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if only I new what was going to happen

Posted by JERRY on February 17, 2025, 1:06 pm

1972 in the Island to watch the TT me on my new Commando and my mate on his BMW. This was taken not far from the bungalow where we had a great view of the races. The old mod is just peering over the top. We had a great week with good racing and great evening fun. All good until the homeward journey when half way back to London on the M1 I noticed a vibration from the engine and the old mod started tapping me on the back. We pulled over onto the hard shoulder (remember them). She had oil on her leg from the engine breather caused by the failure of the main bearing. Very common fault on the early Commandos. I managed to restart the bike and decided to try and limp it home which I did but daren't go over 50mph. Managed to get back to London and the bike was taken to Taylor Matthersons to have the later main bearing fitted under warranty. I did like the bike but it had already been back for porous barrels silencers baffles coming loose and the rev counter driver spewing out oil. Summing up the bike was a pile of crap and such a shame as it was only my second ever new bike purchase the first being my Ariel Arrow in 1961.

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: if only I new what was going to happen

Posted by Greeves Rider on February 17, 2025, 5:49 pm, in reply to "if only I new what was going to happen"

The 650ss also suffered from drive side main bearing failure, it was a RHP 'superblend' roller bearing. Strangely there did not appear to be lateral movement in the worn one, probably less that 1 thou of an inch but it made a noise and caused vibration. Also the early 650ss was prone to rods breaking, I had a rod let go on a trip to Snetterton one Sunday,destroyed drive side crankcase I stripped engine and the local dealer (Hallens of Cambridge) sent the undamaged timing side back to Norton who machined a new drive side crank case to match, and new beefed up rods.

Re: if only I new what was going to happen

Posted by Tonupdave on February 17, 2025, 7:59 pm, in reply to "Re: if only I new what was going to happen"

Coming back from the IOM I was leading on my Velo Venom my mate Ron following not far behind coming int Critch looked behind no Ron pulled in and waited no signe of him so rode back and there was an outfit parked by the side of the road stopped and asked the lady passenger if they'd seen a lad on a Bonnivile yes she said he's in the field he veered off the road across a ditch and ended in the muddy field..Ron said following the Velo the thump from the single he fell asleep.. bike wasn't damaged but ot was funny when we stopped at the services on the New M1 and got some coffee he was covered in mud.. we still laugh about it today..

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: if only I new what was going to happen

Posted by geoff the bonnie on February 17, 2025, 10:34 pm, in reply to "Re: if only I new what was going to happen"

In 1969, my Honda S 90 would go 30 miles from home at times.
The much nicer CZ175 had 2 trips to London and back. near 380 miles each ride and took all day. Very underated 2 stroke and i bought 2 new ones and trouble free.

Re: if only I new what was going to happen

Posted by dommie90 on February 18, 2025, 6:22 am, in reply to "Re: if only I new what was going to happen"

riding to the 'Heart OF England 'sidecar rally near Birmingham in the early 70s on my NORBSA sidecar the crankshaft snapped in half on the M1,lucky for me a chap stopped and towed me to the rally turnoff where some of the organizers were waiting for me as they had been tipped off by a German sidecar guy,I was towed to the rally site and as the only Aussie there they got me pissed, a local brummy took the outfit to his place and replaced the crank and I picked it up 3 weeks later

Re: if only I new what was going to happen

Posted by laverdabru on February 18, 2025, 10:27 am, in reply to "Re: if only I new what was going to happen"

Had a '72 750 Roadster with the Combat motor. Bought in the early '80's. Bright yellow, known in Malvern as the 'Flying Banana'. The PO had taken it to the TT often. With me it survived trips round the UK, but had 2 major blow ups locally. In the end, bought a 750-4 to keep it company. It had a Dunstall Decibel 2-1-2 & bellmouths on, the latter probably didn't help reliability! But I was young & knew no better...ended up with clip ons & rearsets. Sold as a non runner for about the same as I'd bought it for. Also featured not once, but twice on the cover of Used Motorcycle Guide.
Saw it many years later, advertised for 10x the price I'd sold it for.

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