Who manufactures/sells Commando rearset kits that aren't so expensive?

Beaneater

Beaneater

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Dec 7, 2013
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Hello all,

All the rearset kits I have run across online cost quite a pretty penny. My commando is in no way a shiny/visually appealing (in my opinion) bike so I really don't need fancy looking things for it. I'm just looking for solid, no BS, well fitting rearsets in order to improve my riding position. All suggestions are appreciated! Thank you and have a great day!
 
Problem is that the footrests are easy and the brake poop isnt. Easy enough to use a backwards gearshft although it isn't the best way to go. I don't know of a cheap set that will satisfy.
 
Onder said:
Problem is that the footrests are easy and the brake poop isnt. Easy enough to use a backwards gearshft although it isn't the best way to go. I don't know of a cheap set that will satisfy.
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Thanks for your thoughts. Silly question: Is backwards gearshift the type where you shift up for first and then down for 2nd , 3rd, 4th gear?
 
Beaneater said:
Thanks for your thoughts. Silly question: Is backwards gearshift the type where you shift up for first and then down for 2nd , 3rd, 4th gear?
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No that's standard configuration for any pre MK3 commando
IE right foot shift
 
baz said:
No that's standard configuration for any pre MK3 commando
IE right foot shift
Click to expand...

Sorry I'm getting a bit confused by what seems to be a pretty basic thing. My commando is a '71 so I assume it is pre-MK3. The shift lever is on the right side and from neutral I engage 1st gear by kicking the shifter up, and then 2nd 3rd and 4th by kicking the shifter down, down and down. So that is NOT backwards gearshift?

I have been thinking that backwards refers to the direction (up/down) to get to each specific gear but I'm starting to think that backwards means you shift on the left instead of the right. lol...seems so simple but I'm lost.
 
Beaneater said:
Sorry I'm getting a bit confused by what seems to be a pretty basic thing. My commando is a '71 so I assume it is pre-MK3. The shift lever is on the right side and from neutral I engage 1st gear by kicking the shifter up, and then 2nd 3rd and 4th by kicking the shifter down, down and down. So that is NOT backwards gearshift?

I have been thinking that backwards refers to the direction (up/down) to get to each specific gear but I'm starting to think that backwards means you shift on the left instead of the right. lol...seems so simple but I'm lost.
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You are over thinking it
It simply means the gear lever is fitted backwards
That's all
And that reverses the gear shift pattern
 
Beaneater said:
Sorry I'm getting a bit confused by what seems to be a pretty basic thing. My commando is a '71 so I assume it is pre-MK3. The shift lever is on the right side and from neutral I engage 1st gear by kicking the shifter up, and then 2nd 3rd and 4th by kicking the shifter down, down and down. So that is NOT backwards gearshift?

I have been thinking that backwards refers to the direction (up/down) to get to each specific gear but I'm starting to think that backwards means you shift on the left instead of the right. lol...seems so simple but I'm lost.
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I think what was meant is this : turn the shift lever around so it is rear facing - thus when you engage first gear in the original position it is up for first ( rotating shaft counter clockwise) but since the shift lever is now facing the opposite direction you must push it down to rotate the shaft counter clockwise.
 
Richard Tool said:
I think what was meant is this : turn the shift lever around so it is rear facing - thus when you engage first gear in the original position it is up for first ( rotating shaft counter clockwise) but since the shift lever is now facing the opposite direction you must push it down to rotate the shaft counter clockwise.
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😄😄😄 I got it now. Backwards quite literally means backwards. Thank you both very much.
 
Sorry. You may want (have) to get a "backwards" shift lever. If you use Don's rig it maintains the gear pattern per Norton and is easier to move the shift lever than a backwards one. His setup is good the only thing that I would mention is the brake lever seems a bit short so applying the rear brake takes more effort. Back brake is pretty weak
anyway so it may not matter.
 
Beaneater said:
😄😄😄 I got it now. Backwards quite literally means backwards. Thank you both very much.
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There is a downside to this: In it's stock installation, the arc of gear lever is in the same direction as the arc of your foot movement; In the backwards installation it now moves in the opposite direction to your foot movement. The peg on the lever is moving away from your foot as you rotate it to change gear.

You may get used to this, but that's what some of the more expensive rearsets are engineered to avoid.
 
"expensive" is a relative term

Try making a set from relatively inexpensive good-quality materials, then have them plated at the cheapest plater you can find that guarantees a decent finish.

After that exercise you will see why they sell for the price they sell for!

I was able to make $25 from each featherbed swingarm spindle kit that I fabricated and sold, but each kit took over 2 hours to make and ship.

Do I really want to work for $12.50 an hour? ....NO.
 
The John Player Norton sold by Norton Villiers had a backward fitted lever angled away from the gearbox at 45 degrees to clear the kickstart arm. I never cared for it.
Who manufactures/sells Commando rearset kits that aren't so expensive?
 
You might set a search in ebay for Norman Hyde rearsets (use footrest as a search key as well). These usually go fairly cheap and are a bolt on, with some finagling of the kickstart needed.

But DonP's stuff is the nuts. I dread the day he closes his business and am saving my money to buy one of each of his Commando products.
 
Jdub said:
You might set a search in ebay for Norman Hyde rearsets (use footrest as a search key as well). These usually go fairly cheap and are a bolt on, with some finagling of the kickstart needed.

But DonP's stuff is the nuts. I dread the day he closes his business and am saving my money to buy one of each of his Commando products.
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I believe Don's rearset kit requires the kicker to be changed (to a mk3 type or even to the RGM folding type??) for proper clearance.
 
Beaneater said:
Hello all,

All the rearset kits I have run across online cost quite a pretty penny. My commando is in no way a shiny/visually appealing (in my opinion) bike so I really don't need fancy looking things for it. I'm just looking for solid, no BS, well fitting rearsets in order to improve my riding position. All suggestions are appreciated! Thank you and have a great day!
Click to expand...
IMHO you question should be "does anyone make a rearset that actually works well?". The two or three I've tried to make work well on customer bikes made me swear off accepting that work! Cheap is the common denominator for not working well. I've never tried Don Pender's but I suspect that it will work well - but is not cheap.

A basic problem is that you must get the linkage for the gearshift set right so that each gear can be found. If you the measure the up and down throw of the lever on a Commando you'll see that the distance is all over the place - not a problem with a standard lever but with most rearsets it is amplified.
 
The owner told me this setup works extremely well
 

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The set from RGM is probably the cheapest on the market.

The set from Norvil is probably the best and not that much more expensive. Note that this is one of the few things I’d recommend from Norvil.
 
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