WTF?? help a Norton newbie?

Recently I purchased the most beautiful motorcycle ever made (a '71 Command0). Its my first British restoration although I've restored other euro and Japanese bikes. my problem is, being the first Commando I've got close up and personal with, I do not know what is correct and what is not.

The project came with a bunch of (genuine) Dunstall parts which I will keep stashed away. I bought a Corbin Gunfighter seat and rear fender but they do not fit as they should. It looks to me like PO might have done some welding on the rear frame section. Not knowing what is correct and what is not, I'm reluctant to start hacking away at my baby. To me it looks like the rear hoop has been tilted upward and a cross-brace welded in. Could some kind person confirm this? or otherwise? What angle should that rear hoop be? Parallel to the ground, or in line with the front section?

I will really appreciate all help, advice and comments!

and yes, she's in my living room...

Yes it has been braced and tilted up, oddly enough I had a cutoff rear loop in my hands a few days ago and he is selling it.

Vince

Its not that uncommon for the rear loop to bend down over time or all at once with nice big bottomed gal bounced along and even fracture off one side a few inches from the shock mounts to leave it sickeningly dangling banging. Its pretty simple to just slice off and reweld mild steel straight back in line with the rest of the looks. Might make some tiny drill holes on either side of where ya cut as when mine broke I jammed in some solid rod to span the cut and leave somewhat stronger than before. If that was done in your case its not a show stopper but more hassle cut and maybe to drill out for a smaller rod-pin enough to help back up the shear forces with tube itself weld and grind back. The cross brace don't add strength just a mount for special seat adaptation. Take it out to be proper. Likely the beginning of another beloved chopper conversion nipped in the bud before it grew into a real sissy bar or mimic the silly clearance ass high look of moderns, which ain't a bad view with a big bottomed gal on it. Some just slice loop off short so its just pair of horns the end with the seat. I just rattle caned mine then buffed a bit. Enjoy the layers of discovery of one of the simplest most complexest never ending hobby horses ever conceived. You got a nice raw canvas there so please your self no end on it.

Looks like a conflict if you want to use the stack rear fender.

Just FYI, your photos are cut off because they need to be reduced in size.

It looks like you have a good project on your hands. What kind of wheels are those?

Russ

rvich said:

Just FYI, your photos are cut off because they need to be reduced in size.

Russ

Click to expand...

or someone needs a bigger monitor!

You are correct. The back frame tube(s) have been bent up and the cross brace does not belong there.

To see the whole photo put cursor on picture, r click then tag view image to see full image, then tag +/l click to zoom the view and < clt + > to zoom some more. Could mount a fender on bat box before redoing the loop to get the fender to fit with nice stock attitude and sticking back the right length to do so. Do Note that many 750's have the rear tire center shifted 3/16" > 3/8" to the LH of loop center so unless the rim spokes retensioned to shift tire to center in the loop [in line with spine] ya can't go by the tire to get fender centered in loop.