Jim Comstock's race bike, pictures!

SteveA · Mar 13, 2023

Did a search but didn't find what I was looking for. Does anyone have, or can point me to, pictures of Jim Comstock's '90s BOTT racer?

Chris · Mar 13, 2023

Hi Steve it Ikrens poll
Commando engines in different chassis.

acotrel · Mar 13, 2023

Gus Kuhn was PW's main competition, when it mattered.

worntorn · Mar 13, 2023

worntorn · Mar 13, 2023

acotrel said:
Gus Kuhn was PW's main competition, when it mattered.

Huh?

ashman · Mar 13, 2023

worntorn said:
Huh?

Don't worry Al gets off track all the time we should be use to it by now.

Schwany · Mar 14, 2023

Looks like a few changes were made to the NV version of a Norton. Impressive re-engineering of a dinosaur.

acotrel · Mar 14, 2023

A tank like that could bring tears to any man's eyes.

acotrel · Mar 14, 2023

ashman said:
Don't worry Al gets off track all the time we should be use to it by now.

History tells who had the fastest Nortons. The Trans Atlantic Series in the 1970s sorted the men from the boys. Building a faster bike than the Norton Monocoque or Space Frame factory bikes would not be easy. The problem is, we cannot turn back the clock. Gus Kuhn had the only Nortons which got near the factory bikes. What dominated were two-strokes.
I enjoyed building my bike, but it was never going to be a world-beater. Is is good for what it is, and that is not much.
I do not know in what competition the Comstock bike was was used, but fast enough is always good enough.

acotrel · Mar 14, 2023

In Victoria, we have a guy in historic racing who built many of our freeways, so he has a lot of money. He offered to sell me a Matchless G50 motor which had a Chev rod in it and a 4 valve head. The bike he races himself is a Norvin and he always has an A grade superbike rider on it.
He was not around when I was racing in the late 60s, early 70s. So he never experienced All Powers C grade. Historic racing is pretty tame stuff. When it arrived, I walked away, until 2003. Then I got stupid.
Anything is better than nothing ? I enjoy the ride, but the mindset is different. These days, I never have anxiety.

I am sorry, Jim - but I would not ride your bike. It is probably very good, but in the 70s, my own bike also had danger written all over it.

acotrel · Mar 14, 2023

If you want to win - watch the races and see where the others are faster and slower. Then you can adjust to suit. Sometimes you need a top-end motor - other times you need more traction and better handling. If I race, I only race on two curcuits, and they are similar. That makes things easier.

ashman · Mar 14, 2023

Al the OP was asking about Jim's old 90's BOTT racer and you are on about other things than what the OP wanted to know, the question wasn't about what you think or what you did or how you would do it if it was you, as usual you getting off track from the original question, or am I missing something.
Just because that bike in the pics looks so out of place don't mean it's no good, looks like it means business to me.

SteveA · Mar 14, 2023

worntorn said:
View attachment 104673 View attachment 104674

Thanks for those. I do remember seeing them, but didn't know where to find them.

I could be off track but I am thinking there was also an earlier version that was less sophisticated than this, which I think is a final version.

lcrken · Mar 15, 2023

SteveA said:
Thanks for those. I do remember seeing them, but didn't know where to find them.

I could be off track but I am thinking there was also an earlier version that was less sophisticated than this, which I think is a final version.

This was Jim's first race Commando.

Ken

lcrken · Mar 15, 2023

And this is another version of it.

Ken

acotrel · Mar 15, 2023

I think that going under the motor with the 2 into 1 exhaust is a bit smarter, than down the side of the bike. I did not realise it could be done that way with a Commando. With a featherbed farme,going under the motor is difficult.
I notice in the last photo, he used the pipes inside the frame, and a pannier oil tank. But it is not a 2 into 1 system. The slip joints at the head are a smarter way to go.

Schwany · Mar 15, 2023

Pre white hair days next to that Red one.

That second one is nice looking, and I bet sounded impressive. Looks about the same as the final one.

Are those Dellorto carbonators?

acotrel · Mar 15, 2023

ashman said:
Al the OP was asking about Jim's old 90's BOTT racer and you are on about other things than what the OP wanted to know, the question wasn't about what you think or what you did or how you would do it if it was you, as usual you getting off track from the original question, or am I missing something.
Just because that bike in the pics looks so out of place don't mean it's no good, looks like it means business to me.

My 500cc Triton also looked as though it meant business - nasty business ! Bikes like that teach you a lot. When I look at that first photo, it probably looks different to me than it does to you. I can still feel the pain.
When you ride something like that, you always have anxiety.
'Life is a learning process'.

Fast Eddie · Mar 15, 2023

lcrken said:
And this is another version of it.
View attachment 104732

View attachment 104733

Ken

What goin’ on with the gearbox on that bike ??

baz · Mar 15, 2023

Schwany said:
Pre white hair days next to that Red one.

That second one is nice looking, and I bet sounded impressive. Looks about the same as the final one.

Are those Dellorto carbonators?

The second set of photos the bike has MK2 amals

Jim Comstock's race bike, pictures!

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