Rocket 3 Hurracane like tank/seat Cdo
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Re: Rocket 3 like tank/seat Cdo
I was also going to say that it was very OSSA like.
jaydee75 said:
I was also going to say that it was very OSSA like.
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Crikey , better lighten things up , 
( just tripped over this ( picture 
) :wink: )
I love this Norton because it has an understated, almost monochromatic beauty. It belongs to a member of the Coyote Racing Team in France, who built it four years ago to run in classic race events. It’s a very classy ‘bitsa’, marrying Norton parts with Italian and Japanese components. The owner wishes to remain anonymous, but he’s happy to run us through the spec-sheet: “The engine comes from a 1972 Norton Commando 750. Mark II Amal carbs are fitted, with high-level pipes from a Commando S.” Norton Wasps are most closely associated with mid-70s sidecar motocross racing—there’s a niche for you—but this frame is custom-made, using powdercoated Reynolds 531 tubing. Topping it off are a fiberglass Rickman tank, and a production racer seat. Italy supplies the Marzocchi front forks and the lovely 18-inch Borrani wheels. From Japan comes the front hub—via a Yamaha TZ350—and the Brembo front brake, stolen from a Suzuki RG500. The rear hub is a genuine Grimeca item: it’s from a Benelli Tornado 650S, a bike we don’t hear much about these days. Elsewhere, hand-made alloy parts abound, and the renowned Toulouse-based builder Daniel Delfour helped set the bike up. The build took a whole year, but it was obviously worth it—and not just from an aesthetic point of view. “It’s always a pleasure to ride a different chassis with a Commando engine and good Italian parts,” says the owner. [Image by and thanks to Vincent Prat.]
( just tripped over this ( picture ) :wink: )I love this Norton because it has an understated, almost monochromatic beauty. It belongs to a member of the Coyote Racing Team in France, who built it four years ago to run in classic race events. It’s a very classy ‘bitsa’, marrying Norton parts with Italian and Japanese components. The owner wishes to remain anonymous, but he’s happy to run us through the spec-sheet: “The engine comes from a 1972 Norton Commando 750. Mark II Amal carbs are fitted, with high-level pipes from a Commando S.” Norton Wasps are most closely associated with mid-70s sidecar motocross racing—there’s a niche for you—but this frame is custom-made, using powdercoated Reynolds 531 tubing. Topping it off are a fiberglass Rickman tank, and a production racer seat. Italy supplies the Marzocchi front forks and the lovely 18-inch Borrani wheels. From Japan comes the front hub—via a Yamaha TZ350—and the Brembo front brake, stolen from a Suzuki RG500. The rear hub is a genuine Grimeca item: it’s from a Benelli Tornado 650S, a bike we don’t hear much about these days. Elsewhere, hand-made alloy parts abound, and the renowned Toulouse-based builder Daniel Delfour helped set the bike up. The build took a whole year, but it was obviously worth it—and not just from an aesthetic point of view. “It’s always a pleasure to ride a different chassis with a Commando engine and good Italian parts,” says the owner. [Image by and thanks to Vincent Prat.]
We seem to be getting away from the intergrated tank/seat concept somewhat ere ?
Those larger diam frame tubes look interesting in your above racer pic Matt, its a wonder someone hasn't tried that before ? Long before....
I seem to recall someone selling a Hurricane-like tank/seat for Commandos, a good while back.
Wonder if any survive ? Not quite as neat as on the Hurricane though - wasn't it said that Vetter welded longer fins to the Hurricanes head, to get a larger engine look to fill the space.
Without those triple pipes, not quite as visual a feast, so its a lot of elements that go to make up the image.....
Those larger diam frame tubes look interesting in your above racer pic Matt, its a wonder someone hasn't tried that before ? Long before....
I seem to recall someone selling a Hurricane-like tank/seat for Commandos, a good while back.
Wonder if any survive ? Not quite as neat as on the Hurricane though - wasn't it said that Vetter welded longer fins to the Hurricanes head, to get a larger engine look to fill the space.
Without those triple pipes, not quite as visual a feast, so its a lot of elements that go to make up the image.....
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Off point, not hardly as my post is to show that the Commando power unit is likely the most widely varied of any motorcycle in any fashion statement you may or may not like yourself. What mainly strikes me is how tedious the one pieces make checking oil which is a constant concern in Commandos.
The Norton version looks like a 2dimensional copy of the Hurricane. Wolfies photo link to the Hurricane shows off the curvature in the lateral direction. I think this is a good part of why the Hurricane looks quite interesting while the Norton version looks like something Daffy Duck would ride. No wait, it looks more like something Daisy Duck would go for.
The Ossas Stilletto looked great and went like hell back then. I still like the look of those bikes. I had one and couldnt break it, it was set upfor flat track racing at Portland by Dave Wildman, the local Ossa Triumph dealer. Dave is a great tuner, any bike he touches flies. He was for Triumph and Ossa what Herb Becker is to the Commando. The owner/rider could not handle the bike, kept falling at Portland, so I bought it from him, many warnings included.
I was fourteen at the time and chomping at the bit to get a bike with some real go in it, what a treat that thing was! Sorry for the diversion, the Ossa pic got me in the wayback machine for a minute there!
Glen
The Ossas Stilletto looked great and went like hell back then. I still like the look of those bikes. I had one and couldnt break it, it was set upfor flat track racing at Portland by Dave Wildman, the local Ossa Triumph dealer. Dave is a great tuner, any bike he touches flies. He was for Triumph and Ossa what Herb Becker is to the Commando. The owner/rider could not handle the bike, kept falling at Portland, so I bought it from him, many warnings included.
I was fourteen at the time and chomping at the bit to get a bike with some real go in it, what a treat that thing was! Sorry for the diversion, the Ossa pic got me in the wayback machine for a minute there!
Glen
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In 1974 Gus Kuhn announced their latest special, a much-modified Norton 850 Mark 2A Interstate. Alterations include: John Player Norton tank and seat, rear set footrests kit, clip-on handlebars and headlamp brackets, alloy wheel rims, front and rear, John Player Norton style fairing with twin headlamps, engine sprint conversion. The complete machines are tuned and road-tested prior to delivery. Rrp is £969 incl. VAT.
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TX 750 ,
Thats more like it .
Thats more like it .
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No kidding Norton power unit is what makes it look a Commando, so on Peel's deal, if I can fit the fairing lowers with crash cage, I've marked out where to put lexan windows in already. I was able to fit lowers in living room mock up but not sure after the welding as some things had to shift a bit. Still if the sleek full coverage lets a Commando slice air to keep up or best the other hot angry looking plastic covered craft, their looks will be worth it.
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