What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Café au Lait said:
It was Andover Norton’s Open Day today and the route via Kingsclere has some excellent roads with s few long straights to open Arnie (cNw #101) up. Very good turnout, mostly Commandos with a smattering of 650SSs and quite a collection of Rotaries but AN parking organisation was so woeful that many non Nortons among them somewhat diluted the impact.
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Also present was Milliard with the Nemesis, noisy bugger!
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Arnie got loads of attention from other owners and AN staff alike, even Ashley Cultler was impressed🤣

One unfortunate soul had his side stand break and his Rager took some damage including a smashed clock😢
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Lovely Ranger, and is it just me who thinks that Nemesis is pig ugly and belongs in a Batman film !
 
Today was Norton day at Sammy Millars

IMG_7568.jpeg

Pathetic. +2 that left upon my arrival. The army bike was vaned in too😱 Like I tell people, I bought this bike to ride😁

I stayed for a couple of hours and then headed off to visit my brother in Portsmouth. It was a useful day however as I got to test my bike for the France trip next month; I spent most of my time on motorways, M3 & M27, he stood up well. Unfortunately the journey home also put my waterproofs to the test (mostly shite) when I hit a huge storm the entire length of the M3 after which Arnie looked like a barn find😢 However 30 mins with a power washer and pet dryer after he cooled down and he looks like one of Sammy’s collection once again.
 
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A true biker the weather never stops me if I am out and about, needing to be somewhere or going somewhere, not like most of my old biker mates who if its cloudy or over cast with rain about they won't leave the house, in the old days it wouldn't worry them but now old they are turning into a bunch of girls lol, and don't I let them know.
I have had some of my best rides when things were looking bad, the Norton runs a lot cooler as well, like it was made for it lol (pommy weather) and the mount of times I have came home from a great ride and be caught out in a big storm/rain pour on the way home soaking wet down below, as riding for 50+ years now you take the good with the bad, sometimes I have my wet gear with me but mostly just have the leather jacket that I water proof it or my summer jacket with the water proof liner that can be put in the jacket quickly and don't take up much room, as for my jeans they might get wet but as soon as the rain stops they dry out pretty quick when riding.
I am an old school biker and the weather never stops me, hot days, rain, cold days I just dress and ride to the conditions, nothing fazes me not like my old slack mate's and its fun cleaning the bike after suffering rain, only takes a few minute giving it a good wipe down as soon as you park up before the rain stains have a chance to set.
I have owned my Norton since new its now showing its age but I like it the way it is, it has never been a show pony and proves its always been a rider, still draws a crowd wherever I park up and the thumbs up from other road users while riding.

Ashley
 
Wrapped her up tight . High winds , 9 C. cold front with rains for the next 4 days .
Magic starter button and internal plastic slider decided to fracture apart after 50 years .
Andover sells an entire RH assembly , but I need internals bits , ideas ?
 
Café au Lait said:
No idea what you are trying to say here, I was merely commenting on the way you obscured you number plate looked like crazy string stuff used in kid’s parties. Never mind eh?
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I'm well aware of Silly String.

I was attempting to raise awareness.

Sorry you became offended.


Nothing to see here.
Carry on.
☕️☕️☕️
 
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Café au Lait said:
Today was Norton day at Sammy Millars

View attachment 119918
Pathetic. +2 that left upon my arrival. The army bike was vaned in too😱 Like I tell people, I bought this bike to ride😁

I stayed for a couple of hours and then headed off to visit my brother in Portsmouth. It was a useful day however as I got to test my bike for the France trip next month; I spent most of my time on motorways, M3 & M27, he stood up well. Unfortunately the journey home also put my waterproofs to the test (mostly shite) when I hit a huge storm the entire length of the M3 after which Arnie looked like a barn find😢 However 30 mins with a power washer and pet dryer after he cooled down and he looks like one of Sammy’s collection once again.
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Wow, That looks like a real blast!
 
Yesterday: Did a final run on my Dunlop K81 TT100 rear. About 4,000 miles. Nothing left of the centre groove in one place.

Nowhere local will touch old bikes. Happy to do the tyre with just the wheel supplied, but not willing to take the wheel out. So, tyre ordered, it will be onto a friend's bike lift, with a removable panel under the back wheel, to get the clearance under the mudguard and I'll do the tyre swap. Surprised at a 50% hike in tyre prices in 3 years. While there, I'll give it a thorough clean up.

Also, I fancy going back to Roadster trim for the summer. I found surface rust inside my tank, so it's currently sitting with Evaporust inside. I previously used distilled / white vinegar, but it seemed prone to flash rusting, I'm hoping Evaporust might be more successful. The tank's very good, just surface discolouration inside.
 
Mart UK said:
Yesterday: Did a final run on my Dunlop K81 TT100 rear. About 4,000 miles. Nothing left of the centre groove in one place.

Nowhere local will touch old bikes. Happy to do the tyre with just the wheel supplied, but not willing to take the wheel out. So, tyre ordered, it will be onto a friend's bike lift, with a removable panel under the back wheel, to get the clearance under the mudguard and I'll do the tyre swap. Surprised at a 50% hike in tyre prices in 3 years. While there, I'll give it a thorough clean up.

Also, I fancy going back to Roadster trim for the summer. I found surface rust inside my tank, so it's currently sitting with Evaporust inside. I previously used distilled / white vinegar, but it seemed prone to flash rusting, I'm hoping Evaporust might be more successful. The tank's very good, just surface discolouration inside.
Click to expand...
I buy food grade citric acid crystals from eBay for de rusting tanks
Put 1 kg in the tank and fill with water
Give it a good shake and leave overnight then rinse out and dry
 
Mart UK said:
Yesterday: Did a final run on my Dunlop K81 TT100 rear. About 4,000 miles. Nothing left of the centre groove in one place.

Nowhere local will touch old bikes. Happy to do the tyre with just the wheel supplied, but not willing to take the wheel out. So, tyre ordered, it will be onto a friend's bike lift, with a removable panel under the back wheel, to get the clearance under the mudguard and I'll do the tyre swap. Surprised at a 50% hike in tyre prices in 3 years. While there, I'll give it a thorough clean up.

Also, I fancy going back to Roadster trim for the summer. I found surface rust inside my tank, so it's currently sitting with Evaporust inside. I previously used distilled / white vinegar, but it seemed prone to flash rusting, I'm hoping Evaporust might be more successful. The tank's very good, just surface discolouration inside.
Click to expand...
Interested to know if you’re sticking with the Dunlop or changing? My W800 shipped with Dunlops, scary as f#ck! tracked everything! Felt like the bike would drop on every junction turn. Ditched them @ 3k for RR2s and now so confident I can scrape the pegs.

I have new BT46s on my Commando, they also feel great. Got caught in a deluge on the A3M and even at speed not a twitch.

Honestly I wouldn’t let a fitter anywhere near my Norton. I did as you, took the wheel in. I was planning this so invested in a collapsible lift I can hang on the garage wall, £70 works a treat and a great investment.
ebay.us

SwitZer 1500lb Hydraulic Motorcycle Motor Bike Stand Quad Lift ATV Jack Hoist | eBay UK

Chipper Shredder. Electric Breakers. Air Bottle Jack. Garden Shed. Gas Heater. Foot operated heavy duty hydraulic lift;. Engine Cranes. Manicure Desk.
ebay.us
 
Yes, sticking with the Dunlops. I like them. They were tracking a bit on white lines. Probably, for the last 1,000 miles, as they've worn.
I have Avon Roadriders on my CB750. They're also fine. But I think they wearing a bit faster. That may be the difference between 2 and 4 cylinders though.

Edit: It originally came to me on 3.60 x 19 Dunlops. I noticed slower steering when I put 4,10s on (which is the spec for 850 mk3s). But the gap disappeared when I upped pressures to 30f, 34r. Been happy ever since and like the look of them on the old skool Commando :)
 
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Mart UK said:
it will be onto a friend's bike lift, with a removable panel under the back wheel, to get the clearance under the mudguard
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That isn't entirely necessary as the wheel will come out with the bike on the floor and it's how I prefer to do it even though I have a bike lift. You must hold the front brake on with the left hand before tilting the bike over and then the right hand can remove the wheel.

 
Yes, I did that last time and didn't enjoy the experience much. It worked fine, but I've used the bike lift before and it's something I find easier. Plus, he's storing his lift in my garage, so no inconvenience, just wheel it out from the back wall! 👍
 


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