Restoration adding modifications, butchery or?

mikegray660 · Jan 11, 2012

grandpaul said:
bill said:

once again

Click to expand...

After I retire, I'm going to spend a couple of weeks rounding up all the posts from very happy Commando owners who have installed Mike's XS, mine, and other similar simple reed valves and reported back with nothing but happiness and praise for the simple modification and the immediate solution to thier oil dribbles. I can assure you that there are dozens on this very forum, and supposedly only a hundred or so Commandos represented as a relative cross-section on this same forum.

Pretty darned good proof, yet some people just won't take "yes" for an answer.

I've had both - i ended up replacing the Mikes XS yamaha reed valve with Jim's and IT is a noticeable improvement - guess if you (others) actually rode the bike more than a few blocks it would be noticed easier (i put over 800 miles on my 850 this past week with Jims setup - prolonged 80mph stretches - not a oil drop, perfect idle etc etc - the previous yamaha one was OK for short trips but never good for lengthy time/high speed without the dribbles resuming) - won't say that it would be the same for all but for me it is MUCH better

can you start compiling that list now?

grandpaul · Jan 11, 2012

Simple reed valves work better than stock setup; so, a worthwhile improvement.

...and bumblebees can fly no matter what the scientists say.

Skyguyz · Jan 11, 2012

Well, what are your going to do about those who rebuild their Commandos without that overdone Custom bling-bling stuff? :twisted:

Tim

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.

Could use a few more pebbles here. And a few less "wagons."

Tintin · Jan 11, 2012

Skyguyz said:
Right Tim?

Uh, you're suffering from a slight attack of self-awarness? Lucky man .... :mrgreen:

Tim

P.S.: Ups, sorry for posting before your edit .... :wink:

rpatton · Jan 12, 2012

grandpaul said:
Tintin said:

And did you ever come across the saying that better is the enemy of good?

Click to expand...

Actually, EVIL is the enemy of good. The other is just a saying, or else "better" would be evil.

Voltaire's quote is "Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien." "The best is the enemy of good." Meaning it's better to settle than do nothing. The best costs about $150 more.

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

rpatton said:
The best costs about $150 more.

...And you have to lift the engine out of the chassis to install it.

That's a bit more than the average weekend mechanic expects to do for a simple "fix".

beng · Jan 12, 2012

I think the only time someone should worry about modifying a bike is if they are destroying something irreplaceable or erasing part of history.

Commandos are not rare bikes at all. They are not that old and there were a lot of them built and sold. There are many examples of them in original condition tucked away so no one has to worry that modifying theirs is going to do any disservice to the world.

If you are dealing with a bike of which it's total production was measured in dozens instead of or thousands, or a bike that is so old that attrition has made it scarce, or if you have some bike with a documented competition history especially related to a famous rider or tuner, then you can start worrying about such things.

beng · Jan 12, 2012

madass140 said:
I wonder why he labeled it as a Triton when there is clearly not a single Norton part?

Maybe we are mistaken? The fuel tank has been made to Resemble a Norton Manx tank. So the new definition of a Triton is that it does not have to actually have any Norton parts on it, it just has to have a part that is styled after a Norton part.

Mike has lots of "fans" out there, and has for many years:

http://www.popehat.com/2008/06/23/mike- ... kin-color/

CDubb · Jan 12, 2012

Everyone is entitled to their on opinion when it comes to this subject. There are purists out there who would condemn anyone who mods they're bike for the best and there are folks that will try to make it as 'bling' or more up-to-date as possible.

In my case, I found this parts bike which contained almost no inerts or transmittion parts let alone rolling on Kawi wheels, forks and fenders. Some of numbers have been scratched off... must have been a hot bike at one point. Lucky for it, I rescued it from the scrap pile. My reasoning is since this bike is missing more parts that it has, that I am giving it life again and that the numbers are unmatching. I have the liberty to go both school of thought way.

I chose to modify it as much as possible (within reason and budget). It will be a clean running, ratty looking cafe racer which will turn heads and make purist... well.. puke!
I will not have all the mods as it would be way too expensive but I will try my best to balance in between the light and dark side of things.

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

CDubb said:
In my case, I found this parts bike ... I rescued it from the scrap pile...I am giving it life again and that the numbers are unmatching. I have the liberty to go both school of thought way.

Amen; good for you AND the bike.

Hegel · Jan 12, 2012

grandpaul said:
CDubb said:

In my case, I found this parts bike ... I rescued it from the scrap pile...I am giving it life again and that the numbers are unmatching. I have the liberty to go both school of thought way.

Click to expand...

Amen; good for you AND the bike.

Mine are in the same boat too. One was a rolling scrap pile, the other/s are coming from assorted parts I've collected over the last year, or so. All will be mongrels, but that doesn't mean I won't love them any less.

If I've had to mod them in order that they spend less time on the bench, more time out on the road...All the better.

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

Hegel said:
Mine are in the same boat too. One was a rolling scrap pile, the other/s are coming from assorted parts I've collected over the last year, or so. All will be mongrels, but that doesn't mean I won't love them any less. If I've had to mod them in order that they spend less time on the bench, more time out on the road...All the better.

Good to hear more healthy attitudes, and rescued bikes.

bill · Jan 12, 2012

WRONG again I can remove the combat breather WITH OUT removing the engine YOU FAIL AGAIN!!!!!

grandpaul said:
...And you have to lift the engine out of the chassis to install it.

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

bill said:
I can remove the combat breather WITH OUT removing the engine

And you can install Jim's unit without LIFTING the engine out of it's chassis? (I didn't say REMOVE the engine from the bike).

bill · Jan 12, 2012

looks like you are playing on semantics. first it was LIFTING the engine from the CHASSIS!!! NOW you change it to I DID NOT SAY REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM BIKE.

grandpaul said:
...And you have to lift the engine out of the chassis to install it.

Tintin · Jan 12, 2012

grandpaul said:
And you can install Jim's unit without LIFTING the engine out of it's chassis? (I didn't say REMOVE the engine from the bike).

I didn't know that you can perform an OB milling mod with the engine in the frame. Now I'm really impressed! 8)

Tim

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

Tintin said:
I didn't know that you can perform an OB milling mod with the engine in the frame. Now I'm really impressed!

I'm talking about a simple reed valve case breather setup.

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

bill said:
looks like you are playing on semantics. first it was LIFTING the engine from the CHASSIS!!!

Lifting the engine from the transmission cradle and front engine mounting points in the chassis involves removing the top steady, removing the shocks, disconnecting the headers from the exhaust ports, rotating the swingarm/tranny/cradle assembly somewhat, and lifting/rotating the engine free of the chassis fixings to provide space to work on the rear breather area. Even though you aren't removing the engine from the bike, it's STILL quite a chore to work in there, and definitely a fun time wrenching...

grandpaul · Jan 12, 2012

...heck, it might be easier to remove the engine after all; all that's left is the carbs and primary.

So, Bill, explain to us how you install Jim's breather with the engine in place; I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that wants to know...

debby · Jan 12, 2012

Yeah, I'd like to know. I've got one of Comstock's breathers on the shelf, waiting to go on my 750. I was hoping it could be done in situ but I haven't looked at it that closely yet. Looks like the main issue is if there is enough clearance to get a wrench on the mounting bolts and get them out.

Restoration adding modifications, butchery or?

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