My new commando is in the garage!

After a few weeks of waiting I finally have my new bike home. This is my first brit bike project and I am super stoked to get started on it. I am a newbie to the world of classic bikes so this will be a big learning experince for me. Most of what I know about these bikes I have learned on this forum, I hope everyone is ready for am onslought of questions as this project goes forward! Here are a few to start off with- I took the points cover off today and was happy to see that some sort of electronic ignition has already been fitted. Can anyone tell me which ignition this is and if it is any good?



Second question, how can you tell if the isolastics are worn out? I am guessing that mine may be shot because when I tried to pull back the boots to get a look at them the boots just cracked split. Do the they sag or something when they wear out? If they need to be replaced I am going to get a MIII iso conversion for it.

Here are some photos of my new baby, it's a 73 interstate 850. I won't go into great detail as to condition and such since I covered that pretty well a few posts ago.

sweet ride!! Don't worry, I'm in the same boat with my first brit and first vintage bike. I ask stupid questions all the time :roll: so don't worry bout it. Everyone's nice, and questions get answered fast.

I think that looks like a boyer ignition, but I'm not 100% certain

The ignition you show is a Boyer, one of the most popular mods for a Norton. There are 3 parts to it.. the pickup plate and magnetic rotor in the timing cover and a matching electronic module. If you follow the wires from the case there, they will lead to an electronic box usually tied up under the tank.

Nice bike. Congrats.

Nice bike. Is it a Mk2A? I have a 1974 Mk2A 850 Roadster. Your tank looks huge compared to mine!
Not sure if it is a boyer...I have a Boyer Mk3 system. The backplate looks the same but the block where the wires connect is different. If you whip the tank off you should find a black or red control box, probably near the coils. This will tell you if it is a Boyer or not. It will have a sticker on it.
The preffered system seems to be Tri-spark, but many including me run with Boyer systems. The Boyer system takes more current to run so it needs a fully charged battery. The boyer system can give you a kickback if not on a good battery charge... :x
I notice you have a single carb conversion on her....Mikuni? A lot of folk like this conversion. I chose to get new amal mk 1 carbs....they will not last as long as your Mikuni, whick is made from aluminium alloy not zinc alloy...
I chose to fit a belt drive primary with sureflex fibre clutch plates and run a dry clutch, which is fantastic but not cheap (RGM motors, UK)
I also chose to fit a roller bearing onto my gearbox layshaft. They say this is one you should do to avoid expensive layshaft failure.
I also chose to upgrade my front brake. The best thing you can do here is reduce the diameter of the master cylinder piston diameter from 5/8" down to 11mm. RGM do a conversion or you can find a new unit complate, as I did. This will improve the braking no end, by increasing the ratio.
If the bike is on the road then ride first to get a benchmark of the bike as is before you start tweaking.
Good luck.
Stu.
Stu

Very nice machine. I just fitted a Brembo front master cylinder and stainless braided line from CNW and it is amazing how much better the front brake performs, almost like a modern bike.

Nice Bike, Just a small concern, the fuel line to the mikuni looks very close to the head, I've had a fuel line come close to melting through being that close to the heat coming from the head and cylinders :wink:

On the ign issue, the small hole at quarter to the hour in the plate is for static timing.
If you set the crank at 31 dbtdc the screw in the rotor magnet should line up with the hole. That is how the Boyer system is initially timed prior to strobing it.
Stu

Your tank looks huge compared to mine!

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It's the steel 750 interstate and early Mk1 850 tank a real whopper mine help just over 6 UK gallons and it hasn't a baffle plate.

I found that model to be quick, nice bike.
Cash

Hi there the splits you mentioned are on the Isolastic gaiters they do very commonly split, the Isolastic rubbers *(the important bits) you cant see as they are inside the front and rear mountings I would go for a conversion to MK 111 type eventually . But maybe you should give it a few rides and see how the handling/vibration is before you zip in and replace the Isolastics. Have fun

Thanks for all the replys, this forum is such a valuable resource. You are all right about it being a boyer ignition. I stripped all the body work off today and found the box. Stu, I am not sure what Mk# it is, the manufacture date on the vin plate is 8/73. The single carb is indeed a Mikuni. A 34mm I am pretty sure. Yes, the tank is huge! Fiberglass though, I wish it were steel. Nortasaki, you are right about that fuel line being really close to the head. When I put it back together I will make sure it has a little more room.

cdafirefighter said:

I am not sure what Mk# it is, the manufacture date on the vin plate is 8/73.

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That should be a MkI model.