Pictures of 2-1-2 Dunstall exhaust.

Reggie · Jan 20, 2011

I'm considering putting a Dunstall 2-1-2 exhaust system on my Commando.

I have searched quite a bit on Google for pictures of Nortons fitted with this system so that I can be sure that I'm not making a style faux pas (in my own mind), and although I have found several pictures, they are nearly all of customised/ Dunstall styled bikes. If I get them fitted to my Commando, it will look reasonably standard looking apart from exhaust.

Therefore the reason for the post is, if anybody has any pictures of an otherwise standard (ish) Commando, preferably in Roadster trim or Interstate, would you be able to post them to either this thread, or if you prefer, email them to me directly.

openroad · Jan 20, 2011

I've got a set on my old Commando, you will lose your stock center stand, mostly looks stock from a muffler standpoint from behind.

My brackets are shot so the mufflers are hanging a bit lower in this picture, but angle is close to about right. Maybe a bit more upswept.

lcrken · Jan 20, 2011

Hope this helps.

Ken

Reggie · Jan 21, 2011

Thanks for the pictures, they are most helpful.

It's just good to be able to see roughly what the system will look like before buying, to avoid disappointment. I am probably going to go ahead. Apart from Viking exhausts in NZ who are excellent quality, does anybody know if there is anybody else making these systems?

maylar · Jan 21, 2011

I had a set of Dunstalls on my 850 for a while years ago. No center stand, loss of ground clearance, and a bunch of extra pipe joints for exhaust to leak from made me remove them after a short time. Not worth the hassle IMO.

If you go for them, be sure to get the correct muffler hanger brackets - the mufflers won't attach to the stock z-plates.

Reggie · Jan 21, 2011

maylar wrote;

I had a set of Dunstalls on my 850 for a while years ago. No center stand, loss of ground clearance, and a bunch of extra pipe joints for exhaust to leak from made me remove them after a short time. Not worth the hassle IMO.

My heart says yes, my head says no, mainly because the system is expensive if I get it from Viking exhuast in NZ, that's why I was asking if there were any other suppliers. I do know though that Paul at Viking will do a really good job.

openroad · Jan 21, 2011

No doubt living with the Dunstall pipes can be a chore. Lack of that great Norton center stand is first on the list of trade offs. I was so happy to have a a center stand again, I stopped and took a picture on the lift. It's only been about 30 years without one.
But I liked the look and sound, it was rare even back then, and I lived with the added maintenance....and I will again, it's a British bike after all, what else are you going to do?
My plating went away quickly, and I just used header paint on it. Thought it was a hot rod thing back then. Now, not so much.

Hobot · Jan 21, 2011

I would not he so happy crazy w/o Ms Peel's DIY 2>1 + emptied Dunstall boost.

Tim_S · Jan 21, 2011

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Aside from not having a centerstand they have a wonderful sound. I have the shorter mufflers and there not that loud. A very nice rumble actually.

Tim_s

Reggie · Jan 21, 2011

Thanks Tim, I think this is the link.....very nice

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x32 ... tRight.jpg

Howard Katz · Dec 22, 2011

I owned a '72 750 Interstate (purchased new) when I was in university. I had a very cool full touring fairing built for it by Ken King, who lived in Clappisons Corners, just north of Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). He was a heavy smoker, so I doubt that he's still around now; pity.

The following year, I installed a genuine Dunstall exhaust kit. What a difference! Significantly increased horsepower, and much quieter. It was if all the extra noise that had been escaping the bike had instead been kept in the engine and turned into horsepower. Unfortunately, my impecunious status forced the sale of the bike :-( in 1974. The good news: I did get a couple of pictures of the bike before it went, and here they are:

This first picture was taken in 1973, before the Dunstall install (fairing on)

This picture was taken in April 1974, just before selling the bike. Clearly, the Dunstall system was installed, but the bike has the fairing removed for a better look at the installation. Note the ingenious custom centre stand!

I miss my Norton, but not it's (un)reliability. I think that if I were to get a bike today, it would be a BMW R1200RT (which incidentally, sounds very like a Norton, if you put on the right exhaust system).

drp · Dec 22, 2011

Here's my 73 Commando with the Dunstalls on (hope it works, first time posting pictures)

I bought the bike a year ago and put on regular Commando pipes because the Dunstall center stand was a wonky piece of cr*p. It was a one owner bike bought by a local guy while he was in the service in Europe. He bought it from one of the Dunstall dealerships and I convinced him to file for a lost title so I have the original title with the seller being "Paul Dunstall, London". It didn't have any other Dunstall parts except for the pipes. The original mufflers had long since rusted out.

I've polished up the pipes the best I can and maybe in the future I'll have them replated and rework that abortion of a center stand which looks like a high school shop class project that should have received an "F".

Dave

850cmndo · Dec 22, 2011

drp said:
Here's my 73 Commando with the Dunstalls on (hope it works, first time posting pictures)

I bought the bike a year ago and put on regular Commando pipes because the Dunstall center stand was a wonky piece of cr*p. It was a one owner bike bought by a local guy while he was in the service in Europe. He bought it from one of the Dunstall dealerships and I convinced him to file for a lost title so I have the original title with the seller being "Paul Dunstall, London". It didn't have any other Dunstall parts except for the pipes. The original mufflers had long since rusted out.

I've polished up the pipes the best I can and maybe in the future I'll have them replated and rework that abortion of a center stand which looks like a high school shop class project that should have received an "F".

Dave

That doesn't appear to be a Dunstall centerstand. Not to say it's any worse either.

ggryder · Dec 22, 2011

It must have been 1977 when I hit a car doing a 3-point turn on my '73 Bonneville. The proceeds from the driver's insurance pay-out bought me a Dunstall 2-1-2. I loved it; sounded great; for a couple of years then another crash ripped off one of the silencers and conveniently squashed flat the end of the pipe on that side. For a while it worked great as a 2 into 1.

Reggie · Dec 23, 2011

Well I finally did it earlier this year. I sent off for a 2-1-2 system from Viking exhaust and here it is 8)

I had some standard looking silencers made, although they are 1. 5/8" but with different mounting points / plates so that the silencers would not be strained as they now sit few inches further rearwards and I am using the standard Z plates. They have altered the sound quality to a more Ducati sound, and as I have previously said, moved the power band up 1,000 or so revs, but it pulls really well above 3500 rpm.

Would I do it again? Probably not as they were very expensive, and of course I've lost the centre stand, but having had a friend who got his Commando fitted with a Dunstall 2-1-2 in the 1970's, it has always been a burning desire to do this.
For the centre stand, what I do now is put the bike up on the lift, and fairly loosely fit the stand without the spring, then lift it onto the centre stand, and I can then work on it as per normal.

Thanks to openroad and others who sent me pictures and info.

Bernhard · Dec 23, 2011

Reggie said:
Well I finally did it earlier this year. I sent off for a 2-1-2 system from Viking exhaust and here it is 8)

Would I do it again? Probably not as they were very expensive, and of course I've lost the centre stand, but having had a friend who got his Commando fitted with a Dunstall 2-1-2 in the 1970's, it has always been a burning desire to do this.
For the centre stand, what I do now is put the bike up on the lift, and fairly loosely fit the stand without the spring, then lift it onto the centre stand, and I can then work on it as per normal.

Dunstall did make a cente stand for use with these, all they had was a loop to clear the bottom pipe, but sorry, no pics available.

lcrken · Dec 23, 2011

Bernhard said:
Dunstall did make a cente stand for use with these, all they had was a loop to clear the bottom pipe, but sorry, no pics available.

Here's a pic from a Dunstall catalog in 1974

Ken

850cmndo · Dec 23, 2011

That would be what I'm running. Wish someone woud come up with one that had the wishbone but sat back on the cradle so it would lift the rearend off the ground.

williamfiske · Feb 10, 2012

I have seen many people discuss copying the Dunstall Centerstand. Has anyone completed a centerstand and mounted it to their bike? I have A Viking 2-1-2 Dunstall replica and would like to fit it to my bike but need the centerstand. If you have pictures of a Dunstall centerstand or the mounting plates, please post them.

Thanks
Bill

Brooking 850 · Feb 10, 2012

Hi Reggie, is that Viking Exhausts in NZ?
Regards Mike

Pictures of 2-1-2 Dunstall exhaust.

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