What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

With single carb set up, fresh oil & filter, front brake overhaul, lubed chain and Interstate parts on, I wrangled the bike out of the inside garage (spare room) and it started first kick 👍

First stop - fuel station, then went for a 30 mile test ride.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Impressions.

I like the smooth running and easy tick over of the single carb, but I can definitely feel the difference that having just carb one makes. I'll keep it this way and see if I miss the twin carbs. Starts first time, every time.

I prefer the Interstate set up to Roadster. It's the way I always thought the Commando should look, and it feels very comfortable to me - but I've hardly had a long run on it. (I was frozen today!). I only filled the tank about 3/4 full - £25!!

Good times 🙂
 
Last edited:
I purchased a Pro.Point 1000 LB Hydraulic/ pneumatic Motorcycle lift today @ Princess Auto, on sale. (Canadian version of Harbour Freight). I've got a new cNw starter to fit this month as well as a rebuilt 850 engine that needs to go back in my 74 Interstate. Hopefully ready for the NorEastRally NH, in June at the KOA.
I just assembled and tested it out. I should have been using this ages ago:oops: Now I'm in my 60's it will make my jobs easier.
Cheers,
Tom
footnote: My commando is sitting on top of it. I'm not quite happy with the front wheel lock. I will probably go with my Baxley wheel Chock. Still a good deal at Canadian $621. taxes included.
 
Last edited:
Never rely on just the front wheel lock on the lift table to hold your bike up, always use tie downs each side of the handle bar, when I work on my bikes on the lift table I use front as well rear tie downs and adjust when using the scissor jack to lift the rear wheel.
If you just use the front wheel lock and if the bike did fall be a good way of buckling your front wheel, best to be safe than sorry using tie downs for extra support.
 
Last edited:
Bonzo said:
With single carb set up, fresh oil & filter, front brake overhaul, lubed chain and Interstate parts on, I wrangled the bike out of the inside garage (spare room) and it started first kick 👍

First stop - fuel station, then went for a 30 mile test ride.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Impressions.

I like the smooth running and easy tick over of the single carb, but I can definitely feel the difference just having one makes. I'll keep it this way and see if I miss the twin carbs. Starts first time, every time.

I prefer the Interstate set up to Roadster. It's the way I always thought the Commando should look, and it feels very comfortable to me - but I've hardly had a long run on it. (I was frozen today!). I only filled the tank about 3/4 full - £25!!

Good times 🙂
Click to expand...
Nice looking motorcycle!
 
CanukNortonNut said:
I purchased a Pro.Point 1000 LB Hydraulic/ pneumatic Motorcycle lift today @ Princess Auto, on sale. (Canadian version of Harbour Freight). I've got a new cNw starter to fit this month as well as a rebuilt 850 engine that needs to go back in my 74 Interstate. Hopefully ready for the NorEastRally NH, in June at the KOA.
I just assembled and tested it out. I should have been using this ages ago:oops: Now I'm in my 60's it will make my jobs easier.
Cheers,
Tom
footnote: My commando is sitting on top of it. I'm not quite happy with the front wheel lock. I will probably go with my Baxley wheel Chock. Still a good deal at Canadian $621. taxes included.
Click to expand...
Tom,

Have a look at the Condor chock.You can just ride up into it and get off without any clamps,tie-downs,etc.Very well made unit.
Mike
 
On Ying's recommendation, I bought the Condor front wheel chock and bolted it on my Harbor Freight lift. It is worth every penny
and it's 100% safe to ride or walk your bike into it, step off and and then do the final secure of the bike on the lift........
 
Another 40 mile test ride with the new set up...

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Beautiful and sunny in the Isle of Man today, but bitter cold, and so, once home, with trembling, white, Reynaud's ridden fingers, was forced to pour myself a 'rich & spicy' Campbeltown to get some warmth back into my bones. It's only 4.30pm but this is for medicinal purposes 😇

Slainte 👍

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Last edited:
Trying to figure out why Norton won't idle. Pulled out mixture screw and float bowl drain on both sides, sprayed with carb cleaner on both sides. Now bike won't start. Pull out screw and drain plugs again and blew out with canned air. Put bike on charge and did something else. When charger finished re-charging, pulled bike out of garage again and tried again. Bike now starts but won't idle. Started messing with idle stops (twin Premier Amals) and realized they had somehow gotten unscrewed, which is why the bike wouldn't idle. After messing around with idle stop screws and mixture screws some more, bike idles and sounds good - but the rain clouds have shown up. Again. This has been a very wet weekend for this area. Bike back in the garage, waiting for better weather.
 
nortonmargie said:
Trying to figure out why Norton won't idle. Pulled out mixture screw and float bowl drain on both sides, sprayed with carb cleaner on both sides. Now bike won't start. Pull out screw and drain plugs again and blew out with canned air. Put bike on charge and did something else. When charger finished re-charging, pulled bike out of garage again and tried again. Bike now starts but won't idle. Started messing with idle stops (twin Premier Amals) and realized they had somehow gotten unscrewed, which is why the bike wouldn't idle. After messing around with idle stop screws and mixture screws some more, bike idles and sounds good - but the rain clouds have shown up. Again. This has been a very wet weekend for this area. Bike back in the garage, waiting for better weather.
Click to expand...
They all do that...
 
Ta
YING said:
Tom,

Have a look at the Condor chock.You can just ride up into it and get off without any clamps,tie-downs,etc.Very well made unit.
Mike
Click to expand...
Hi Mike,
I have two Baxley wheel chocks and I am quite pleased with these. U.S. Made. like your Condor, I just ride up on it and get off. No tie down needed. I do use tie downs when I am moving my bike with my trailer.

Baxley wheel Chock. at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.
duckduckgo.com duckduckgo.com

Cheers,
Tom
 
Spring is fast approaching here, so I did one of the jobs I've been wanting to do for a while. I removed the front mudguard stay, and put in a couple of stainless dome head bolts. I think it make the bike look better. I was also pleasantly surprised that it fired up on the starter after a long layup ( without being on a trickle charger).


What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
cliffa said:
Spring is fast approaching here, so I did one of the jobs I've been wanting to do for a while. I removed the front mudguard stay, and put in a couple of stainless dome head bolts. I think it make the bike look better. I was also pleasantly surprised that it fired up on the starter after a long layup ( without being on a trickle charger).


View attachment 112956
View attachment 112955
Click to expand...
I didn't know you'd switched back to the Lockheed caliper Cliff.
 
67 miles in 15C weather today . New temperature record for this day . Got to love global warming 👍
 

Attachments

  • What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
    IMG_8952.jpeg
    475.5 KB · Views: 50
Bonzo said:
I didn't know you'd switched back to the Lockheed caliper Cliff.
Click to expand...
Hi Bonz, I had to take the bike for inspection at the end of 2022, so had to revert to the standard brake for that. During that test I was offered the chance to register as an "Oldtimer" which means it only has to go for the MFK (MOT) once every 7 years, and has an annual mileage cap. The weird thing is, that when I put the old setup back on and bled it, it seemed to be a lot better than before. No idea why to be honest, perhaps it was never properly bled before, but I never got around to putting the other brake back on.

Are those pics at Port Erin ?
 
cliffa said:
Hi Bonz, I had to take the bike for inspection at the end of 2022, so had to revert to the standard brake for that. During that test I was offered the chance to register as an "Oldtimer" which means it only has to go for the MFK (MOT) once every 7 years, and has an annual mileage cap. The weird thing is, that when I put the old setup back on and bled it, it seemed to be a lot better than before. No idea why to be honest, perhaps it was never properly bled before, but I never got around to putting the other brake back on.
Click to expand...

Ahh, right. I remember you saying how strict the test there was (and how chuffed you were that it's now at 7 yr intervals) 👍

cliffa said:
Are those pics at Port Erin ?
Click to expand...

Good spot. Port Erin (with the tower) and Port St Mary.
 
cliffa said:
Spring is fast approaching here, so I did one of the jobs I've been wanting to do for a while. I removed the front mudguard stay, and put in a couple of stainless dome head bolts. I think it make the bike look better. I was also pleasantly surprised that it fired up on the starter after a long layup ( without being on a trickle charger).


View attachment 112956
View attachment 112955
Click to expand...
I like that continuous brake hose straight from the MC to the caliper...:)
 
I made some D shaped exhaust slugs in Monel, to be fitted in the header pipes right at the head.
It occurred that the anti reversion point might be ok shifted an inch or two from directly in the head.
Who knows, it might even work better than in the head.
In any case, it is easy to do and it will be easy to test for gain or loss on Dyno Hill.
20240221_171522.jpg
 
I tried anti reversion washers a while back, offset D shaped holes. Fitted in the exhaust / head joint. Made almost exactly zero detectable difference on the dyno!

It’ll be interesting to see if your versions are more successful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top