Traveling with less vibration

The stock Norton vibration can be a bit annoying over long distance. But after installation of JSM short pistons, long rods, tall gearing, cam and valve/bee spring upgrade, everything is smoother and long distance traveling is a pleasure. The motor continues on and on without effort. Smooth and efficient with plenty of zip. Almost modern in nature but without any loss of the good ol Norton low down grunt (JS0 cam). Modern ignition has improved reliability and a one way crankcase breather has reduced oil loss and leaks to a minimum. I'm logging tens of thousands of miles and there's no end in sight.

Re: Traveling without vibration

What vibration? Mine is stock and smooth as glass from 3,000 rpm to the redline.

Glen

Re: Traveling without vibration

worntorn said:

What vibration? Mine is stock and smooth as glass from 3,000 rpm to the redline.

Glen

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Vibration is relative. There is smooth as glass as you describe a stock Norton to be, then there is smoother than that. I've experienced it both ways and there is a difference that has to be experienced to be appreciated. Any Norton will have some vibration because its a vertical twin. The only way to get rid of vibration completely is to install an electric motor in front of the gearbox.

Re: Traveling without vibration

Electric motor wouldn't need a gearbox.

Re: Traveling without vibration

Triton Thrasher said:

Electric motor wouldn't need a gearbox.

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A friend of mine stuck an electric motor in his car years ago before electric cars were available. He made an adapter plate for the car bell housing and just bolted it on. Added batteries everywhere they would fit. He let me drive it. It was weird. You don't start it - It just sits there silent until you press the accelerator pedal and zoom off you go. I still used the gearbox and clutch and it was very quick until it ran out of juice.

Seems some do not know how good iso can be yet. hobot is spinal cord brain injured neuropathy victim => princess on a bb when comes to vibreations of tools saws mowers road texture and wind harmonics and consider Honda Goldwings and BMW 6 cyl as buzzy d/t solid mounts letting valve train sense though, like my SV650, but on a few occassions found I did not want the day to stop or sun go down to get off the smooth flying carpet Trixie or Peel after 9-11 hours in the saddle nil sense of body different than the steady turbine powered Commando. Beveling the front isos has worked a treat twice now so await some new fool to try a hobot mod. You can not really fully judge the isos unless the tires are like new and air pressure optimalized front and back. Harder air pressure distinctly softens vibe threshold and depth of isolation but then road texture may be too harsh.

Has anyone been on an electric motorcycle? It sounds outrageous but it would be doable to bolt a DC motor to new engine plates. Hide some batteries under a false tank and between side covers and zip around town on the worlds quietest and smoothest Norton.

I could never see the attraction with uber smooth bikes. It's good to feel the throb of a big twin & only a poorly set up Commando has annoying vibes. If you want smooth buy a 1800 six cylinder Honda.

Matchless said:

I could never see the attraction with uber smooth bikes. It's good to feel the throb of a big twin

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bingo! especially when smooths out at 3k rpms & up

People tolerance and concept of smoothness vary but if anything but road texture gets through to me its not a fully fettered Cdo. With beveled front cushions my factory Combat isolate mid 2000s though can still sort of feel factory un-linked Trixie but nothing at all out of past linked Peel just before 2000 (like Frank Damp said his test Cdo did). Only words in English to convey is uncanny fabulous. To me Commando should be felt softly at idle and slightly above then feel like turbofan smooth power plant. I have ridden a 71 that did not isolate till mid 3000s and was miserable and a bit dangerous to try to ride in 4th fast enough in twisted not to have hands feet butt and nose go numb. So best wishes to those that feel throbbing vibes is desirable or normal. Will not matter to anyone w/o the special tri-links of Ms Peel but her total lack of engine vibes allowed quantum level tire patch bond making breaking awareness get through so another handling advantage over rigid mounted engines on fatso tires. Most exquite state I tested Peel in for flabbergasting smoothness and ice skate sure grip was with 56 psi rear and 53 front and only stopped there d/t trouble to let air out to tolerate my off pavement sections of life. Tires have a LOT to do with how engine vibes feel so can not really judge iso finer tuning unless tires essentialy new and optimalized pressure front to back. Try upper 40 psi in safe place to feel what that does to isolation improvement. Peel became a buzz bomb when she got air borne for some bike lengths d/t various reasons, suddenly smoothed out again landing on rough Gravel - Uncanny Flabbergastingly Fabulous!
Also should try extra low tire pressure for safety reasons and OVER FAST RACER RECOVERY SKILLS lesions in just a few minutes of low-ish risk.

cyclepsycho said:

Has anyone been on an electric motorcycle? It sounds outrageous but it would be doable to bolt a DC motor to new engine plates. Hide some batteries under a false tank and between side covers and zip around town on the worlds quietest and smoothest Norton.

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http://www.wired.com/2010/05/electra-racing/

Re: Traveling without vibration


Vibration is relative. There is smooth as glass as you describe a stock Norton to be, then there is smoother than that. I've experienced it both ways and there is a difference that has to be experienced to be appreciated. Any Norton will have some vibration because its a vertical twin. The only way to get rid of vibration completely is to install an electric motor in front of the gearbox.[/quote]

The Commando (MK3) mirrors at 70 MPH are dead still, same as the mirrors in any new car or truck I have driven. There is a tiny amount of vibration to be felt thru the knees on the tank if you are a tank squeezer, jus enough to let you know the engine is running. Other than that there in no vibration thru the seat or in the bars. A good friend rode it last week while I rode his new BMW 1200 rt. We both agreed that the Commando is smoother than the new BMW. I don't need any smoother than that. Maybe I happen to have a good one, but I suspect they are all capable of very smooth running.

My 650SS on the other hand could really use some help in the vibration department. Lightweight pistons might be the answer there. And a dynamic crank balance. One of these days.



Glen

Re: Traveling without vibration

worntorn said:

The Commando (MK3) mirrors at 70 MPH are dead still, same as the mirrors in any new car or truck I have driven. There is a tiny amount of vibration to be felt thru the knees on the tank if you are a tank squeezer, just enough to let you know the engine is running. Other than that there in no vibration thru the seat or in the bars.

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Hmm, looks like mine is quite a way from optimal. My mirrors only show a blur at any speed and there's quite a buzz in the bars. I did install vernier isolastics and I've heard (here) that they're quite a bit harder than the original formulation. Or perhaps, I don't have them set up properly!

There is fairly easy to find whole diagnostic list to do at night with car lights in both mirrors. My Trixies has R mirror as steady as bathroom but L mirror has some blurry motion but still so sweet all day long I have not tried to figure out why but do sense some her engine vibes w/o any tingles or annoyance but know she not as good as it gets. Two level of vibes to sense for, light resting grip and white knuckled grip on bars. Peel felt like griping stair rails and reason enough to keep her even if not having other more exciting reasons. Bevel the front cushions and stuff extra cushions in rear and get back to us on hobot huhu.

I don't want a Jap bike. I want a smooth running Norton with increased reliability so I don't have to worry about break down when traveling. That's what I got with the JSM stuff, EI and one way breather
?

I don't want a Jap bike. I want a smooth running Norton with increased reliability so I don't have to worry about break down when traveling. That's what I got with the JSM stuff, EI and one way breather.

If you really WANT vibrations, get an Atlas or a 650SS. Headlight bulbs on an Atlas die after about 4000 miles, even if they're never switched on. The vibration shakes the bulb filaments off their posts.

Well set-up Isolastics shouldn't transmit any vibration into the frame or its occupant at anything above 800 rpm.

The few minor vibes that come through on my Norton are much less bothersome than the vibes that come through on my 750 Honda 4s.

My Norton is as smooth as any bike I have, Guzzi, Duc, new Triumphs, (won't mention HD or old Triumph, or the singles and 2 strokes).

the appeal of the norton is solving all the mechanical challenges like, vibration, crankcase pressure venting, isolastic adjustment, electrical gremlins, handling, and all the other parallel twin issues, all wrapped up in 395lbs of kickstart madness.

Some of the people here have modified their bikes to levels I know I'll never get to with my bike, but it's great to see the extent to which things can be taken too. Even if some modification doesn't work out, it's always interesting to find out the effect of pushing the envelope.

cyclepsycho said:

Has anyone been on an electric motorcycle? It sounds outrageous but it would be doable to bolt a DC motor to new engine plates. Hide some batteries under a false tank and between side covers and zip around town on the worlds quietest and smoothest Norton.

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I have a friend who races electric bikes. Not only is it super-smooth, but he claims he can hear the public address announcer as he laps a track at race pace.

www.emotoracing.com