What to do ?

March 2018 .... do I keep it and ride ... sell it for $ ? , or fix weak areas for $ ? .... getting to the point it easier to ride other 2 in shed .... comments welcome , thanks

1. New flange alloy 1.85 x 19" rims with SS spokes , front and rear all new bearings and stainless axles
2. New Dunlop K81 tires , tubes and rim tapes front and rear 4.10 x 19"
3. Rebuilt front caliper with SS pistons and new seals , CNW Brembo MC kit and SS brake line
4. Rebuilt rear brake with new drum/sprocket , Ferodo shoes and new cush drive rubbers
5. New front stanchions , with all new bushes , new springs and Lansdowne (JRB) kit
6. New black chrome Hagon shocks
7. New swingarm spindle with bwolfie SS rod and end caps , all new bushes and washers , with stationary spindle mod
8. new Euro bars with one new British made bar end mirror
9.Halogen headlight with new bucket and rim
10. new Sparx rotor and stator with new Podtronic R/R and new coils / wires and newer Boyer MK 4 EI
11. All new isolastics with vernier adjust
12. heavier rubber buffer mounts for sound oil tank
13. New Barnet fibre clutch dics with DynoDave rod seal
14. Completely rebuilt gearbox with all bearings etc. including mechanical KS shaft seal
15. New battery tray, chain guard, rear brake lever, KS lever
16. new header pipes and good silencers with new heavy duty clips and new rubber buffers
17. frame was stripped to bare metal and painted gloss black with Tuffcoat equipment oil base paint
18. all new cables , hand grips and foot rubbers
19. new Steering damper
20. new Dave Taylor head steady
21. new front fender
22. Tank and side panels pro painted 5 yrs ago ( still good ) fibre glass , new petcocks
23. 750 cc maybe Combat untouched with VM34 Mikuni single carb-uni filter and new 21 tooth counter shaft sprocket and newer chain
24. new speedo drive with cable
25. both clocks are rebuilt unsure on accuracy
26. new Corbin gunfighter seat ( original available )
27. lots of SS fasteners , the magnetic sump plug has been repaired with timesert
28. no leaks or drips
29. 7800 miles
30. a first or second kick start bike always and runs down road very well
31. weaknesses - engine internals ? .... fiber glass tank no leaks .... homemade wire job .... wet sumping



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whats the other two you've got?
I would keep it unless you need the cash. I toyed with selling mine to buy a house, but kept it and am still saving for a deposit. Now as it stands with asking prices being so high, i doubt i could afford to buy one again in the future.

We have a couple of bikes in our stable, and always find that you end up with a 'go to' bike leaving the others behind, the old man has decided to go with taking each in turn, to give everything a go. me, i just go on whatever starts

I’m getting older and all my major limbs been either broken or surgically repaired some both ... I have a Ducati and a MG Griso both which I ride .... just don’t seem to find time for Commando.... Maybe I will finish it ,maybe my Son will want , right now just luke warm interest .... I will sort it out sorry for the post ....

Understand the limb issue, been there plus a couple spinal and skull fractures. Refused to give up flying and when I get the MKIII running I will start looking fo another one. If you still have it a year from now I will be interested.

Sounds like you've fallen out of love for it, after lavishing it with upgrades?
I wd definitely talk to yr son about it first. My folks sold a gorgeous old Chris Craft runabout without telling me it was for sale, still rankles, even though I was in no position to keep her then.

Another thought I have (since you asked) is that it shd be possible after only 5 years, to get a steel tank done up to match the side covers, and remove the major "drawback" to a sale, if it comes to that. You'd think the internals shd be still sound with only 7800 miles, yes? Oil pump work as detailed in the shop manual might stop the wet sumping. Homemade wiring job not necessarily a negative.

That Griso is one sweet machine; I can understand how the Commando might get left in the shed. If I were many years younger than I am, I'd be having the same questions you are asking now. Did you have to "rollerise" the Griso yourself, or did it come that way?

It sounds like a really nice bike. The other two are as well. If you sell it now you are never going to put another commando together like that (probably). If you are having trouble starting it you could try an RGM folding kicker. I found it much easier to start my 750 with that as it has more leverage (herniated disc).

I think commandos are like art. Look good in the living room. I would only sell mine if we needed some cash

Hope your son will be next

Jerry

Craig said:

I’m getting older and all my major limbs been either broken or surgically repaired some both ... I have a Ducati and a MG Griso both which I ride .... just don’t seem to find time for Commando.... Maybe I will finish it ,maybe my Son will want , right now just luke warm interest .... I will sort it out sorry for the post ....

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modern bikes are much easier to live with and with what you have i can see why the norton isn't done.
As for the lukewarm feeling about it, I can understand this too. I've a classic mini that i've been working on for years, the list of what's been done is massive however since bikes the interest has been 'luke warm' its in the garage with a cover on it. no plans to sell. I guess it will sit and hopefully the enthusiasm returns

I've faced such decision points in life, usually concerning who to live with and where to live, to say go with what gives most sense of ease deeper breathing and don't look back only ahead to better future. If just scooting around on utilitarian valve train buzzy fat tire moderns is sufficient then Commando isolation sensations ease is un-appreciated/practical to you to carry on with its time-money-knowledge consuming quirks of routine diddling and replacements. I've had enough time on big step through scooters, which are dam pleasing practical/comfortable, to modern fat tire sportscycle both inline and V twin and hot rod low cafe' minimal Harley to only want to spend what time I've left on a good Commando ease and smooth eagerness almost effortless flowing about with thrills but otherwise part the extensive stuff out for much more top dollars as not using / desiring it and won't have to face forum recoils even if they are likely one snapping up your cycles feature. Do searches to get sense of how much your many feature Cdo is worth to others.

Hi Craig. so what do you have to finish. You have done just about everything.Wet sumping isn't a problem if you ride it once a week. F/glass tank isnt a problem if you use petrol that doesnt have alcohol in it. Engine internals?. So what. I rode my 850 for years before the rings wore up through the ring lands, ran reasonably well until it lost compression on one cylinder.. All it required then was two new pistons and a valve grind. Back on the road within 4 days. Where is the problem. I do have 2 commando's that both go. Wouldn't have anything else. Simple to work on.

Just ride it.
Dereck

You can never have too many motorcycles, especially running ones. Keep it and ride it occasionally. It will make you appreciate your more modern rides.

The common reply in these situations is always “Keep it”... “never sell it”... “you’ll regret it if you do”... etc.

And, sometimes, the above is true.

But, sometimes the love has just gone, you ain’t gonna use it, keeping it just means it’s always on your mind. Selling it frees up shed space, head space, and cash!

I can honestly say I don’t really regret selling a single bike.

Sometimes, selling is the right thing to do.

Thanks guys .... I have no issues Starting , the compression is great on both sides ... will not make any rash decision had this one a long time .... looking at it in shed got me thinking , that keeping it for a couple or 3 rides a year is hardly worth it , last year 2 tanks of gas ....

It is tough to keep on top of more than two bikes. Then there is the problem of insurance and
registration. Space for some of us and probably money for all.
Sell, you can always get another or rather it gives you the opportunity to get another!

I thought my Son might follow me into motorcycling but I know he is not mechanically minded, A turnkey biker. I passed my Commando on to a friend when I could no longer ride it. (at a favourable price to him). I thought my Son might have my Triumph Street Triple but after it sat about for a while I sold it , He may get a bike but he is not me and I don't want to make him think he has to.

What got me thinking history .... bought the Norton many years ago to ride to work and that was great anytime it failed I upgraded .... then retirement , then more upgrades each year , for enjoyment... then got the Ducati ST3s .... this time last spring did major service to Duc , then shipped it to Edmonton, back and forth over all the Rockies passes then rode solo home here to east coast , great trip .... got home put Duc to back of shed and rode Griso most of rest of season even Cabot Trail twice .... took Norton out nice Sunday mornings only ..... don’t think I dare to do cross country ride on Norton .... the Italians for me are easy to work on , dead reliable, smooth and powerful with excellent handling .... while I love Norton and what I have learned from it , seems wrong not to ride it more .... trying to decide if addressing the engine would get me out more .... has never let me down , just can’t really figure out why it my last choice when going for a ride ....thanks for the responses

If the Norton is not reliable to a satisfactory level then get rid of it. Mine was, and that was the frustrating thing about being cheated out of a twilight of motorcycling.

Nope so far my Norton has been dead reliable.... after reading on here the horror stories of riding a Combat and not putting in super blends .... the older I get the more I worry about major failures when out enjoying it ....the Norton has never broken down and left me stranded ever .... maybe I should just ride it more until I hear the rumble of bad mains ? Then bite the bullet and strip her down , engine building is not part of my skill set ...

gripper said:

I thought my Son might follow me into motorcycling but I know he is not mechanically minded, A turnkey biker. I passed my Commando on to a friend when I could no longer ride it. (at a favourable price to him). I thought my Son might have my Triumph Street Triple but after it sat about for a while I sold it , He may get a bike but he is not me and I don't want to make him think he has to.

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very wise and commendable

Craig said:

Nope so far my Norton has been dead reliable.... after reading on here the horror stories of riding a Combat and not putting in super blends .... the older I get the more I worry about major failures when out enjoying it ....the Norton has never broken down and left me stranded ever .... maybe I should just ride it more until I hear the rumble of bad mains ? Then bite the bullet and strip her down , engine building is not part of my skill set ...

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Unless the bike is uber low milage the chances are that the mains have either been done , or it is not in fact a Combat engine..
I think enthusiasm goes for things goes in cycles .. at the moment you seem to be at a low. If you desperately need the money for something else , then sell. If you have the storage space then hang on to it .. Interest rates are so low

I'll probably never sell my '73 Commando even though I seldom ride it nowadays. I feel like I just have to have it because, well... because it's a NORTON COMMANDO!