What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Just got back from a great weekend away at the NOC National Rally in Keynsham, Bristol.

The weather was variable to say the least but I only got a soaking once when we rode out to Cotswolds Airport Cafe nr Cirencester. Such was the heat that when the storm past I quickly dried.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?


On the return ride I flagged down our Chairman to blag a ride on his 650 SS and a lovely little bike it is; I can certainly identify my bikes DNA in that machine. He of course had to ride Arnie. When we swapped back the grin on his face was priceless 😂😂😂.

“I need to have a talk with you when we get back” was all he said.

Richard has owned and ridden a Commando since he was 18 yrs old but he said he’d never experienced one like this, “all the attributes of an 850 and some, a Commando on steroids”. “So tight and so we’ll set up and not just a bit of bling.”

The previous days ride was to Williams Autos who are a Morgan main dealer but now also sell Nortons

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

This stunning mk3 owned from new and has clocked over 85k miles!

The event came to an end yesterday evening with the usual award ceremony, Arnie blushes again😊

What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
RAF Kemble as was, and once the home of the Red Arrows. I remember a small bar / cafe at the back of the airfield, where the aeroplane breakers yard is? and a more upmarket restaurant / cafe on the opposite side of the airfield?
 
daveforty said:
RAF Kemble as was, and once the home of the Red Arrows. I remember a small bar / cafe at the back of the airfield, where the aeroplane breakers yard is? and a more upmarket restaurant / cafe on the opposite side of the airfield?
Click to expand...
Yep, just as you described. There’s a parked Gnat there too. We watched a Spitfire land and take off again which was fab, the same aircraft I saw at Blackbushe a few weeks back; the pilot told me then that he was off to the Cotswolds, now I know exactly where he meant. Probably the only engine sound that beats the Commando🫣
 
I did a dry run build of my next project, with a Corbin seat from the US.
Getting it over here is worthy of a story in itself, thanks to a couple of forum members.
I'll run a dedicated thread when time allows.
 

Attachments

  • What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
    20250708_195957.jpg
    456.5 KB · Views: 106
B+Bogus said:
I did a dry run build of my next project, with a Corbin seat from the US.
Getting it over here is worthy of a story in itself, thanks to a couple of forum members.
I'll run a dedicated thread when time allows.
Click to expand...
Nice looking project. What size tires and rims are you running?
 
NORTSTER1974 said:
Nice looking project. What size tires and rims are you running?
Click to expand...
I'm running WM3 18" both ends, 110 on the front and a 120 on the rear.
A friend who races a Seeley Commando prefers a narrower section tyre, but these work well on my Ducati so I'll see how I get on with them.
 
B+Bogus said:
I'm running WM3 18" both ends, 110 on the front and a 120 on the rear.
A friend who races a Seeley Commando prefers a narrower section tyre, but these work well on my Ducati so I'll see how I get on with them.
Click to expand...
Thanks Andy, I sold @ the starving photographer, the guy that started this thread, a set of 18 in front and rears. I think the rear was wm4 and the front was wm3. He says he likes them. Plus a little better rubber selection too.
 
Yes sir Johnny Z! You did in fact sell me a great set of wheels, complete with hubs. I still have them on the bike and with the work I did on the wiggly rear end and shimming up my rear isolastic, and installing the cNw head steady the bike is riding so much more confidently now. The 18" did drop the bike substantially from stock but feels good for my 5'9" stature.
I still have the old set of wheels and thinking of making another 18" set, this time with chromed steel rims and ss spokes...maybe.
 
I had forgotten that I started this thread a little over 4 years ago! I went back to the first page and read my first few posts and felt embarrassed with all my completely newb questions! Riding with my wife around the neighbourhood in second gear!? And that was a thrill?!...Sheesh!
How far I've come since then. And thanks to you guys/gals on this thread for carrying me along on this completely wonderful journey of Norton ownership, wrenching, and riding bliss!
 
Last edited:
Starvingphotog said:
Yes sir Johnny Z! You did in fact sell me a great set of wheels, complete with hubs. I still have them on the bike and with the work I did on the wiggly rear end and shimming up my rear isolastic, and installing the cNw head steady the bike is riding so much more confidently now. The 18" did drop the bike substantially from stock but feels good for my 5'9" stature.
I still have the old set of wheels and thinking of making another 18" set, this time with chromed steel rims and ss spokes...maybe.
Click to expand...
So what size rubber did you put on there?
 
B+Bogus said:
I did a dry run build of my next project, with a Corbin seat from the US.
Getting it over here is worthy of a story in itself, thanks to a couple of forum members.
I'll run a dedicated thread when time allows.
Click to expand...

When I got my smuggler seat (with a small boot) I had to use a company in Bournemouth (or thereabouts) and cough up the full amount, which was a ludicrous amount, and then there was a 10 week wait. It did however work out as it was supposed to.
 
trident sam said:
When I got my smuggler seat (with a small boot) I had to use a company in Bournemouth (or thereabouts) and cough up the full amount, which was a ludicrous amount, and then there was a 10 week wait. It did however work out as it was supposed to.
Click to expand...
I'd pretty much ruled out getting one for that reason, and no amount of doom-scrolling on the Corbin website was going to help!
When JohnnyZ (NORTSTER1974) advertised his, I suddenly got quite motivated - it was pretty much exactly the spec I was looking for, and with some help from David B (who has previously shipped stuff over to me) it arrived without incurring duties, since it was only a $100 motorcycle seat, after all ;)
The chances of these two forum members living within 50 miles of each other in the USA must be small indeed, and they did a great job :cool:
 
Last edited:
B+Bogus said:
I'd pretty much ruled out getting one for that reason, and no amount of doom-scrolling on the Corbin website was going to help!
When JohnnyZ (NORTSTER1974) advertised his, I suddenly got quite motivated - it was pretty much exactly the spec I was looking for, and with some help from David B (who has previously shipped stuff over to me) it arrived without incurring duties, since it was only a $100 motorcycle seat, after all ;)
The chances of these two forum members living within 50 miles of each other in the USA must be small indeed, and they did a great job :cool:
Click to expand...
Ya know Andy, I really appreciate the fact that you love the seat. Even though I said USA shipping only, you reached out, and I tried to accommodate. After all the insane quotes from FedEx, UPS, and USPS it wasn't worth my time or your money. You're lucky to know Dave. Hell, we met at Fran's pub and didn't even have a chance to grab a brew. Until this day, I've never been out of the USA, never even made a phone call. I have purchased from RGM quite often, but it was straight forward. I have no connections overseas, except for a buddy in France, but he's from NJ, not a biker, and France is just one of his 85 properties. Anyway get going on that project, can't wait to see it. P.S. I'm not a Facebooker or anything else, but love this forum. You meet some of the nicest people, and they don't ride Honda's.:)
 
NORTSTER1974 said:
You meet some of the nicest people, and they don't ride Honda's.:)
Click to expand...
Some of us do… LOL
While on the subject of Corbin be aware that they have cheapened the Gunfighter Commando seat somewhat. The seat pan is now some kind of rough ( recycled?) material and the nose where it meets the tank used to be finished with soft suede - now it’s folds and pop rivets.
 
NORTSTER1974 said:
Ya know Andy, I really appreciate the fact that you love the seat. Even though I said USA shipping only, you reached out, and I tried to accommodate. After all the insane quotes from FedEx, UPS, and USPS it wasn't worth my time or your money. You're lucky to know Dave. Hell, we met at Fran's pub and didn't even have a chance to grab a brew. Until this day, I've never been out of the USA, never even made a phone call. I have purchased from RGM quite often, but it was straight forward. I have no connections overseas, except for a buddy in France, but he's from NJ, not a biker, and France is just one of his 85 properties. Anyway get going on that project, can't wait to see it. P.S. I'm not a Facebooker or anything else, but love this forum. You meet some of the nicest people, and they don't ride Honda's.:)
Click to expand...
I remember seeing the quote, and your observation that it would be cheaper to book an airline seat and fly it over yourself 😄
Just great the way it all worked out 👌
 
Richard Tool said:
Some of us do… LOL
While on the subject of Corbin be aware that they have cheapened the Gunfighter Commando seat somewhat. The seat pan is now some kind of rough ( recycled?) material and the nose where it meets the tank used to be finished with soft suede - now it’s folds and pop rivets.
Click to expand...
RT, you're a good guy too. I can't believe you knew P.J. Holland, and Karl Duffner too. Back in 76, PJ lived on Highway Ave. in Riverton, NJ, his parents' house. They also had a home in Surf City, NJ. I want to say 15th St.? Fella's Pizza on the corner. He and his brother John "Dirtball" taught me how to surf. Karl, that's another story. Been to his house in Bristol, PA a few times. Karl was quite a character, just like PJ.
 


Write your reply...

Similar threads

Schwany
What did you do with your P11 today. he he
2 3 4 5
Replies
95
Views
6,521
MichaelB
MichaelB
Shelby-Right
What did you do with your Triumph today .
Replies
10
Views
1,292
Matt Spencer
M
CanukNortonNut
  • Locked
Ok what are you getting for mileage with your commando.
2 3 4 5
Replies
93
Views
12,880
CanukNortonNut
CanukNortonNut
V
What did you do to your Norton today?
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
7,986
Richard Tool
Richard Tool
Back
Top