New Member Introduction

Welcome dude, it looks like you have a real diamond in the rough! We seem to share philosophies, "dependable and safe"...
good luck and best wishes with that treasure!

Let me put this out to all... exactly wtf is a widowmaker? I know read it somewhere before, but surprisingly, can't remember!

my number is 152292, October '71. (back then, I was 14, and obsessed with "Idyl", in national lampoon!) anybody remember that one?

cheers,

Don

DonOR said:

Welcome dude, it looks like you have a real diamond in the rough! We seem to share philosophies, "dependable and safe"...
good luck and best wishes with that treasure!

Let me put this out to all... exactly wtf is a widowmaker? I know read it somewhere before, but surprisingly, can't remember!

my number is 152292, October '71. (back then, I was 14, and obsessed with "Idyl", in national lampoon!) anybody remember that one?

cheers,

Don

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A wdowmaker frame is the early version such as on my Norton that did not have the 1" brace tube from the lower steering head back to the backbone about where the seat and tank meet. They were prone to breaking the backbone about 10" from the steering head. Most of them were recalled and the frames replaced but like mine a few slipped throught the cracks.

Bobunome

Thanks Bob, since you're a welder, I'd imagine you could un-widowmake that frame in a day... and like you've indicated, I'd keep that disk up front as well-once I re-sleeved the master, and vented the disk, the brake works really well in comparison to what I had before. Once you start spending on these things, priorities start to change. Especially if like many of us, you have other obligations!

This is my first post. My name is Bud Cesena and I live in Denver NC. Ive been looking at vintage bikes for awhile now and have decided that my next project will be a 1975 850 Commando Interstate. I ride a K1600GTL right now but have had several bikes since I was 15. Hondas, Harley Davidsons, Yamahas, and BMWs. I do about 12 to 14 thousand miles on my bike each year.
I gave a great deal of thought to a Triumph Bonniville but it just doesnt match up to the beauty of a black Commando with the beautiful gold lettering. Im looking forward to learning from the people on the forum and hope to be able to contribute from time to time. Im a firm believer in "God gave your two ears and one mouth, listen more than talk" so you will not likely see a gerat many posts from me. You will probably see many questions. I will use the search function but on the chance I ask something stupid please be patient. This is my first vintage project.
Ive been riding for about 40 years now so Im not new to riding. Retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department in 2006 but did not give up policing. I am currently the Chief of the Schools Police Department. Anyone have any questions that I can help with in that regard please feel free to ask.
Im looking forward to being part of the group.

Bud

Budman said:

This is my first post. My name is Bud Cesena and I live in Denver NC. Ive been looking at vintage bikes for awhile now and have decided that my next project will be a 1975 850 Commando Interstate. I ride a K1600GTL right now but have had several bikes since I was 15. Hondas, Harley Davidsons, Yamahas, and BMWs. I do about 12 to 14 thousand miles on my bike each year.
I gave a great deal of thought to a Triumph Bonniville but it just doesnt match up to the beauty of a black Commando with the beautiful gold lettering. Im looking forward to learning from the people on the forum and hope to be able to contribute from time to time. Im a firm believer in "God gave your two ears and one mouth, listen more than talk" so you will not likely see a gerat many posts from me. You will probably see many questions. I will use the search function but on the chance I ask something stupid please be patient. This is my first vintage project.
Ive been riding for about 40 years now so Im not new to riding. Retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department in 2006 but did not give up policing. I am currently the Chief of the Schools Police Department. Anyone have any questions that I can help with in that regard please feel free to ask.
Im looking forward to being part of the group.

Bud

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Welcome to the board Bud. There are a lot of people on this forum with a ton of collective knowledge and experience. You will get all the help you will need.

Bobunonme

DonOR said:

Thanks Bob, since you're a welder, I'd imagine you could un-widowmake that frame in a day... and like you've indicated, I'd keep that disk up front as well-once I re-sleeved the master, and vented the disk, the brake works really well in comparison to what I had before. Once you start spending on these things, priorities start to change. Especially if like many of us, you have other obligations!

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I think I will give it shot to re-enforce the frame. I do want to keep the original frame if I can as it is in great condition. I am not a welder by trade but have done quite a bit of mig and stick work. Just have to keep from warping things by getting too much heat in one area. Should be doable.

Bobunome

My 2 cents
I have been watching the selling prices of stock Commandos for a while. Given that there are not allot of honest original Commandos around; the difference in selling price between a honest original and a stock restoration is not as much as one might think. If you can eventually get your Fastback to stock 1968 or 1969 specifications it would bring $7000 or more. Once you get past what a collector or investor will pay for an original, you are left with enthusiast that want a stocker to ride and enthusiasts will pay a lot for a well sorted stock Fastback. The hard part is finding the correct small parts. If you are the patient type you can find what you need a reasonable prices.

Prices on well sorted parts bikes are all over the place, because if it is not stock then by definition it is custom. A custom bike is worth whatever a buyer that wants it is willing to pay for it. With the economy the way it is there is a lot of money being spent on well sorted parts bikes, more than you might think, because a lot of new buyers are coming into the classic bike market because classic bikes especially Commandos are doing better than most other places you could put your money because the prices aren't going down, which cant be said for more traditional investments.

If you want to do a 1969 vintage stock Fastback there is a 1969/1970 vintage frame that you could get real reasonable from Keith Martin at Big D Cycle in Dallas TX. I got one from him for $200 with center stand, rear fender bracket and bottom triple clamp that was in real good shape including a bill of sale. when I was there and got mine Keith had a second one setting right beside it. I found Keith Martin a good guy to do business with; you can find them on google.

Bob give Keith that money lickety split.Any excuse to get out of horrid Ottawa and drive south to get it,laze around with other Canucks in say Myrtle Beach or fish for Big Bucketmouths in Texas swamplands for as long as possible.From valley boy,plenty of barn finds left in Ottawa still.

Torontonian said:

Bob give Keith that money lickety split.Any excuse to get out of horrid Ottawa and drive south to get it,laze around with other Canucks in say Myrtle Beach or fish for Big Bucketmouths in Texas swamplands for as long as possible.From valley boy,plenty of barn finds left in Ottawa still.

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It's minus 20C here. A trip south sure sounds inviting.

Bobunome

L.A.B. said:

Matt Spencer said:

Youve got the Ignition behind the Cylinders ??

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Unlikely on an engine with a 152422 serial number.

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You are correct L.A.B. It has the points on the end of the cam shaft and the tach drive off the center of the camshaft unlike the original engine which would have had the tach drive off the end of the cam and points behind cylinders.

Finally got the ownership transferred to my name today. I needed to get an appraisal for tax purposes before transfer as it is too old for the DOT to have value records in the red book they use to charge taxes on a higher value then you actually paid for the machine. What a scam.

Bobunome

What would happen if we all refused to pay taxes ? Start with the unfair ones. Ask Warren Buffett or Henry David Thoreau. Inflated motorcycle transfer taxes on rusty old junk needing help is wrong.

Torontonian said:

What would happen if we all refused to pay taxes ? Start with the unfair ones. Ask Warren Buffett or Henry David Thoreau. Inflated motorcycle transfer taxes on rusty old junk needing help is wrong.

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I did all right. Only paid taxes on $1,000.00.

Bobunome