New frames

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I always believed it was Verlicchi, but was informed at some point that the F stood for Farina...
can't recall where that one came from, but it stuck...

Well, I've not heard that one before! Edit: Seems we have as you mentioned Farina back in 2010......:
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/dave-taylor-headsteady.1580/page-9#post-12435
......however, I can't find any reference to a company by that name having made motorcycle frames...or anything else.


Farina apparently means flour in Italian.


https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/commando-frames.8240/#post-108218
 
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Most 850 numbers seem to have the third digit corresponding to the month of manufacture, so yours is likely to be 9/74.
However, I'm aware of exceptions in the '73 model year but not '74 (yet...), so definitely not definite o_O

My 3104XX is stamped 11/73 on the red plate.

Close but not exact, maybe the engine was finished in Oct and the 10 stamp refers to that and the completed bike made it down the assembly line in Nov which ended up on the red plate.
 
https://pininfarina.it/en/


Although we're used to seeing fairly exotic-looking road bikes, city bikes generally tend to be rather boring and business-like. But that certainly isn't the case with De Rosa's new Metamorphosis. It was made in collaboration with famed Italian design house Pininfarina, and can also be set up as a gravel bike.


https://newatlas.com/de-rosa-pininfarina-metamorphosis/55421/

Personally F stands for Frame but if you can find a link between Pininfarina and Verlicchi back in the 70's then its possible.
 
https://pininfarina.it/en/

Then surely it would've been 'P' not 'F'?

Personally F stands for Frame but if you can find a link between Pininfarina and Verlicchi back in the 70's then its possible.


But then, why would a design house have got involved with the manufacture of motorcycle frames made to an existing (Stefan Bauer/NV) design?
 
Did you take Dr. John just the frame? Or did you take him the frame with motor/trans./rear wheel attached? He told me to bring it in with motor and rear wheel still attached, and then strip it down later for restoration. He did seem familiar with Nortons. He told me $500.00. Wasco wants me to Fedex the frame, engine cradle and swing arm. Both sound good, not sure which way to go. I would have to spend 1-2 nights in Anaheim if I go to Dr. John.
He did not need the motor and gearbox/rear wheel assembly. Usually those are necessary to add a solid structure to the frame when straightening it but I’m not sure how they would work with rubber ISOs. You could see Disney Land while in Anaheim....
 
https://pininfarina.it/en/

Then surely it would've been 'P' not 'F'?




But then, why would a design house have got involved with the manufacture of motorcycle frames made to an existing (Stefan Bauer/NV) design?

Agreed but until you know the form of any link, and its a big if that it even existed, you can't say 100%, its a remote possibility but until a link is proved F = Frame.

Pininfarina were active in the British car industry, hence why I knew the name with farina at the end.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/anything-goes/pininfarina-saviour-uk-car-industry
 
Agreed but until you know the form of any link, and its a big if that it even existed, you can't say 100%, its a remote possibility but until a link is proved F = Frame.

I don't think there's much doubt that F = Frame.




Pininfarina were active in the British car industry, hence why I knew the name with farina at the end.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/anything-goes/pininfarina-saviour-uk-car-industry

Yes, I know, (as I'm no spring chicken myself :)) but sceptical that Pininfarina would be 'Farina' until as you say, a link is proved as the only reference to this apparent Farina appears to have come from B+B.
 
He did not need the motor and gearbox/rear wheel assembly. Usually those are necessary to add a solid structure to the frame when straightening it but I’m not sure how they would work with rubber ISOs. You could see Disney Land while in Anaheim....
That's interesting. I spoke with him several times on the phone and he was adamant that I bring it to him rolling with motor in it and he would go from there, take the front end off, etc. He said if I had it there by 8am he would have it done by end of day.
 
That's interesting. I spoke with him several times on the phone and he was adamant that I bring it to him rolling with motor in it and he would go from there, take the front end off, etc. He said if I had it there by 8am he would have it done by end of day.

It might depend on how hard the bike was hit. Always go by the expert’s advice.

One day turn around? That is a generous offer and should not be turned down.
 
Hi. Can you please do me a huge favour and tell me roughly your engine no. I have 319265 but the date is missing and I think it should be 7 or 8 or even 9 /74

I want to complete my red plate but don’t know the correct month. If your no is close to mine then 8 might be the correct month

John
Hi, my engine # is 320671 dated 8/74. I hope this helps.
 
He did not need the motor and gearbox/rear wheel assembly. Usually those are necessary to add a solid structure to the frame when straightening it but I’m not sure how they would work with rubber ISOs. You could see Disney Land while in Anaheim....
Yeah, that's what I wonder: how do you hold it rigid while twisting/straightening the metal when the frame is bolted to rubber? I know I must be missing something as he has a good reputation.
 
Absolutely! A one day turn around vs send your frame away... and wait... and hope... and chase.

A no brainer in my opinion!
Yes, and he is only a few hours away from me. But as I said earlier, I wonder how he can do it with the isolastics involved.
 
Yes, and he is only a few hours away from me. But as I said earlier, I wonder how he can do it with the isolastics involved.

Bend the metal, let it settle, measure. Repeat.

He won’t be bending metal against the rubber, he’ll be supporting it whilst bending it I’m sure.

If it’s only mild movement that’s required he may not use any force, just localised heat.
 
Yes, and he is only a few hours away from me. But as I said earlier, I wonder how he can do it with the isolastics involved.

The isolatics throw a lot of that out of the window so in operation there is a bit of 'black magic.

On a conventional frame, if the steering head is correct to the fixed swing arm pivot/rear axle then you are most of the way there.
The Commando has the cradle and the engine to cradle to front isolastic relationship so even if the bare frame is perfect to the drawing (steering head/front and rear isolastic mounting points) there is no absolute that once fully assembled it is the same but it could be in theory if the cradle is also checked (to the drawing and axis checked)

Of course it then comes back to that rubber isolator between the frame and the road so if the frame is checked / straightened correct to the drawing it is probably good enough for most people and no doubt as good as a new replacement frame dimension wise. (OEM quality)

There might be some irony in, if you took a Commando frame with its engine case, cradle and swing arm in place to a professional who was not aware of that bike, they would be scratching their head to say the least, more so if the head steady was removed and its importance when adjustable might be considered vital to alignment overall.
 
The isolatics throw a lot of that out of the window so in operation there is a bit of 'black magic.

On a conventional frame, if the steering head is correct to the fixed swing arm pivot/rear axle then you are most of the way there.
The Commando has the cradle and the engine to cradle to front isolastic relationship so even if the bare frame is perfect to the drawing (steering head/front and rear isolastic mounting points) there is no absolute that once fully assembled it is the same but it could be in theory if the cradle is also checked (to the drawing and axis checked)

Of course it then comes back to that rubber isolator between the frame and the road so if the frame is checked / straightened correct to the drawing it is probably good enough for most people and no doubt as good as a new replacement frame dimension wise. (OEM quality)

There might be some irony in, if you took a Commando frame with its engine case, cradle and swing arm in place to a professional who was not aware of that bike, they would be scratching their head to say the least, more so if the head steady was removed and its importance when adjustable might be considered vital to alignment overall.
So, if I read you correctly, you think either method could work if aligned to specs. Wasco would check frame, cradle swing arm. Dr. John would straighten as a unit. I did remove the head steady, should probably put it back if going to Anaheim.
 
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