One more back on the road

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MikeM

MikeM

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I got this bike about 3 years ago. It was sitting in a friends barn for the last 20 or so years. Its a 71 matching numbers. Got it running but it was in sorry shape.
Bad crank bearings among other issues.
Time and skill did not allow me to do the work myself but I just got it back today with a newly rebuilt engine and trans.
The chassis still has issues and it has 35 year old tires but I was able to ride it today for the first time.
Much sorting out to do to make it safe and reliable but I can handle the rest. It sounds sweet and the first time up the street was amazing.
I have my work cut out for me and phase 2 now starts.
Another one saved.
 
Good on you Mike, at least we care here about the concern and expenses, even if immediate family may not be. Next generation is gonna thank us no end.
 
35 year old tires? just watch the corners!


MikeM said:
I got this bike about 3 years ago. It was sitting in a friends barn for the last 20 or so years. Its a 71 matching numbers. Got it running but it was in sorry shape.
Bad crank bearings among other issues.
Time and skill did not allow me to do the work myself but I just got it back today with a newly rebuilt engine and trans.
The chassis still has issues and it has 35 year old tires but I was able to ride it today for the first time.
Much sorting out to do to make it safe and reliable but I can handle the rest. It sounds sweet and the first time up the street was amazing.
I have my work cut out for me and phase 2 now starts.
Another one saved.
Click to expand...
 
MikeM said:
I got this bike about 3 years ago. It was sitting in a friends barn for the last 20 or so years. Its a 71 matching numbers. Got it running but it was in sorry shape.
Bad crank bearings among other issues.
Time and skill did not allow me to do the work myself but I just got it back today with a newly rebuilt engine and trans.
The chassis still has issues and it has 35 year old tires but I was able to ride it today for the first time.
Much sorting out to do to make it safe and reliable but I can handle the rest. It sounds sweet and the first time up the street was amazing.
I have my work cut out for me and phase 2 now starts.
Another one saved.
Click to expand...

As they say on the internet, "photos or it didnt happen"!
 
Its real.

One more back on the road


One more back on the road


One more back on the road
 
Congrats on a nice "revival".

When you have a spare moment, how about a nice shot of the right side as well?

(gotta love yellow)
 
I recognize yours as a '71 ex-HyRyder. Needs brighter yellow so don't look as old and long in tooth eh. The main deal with old tires is they ride so rough and thereby can induce The Hinge rather sooner than decent tires and may transmit more vibes and brake may lock em up sooner too. No one should ride near any limits in the wet unless on purpose on a track to learn what not to do in public. When a new Commando arrives you should realize its still likely just a cute kit you will have to correct adjust, re route and chase this and that fault for next 1000 miles or so.
 
that passes for a reasonable bike. If it goes, use it and get to know it. Enjoy and learn to ride it. If you start to restore it now you may have it off the road too long. Get the isolastics checked and adjusted. The soft original antivibe spacers may not even exist on that bike now as happened with the my orange 71 bike. fit a new battery and it will start easier. aLL THE BEST FROM NZ
 
hobot said:
I recognize yours as a '71 ex-HyRyder. Needs brighter yellow so don't look as old and long in tooth eh. The main deal with old tires is they ride so rough and thereby can induce The Hinge rather sooner than decent tires and may transmit more vibes and brake may lock em up sooner too. No one should ride near any limits in the wet unless on purpose on a track to learn what not to do in public. When a new Commando arrives you should realize its still likely just a cute kit you will have to correct adjust, re route and chase this and that fault for next 1000 miles or so.
Click to expand...

Curious to know why you think it was a Hi Rider? It doesnt have the typical long switch wiring for the handlebars. I am not sure what it started out at. The tank is fiberglas.
The isolastics were serviced at the time the engine was done. I have some incidental bits to attend to.
 
The shape of the gas tank is the clue that it is (was) a high rider. Bigger issue do your research on this forum about fiberglass tanks and ethanol fuel. Especially for you in IL where they have e-85. It will dissolve the fiberglass resin and gum up your carbs and if you continue to ride it may well damage your newly rebuilt motor.
 
Yeah, get rid of that tank.
Sell it on ebay to someone who wants to turn it into a wall clock.
 
Yep tiny chopper-ish "peanut" tank in fiberglass ya can't hardly risk missing a gas station. My ride buddy has similar though more back woods ratter in burnt orange.
 
boz said:
The shape of the gas tank is the clue that it is (was) a high rider. Bigger issue do your research on this forum about fiberglass tanks and ethanol fuel. Especially for you in IL where they have e-85. It will dissolve the fiberglass resin and gum up your carbs and if you continue to ride it may well damage your newly rebuilt motor.
Click to expand...

As I am tapped out after the engine and trans, the tank will have to wait. For the time being I am draining it after each use. Yes its a pain. If the bike were a former Hi-rider would it not have very long wiring for the bars?
It does not have this nor does it look like anything was shortened.
Cosmetically its worn and honest looking. For now it will stay like that. Its mostly presentable. I will work on this over time.
 
Well, perhaps in the distant past, someone just stuck the smaller "hi rider" gas tank on yours. The hi bars are unique to the hi rider and need the extended cables and control wiring. My "hi rider" is below, albeit it has the larger headlamp shell. The larger one is easier to get a sealed Hi/Lo beam for, as well as hide interconnect wiring in. :mrgreen: It is a pain in that it doesn't hold much gas, but I like the look. 8) Also, the hi rise bars help keep arm pit hairs cooled off in the 95 degree Florida breeze. :)

One more back on the road
 
hehehe- ya see the recoil reaction of implying someone's Cdo had a chopper history so ya got some big ones nortriubuell keeping a '71 in black sheep reality. 750's are modular and entirely possible someone wanted to put the smaller tank on a roadster so didn't have to mess with ape hanger removal. Wes has thickly Caswell's Novalac'd his about a decade ago now and has to take boozed gas everwhere often and doesn't empty it unused mo's at a time. But next tank may not take as well so how lucky do ya feel.
 
I have a complete set of NOS Hi Rider Lucas switch blocks, about as close as I will get but think the HR is fine in general.
#

Nice job on the revival, is it the pic or is the tail light pointing downhill ?

One more back on the road
 
Hi mark

IT'S NOT A MOTORCYCLE , IT'S A HOPPER, BABY!!!

One day all mando's will look like that ,TLS you won't need disc with a speed limit of 25mph. Two gallon tank with fuel costing 150 a gallon.

But in the meantime they only show themselves from Dusk Till Dawn when most 850's and the like are tucked up in bed!
One more back on the road


Keep up the hopper look mark , don't lose you soul to the roadsters!
 
Welcome to on going Commando hobby kit to fiddle with. I missed the sagging tail mount and decreased rear mudgaurd-tire clearance. At least the rear loop seems straight-ish but can't tell by photo. Tag bracket to fender seems fine so over my head to solve that cosmetic annoyance. Don't look too close from behind or may see the rear rim is a bit L of loop center - as all the factory 750's I've seen are before hobbyists with spare time refine their kit. Once happy with its looks post photos in the Pictures of your Commando. Btw the one feature that's very practical on HyRyders I get to see often in use by Wesley but rarely here is the sissy bar to hang luggage and extra gas container on. Wes always has a small-ish tank bag on to conceal the canteen of fuel he just can't leave home w/o.
 
Re:

Time Warp said:
I have a complete set of NOS Hi Rider Lucas switch blocks, about as close as I will get but think the HR is fine in general.
#

Nice job on the revival, is it the pic or is the tail light pointing downhill ?

One more back on the road
Click to expand...

tlamp is pointing down hill somewhat. The rear portion of the frame was bent down at some point. It has since been worked out. I have a long road ahead.
The engine and trans are refreshed, but the rest needs much attention. I had not the skill or time for that. It runs great but needs some chassis work. It has been neglected for quite some time.
I am looking forward to making it safe and roadworthy again.
 
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