Henry its dangerous for me to read and response to your wild hair idea as so appeals to me its hard or resist doing the same and to some degree I'm being forced to build up a Commando myself that is capable of running the rest of my life living on it. I live off road with miles of THE Gravel paths in tights and steeps and blinds and crazy traffic, natural hazards, tree falls to washouts and big dumb tough animals. I find my Combat Commando with a few cheap easy mods is the most capable-comfortable-secure of any cycle I've tried such as modern endruo and MX bikes and for sure the big heavy clunky expensive BMW's that a published world cycle traveler, now killed dead as a F**king door nail friend -Tee boned on hwy, left his famous well used steed at end of pavement wisely, to visit my home and Norton nest shed. I'm living breathing bleeding and broken up mental physical and emotional devotee that there is only one motorcycle for me to invest in to live up what time I've got left or die in the saddle enjoying to last horrific terrifying end.
Commando's in their hey day won endurance races on factory equipped bikes. Nowadays way better options exist for long time flying and nil maintaince. The iron butt Cdo fellas I know mainly have to keep an eye on rear tire life as they use them up on one leg of long trips out in about 5000 miles. Wise cheap ones fit same size front and back to move front to rear with new on front as front wears sides most and rear the center.
I first tested my cheap easy handling modifications on wild trials bike private 'course' into ravine drops up to 3 stories deep V and whoppeeteedo dug out piled up molgals and then through raw brush and woods surprising deer I ran down with better acceleration and zig zaging ability than them, till they leaped over fences, tree falls or washouts I had to toss sideways to avoid crashing into. A HUGE feature in favor of Cdo's over others is how dam tough they are to crashes that only does cosmetic damage and can be ridden away if pilot still functional. With some crash bars wisely placed I plan to make mine about invulnerable unless run over by a truck or endo'd over a bluff, mere race type crashes and hill climb drops will mean nothing to my Ms Peel.
There are very few cycles that can be configured to carry as much cargo as a Commando, it big Interstate tank allows over 300 mile range and support for big tank bag, saddle is wide and long to pile stuff to lean against, rear lope allows big flat area luggage rack with sissy bar to strap too as well and this don't count saddle bags or fork tool kit bag and you own back pack.
No other cycle in the world will break the ice like a purring long in tooth looking Commando showing up, so you will instantly be recognized as a real nut case only dangerous to himself and sharing the joy around the world while still able to tempt fates others wish they were up for too... Cdo's don't need to special fluids and can run on poor fuel too i've found and uses tires sizes most the world does too. Do it do it do it on an ever loving trace inducing addicting Norton Commando. I'd seek out the 750 over the 850 myself as best bang for the bux and simple ness to tackle most repairs all by your lonesome. I've carried full rebuild tool kit with me 1000 miles to rally and mostly shared them with others as not needed for my own recovery-repair.
Depending or shop space and your ability and time factor, I'D shop for the desired pieces and put you own together from scratch as saves the tear down and wasted worn out parts you'll discover and reconfigure a few things for the long haul and you'll know everything about your Commando and how to deal with it. Mastering the Commando in all ways is one of my life time goals for last decade and expect to enjoy the fruits of what I've learned the hard way within a year or so to shock the world and me too with her.
