Hi all!
I'm a proud new owner of a 1968 Commando Fastback. The bike is in good running and aesthetic condition as it is now, is all original (except color) and has less than 8000 original miles. It will be fun to rebuild.
I found this group during one of my "12 hour" googling sessions. Seems like a great group!
Now my question - the bike is an early 1968 model with the 'weak' frame - ie no serial number and no support tube (one way to look at it, I guess, is that I have a fairly rare bike, so to speak, and one of the earlier Commandos made in the 'fastback' style). However - I would like to ride the thing a little before emarking on a complete teardown and rebuild, if possible.
Is the frame really that dangerous? Books/manuals seem to just glance over this issue, but then there are a few email posts I've seen where people say don't even get on the bike with that frame.
Any thoughts? If I do go with an updated frame, how much will going with a non-original frame affect the value? If I ever decide to show the bike, will that greatly affect my potential 'ranking'? I'm new to this, so feel free to be blunt!!!
Thanks!!!!
I'm a proud new owner of a 1968 Commando Fastback. The bike is in good running and aesthetic condition as it is now, is all original (except color) and has less than 8000 original miles. It will be fun to rebuild.
I found this group during one of my "12 hour" googling sessions. Seems like a great group!
Now my question - the bike is an early 1968 model with the 'weak' frame - ie no serial number and no support tube (one way to look at it, I guess, is that I have a fairly rare bike, so to speak, and one of the earlier Commandos made in the 'fastback' style). However - I would like to ride the thing a little before emarking on a complete teardown and rebuild, if possible.
Is the frame really that dangerous? Books/manuals seem to just glance over this issue, but then there are a few email posts I've seen where people say don't even get on the bike with that frame.
Any thoughts? If I do go with an updated frame, how much will going with a non-original frame affect the value? If I ever decide to show the bike, will that greatly affect my potential 'ranking'? I'm new to this, so feel free to be blunt!!!
Thanks!!!!
