Standard Commando and Optional Equipment??

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kingdaddyo

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Just a few questions to put out there. When did turn signals become standard on the Commandos? I have seen many with and without. My other question is about the rear grab rail and whether it was again a standard issue or an optional addition?
Mine is a 1973 750 Commando and I would like to make as correct as possible.
Thanks for the responses.
 
Re: Satndard Commando and Optional Equipment??

kingdaddyo said:
When did turn signals become standard on the Commandos? I have seen many with and without. My other question is about the rear grab rail and whether it was again a standard issue or an optional addition?
Click to expand...

Turn signals were probably fitted as standard from 1973, however they appear to have been optional since 1971.
I think grab rails were also introduced for 1973 (not counting the Hi-Rider grab rail), as they are not seen in earlier brochures, ads. or listed in parts books prior to '73.
 
Re: Satndard Commando and Optional Equipment??

L.A.B. said:
kingdaddyo said:
When did turn signals become standard on the Commandos? I have seen many with and without. My other question is about the rear grab rail and whether it was again a standard issue or an optional addition?
Click to expand...

Turn signals were probably fitted as standard from 1973, however they appear to have been optional since 1971.
I think grab rails were also introduced for 1973 (not counting the Hi-Rider grab rail), as they are not seen in earlier brochures, ads. or listed in parts books prior to '73.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that information. I think the lines of the Commando are cleaner with out the grab rail but might fit one on just to see if I like it or not. Again, thank you for your response.
 
My '71 750 did not have the optional turn signals for the U.S. market. It had/has chromed bolts where they would have mounted on the headlamp and no old bolt marks on the taillamp mounting points.
 
There was wiring for signals at least since '71 but Combat's didn't have signals as standard. My 1st Combat a sales demo bike had them on but my current one never did nor will by me. I lost so many signals I will not use the stem kind on my special and relieved by the lack of signal repair on being taken down on my 2nd Combat a half hand full of times. I am hand waver and finger pointer when I can let go of bars with one hand.
 
Turnsignals were an option in '72. I remember being asked if I wanted them and I said yes. I took them off almost immediately - the first time the bike fell over in the driveway - stoned idiocy most likely. Hobot is right in that they are very easy to damage along with whatever they happen to be attached to (like headlamp ears and the shell). They are in a box now and have been there for maybe 39 years. Grabrails came out with the 850s in 1973 as I remember.
 
Some seats had a strap - for a passenger to hang on to ?
When did this start, and end ?
Don't often see them these days...
 
69/70 S, R and Roadster have the seat strap. Not sure about others.

Dave
69S
 
I remember that when I bought my '73 Roadster (May 1973), there were three Roadsters and two Interstates in the showroom, all 750's. The Interstates both had signals, none of the Roadsters did. When I took the bike back to have the exhaust pipe replaced in the fall, there were two 850 Roadsters in the showroom and both had signals. I asked why my Roadster did not have signals and the service manager told me, "we just install what's in the crate".
 
Someone somewhere :lol: said the seat strap was U.K. & Grab Bar U.S. when the grab bar came out , and they took the strap of as it was uncomfortable .??
 
'71 and '72 (Roadsters anyway) had the seat strap. It was uncomfortable and the placement was all wrong. Took it off right away and a garage mouse ate most of it!
 
Matt Spencer said:
Someone somewhere :lol: said the seat strap was U.K. & Grab Bar U.S. when the grab bar came out , and they took the strap of as it was uncomfortable .??
Click to expand...

A check of parts books, road test photos, ads. brochures etc. would seem to disprove that theory.

The seat "safety" strap and/or grab rail was a US (or California?) legal requirement originally, as Triumph "West Coast" models had seat straps from around 1963.
 
L.A.B. said:
Matt Spencer said:
Someone somewhere :lol: said the seat strap was U.K. & Grab Bar U.S. when the grab bar came out , and they took the strap of as it was uncomfortable .??
Click to expand...

A check of parts books, road test photos, ads. brochures etc. would seem to disprove that theory.

The seat "safety" strap and/or grab rail was a US (or California?) legal requirement originally, as Triumph "West Coast" models had seat straps from around 1963.
Click to expand...

Parts books are not always correct.

Road tests, ads and brochures are created before the final specs are set.

Dealers would change stuff around.

Factory records were incomplete or non-existant at the detail level.

Pretty tough to be 100% sure what was factory original. It's fun to debate but you'd be better off discussing religion. :mrgreen:
 
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