Introduction

Joined
Nov 8, 2013
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Hello all,
                This is by way of an introduction, thanks for letting me join your forum. I’m a 48 yr-old Englishman, I’ve been riding since I was 16, and after the obligatory few little Japanese bikes I discovered British bikes pretty early on. I’ve worked in the motor industry pretty much all of my life, close to the industrial heartland of England, and though I haven’t been without a British bike since I was 18 I had the realisation a couple of years ago that I hadn’t ridden one for decades, having transitioned onto European & American twins. I put this right with the purchase of a lovely little T100C, and I am now back on the path to righteousness!
                This brings me to my reason for joining. For whatever reason 3 decades ago, probably because they were made just up the road & the local area was rich with specialists, I fell in with Triumphs. All this time I have been aware of the Commando, admired them from afar, studied buyer’s guides & even planned to buy one, but never progressed the idea beyond wishful thinking. I am now hoping to change that.
                I have started the search for a Roadster, ideally one that is fettled but not a complete restoration project or a gleaming, restored show model. I’ve developed a liking for bikes that are survivors from their era, ideally low-ish miles & owners but in good, presentable , useable nick. It seems to me that there are a diminishing pool of un-restored bikes about & I’d like to have one and keep it that way, for as long as possible. That is what I’ll be looking for. I haven’t quite decided which mark of Roadster yet; I remember long ago determining that by a process of elimination an 850 Mk2a was the one to have, but I think that at this distance, and with the interchange-ability of desirable bits, it probably matters more the condition of the bike than its exact type.
                So, thanks again, I look forward to reading & learning plenty from you all & maybe one day buying a bike off one of you!
 
Cheers, Jon
 
Welcome for an ex-N-V guy. I worked at the Marston Road factory for two years or so. We lived in a small village called Coven, just off the Stafford Road a few miles north of the Wolverhampton boundary.

I landed a job with Boeing and we emigrated in 1968. Now retired and living in a smallish seaside town in NW Washington State called Anacortes, about equidistant from Seattle and Vancouver, BC.
 
Boxerfan said:
T100C... 850 Mk2a

Hello from Downunder.
Well played,you can't go wrong with those choices. :D

Introduction
 
I agree that the Mk 11 or 11a is a good bike.

If you are serious about riding the Interstate tank is a lot more practical. In NZ it can be a bit far between gas stations in the back blocks especially at night or weekends.

A bike in good condition will almost certainly save you 1000s over a ground up restoration. Thngs i would definitly upgrade include the front disc, ignition and carbs. Premier Amals preserve the original look. Pazon is my prefered ignition. Gear box bearings and dragging clutches can be issues and you will find postings on here on these subjects. One thing that does not get mentioned much but I really found an issue is the mainstand dragging. Maybe I got a strange after market one but you can barely lean the bike over before the backwheel is lifted !!
 
The center-stand has always been an issue. The prototypes we rode didn't have them (or even a prop stand). We had to find a tree or a wall to lean them against!

The story I heard was that Plumstead cobbled up an Atlas stand to fit the Commando frame and nobody rode it before it became a standard production item.
 
frankdamp said:
The center-stand has always been an issue. The prototypes we rode didn't have them (or even a prop stand). We had to find a tree or a wall to lean them against!

The story I heard was that Plumstead cobbled up an Atlas stand to fit the Commando frame and nobody rode it before it became a standard production item.

Interesting. For years I ran my bike without a mainstand. When I put it back on the road after a decade in storage I fitted a main stand.

First left hand corner at a very gentle pace and Im half way across the road. The things a menace and Im surprised it doesnt get mentioned more often.

It got taken off and will be cut and welded to improve it.
 
Well, thanks for the welcome notes and the advice so far. I may be on to a bike sooner than I'd expected! I'm on the track of a Mk3 roadster, 1975, with only a few previous owners (one for nearly 25 years), less than 40k miles, and in very presentable, useable nick. The price looks pretty fair, so if all goes well I may be an owner within a couple of weeks. Yay! I'm pretty relaxed about the fact that it's a mk3 rather than a 2a; it seems to me there are some pretty worthwhile improvements for the 3 that outweigh the (for me) slightly less desirable LH gearchange & disc rear brake.

Wish me luck!

Cheers, Jon.

ps Time Warp, your bike looks gorgeous!
 
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