Hello all,
I'm delighted tohavejust bought anotherMkIIA ('74 from the US), so as a new member (actually rejoining after many years with BMW's), have a couple of questionsregarding Commando (850cc) exhausts :
Cansomeone tell me (and others) all about the balance pipes fitted on some Commando's.? I've read (ie., reputedly) they help theblack cap silencers be a quieter by allowing gas to pass down bothpipes. But does anyone have direct experience of swapping to or from havinga balance pipe : Were there any differences to power curve, smooth running, noise, or indeed to exhaust thread problems ?
My new commando has the old fashion lookinglow level silencers - similar to(if not the same ?) as the early fastbacks or later Atlas (ie., nothereverse cone nor black cap). These might be useful with decent size panniers, but are they any good ? ie., how do they compare with the reverse cone or black caps, or indeed with any modern 2 into 1 system.?
For context -my riding style : I actually prefer a quieter system, as it allows a quicker pace without drawing attention to myself, but I've come back to Nortons because (aside from beingmy first love and a hankering for some good old days again)I've missed the punch in power delivery. That said I also commute through town so I now need low speed smooth responsiveness.
Thanks andBest regards, Pete - Suffolk
p.s. I'd be glad to know others in Suffolk / Ipswich area with Norton, perhaps to compare notesover asummer evening's beer ?
'Ludwig' on the Commando…
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Those of us with balance p…
Those of us with balance pipes are convinced of their benefit. With straight through peashooters they take off all the sharp crack and leave just the nice deep rumble. They also seem to add to the torque. When riding with other Commandos (with unbalanced pipes) I always seem to come out of roundabouts pulling nicely in third, while they are still gunning in second.
The problem is that they have to be accurately made, and most examples previously sold were not. Talking with a few fellow 'balancers' at Northants Branch recently we thought of getting a batch made for the Club.
Norm.
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Thanks guys, not a lot of…
Thanks guys, not a lot of feedback but useful never-the-less. Any thoughts about the dominator / Atlas style silencer used on the 850 ?
Pete
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'Ludwig' on the Commando forum made a cable operated butterfly valve assembly to place in his balance pipe and could detect no difference when operating the valve on a constant throttle opening (I think this was with reverse cones though).
The consensus seems to be that the balance pipe takes the edge off the noise but in the opinion of many this is outweighed by the alignment and fracturing problems which accompany it.