Online article - Memorable Motorcycle: Commando MK I

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"engine was around for some 30 years before the 1968 introduction"?? I don't think the Norton twin was out until 1948 rather than 1938 unless the author is referring to British twins in general and the original Triumph 5T.
Romantic and subjective tale if not completely accurate. I don't agree that fastback is the best looking Commando. There is a reason more roadsters were sold than any other body style.
 
Nice article, and Fastback.
The author does give a pretty good intro to Nortondom.
He probably should have employed a fact checker before publishing.
 
Fairly nice article despite the glaring errors. But the early FB had the cigar pipes which is certainly not clear in the article, the second issue FB had the up pipes. My opinion, the last FB is the best looking of the Commandos. If I ever got another it would be that one.
 
From his comments about the Norton Atlas being an ill handling bike, he's obviously never ridden any Featherbed Norton twin. My 650 ss has sublime handling and the Atlas is just an over bored 650ss. The handling of these bikes is legendary. As are the vibes, especially for the Atlas.

Glen
 
Triton Thrasher:

The frame "fix" was developed by the Norton production engineers in London, not the original N-V engineering design team in Woverhampton. The weakness wasn't fully identified and fixed until a year or so after I left N-V for Boeing.

The AJS motcross team figured it out when the very similar frame used on the factory bikes broke in almost the same way long before the Commando folks became aware of it. We split the top tube along its horizontal axis, opened up the headstock end to position the two semicircular parts close to the top & bottom of the headstock, then welded a long triangular piece into the gap. The seat end of the tube remained circular and the headstock endwas obrund.

The London folks said our fix was too expensive and wasn't suitable for a retrofit.
 
frankdamp said:
The frame "fix" was developed by the Norton production engineers in London, not the original N-V engineering design team in Woverhampton.

The Commando frame "fix" was devised by Ken Sprayson of Reynolds tubing.
 
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