What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

That must have felt pretty awesome to be riding around in your old neck of the wood on a vintage bike. I hope to do the same thing some day in my old neck of the wood in south western Ontario. I'll winch it up into the back of my truck and drive up there for a visit and take a ride around the old places I lived and played.
 
Torontonian said:
Yes Rob , the kicker is now gone forever . Yes , it is a beautiful piece of art . But it weighs about 8 lbs . , that I can do without , after decisions about it on a big heavy MK 111 touring machine . I also removed the center stand as it weighs about 10 lbs . too . You don't need both of them when you think about it , to drag around with you . Both removed don't much alter the looks of the bike , O.K. maybe the nice kicker . It's an evolution for me , there will always be more changes to suit your riding lifestyle . She was a trailer Queen show winner 8 x when I bought her , but nowadays driving her is priority with camping gear and wife on back .
The best running / idling Norton I ever seen had a smaller carb on a small single manifold . No racing , but for road use go for it .
Enjoy .
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Which starter did you install? I'm curious because I'm looking to install one at some point when I can pony up the $$$.
 
Torontonian said:
Dyno Dave Starter . Amazing item that spins up the motor so fast that you barely have time to get off the button .
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Re-assembled the inner and outer trans. covers today on the hot street with umbrella taped to a pole , with using grease on multiple points of contact . Shifter pawl , ratchet assembly , knuckle roller to hold it into place for the final fit , both gaskets inside and out , kicker seal area .
New cable too whilst pulling the tank , might as well ...
Test ride shiftings worked much better using the thinner shim , into first , neutral , second .
Ready for a real trip now .
 
Great day. I snuck away again this morning and did a bucket list ride. M22 in northern Michigan. 150 miles of shore line, twisties, hills, scenery, and some growing up memories. Uncle Bob (my '74 commando) ran like a champ. However 2/3 of the way I heard a strange 'thp' 'thp' 'thp' noise when passing slowly through a town. Loose exhaust ring. I reached down and tightened it with a gloved hand periodically until I reached my gas stop 10 miles away. There I secured it with a borrowed hammer and oak stick. Finished the ride ok. The photo shows sleeping bear dunes in the background. Topped the day off with a Chicago concert on Traverse Bay.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Saber said:
Great day. I snuck away again this morning and did a bucket list ride. M22 in northern Michigan. 150 miles of shore line, twisties, hills, scenery, and some growing up memories. Uncle Bob (my '74 commando) ran like a champ. However 2/3 of the way I heard a strange 'thp' 'thp' 'thp' noise when passing slowly through a town. Loose exhaust ring. I reached down and tightened it with a gloved hand periodically until I reached my gas stop 10 miles away. There I secured it with a borrowed hammer and oak stick. Finished the ride ok. The photo shows sleeping bear dunes in the background. Topped the day off with a Chicago concert on Traverse Bay.

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Nice . Ride on .
 
Removed the choke from the Premiers, as I never seem to use it anyhow, and as the tank was off I finally got around to installing Graham's (Improving Classic Motorcycles) CWL+ kit.

Even I managed it so it must be easy 👍

photos.app.goo.gl

New video by Bon zo

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl

Biggest pain was the getting the connector into the rubber boot on the ignition switch.

Nice to finally remove the old warning light assimilator - which was working fine, but taking up valuable space after fitting the Mk3 head steady tensioner spring.
 
Bonzo said:
Removed the choke from the Premiers, as I never seem to use it anyhow, and as the tank was off I finally got around to installing Graham's (Improving Classic Motorcycles) CWL+ kit.

Even I managed it so it must be easy 👍

photos.app.goo.gl

New video by Bon zo

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl

Biggest pain was the getting the connector into the rubber boot on the ignition switch.

Nice to finally remove the old warning light assimilator - which was working fine, but taking up valuable space after fitting the Mk3 head steady tensioner spring.
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I have used that kit for quite some time now with no problems.Another plus is that you don’t have to drill the headlight shell to a larger size as I have seen with other kits.
 
Serviced the Interstate after riding approx. 3K miles on the road going/coming to the INOA rally in Washington. Happy that the intake valve clearances needed no adjustment, exhausts just a smidge. Other than a lot of rotten weather, trip was non-eventful in a good way.
 
Bonzo said:
Removed the choke from the Premiers, as I never seem to use it anyhow, and as the tank was off I finally got around to installing Graham's (Improving Classic Motorcycles) CWL+ kit.

Even I managed it so it must be easy 👍

photos.app.goo.gl

New video by Bon zo

photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl

Biggest pain was the getting the connector into the rubber boot on the ignition switch.

Nice to finally remove the old warning light assimilator - which was working fine, but taking up valuable space after fitting the Mk3 head steady tensioner spring.
Click to expand...
I have one of the deluxe models that has red and black leads only (the lamp is prewired from the control box and just slides into the existing warning light housing, after removing the existing lamp and socket and wiring from the old WLA). I haven't installed it yet, but It looks like all I have to do is hook up the black lead to the white hot wire that comes from the ignition switch and the red wire to ground, all inside the headlight shell. No need to run the black wire back to the ignition switch and fiddle around with that connection. I had to custom order it from Graham since I have a Shorai LiFe battery and the stock voltage thresholds needed to be adjusted.
 
I finally got my modified airbox cover back from the local fabrication shop. I had them convert the dual air ports to one, and also powder coat. Put on a new metal air filter cover as well (why not).
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


I also had the fabricator powder coat a spare primary cover I have. Tried it out for looks. Not too shabby looking at all. I like the contrast of the chrome with the black.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Saber said:
Great day. I snuck away again this morning and did a bucket list ride. M22 in northern Michigan. 150 miles of shore line, twisties, hills, scenery, and some growing up memories. Uncle Bob (my '74 commando) ran like a champ. However 2/3 of the way I heard a strange 'thp' 'thp' 'thp' noise when passing slowly through a town. Loose exhaust ring. I reached down and tightened it with a gloved hand periodically until I reached my gas stop 10 miles away. There I secured it with a borrowed hammer and oak stick. Finished the ride ok. The photo shows sleeping bear dunes in the background. Topped the day off with a Chicago concert on Traverse Bay.

View attachment 108072View attachment 108073
Click to expand...
Gotta safety wire those rose nuts Tom. I had the same thing happen to me in the middle of back country riding. Did the same thing tightening it with my gloved hand and nursed it back home to tighten and safety wire. You can see my safety wiring in one of the photos I just posted.
 
My best ride so far on the Commando.

Weather was wonderful, roads (strangely) quiet, bike running sweet - ticking over nicely & pulling like a train.

Currently in a happy place and feel very fortunate to own a bike like this 👍

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Further to the above 👆, when I got home I noticed the throttle was sticking. After checking the 'usual suspects' I found that the silicone tubing for the carb tops that comes with the madass single throttle kit, was bone dry and grabbing the cable on both carbs.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Working through a drop of lubricant seems to cure it, but worth keeping your eyes on 👀
 
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Bonzo said:
My best ride so far on the Commando.

Weather was wonderful, roads (strangely) quiet, bike running sweet - ticking over nicely & pulling like a train.

Currently in a happy place and feel very fortunate to own a bike like this 👍

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
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Good on you (and all the rest of us that know that commando happy place feeling). Nice photo. Where is that?
 
Bonzo said:
Further to the above 👆, when I got home I noticed the throttle was sticking. After checking the 'usual suspects' I found that the silicone tubing for the carb tops that comes with the madass single throttle kit, was bone dry and grabbing the cable on both carbs.

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Working through a drop of lubricant seems to cure it, but worth keeping your eyes on 👀
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I must have about 50 types of lubricants to choose from by now .
A good clean friction free routing is essential .
Then a dab of grease on both ends .
 
Bonzo said:
My best ride so far on the Commando.

Weather was wonderful, roads (strangely) quiet, bike running sweet - ticking over nicely & pulling like a train.

Currently in a happy place and feel very fortunate to own a bike like this 👍

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
Click to expand...
What an incredibly gorgeous landscape to be riding your Norton! The bike is rather fetching as well! Looks like it must have when it rolled off the assembly line 50 years ago. Oh that happy place. I felt that the other day this weekend as well when I went for a spin. Bike was also running the best it's been and I was too. A very rare combination...:)
 
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