Hi,
Can anyone advise me?
I have just acquired an 850 Commando Interstate. It was manufactured in 1974 and I believe it should be a MK2A by the year of first registration.
Also, the instruments are by Veglia (not the smiths with green globe like I had on a previous machine (we parted company in 1984). Was Veglia an alternative supplier or have these simply been acquired and fitted? They don't look as though they will work and so will either need repair or replacing.
Finally, my previous bike had a balance pipe whereas this one does not. What would have been fitted originally?
Thanks for any input, it is appreciated!
Keith
Veglia had a trip function…
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My MK2A came with Veglia g…
My MK2A came with Veglia green spots as it was an Interstate , Roadsters got the Smiths but it was not a hard rule if the stocks were low. The balance pipe helped the mid range as well as reducing sound levels, I am reverting to a balance pipe using MK3 pipes from RGM. My original balance pipes never split, just rusted away over 20 years of use and I want the mid range back.
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Veglia had a trip function earlier than the Smiths SSM fitted to Commandos and one brochure at least seems to imply that 850 Interstates always had a trip facility.
The long black clockholders appeared in order to accomodate the deeper Veglia cases so they can't be ruled out on any post-'73 bike and even the Mk3 with the squigley line clocks had both Veglia and Smiths versions.
The only thing that seems fairly certain is that they were originally fitted as pairs. If original Commando they should have a green globe (or an NVT logo from late 1974). If without then they are probably replacements.
All 850s had balance pipes. All tended to crack. They can be deleted without difficulty and no apparent effect on performance. There is a suggestion that they reduced noise slightly at an important point in the ride-by noise tests.