Was This Your Motorcycle in 1977?

Just a couple of quick questions here....

Back in '95 I bought this rolling basket (over the phone) from "British Old And New" in Whittier, CA



clubman bars, italian seat, no head, stuck motor, no title, lotsa missing parts... $600 plus $400 to get it here.



disk brake on ceriani type fork



#152292, built 10/71, 1977 california plates, somebody ran the piss out of it for 5 years, then it sat, lost and lonely, for almost 20 years, till I rescued it, and shipped it out this volcanic archipelago is the middle of the pacific. One of my life's shining hours.

I have not done a frame up number here... got the motor and brakes working, new tires, and off we go. It ran like shit, but I had some fun with it for about two years, then pressing commitments ended all the fun till about a year ago, when i found the time and a little money to make it better: boyer, mukini, typanium, re-sleeved master, stainless line, stainless calipers on drilled disk, taylor headsteady, as many shiny stainless or alloy bits I could afford, to replace the really pitted stuff. It's running better than ever now, just a few more (18) things on my list...



(sorry for the phone pic)

Now the questions:

1. Anybody recognize this bike from the before pics? I know its a longshot, but you never know....

2. Is there anyway, as it was without the head, to tell if this is a combat?

3. Bike will run well with timing set at 32º btc, but starts easier with timing set around 40º btc. By the way it idles and accelrates, I'm wondering if it may have an aftermarket cam. Is there anyway to know, besides splitting the cases, what cam is in there?

MANY THANKS,

Don

The combat commandos had black barrels (like yours and amal 932 carbs instead of the 930 on regular commandos. You could measure the valve lift off the top of the valves and compare that to the specs. The combat had more lift and a bigger base circle.

inlet 8,389mm combat 9,906mm
exh. 8.389mm combat 8.788mm

Valve lift is

inlet 9.525mm combat 11.21mm
exh. 9.525mm combat 9.931mm

If you ever take the head and barrels off you can look for markings on the cam which are quite visible.