
....I was waiting for ' Chocks Away Binky "

Fortunately he was in a small town so I was able to get used to the upside down RH shift.
Unfortunately I had to catch a ferry for the 3 hour crossing to Wellington.....

Made it to Welly and my mate met me and we rode thru rush hour traffic to his place.
Couple of times I took off from the lights ...changed 'up" back into first..... :roll:
Only probs were charging circuit not working and had to bodge up two lantern batteries for the trip home....
Good times....
First Impressions....light and small.....fuel efficient and possibly one of the best sounding bikes I own ( other being a Ducati Darmah and a ( modern)Triumph Thruxton)

First ride...2 friends long lost took me over to Capital City Cycle to look at a blue 70 S in the front street window.Ages:17.Bank account $1400.Asking price $1200 +tax. Dealer started it up in window spot for me,showed him my bankbook and said we had a deal ,drove it over to my friend's place with grin on face ,2 escort bikes each side. There would be time for insurance and licensing a couple days later , It was MINE ! Hahahahahahaha!

Over in NJ there is also a law where the attendant must pump the gas but they will turn on the pump and hand the nozzle to you so you can fill it yourself. Most would not dare to do it and risk ruining a bike's paint job. No way would I let them do it even if they tried (but they don't).

Congrats on first ride. Just get a good grip when you crank on the throttle is all. My first was on the "wrong" side of the road in England. Was just fine until first right turn.

Ah.... What a lovely machine. First ride was yesterday, since the weather gods saw fit to give us snow last weekend. Yesterday was a sunny 50 degree day. Bike started second or third kick, ran well once warmed up. Took it up and down the lane a couple times to re-check and make sure brakes working properly, then home to grab a lid and let the better two-thirds know I was going out for a ride. Exit the drive and I let into her some, she has great pull once around 4k. I didn't dare twix her much beyond 5k though she was asking for it...still a break in period, not going to push too hard too soon. Twisted around the back road headed toward the main road, pulls good out of a corner, but the rear end feels a little sloppy by my standards. Maybe I need to get used to isolatics and the rear being somewhat separate from the frame. Not like the triumph. Norton feels squirrelly in the rear under heavy braking and accelerating thru a corner. Made it to the main road, pulled out and laid into her straitline, and she darted toward the horizon. Much faster than the bonne on her best day. But didn't feel fast. The bonne feels fast but you are doing 45, the norton feels slow and you are doing 65! Cruised around for a bit, stopped and filled the gas tank, the sun was starting to set. Man, she looked beautiful in the fading light sitting in the parking lot of that run down gas station... Time to head home. About 5 miles from home, it is pretty dark, so I go to turn on my headlight... Bbbrrrrrrrrr.... Bike turns off. Pull off, kick it a few times with no love. Oh gosh, I brought no tools, no fuses, the missus isn't going to know what I need if I call her. To save battery, turn off the lamp, lets try to kick it some more, starts first kick. Lets get home, turn on lamp, dies. It is dark now.

(continued)
So I commit myself to the last 5 miles riding in the pitch black with no headlight. When a car approached, I would flash my light on and off, causing the bike to die and spring to life and die and back. Thank goodness I didn't come across a police officer. But I made it home, and the mon light was glinting off my teeth as I smiled all the way home. It was a magnificent ride and even with problems, better than expected. Some tuning to do, some bugs to weed out (Is it not charging or is it grounding out) but overall, it was the best first ride. Ever.

Gosh wj, what a wonderful tale of fate and adventures a Commando takes us too.
Cdo's should not hinge get squirely unless really nailing it laid over in long sweeper on lumpy surfaces rather over legal posted speeds. I'd suspect loose swing arm and mal adjusted air pressure interfering with the road holding and maybe the fork oil level and grade to play with too. Aim for 2 lb less in front and see how it goes.

If you are already zipping around like that on first ride then you need to look into the rod links that really help tame handling on heavy handed throttling. To me the low rear link is by far the most effective but fouls a center stand, which weighs about 8 lbs and can be felt in response once removed. My respects on brave skilled light vs power toggling, wheeweepeepee.

Suspect a broken charger wire or short in the head light path. I've had that cause battery to bleed down so engine stalls on brake light use after dark on loose steeps.