Motorbike Friendship

phil yates said:

S
Phil

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[/quote]

not real hard to find .. just one search 5 minutes ago.. And overpriced at that...

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/huntingd ... 1047350986[/quote]
MK111's are around you just have to know where to look and people to ask. Just like these gems waiting for the ultimate rebuild.
[/quote]

Look a bit harder. Maybe bent frames etc? Matching frame and engine numbers?
How much do you want to spend, $35000? Go for it.

Good ones to restore are getting rarer and rarer.
Just ask the guys who make a living out of restoring them.
If they are getting thin in the USA, they are getting very thin indeed.[/quote]


Five minutes of search to find these bikes ? well.. I probably live in the wrong country :?
Restorable Commando's do not come up for sale very often.,and concerning restoring Virago's and other Jap machinery: that is for massochists imo.

Adrian1 said:

:lol: i'm guessin they're about the same age as most of the punters on this forum! You must be 50 something yourself :lol:

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Well I was referring more to what age the riders would be if they were riding these machines when they were young. These are vintage machines, not classic.

I'm not 50 something!!!
I'm 60 minus 4 months thank you very much!!
When do I get a seniors card? How scary!

The Southern Highlands is a popular area for bike groups and rallies, it is so pretty and not far from the big smoke. Far enough to escape it but close enough to get to it, if need be.

Phil

Peter R said:

phil yates said:

S
Phil

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

not real hard to find .. just one search 5 minutes ago.. And overpriced at that...
[/quote]

Look a bit harder. Maybe bent frames etc? Matching frame and engine numbers?
How much do you want to spend, $35000? Go for it.

Good ones to restore are getting rarer and rarer.
Just ask the guys who make a living out of restoring them.
If they are getting thin in the USA, they are getting very thin indeed.[/quote]


Five minutes of search to find these bikes ? well.. I probably live in the wrong country :?
Restorable Commando's do not come up for sale very often.,and concerning restoring Virago's and other Jap machinery: that is for massochists imo.[/quote]

More Nortons were sent to the USA than any other country in the world. So yes, you/I are/am in the wrong country in that sense. Australia was a tiny market by comparison. So where do you think most of them are? Baxter's are well known for Brit restorations and they advised finding good MkIII's to restore is getting difficult. So it certainly can't be getting any easier here. And those in the know, the so called "beautiful people" want a Norton MkIII above all other Commandos. This is because some dick on a Norton forum made such a song and dance about them, all the beautiful people just had to have one. It's called market manipulation.

In reality, they are dreadful things!!

But that Virago? What do you do with an engine case like that? Just replace it I guess.
The local bike shop had a beautifully restored Kawasaki Mach III for sale. The guy wanted nothing less than $15000. It probably was worth it (if you like Mach III's). After a long period, it sold for $5000. Same vintage as a Commando, but who really wants a Mach III?

The Commando is the greatest motorcycle God ever offered to man. After they were all sold, he handed out MkIII's to his wing men.

Phil

GRM 450 said:

Would Kelly be the gent from Maleny that sells the odd Comando on eBay?

Time warp, there is a fellow in Brisbane, Ron Russ, who is a perfectionist. But sadly he has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and has stopped doing any work apart from his own. This left a huge hole as to where to get machining work done. I needed some machining done on a Single Ducati and sent the bits to Ron Young Engineering who did a very good job. I'd use him again.
There is Geoff Howie engineering also in Brisbane who is very good but has way too much work and in very slow.
Its a shame all the good old chaps are disappearing

Graeme

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Kelly does the engineering for the guy who sells the commando's on Ebay in Brisbane. He may sell the odd one.

There isn't one post in here on topic. So here is one more.
I have a serious "cat loves Norton" problem.
Almost every morning I get up and look out the window to see my beloved cat sitting on my beloved Norton's seat.
He's not yet doing any harm but if he ever starts that "claw the carpet" thing they do, his life will be rapidly shortened.
He showed a similar interest in the internal clothes dryer. Very hard to get clothes out with a cat trying to go in.
Clearly interested in mechanical things, I gave him a 10 minute demo of how the dryer works.
Never showed any interest since.
But what about my Norton seat? I am not going to bring it inside every night, nor the cat who works side by side with my guard dog keeping unwanted's out.

Any clues? Someone else must have experienced a similar problem.

Phil

I have a good mate in here from another state, also with a red fastback. He's thinking of trekking on down for a visit. That will make things interesting. That will make two photos for Tom and Angie running the pub.

Two red Fastbacks parked outside the pub.
Cops will ask themselves, what shit is going on here??
Are we seeing double vision or are there now two of the fuckers in town?
How do we know which one went past the cop shop last night at 100mph??

Phil

phil yates said:

Speaking of restorations, how do you restore this?
At least Nortons are made of real metal. A friend asked me about restoring this Virago (most unstable machine ever invented).
I put my hand on his shoulder and said, sorry son, you can't.

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Gee Uncle Phil, why not? :?:

phil yates said:

There isn't one post in here on topic. So here is one more.
I have a serious "cat loves Norton" problem.
Almost every morning I get up and look out the window to see my beloved cat sitting on my beloved Norton's seat.
He's not yet doing any harm but if he ever starts that "claw the carpet" thing they do, his life will be rapidly shortened.
He showed a similar interest in the internal clothes dryer. Very hard to get clothes out with a cat trying to go in.
Clearly interested in mechanical things, I gave him a 10 minute demo of how the dryer works.
Never showed any interest since.
But what about my Norton seat? I am not going to bring it inside every night, nor the cat who works side by side with my guard dog keeping unwanted's out.

Any clues? Someone else must have experienced a similar problem. Phil

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Yep, at least it keeps the birds from crapping on your seat.
I had a neighbour’s cat ( I never found out whose as I lived in a block of flats at the time) which proceed to use my bike seat , and when I fitted a new seat cover there were a lot of cat sized holes in it where the old fat tabby tried to get itself up :!:
Once those four legged moggies get a favourite spot you can either accept it or go outside an HISS loudly to scare it off, or buy a cat hating dog.

Bernhard said:

phil yates said:

There isn't one post in here on topic. So here is one more.
I have a serious "cat loves Norton" problem.
Almost every morning I get up and look out the window to see my beloved cat sitting on my beloved Norton's seat.
He's not yet doing any harm but if he ever starts that "claw the carpet" thing they do, his life will be rapidly shortened.
He showed a similar interest in the internal clothes dryer. Very hard to get clothes out with a cat trying to go in.
Clearly interested in mechanical things, I gave him a 10 minute demo of how the dryer works.
Never showed any interest since.
But what about my Norton seat? I am not going to bring it inside every night, nor the cat who works side by side with my guard dog keeping unwanted's out.

Any clues? Someone else must have experienced a similar problem. Phil

Click to expand...

Yep, at least it keeps the birds from crapping on your seat.
I had a neighbour’s cat ( I never found out whose as I lived in a block of flats at the time) which proceed to use my bike seat , and when I fitted a new seat cover there were a lot of cat sized holes in it where the old fat tabby tried to get itself up :!:
Once those four legged moggies get a favourite spot you can either accept it or go outside an HISS loudly to scare it off, or buy a cat hating dog.

Click to expand...

I have a cat hating rifle, will this do the same thing?

Phil

concours said:

phil yates said:

Speaking of restorations, how do you restore this?
At least Nortons are made of real metal. A friend asked me about restoring this Virago (most unstable machine ever invented).
I put my hand on his shoulder and said, sorry son, you can't.

Click to expand...

Gee Uncle Phil, why not? :?:

Click to expand...

Bury it. These things were intended for short term life. The metal quality is…. well it isn't.
I've often wondered what guys brave enough to restore old Jap bikes do.

BTW, is there a Honda Four forum?
Or Kawasaki Mach III?
Etc etc.
Maybe there are. Just largely fading memories I expect, and some old dog eared photos.

Phil

phil yates said:

concours said:

phil yates said:

Speaking of restorations, how do you restore this?
At least Nortons are made of real metal. A friend asked me about restoring this Virago (most unstable machine ever invented).
I put my hand on his shoulder and said, sorry son, you can't.

Click to expand...

Gee Uncle Phil, why not? :?:

Click to expand...

Bury it. These things were intended for short term life. The metal quality is…. well it isn't.
I've often wondered what guys brave enough to restore old Jap bikes do.

BTW, is there a Honda Four forum?
Or Kawasaki Mach III?
Etc etc.
Maybe there are. Just largely memories I expect, and some dog eared photos.

Phil

Click to expand...

wow... just what is it about that poor quality metal? Impurities? Whenever I've TIG weld repaired broken cases, the Asian stuff was rather smooth and welded good.

http://www.sohc4.net/

http://www.kawasakitriplesworldwide.com/

This guy here makes some very fine replacement exhausts... http://www.dropbears.com/o/overlander/exhausts.htm

Kinda catchin' on in some areas.... http://www.rice-o-rama.com/ http://vjmc.org.au/j25/

Brave? I dunno about that, just some old guys who enjoy resurrecting an old piece of machinery, which, like most everything mechanical, has some attributes worthy of celebration.

Gee Uncle Phil, why not? :?:[/quote]


Phil[/quote]

wow... just what is it about that poor quality metal? Impurities? Whenever I've TIG weld repaired broken cases, the Asian stuff was rather smooth and welded good.

http://www.sohc4.net/

http://www.kawasakitriplesworldwide.com/

This guy here makes some very fine replacement exhausts... http://www.dropbears.com/o/overlander/exhausts.htm

Kinda catchin' on in some areas.... http://www.rice-o-rama.com/ http://vjmc.org.au/j25/

Brave? I dunno about that, just some old guys who enjoy resurrecting an old piece of machinery, which, like most everything mechanical, has some attributes worthy of celebration.[/quote]

Well, sometimes it is like pulling teeth just to get an answer.
Yes, I had seen some of these sites.
There are forums for people who like choo choo trains and everything else. Absolutely no end to them.
You are impressed with the Jap metal? Then tell me, why does it craze like it does, and what do you do about it?
That's all I asked in the first place.

Phil

"You are impressed with the Jap metal? Then tell me, why does it craze like it does, and what do you do about it?"

The crazing you see is the (now very aged) clear coat applied to the alloy parts which, when new stayed nice looking with no aluminum polishing... (another post here is contemplating it protecting-polished-alloy-t19475.html ) After many years out behind a shed, the corrosion creeps under the clear coat, and pits much worse than just bare alloy. (kinda like road salt used to melt snow does to automotive alloy wheels).
https://www.google.com/search?q=corrode ... 560%3B1920
The fix is to use paint stripper and then sand/polish the alloy. Lather, rinse, repeat.

concours said:

"You are impressed with the Jap metal? Then tell me, why does it craze like it does, and what do you do about it?"

The crazing you see is the (now very aged) clear coat applied to the alloy parts which, when new stayed nice looking with no aluminum polishing... (another post here is contemplating it protecting-polished-alloy-t19475.html ) After many years out behind a shed, the corrosion creeps under the clear coat, and pits much worse than just bare alloy. (kinda like road salt used to melt snow does to automotive alloy wheels).
https://www.google.com/search?q=corrode ... 560%3B1920
The fix is to use paint stripper and then sand/polish the alloy. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Click to expand...

Thank you.
Now I understand. From my observations, it didn't need to be very aged to start this behind the surface rot.
Living near the coast then, this was apparent on many Japo's quite early in their miserable life.
But I see the rationale. This bike is heavy, doesn't handle or steer, goes over bumps like a souped up pogo stick,
but never needs cleaning or polishing, until you have to. No probs then, get out the paint stripper, sand and polish.
Do the tank whilst you're at it.
Long live the emperor!!

Whilst I'm on the subject, why does a MIII's alloy stay so shiny so long? Better than any Commando I've owned before?

Phil

"Whilst I'm on the subject, why does a MIII's alloy stay so shiny so long? Better than any Commando I've owned before?"



Rose colored glasses? Years in the fresh Midwestern farmland air? :lol: I have no idea, one of the historians here can chime in with the real answer.

concours said:

"Whilst I'm on the subject, why does a MIII's alloy stay so shiny so long? Better than any Commando I've owned before?"



Rose colored glasses? Years in the fresh Midwestern farmland air? :lol: I have no idea, one of the historians here can chime in with the real answer.

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I have the answer con, just testing your knowledge.
They changed the quality of the alloy. Might have happened earlier than the MkIII, not sure what year. But it worked.
If I caught anyone near my Commando with paint stripper, I'd tip it down his throat!!

Phil

phil yates said:

concours said:

"Whilst I'm on the subject, why does a MIII's alloy stay so shiny so long? Better than any Commando I've owned before?"



Rose colored glasses? Years in the fresh Midwestern farmland air? :lol: I have no idea, one of the historians here can chime in with the real answer.

Click to expand...

I have the answer con, just testing your knowledge.
They changed the quality of the alloy. Might have happened earlier than the MkIII, not sure what year. But it worked.
If I caught anyone near my Commando with paint stripper, I'd tip it down his throat!!

Phil

Click to expand...

That's interesting, is there a link to some discussion? I'd be fascinated to learn of just how it was changed. As for quizzing me, I'm a babe in the woods with Commando information, a johny-come-lately to Commando life, evolved from a child who admired them from afar. Blessedly, the posters on this board and a few very knowledgable guys in person have shared.

concours said:

phil yates said:

concours said:

"Whilst I'm on the subject, why does a MIII's alloy stay so shiny so long? Better than any Commando I've owned before?"



Rose colored glasses? Years in the fresh Midwestern farmland air? :lol: I have no idea, one of the historians here can chime in with the real answer.

Click to expand...

I have the answer con, just testing your knowledge.
They changed the quality of the alloy. Might have happened earlier than the MkIII, not sure what year. But it worked.
If I caught anyone near my Commando with paint stripper, I'd tip it down his throat!!

Phil

Click to expand...

That's interesting, is there a link to some discussion? I'd be fascinated to learn of just how it was changed. As for quizzing me, I'm a babe in the woods with Commando information, a johny-come-lately to Commando life, evolved from a child who admired them from afar. Blessedly, the posters on this board and a few very knowledgable guys in person have shared.

Click to expand...

There is always more to learn. You stop learning when you are dead. Not before.
I don't know how we went from Motorbike Friendship to paint stripper.
But I don't think anybody cares.
I learnt something from you con, I didn't know Japo crazing was occurring under a protective film.
So I genuinely thank you for the information.
You can never have too much knowledge.

Phil