Afternoon all. I've got a 1972 Combat 750 Interstate that I find uncomfortable to ride, the problem is annoying enough for me to be planning to sell it. It has non standard bars ( slightly lower ) and standard pegs. Main problem is that I find that my hands are stretched too far forward, especially in relation to my feet which are also stretched forward. The result is that the small of my back is then curved outwards.
The bars are a pretty easy fix I guess = go back to standard which are a little higher so I can bring the bars back closer to me. Or, are the Interpol bars a little higher still? Would they have a more pronounced effect?
On the pegs, I noticed on another Thames Valley members 850 that his pegs were approx 1 inch further back. Does anyone know whether 850 foot pegs differ from 750"s before it went to left hand gear change? If this isn't an option I could go for some rear sets. This would be a shame as I quite like the chunky rubber original pegs as they suit the bike, I'm also not too impressed with the big looping gear change connecting rod that I've seen on some rear sets. Any feedback on rear sets would be appreciated as well.
Finally, my current kick starter seems quite far forward and stops me from resting my right foot on the peg properly. Which is the best option for having this rearward or tucked further in towards the engine?
Hope this all makes sense.
Kevin
Here's a picture: Attachm…
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The best solution to Inter…
The best solution to Interstate 'drawn bow' syndrome is a Roadster tank as it lets you sit a few inches further forward and therefore forward of the footrests.
If you want to go the rearset route, you don't have to use linkages, the lever can be reversed (as can the cam plate).
Some pattern kick starters are not sufficiently relieved on the stops for the folding section. Originals should turn in past parallel to the centre line of the bike until they more or less touch the footrest plate. It looks less logical and less tidy but it gets the pedal out of the way. I can't quite see where yours is sitting.
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As far as I know, the 750…
As far as I know, the 750 and 850 footrests were the same.Many Commando owners of average height or greater will find that the footrests were designed too far forwards for comfort.
It's either:-
(1) Sit up and beg with huge handlebars(2) Fit the Norman Hyde footrest conversion which moves the whole lot backwards by aound 4"(3) Fit rearsets
No.1 doesn't do a lot for the handling if you have weight on the back. No.2 doesn't seem to be an option as their web site doesn't seem to have anything much Norton any more. The conversion must have been withdrawn so you would be after a second-hand kit if you could find one. No.3 works for me. If you do fit rearsets then choose carefully and pay particular attention to construction. I spent some time shimming them and fitting spring washers to eliminate slack in the linkages. Failure to do this results in sloppy gearchanges. As Richard says, the kickstart must tuck well in; my one touches the Z-plate and that's only just far enough out of the way:-
There used to be reverse camplates out there 30 years ago. Does anyone know of a current source?
Attachments rearsets.jpg- Log in to post comments
Thanks for the replies Chr…
Thanks for the replies Chris and Richard. It's good to know that I'm suffering from a recognised syndrome. I think the next step will be to see if the NHS will pay for my rearsets...
Kick start definitely sticks out too far so that will have to be changed for a genuine one from Andover Norton. Chris: can you recommend any particular rearsets please?
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Rearsets are the way ahead…
Rearsets are the way ahead despite the looks of the things. (You can't see them when you're riding) The up and over gear linkage is fine if it employs rose joints. If you reverse the lever, the other camplate is not just a case of turning yours around to maintain 1 up three down and would involve removal of the gearbox, (primary drive etc etc) very expensive. You need to pay attention to the rear brake lever as the existing one has a lot of leverage and the std rear brake is not good anyway. When the rearset lever is pivoting on the footrest the leverage is much less ie. worse. I ended up manufacturing a twin leading shoe rear brake from mini components with a triumph herald master cylinder. took a lot of sorting but I've had it on for about 30 years and wouldn't go back.
RGM probably make the most affordable kit.
Dave Evans
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Here's a picture:
Attachments Commando-3.jpg