What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Agree with Estuary Boy, the Commando sits very comfortably on the road. Much better than I ever hoped when I was first tempted into ownership. I have occasionally toyed with swapping it for a winter project bike, but instantly change my mind as soon as I throw a leg over it. Great bikes. I have a self imposed 6,000rpm limit and never feel my single carb is running out of steam. With my drive sprocket, 6,000rpm would be 120mph. Don't fancy the consequences of being caught at that speed, but it still pulls hard approaching it!

When mine first arrived it was on next size narrower TT100s (3.90?). It was very nimble. At 5,000miles both tyres were pretty worn. I replaced them, I went for the factory recommended size, 4.10 and the slower handling was very noticeable. Annoyingly, I only needed the rear at 10,000miles, the front still looks very good, so I'm still on 4.10s, until the next time.

Schwany said:

999 is 3 figures. Just saying

Gotta admit the P11 is no fun at all on what we call Highways in the USA. Out on the back roads in the foothills or on mountain passes it's a different story. The P11 is easier to flick around, and change lines on if need be. For example, when passing a Commando on the outside. he he

I really did have a 74? Commando 750 for a bit in the late 1980's. It was nice on the Highway when I commuted on it a few times, but a bad fit for me. Always felt top heavy, steering was kind of slow, and the front disc brake was poop. I'm picky.

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Wheeling both around in and out the garage certainly shows the difference in weight and where it sits. P11 almost feels as if you can pick it up and throw it about compared to the wrestling match that's the Commando..
Keep meaning to visit the local scrap merchant (No, they're not for sale) to see if they can weigh them, otherwise the 'public' weighbridge is a ride away and £10 a pop!
Uprated discs on both ends, but with 'those' silencers holding it back, kinda overkill, perhaps? ;-)

EstuaryBoy said:

Took advantage of the late warm weather for an afternoon spin. Traffic jams, country lanes and dual carriageway, love that the old softie will take all in it's stride...
One thing I rarely see amongst the performance chasers here is mention of what a boon the isolastic system is. Both the Commando and the rigidly mounted P11 will sit at the legal limit where allowed, but only one feels comfortable doing it at length. Might pass by un-noticed if you regularly ride modern bikes too, but after a few trips on the P11, the next trip on the commando is way quicker in all respects because it doesn't feel 'hurried' in any way..
Even on my old barge (single SU and bl*ck c*ps.... Oh the shame!) you can sit at the limit on dual carriageways, and then can almost feel that carb suck deeply for an extra surge if/when needed..
Okay, it might run out of puff at three figures (I have seen an 'indicated' 110...!?), but in the UK, in the real world, I love it!

Go far.... Faster... (And no sore wrists/backside )

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I actually think the "Black caps" are rather elegant.

One of the reasons way back in 1980 I converted my 850 into the Featherbed frame, shorter wheel base, lighter, the crank balanced for the hard mounts and motor built for the Featherbed with a few things thrown in for better performance and open exhaust system with just enough baffles to make it quiet when putting around, I still run 19" alloy wheels but a slimmer tyre on the front than the back, I also did this when it was in the Commando frame a slimmer tyre up front just makes them turn into the corners better, all my British bikes had a slimmer front tyre than the rear.
With my 850 Featherbed I can lift the rear of the bike up and put it on block to raise the rear wheel off the ground by myself, I can't do that with a Commando set up, but of course Commando's have a centre stand so no need to lift them up to put them on blocks.
I can ride my 850 Featherbed on the highways/open roads all day its very comfortable, it's set up for me and my riding style but it's best set up for when up in the tight twisties range roads it's built for, I have so much fun playing with other bikes in the twisties, it surprises a lot of modern bike riders in how well it runs and handles and that big spark from the Joe Hunt magneto, puts a big fire in its belly.
It's a very light, nimble bike to throw around compared to when it was a full Commando, but I converted a lot of my Commando gear onto the Featherbed when building it, best of both worlds a hot 850 Commando/Featherbed, if built right they are smooth running even with hard mount motor and I think I got it spot on when I built it all them years ago, the torque of the hot 850 and the handling of the Featherbed frame, it's a great all rounder bike and easy to push around the shed when I need to move it.

Ashley

nortonmargie said:

NORTON PARANOIA
Off for a ride (cool, damp, some intermittent drizzle in the AM) Norton is running well! Stop that thought immediately, Norton will hear and break down. Wait a second, what is that noise? Oh, airplane overhead. Continuing onwards, no problems. Wait a second, what WAS that? That was someone's dreammobile going in the other direction. Get to destination, gas up for ride home, meet with friends, eat lunch. There are onlookers in the parking lot. "That isn't your bike" Yes it is. "Can you start it?" Sure. I don gear, tap carb tickler, turn key, hit button. Norton starts right up despite onlookers. On way home, paranoia changes to crazy car drivers. Watching carefully pays off when Idiot passes me with one foot to spare on my left despite left turn signal on. I make it home safely, Norton running smoothly. Another nice ride despite paranoid feelings.

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Lay off the modern day Marijuana . Paranoia .

It's not paranoia if your Norton really is out to get you.

kokomoto said:

It's not paranoia if your Norton really is out to get you.

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There is a Vampire motorcycle movie out there that will get you really paranoid about Nortons .

Paging Buffalo Springfield!

Drained off the Norton fluids today. Haven't ridden much at all this season , the oil was low time and fairly clean. But best to drain
and refill and run briefly before winter layup. Always remove the oil tank and wash it out. Look what was in the very bottom and
I see it every year: water. Flush with petrol and then isopropyl. Water gets down in the seam of the tank and adheres and wants
to cause rust.

Torontonian said:

There is a Vampire motorcycle movie out there that will get you really paranoid about Nortons .

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I have a copy!

Took the Norton out for a ride to run a couple of errands to Napa and the bakery. Went to Napa first to pick up my fog light bulbs for my BMW and after heading out to the bakery, the bike lost power and I had to pull over. Tried to start it and nothing. Looked down at the engine and saw that I forgot to open the fuel valve......