Norton for a 30,000 mile ride?

I'm trying to get some help with some bits from Bennets by entering it in their 'bikers dream' competition - would be great if people could give us a hand - it's basically just one big popularity contest!

Go for it Henry, if you have the time then a good Commando is perfect for any trip, the biggest thing to consider is regular oil changes, factor them in and arrange filters, no problem (well none you can't deal with at the time) Plenty of stories of people decades ago doing RTW trips in inhospitable places with ancient "unsuitable" Brit Iron, and no Mobile phones or Fax machines at hand.
If it throws a rod, then your very unlucky, I did a trip to Romania a couple of years ago with a Commando riding friend (and my partner on a backup Kawasaki) over 4000 miles in a very limited timeframe, some issues but then again nothing that couldn't be fixed. http://www.tayvalley.nortonownersclub.org/news/Romania.htm

Cheers Gino,

I read that article a few months ago before I went to Romania, maybe that's where the seed got planted!

Henry

I think I might have found the right bike....

It doesn't need any work doing which is a potential downpoint as I would have liked to get to grips with the internals to get a better understanding of the workings but it does have a lot of sensible mods:
Mikuni single carb
New pistons, rings, valves and guides
Head skimmed
All new bearings - wheel, headstock etc
Braided stainless oil and brake lines
Boyer bransden ignition
Hagon shocks and springs

Should I go for it and just digest the workshop manual?

p.s. its a 73 Interstate 750, so is one of the last 750 to be made and has the super blend crank bearings and a stronger camshaft

pps it's had a .040 overbore, how many overbores can a 750 barrel take before there's not enough metal left in it?

I've seen pistons listed to 0.60 over, so apparently you can go that far anyway.

I think after that, you start calling it an 850. :shock:

Go for it, you know you want to! Just put some miles on it before you go, help is only a phone call or few clicks on the interweb away!

HenryUK said:

It doesn't need any work doing

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I've heard that before! The wiring certainly looks as if it could do with a tidy-up! The oil tank side cover is missing from a couple of the photos?

Ha! I guess you've seen the same advert, it's listed in quite a few places. I was going round making lists when I realised half of them were the same bike!

Luckily wiring I can handle, hadn't noticed the oil tank cover!

just time money for less used barrel and new pistons, o60 is on last legs and known to let piston be seen moving through barrel or barrel moving with piston.

Henry — I suggest taking your time getting the right Commando for your trip. You don't have to buy this one. This 750 with a skimmed head (and high compression?) might not be the one for you. All Commandos need work. Some 850s are almost certain to come up for sale in the next few months. Keep looking and post questions on the forum like you have done and you will eventually get a bike that fits the bill.

Dave

Gino Rondelli said:

Go for it, you know you want to! Just put some miles on it before you go, help is only a phone call or few clicks on the interweb away!

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Gino, will spot egging the guy on! You did 4000 miles and the zorst fell off, this guys looking at 30000..on is lonesome and talkin bears, wolves and cannaballs, even Yeti's :lol: ..Last time i went to glen coe i was eaten alive, mosie's are bad enough, Drunkin Cossacks....well now theres a thought. :wink:

Travelling into Russia,
A few years ago i was in the IOM , where i noticed a lad having some trouble wih old German Triumph , We got talkin and the rest of the week had a few laugh's.
In the Quids in [pub] we talked about travelling into Russia..solo.
He shook is head, Nine nine! Bandits , he said if i was to ride into some area's Looking very "tourist" its asking for trouble. "better to go looking a bit scruffy" he said.
I passed it off with a few more beers. and thought no more of it.
Now heres the point last year in Belguim i was having a few beers with a local Police man, that month he had shot and wounded a far eastern guy attempting to rob a tobacco shop...I know bikers in the past have travelled all over the world, but in these uncertain times ..is it wise.?
Dont get me wrong..if he was going to do france, spain, -up to holland.sweden, finland ..Great! Eastern Russia? but mayby thats his buzz...with a Commando. if he goe's i wish him the best of luck..he will need it.

If ya ride ya can be hurt robbed and killed. Much as is proper nowadays to recoil at thought of packing heat, it was a big part of past tool kits of early world riders and very common in US still. Don't think it would help now a days in foreign countries but pepper spray and stun gun sure could be. I've about to get some bear spray for dam big aggressive dogs that hound me. But who in right mind would want to steal an old Commando or smelly rider, besides me maybe? I want to keep breathing a long time but not just always contained in a home or a cage. Will ride with Iron Butt Commando friends Saturday, wisely keeping Trixie in shed till then.

Might do some searching on past world travelers for some insights and contacts.
I'd say way ward traffic and Gov't mis fits are biggest danger.

john robert bould said:

Drunkin Cossacks....well now theres a thought. :wink:

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Pssssh, probably safer than Drunkin Australians...

john robert bould said:

Travelling into Russia,
A few years ago i was in the IOM , where i noticed a lad having some trouble wih old German Triumph , We got talkin and the rest of the week had a few laugh's.
In the Quids in [pub] we talked about travelling into Russia..solo.
He shook is head, Nine nine! Bandits , he said if i was to ride into some area's Looking very "tourist" its asking for trouble. "better to go looking a bit scruffy" he said.

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I've been in Russia on my own before, and like everywhere people were dead nice, and surprised I'd been fine in their neighbouring countries - The Russians said Kazakhstan was full of bandits, the Kazakhs said Uzbekistan was full of bandits and so on. A big grin, no money and scruffy luggage opens a lot of doors!

Corrupt officials are only a problem if you are in a hurry and give them attitude, if you're all smiles and patience they either get bored and let you go or chat and give you food/cigarettes/vodka - they're just people.

I think I'm most concerned about the cartels in central America, but as Zapata once said 'I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees'. I might get some bear mace for Siberia though as I'll be wild camping most of the time

Well I've been and had a look at, and a ride on, the Norton previously mentioned.

Compression does seem a bit high, I haven't checked it with a tester but it takes quite a kick! How much should I worry about this and could I double up the head gasket to drop it a bit or is this a bumb idea?

The guy selling it is a very experienced engineer and the work that has been done seems to have been done to a very high standard, with any grinding etc work done by well known Norton Specialists (RGM and Mick Hemmings, some Norvil Parts in it)

Right now I am in two minds about this... Here are the pros and cons:
PROS
1) It has the mods that I'd have wanted to do on any Commmando I got - Mikuni Carb, Boyer Bransden ignition, Larger disc, Grimeca caliper, master cylinder rebored and sleeved by RGM (brakes were excellent), belt drive primary, luggage rack (although that will need some reinforcing, hagon shocks, progressive fork springs.
2) For the money it would cost me a lot more to get a stock 750 and do the above conversions, and I might not do them to the same high standard, even if my ego reckons I could!
3)As it's ready to ride I can spend a decent amount of time riding it around before the off and decide if this is actually a completely dumb idea, chicken out and get a GS, and a paper bag to put over my head to hide my shame!
4)I would only need to add a strut either side from pillion peg mounts, a bash plate, tidy up a bit of wiring and add some indicators
5)I was grinning like a chipmunk after a quick blast up and down the bypass

CONS
1)The crankcase journals were recently reground and + .020 shells put in 150 miles ago so the engine is still being run in (but at least I could run it in in the UK instead of rebuilding a bike myself and the running it in on the actual trip (bad move!)
2)It's already on a +.040 overbore so I might end up having to source a new barrel and pistons on the road, rather than just having to source pistons and a local place that could rebore and hone the old barrel
3)The footpegs had been moved back. The riding position felt OK for the short time I was on the bike but could do with having a sit on a bike with them in the original position
4)Getting into first was a wee bit tricky, but this felt like there was a knack to doing it right rather than there being a problem with the internals
5)I'm not sure the vendor was entirely happy with the thought of his pride and joy being dragged all over the planet

Right now I just can't decide what to do! I want the bike, and I know how much hard work the trip is going to be on that bike now that I've been on one

HenryUK said:

Compression does seem a bit high, I haven't checked it with a tester but it takes quite a kick! How much should I worry about this

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There are ways to lower compression, however, Commandos often demand a fair amount of physical effort to kickstart them (so just imagine what that's going to be like when you're tired, cold, wet, hungry, miles/Kms from anywhere, and the bike decides to sulk and won't start?).

Indeed!! I guess the silver lining to that cloud is that the exercise might warm me up a bit. Must remember to take a box of spare plugs with me for when I flood it....

I guess my other option is a Triumph Tiger, has anyone been able to make a direct comparison of these two? One downside to the Tiger is people thinking I'm a Ted Simon wannabe.....