Which head Steady

Hello chaps from the UK,

I've finally managed to get myself a Commando (73 Roadster -pretty original) and i've been enjoying and learning form the excellent posts on here. Thanks

I was wondering what your opinions were on Head steadies. The Dave Taylor one gets a lot of mentions (spring no spring?) - is that a price thing rather than a quality thing over the Norvil ones. There is also the Old Britts one -which looks nice. Certainly people seem keen to swap from the original.

Rob

Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will get all kinds of opinions from make your own to the CNW headsteady. Pick your choice and price. Apparently the original was likely to stress fracture. ludwig seems to have a minimal approach to it. You can find some DIY ones too, and you can pay just about whatever you want to buy one. I, myself have not decided, but am tending to the DIY method.

Dave
69S

Rabscallion said:

I was wondering what your opinions were on Head steadies.

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I still have the original box head steady fitted to my MkIII, and I haven't as yet, considered replacing it with one of the newer 'improved' head steadies.

DogT said:

Apparently the original was likely to stress fracture.

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The early type plate steadies were known to fracture, but I don't think there is a problem with the later box section head steadies, as far as I know (as fitted to 750s from eng. 220000-on, and all 850s)?

I agree with L.A.B. I changed the original plate type head steady on my '72 which was starting to get some cracks with the box section type from an 850. No problems since.

Rob,

Did you get a 750 or 850....'73 was the year both were in production.

Both of my '73 750 's (MkV engine no. 22XXXX) had early style head steadies. My original bike's head steady cracked after a few years and I replaced it with a box section one. The other one still had the early style when I got the bike, but it had been welded. When I get around to re-assembling this bike, it will probably have a link-type head steady of my own manufacture similar to the one Keith1069 built. I have one on my Interstate and it is working great. I have Dave Taylor on my cafe racer, but I haven't put any miles on it yet

One of my biggest complaints of the original system is the failure of the muffler mount rubbers. These seem to break away from the studs much faster than the ones holding the mufflers. The link-type, Norvil type, and Ludwig's very simple (but elegant) single disc type, all do away with these. They all are designed to restrict movement in a horizontal plane. Actually, if I were a better fabricator I'd like to make one like Ludwig's to try it out!

Thanks for that everyone - as you all suggest a subjective thing. I think I need to decide if I'm unhappy with the standard set up, I guess.

I think I'll find it difficult to resist trying one though, I've started dreaming in catalogue numbers!

I'm planning a full set of gearbox cradle, isolastic and swinging bush replacement for next year, so I'll probably do it then. I've seen a couple of favourable comments re the Taylor one -Ill give that a go, if anyone is interested in what I think afterwards I'll be happy to post up.

This Norton thing is rather cool, the Wife Likes the idea of a trip to Northern Spain fro the 2010 meeting - just having a spot of bother persuading her to go on the Norton rather than the Blackbird. we're also doing the Manx Grand Prix(actually further away in vehicle miles than the International meeting venue) - but again I have to convince her that the Norton can make it

Superb forum - Norton Owners Club UK should take note

Rob

It's a 750 Dave by the way

Rob,

Welcome to the forum - very pretty bike!
Are you UK based?

I opted for the Dave Taylor headsteady simply because there was so much positive comment about it. This is also true of other aftermarket ones, as it appears that the original was a poor design/cost compromise.
As with so many British Engineering masterpieces, the Bean-Counters definitely had their day on the Norton headsteady - the best thing we can say is that they did stop it breaking by 1973 :roll:

To me, the best thing with the DT is that it totally eliminates the lateral movement which would be amplified at the back wheel, and with the spring attached it still provides support to the engine, so the front isos aren't overloaded; the back wheel won't flop around, and the isos can do their job properly.

Mine arrived last week (the day after I ordered it!), and it looks great on my desk here - seems a shame to fit it

The Manx GP is better done on the Norton than a blackbird, the GP is crawling with Classics and the moderns do not get a look in. I have done the GP 3 times, once on a C15 and twice on a Norton Commando. The Commando suits the island, fast enough to use the straight unrestricted section safely but light and manuoverable enough so on racedays you can use the country roads to move between viewing points at lunchtime. Mileage for each visit was 1000 or so.

Highlights are

VMCC parades

NOC has an annual meet

Ramsey Sprint

Normally at least one OC have a rally, eg Vincent, BSA and Norton on my visits

Classic Bike races

The pits are worth a visit everyday, you get to see all the machinary close up, no restricted areas.

ARE bike collection in Kirk Michael

Fish and chips in Ramsey (screwsup vthe laptimes though :roll: )

A lap of the circuit early on a sunday morning

Hi Andy - Yes UK - Wilts

Rob

Hi Rob,
Ive got a 1972 750 Interstate which ive had from new.
Even from 26 miles on the clock when I picked it up from the shop the handling was never as good as my Atlas with a featherbed frame. However,the smothness with the isolastics was a great change for the better.
I rebuilt it on the cheap over a year ago & put a Dave Taylor head steady with the spring on it.
Now the engine is much taughter in the frame as a previos writer said which has
really the handling. I also have vernier adjusters back & front which makes it much easier for experimenting with gaps on the rubbers.
My vibration now goes at 3500 rpm & it feels much steadier around corners. (thank you Dave Taylor).
Ive got the verniers set with a small gap for better handling but you can set it with a bigger gap which makes the vibes go at lower rpm on mine.
The best things ive done with my bike , are Boyer ignition (although I belive other makes are as good), Bigger disc on front with a lookhead racing caliper, Belt Drive, A single Mikuni 36 mm Carb (altghough the acceleration is not as good as it was with twin concentrics as standard). + The Dave Taylor steady & Vernier adjusters.
My next experiment is the longer bushes in the front forks to make them smother as they seem really stiff (not a patch on the forks on my Bandit).
Maybe after ive owned it for another 36 years I will have it fettled just right.
Best of luck with the bike & maybe see you at Norton Day 2010 which I belive is in Hunstanton in August.
I thought one of our branch members had a brilliant looking commando but yours really looks the dogs thingies.
Cheers Don

Rabscallion said:

Hi Andy - Yes UK - Wilts

Rob

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I have fond memories of some of the roads in Wilts - I worked at Boscombe Down for a couple of years; used to love the A30 back to Somerset. Great combination of a good road with light traffic - very rare these days!

Hey Andy,
Spooky! I used to work at Boscombe -Photographic Engineering shop(inside the wire) 82-85

Don,
Thanks for the compliment re Bike - I can't take the credit, but hopefully I can make it better

Rob

Howdy All,
Go with the Dave taylor with springs it really makes a difference.

As for riding the Commando to Spain it sounds like a great trip.

I have a 73 850 and have recently got a BMW GS1200 for adventure riding ...and falling off!
However fabulous the ABS,fuel injection and other blah blah bits my wife still prefers the Commando for a comfortable and enjoyable ride.

Maybe a noisy exhaust will make her feel more at home on the "Rubber Cow"?

My wife does not care a bit if I like the sharper handling of tighter isos, she prefers the vibration free ride of a bit looser isos!
Another reason to convert shims to threaded adjustable isos...........

Ludwig - What a clever sort of fellow you are! :wink:

ludwig said:

Baldrick said:

... my wife still prefers the Commando for a comfortable and enjoyable ride.

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Set the isos a little tighter and she will enjoy it even more !

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highdesert said:

My wife does not care a bit if I like the sharper handling of tighter isos, she prefers the vibration free ride of a bit looser isos!
Another reason to convert shims to threaded adjustable isos...........

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Thats a very expensive replacment for a couple of AA batteries isnt it Ludwig :shock: :wink:

Hi Rob
Am in the process of some Commando upgrades. Went for the Dave Taylor steady myself and am in the process of doing the vernier adjusters, plus the new Tri-Spark ignition and new wiring harness, etc etc.
Have had the bike since new in 1972, never had any issues with the old set up of shimming but did kinda get carried along in the wake of this forum with new technology for an elderly bike.
Mmm, my spouse also prefers the Norton for comfort as a pillion rather than other machinery. Gotta be the Vibes!! :roll:

I went for the Norman White head steady, s'pose I should have gone with The Dave Taylor type with springs. Seems to work ok though.
My missus does wish the seat was a bit wider for her for some reason.