Still got my 1970 650 Bonneville which I bought in 1974 at age 20. I'm 70 now and still love it! For a more modern experience I bought a BMW R1100S which is a fantastic bike but the very firm suspension hurts this old body. I always go back to the bonny!
I’ve heard a lot of praise for the 650 Bonneville over the years. I know I’ll be courting controversy when I say it, but perhaps the 750 was a bit of a desperate last hurrah? As for German classics, I know a lot of folk love them but tbh the boxer twins have never held much appeal for me. I’d love a go on an R1100S though! Happy riding!
l owned a BMW R100RS back in the late seventies. Never found a problem with the suspension, handling or brakes, However like all other bikes back then they had technology of the time. most Italian bikes braked and handled better than most, certainly Japanese.... the achilles heel being their electrical system... especially in UK's climate....My ride is a 2014 Street Triple 675R..the suspension is adjustable, it operates from firm to bloody firm!! Handles great.......on smooth tarmac..!
In 1990ish my friend had a old 650 Bonneville. He was big dude 6'4" 300 lbs. He'd take that bike out late at night after a rainstorm when the streets were empty and drift that bike all over town at full throttle. That bike screamed.
@@3Phils The 750 Bonny was just about the best Triumph ever made. My 1978 model ran 45,000 miles with no trouble. In a drag with 750 4 Honda it was purely a matter of who was quicker off the mark. I remember chucking it into a corner two-up fully loaded with camping gear and hitting a pothole right on my line. The suspension at both ends hit full travel and the bike never deviated from its path. A bike you could trust with your life. Never had anything damaged by the vibration. And it would do 60mpg at 60mph. Worth fitting electronic ignition as it allows a grade hotter sparkplugs to be fitted and makes starting easier, especially in cold weather. A Trident oil cooler is, in my opinion almost a must. With the cooler the engine never fades when pressed hard in hot weather or in heavy traffic.
Great selection - I had a blue 400/F directly after my Suzuki T350 - word of difference and I loved it! in the early 70s a chap down the road from my granny's house seemed to spend most weekends working on his Norton Commando - which I found inspirational! And I got to know him a few years later. But the Trident is still No.1 dream bike for me!
My top 70s bike that I have owned would be the Kwak Z1300 introduced in 1979. Not everybody's cup of tea I know, but I loved it until it was stolen. Super smooth (as you would expect), supremely comfortable and sized perfectly for my 6 foot 4 inch frame. It would pull smoothly away from rest two-up in top gear. Not a sports bike but a real Grand Tourer.
I eventually opted for the Mikuni single carb conversion on my Commando. It helped with the starting a bit. But I’ve had a lot more experience with Amals since, there being three on my Trident, and I have to say that once you’ve persevered to get them right and follow all precautions against ethanol in our ‘petrol’ these days, they can be relatively easy to live with. Thanks for the comment. 😊
I ride a 1973 Yamaha TX650 twin and it is fairly reliable, looks fantastic and has good enough performance for me. Fuel injection would be nice though.
I have a Ducati SD900 Darmah that I have owned for over 40 years. It is reliable, handles like its on rails and brakes well. The electrics have been reliable and I have ridden it many kilometres with joy. Why wasn't it on your list, its certainly powerful enough. Plus it has a superb exhaust and induction noise. Yes the seat is a bit less than ideal, but its not terrible. The bucket and shim demo valves can easily be taken to a dealer when necessary. Just undo four bolts per head and remove it like a two stroke head. Just make sure you don't rotate the bevel shaft or you lose the valve timing. Great bike and now valued as a classic.
I would have loved to have included a Ducati but this was a very personal list of bikes I’d either owned, or knew from friends who had owned them. Ducatis were rare back in the day and consequently never seen in the shabby, seaside town I grew up in during the 1970s. They’re awesome machines imho, and I must get around to making a video about them. Thanks for the comment. 😊🏍️
Triumph did late on make a 750 twin with rubber engine mounts using a different system to the Commando that didn't require the maintenance. Not very many were sold, mainly to the police. I rode an ex-police one and it was smoother than the Commando (I also owned an ex-police Commando at one time). It felt weird really after my own Bonny. What I have always wanted is a 750 Tiger with a 90 degree crank like most modern vertical twins have. I think you could get a 90 degree crank from Weslake at one time.
I’ve got a Tiger 750 which I’ve owned for 43 years. Had the crank balanced, fitted roller crank bearings and the proper camshafts. Vibration cured and pulls like train. Also fitted ally callipers and floating discs the thing stops just like a modern bike. It’s a bit of work but these are fairly cheap to own and improve.
Hear, hear! I had a 1972 Dunstall 750 Combat Commando. The most memorable bike in my 50 years of riding here in New Zealand. Unusually reliable, quick and smooth and the best sounding bike I have owned (although an MT-01 with Akropovics takes top prize for best sound ever, a Commando on steroids)
Dad had a Lambretta, my English pal a '72 Commando & I a '78 750 Bonnie. Lovely, but I do recall bits falling off on the 1st ride after a 90% resto. Little things, like the huge crown nut of the slip on, the battery, battery tray & all hardware, but a good trade off for setting off car alarms in 3rd gear roll ons....
Ah yes, all that happened to my mate too. Still, the compensation was that small dogs barked and babies cried as he wended his cheery way! Thanks for the comment.
@michaelbrett3749 Potentially, which would mean they were never put on right by the people working in the factory in the first place. But you’re probably thinking of various rubber, after market solutions, I guess.
Ha! Yes, he never bothered with a helmet much in latter years! Nice to hear from you, you still into Royal Enfields? I’ll make a point of popping round next time I’m there, DM me with your address or email wobblyphil@yahoo.com. Unlike Peter, I won’t drop in unannounced, promise! 😊
I learned how to ride on a Honda CM-185 in 1977. Then l bought a new Honda CX -500 Deluxe. Had the bike for 10 years and 250,000+ miles. I have had my 1967 Triumph TR-6 for 40 years with a hard tail and a magneto. Reliable and dependable transportation.
The CX500 was and is a superb motorcycle! (I have owned 45 bikes since 1972) Good handling even if a bit top heavy, punchy and silky smooth engine, excellent brakes. The despatch riders in London loved them and they were hard on bikes, obviously!
@stevec-b6214 Ah, The Maggot! Even today you still see some of those around! They were ubiquitous in the 90s. My mate (called Phil, of course), who is a dispatch rider, used to have one! Completely bullet proof, you could leave one on the sea bed for decades and it would still start when you pulled it out! Nowadays they seem to have become a popular bed for those ‘orrible ‘ipster ‘cafe racers’ you see advertised for silly money on Facebook Martketplace. Thanks for the comment. 😊
Absolutely brilliant video can’t go wrong with a Commando, the advantage is for sure the parts availability currently, having had the Nortons I’ve got from 1927-to the 650ss an Commando then an elsie an having had a rzv500r an rd250c an gsx750et so a mix of all the eras, the commandos parts availability and knowledge base is head and shoulders shoulders above the rest, great handling brilliant engine and soundtrack that is just sublime :) great list and great video.
I've had many different bikes, but after buying a 1959 Royal Enfield Super Meteor when I was 17 I became a firm RE fan. Later when I was around 20years old I bought yet another one, this time a 1959 Constellation which I still have, over 50 years later. The RE parallel twins are great brutish bikes with a lot of low down grunt which is released with its distinctive majestic growl though quite rare these days.
I’ve known a few RE fans, and they all seem very enthusiastic. I briefly owned one of the new ‘cafe racers’ a few years back but found it disappointing in terms of performance and, to be honest, finish. It didn’t even compare to my GP200 for speedy thrills! But as they say, horses for courses, and I’ll freely admit I prefer quite a lot of speed in my steed. Thanks for the comment!
@@3Phils I think you are referring to the new Indian built REs which I know nothing about. All the ones I've owned have been the old Redditch built machines and the Constellation was the largest British bike at the time at 700cc it was the superbike of its day with 115mph top speed and acceleration quick enough to lift the front wheel if you were too heavy on the throttle. It certainly wasn't disappointing to ride, quite the reverse.
You’re right, I don’t have any experience of the ‘proper’ REs, but I do know people who own them and really love them. The cafe racer I had was nothing like you describe, of course, and I felt a bit hoodwinked that I’d bought something with ‘heritage’ that looked good in photos but was poorly finished and had all the oomph of an asthmatic hamster. The Constellation sounds much more like it!
Had a Vespa 180cc with which I travelled in 1967 with friends to Yugoslavie. Advantage of the Vespa was also that I could manoevre her through the corridor of my parents house to the backyard 🙂 With the Triump Thinderbird 650 that I had afterward, this was no more possible. Best regards from the Netherlands.
He meant the Norton girl from the posters. 70's British motorcycles were crap. Nothing howls like a Z. A Honda CX 500 was a great bike. I put 250,000 miles on@@3Phils
Another fine video Phil, thanks for your efforts. You have a wonderful intonation in your voice, not unlike Alan Whicker 😉 PS you really should try out a Morini 350 /500 V-Twin if you want something different that's still great today.
Thank you! It’s a little-known fact that I grew up on Whicker Island. Or possibly my first job as a bingo caller at the end of the pier has influenced my intonations. Two fat ladies - 88! You’re probably not allowed to say that these days. I’ve had little or no experience of Moto Morinis, or Italian bikes in general (as probably everyone could tell from my Ducati video). But they’re definitely going on my bucket list!
I had a CB750F back in the 70s...Flawless....Took myself and my then GF all over New Zealand on Holidays...Just never failed...Much to my surprise it was on a Buy Sell Page this year and only 2 owners since I sold it in 79..Wanting $24000 which is about 12k Sterling....I bought it brand new for 2600$..
I owned a '75 T140V & my brother had a '73 Commando. These days, I think a GS1000 would fit the bill. Obviously I'd love a Jota, a 750 America MV, a 900SS Duke etc etc, but they're way out of my price bracket...
Yes, if I’d had any experience with them I’d have mentioned the Italians - motorcycles as opposed to scooters that is. An acquaintance has had a Jota for decades, which he loves, but apparently it’s a bit of a pain in the derriere on long rides. Must be the different crank set-up, because the Trident is a very smooth ride. He claims his Jota sounds better than the Trident, though! Thanks for the comment. 😊
Agree about the Tiger 750, I’ve had mine for nearly 20years, very few issues just maintenance really and it’s still stock apart from an external spin on oil filter and a smaller sprocket on the wheel. Never went down the electronic ignition route either, starts first or second kick wether it was ridden 2 weeks ago or yesterday, vibes only become noticeable above 70mph, wind pressure is is the limiting factor at high speed, I cruise 65/70 where it returns about the same mpg! Handles beautifully, brakes well, a fabulous gearbox, piece of cake to maintain and I love it’s brutish looks. It does everything I want a motorcycle to do and I’ll keep it until my old leg can’t start it, I’m even looking into an electric start conversion to give me a few more years of use, pricey but that’s how much I love her!!
Couldn’t agree more with your assessment there. My pal had his Tiger for forty years, did minimal maintenance, and it always started and went anywhere he pointed it. He was grateful not to have to mess around with two carbs too! Thanks for the comment.
Electronic ignition is well worth fitting. Because the original points go out of tune so quickly Triumph fitted a grade colder sparkplugs than is really necessary to give a margin of safety when it comes to pre-ignition. With electronic ignition you can run a grade hotter sparkplugs for a noticeable improvement in starting and throttle response.
Some good choices. I had an 850 Commando Interstate, new in 1974, but sold it 2 years later to buy a car. It was a lovely bike to ride, but I was only 19 when I bought it, and not keen on all the maintenance you had to do to stop it shaking itself apart. Fast forward a few years and I bought a low mileage 1978 T140V, which I've still got 31 years later. It's a much more practical and reliable bike to own (it helps that I'm a retired mechanic, so it gets the attention it needs), and I love riding it, despite the vibration. My only venture into Japanese bikes since my very early experience of a CB160 (passed my test on it in 1974) is the Suzuki GS550 I bought 3 years ago as a cheap runabout for the winter, and I love riding that too.
I’ve always hankered after one of them Suzukis, but as I’ve never even been astride one I couldn’t really put it on my list. Same with the Italian classics - MV, Ducati, Guzzi. Glad you enjoyed the video, and happy riding!
Had a commando in the 70 s bought new. It required a lot of maintenance and the Isolastic didn't really work - heavy engine in a sports frame. The Harley tried the same with the Buell years later. My commando also blew up , big end smashed through the crankcase. Glad to get rid of it though fun to ride and the sound.
Since you said “European” rather than British, I have to mention that the premier motorcycle of the 70s is the BMW R90s. produced in 1974, ’75, and ’76. They didn’t leak oil, or rattle apart and they had Bosch electronics.
Interesting you say that, because I was going to mention the 550, but not, unfortunately, in such glowing terms. I moved up to a 550 after my first 400/4 but was so disappointed I swapped it back for another 400. Compared to the 400 it was slower, heavier, much more ungainly, not as fast, in fact a downright pig of a machine. But there you go, I might have bought a lemon, I frequently do! 🤣Thanks for the comment!
@@3Phils I think you must of, as for me the 550 with 50bhp is a perfect middleweight motorcycle that looks right. It has the classic looks and good performance. I currently ride a cx500 (the plastic maggot) which I think makes a perfect cheap classic still good for daily commuting and enough power for motorways if needed. also only 2 carbs so easier to get set up.
My paternal 2nd cousin was married in March 63. Her husband died June 2023 aged 89 He was into motorbikes in a big way back in the 50’s The last motorbike he had was a Triumph Bonneville T100 She sold it last August for £3000 I know it was hidden away in the garage for around 12 years and in their previous house for at least 20 years It looked in good condition the last time I saw it 6 years ago I wonder if she was paid a fair price 🏴🏴🏴🏴😎😎😃😃🙏🙏
I’m not an expert, but prices of classic machines have dropped off a bit in the past couple of years. It would also depend on what condition it was in. If it had been stored for 32 years it would in all likelihood need work. So whoever bought it for £3,000 was taking a bit of a punt, and I think the price reflects that. Don’t go by the prices you see dealers asking for on eBay and the like, they’re inevitably asking a grand or two over the top to cover their backsides and make a bit of money. In the end, the price you get tends to be the price a bike is worth, so I wouldn’t fret. If anyone else has any thoughts, or more experience of this kind of thing than I do, please feel free to chime in.
@@3Phils thank you for your help The last 5-8 years Chris started to have health issues COPD and from 2021 Dementia His bedroom was full of motorbike parts and all that ‘entails’ oil and all that he had originally kept in a lock up garage I know his wife was desperate to get rid if it all
Sounds like a very difficult time. Motorcyclists tend to be collectors (some may say hoarders) of just about everything they’ve ever purchased because ‘it might come in handy one day’. I’m the same. I took possession of a brand new, empty garage a couple of years ago and now I can barely move around it! 🤣
Good list! I’d definitely agree with the first two, being mostly a fan of Japanese and Brit bikes. The guy who looked after my Commando used to say it was the only motorcycle that looked like it was doing 100mph just sitting on its centre stand!
I had a 1974 T 140V triumph 750 5 speed with flat handlebars and a chrome peanut tank, it outlasted my first marriage, I still miss it way more than the first wife.
Ha! The thing about motorcycles I’ve found over the years is that they never complain if you forget to do the washing up or leave your socks on the floor! Thanks for the comment. 😁
Thanks! It’s quite a restrictive list because I was being careful to comment only on bikes I’d had actual experience of. I would have loved to put, say, an Italian (motorcycle, not scooter!) in there, a Jota perhaps (or maybe they were British too?!), but apart from having an acquaintance with a Jota I’ve zero knowledge of them. I’ve heard the 500 Daytona is good. Glad you enjoyed it!
I had a 400 four back in the late seventies (F1 engine) I rode it everywhere, including into the ground. I bought another ten years ago and discovered it has horrible drive drain backlash, forks that `top out` with limited travel, and the cylinder head weep that was cured with the F2 engine (stripes on the tank) I just didn`t understand these things 40 years ago, just rode the crap out of it ;) The CX500 that followed was bloody brilliant, as was the CX500 eurosport I bought 5 years ago.
Not a bad selection, chap. I’d replace the Bonnie with a Tiger (as you described) and include a Moto Guzzi 850T3 instead of the 400/4. Those Guzzi T3’s were purse quality with superb riding dynamics and dead easy to maintain.
What a fine collection of motorcycles and scooter. You are a man of impeccable taste. My first bike wa a Blue 1976 Honda 400 Four Super Sports. It was a dream come true. Loved it with a passion and rode it day and night. My parents forbid me from getting a road bike and when I returned home after buying it, all my stuff was in the garage so had to find somewhere else to live. Not long after I got caught carrying a pillion by the police 👮on my L plates, not allowed to do that or ride a bike over 250cc. It was a long time before I was able to get a licence. No bother, back in those days licences were just a piece of paper so used a friends name and address when pulled over or rode away at high speed. The CB400 Four was so smooth and it had a sensible amount of power for a young man, could ride it full throttle and still stay on the road most of the time. Hope you are able to get a Norton Commando back in your garage soon.
All you say there about the 400/4 rings true, it was a fantastic introduction to 'proper' bikes without being a beast. It opened the door to lots of fun and adventures but felt reliable in that it would always get you there without too many cornering or braking dramas. If it's any consolation, my parents banned me from getting a motorcycle too, so I funded mine behind their backs by living on Pot Noodles and saving money from my student grant. As for another Commando, I probably have enough on my plate with the Trident these days! Cheers for the comment.
@@3Phils One more year of pot noodles is a small price to pay for your dream bike back. You have never let your good judgement stop you buying your dream machine before. Last chance, if its proves to be a problematic bike you will still be able to enjoy it beauty over a glass on wine as its sits on it altar in the garage.
@BikesDrones Sadly I am now so old that the money I’m currently saving by eating Pot Noodles will be going on cataract surgery! But you’ve sparked a thought. The Amoco Cadiz (CB1300) isn’t currently earning its space in my shed, if I sold that it would probably get me halfway towards another Commando. Or surgery on the other eye! 🤣😜
No BMW R90S? Stylish, with big twin sound and feel, well-built, simple to maintain, reliable, decent handling, reasonably quick, lots of parts and service commonality with other air-heads, massive tank range, capable of huge mileages. Cheaper today than most contemporary CB750s and all Z1s, but much better by most measures.
I restricted myself to bikes I'd owned or known personally. But I totally get that they're magnificent machines with a loyal following. It's just unfortunate I've never encountered one close up! They're included in my subsequent video, though. th-cam.com/video/KllGtoYSFR8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1i4u3sIBVADUBi1n
Thanks for the reply, have just subscribed and I like your honesty in getting your Triumph sorted by people who have the knowledge and facilities and the cost, your warts and all commentary is great 👍
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the sub! There’s nothing on this planet that compares to the sound of those triples, except other triples like the Jota, maybe, and a Saturn V rocket taking off!
Tbh I found the 550/4 heavy and sluggish when I owned one after my first 400/4, so much so I went straight back to another 400. But I’m prepared to admit that mine might have been a lemon, I am a bit of a lemon magnet! Thanks for the comment 😊
One of my school buddies had a Lambretta 200 when I had a Suzi TS185 (actually, I still have a TS185, albeit sadly not the one I had back then). He was very disappointed when I blew him away from the lights!
Ha! His clearly hadn’t had the ‘special treatment’! My GP easily outran the 185, although I’ll admit I was maybe less cautious and much more willing to gun it than my pals. Happy days! 🛵🏍️
Funnily enough, there weren’t any Kawasaki dealers in the shabby seaside town I lived in. Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, but no Kawasaki. Much later, my local Suzuki dealer went Kawasaki and I bought a couple of Kwaks off them.
Great vid and some terrific bikes in the mix. As for the surprise throw away at the end, you could just as easily have included a Fiat 500…. or maybe even a three legged camel. Nice work.
Very nice video, well done. Too bad you couldn't keep the Commando and just sell the Mikuni. I bought the Norton Combat new in '72 and have heard all the comments, Lucas electrics prince of darkness, bottom ends blowing like a hand grenade, parts shaking off as you ride down the road and the cams made from butter. I still own that '72 Combat and it's never let me down. I don't know who starts all the rumours but maybe it's riders that have never owned a Commando or maybe couldn't maintain their Commando. It's still a blast every single time I kick that Combat over. Yes, one kick and idles prrrfect with the dual Amals and that famous grunt is still there when I twist that throttle, but I still ride my old Vespa also.
Thanks for the kind comment. Well quite, but I don’t think I would have got £4,500 for just the Mikuni! Like everyone else, I heard all the rumours about the Combat back in the 70s so it’s interesting to hear the record being put straight by someone who knows. I do go on about Amal carbs, but to be fair it’s probably not entirely their fault, more the fault of the dreaded ethanol in our petrol these days. They weren’t engineered for such water-attracting gunge. Glad you’re still having fun on the Commando, and the Vespa!
@@3PhilsI believe you're 100% accurate about the ethanol in gas. The idle circuitry in Amal carbs was .015" and it would only take a matter of days for the corn syrup to plug up the Amals unless the gas was drained or run out. I don't know much about Mikuni architecture but wonder if the idle circuit is coarser?
@robertshepherd3832 Spot on there, I think. I actually have refurbished Amals on my Trident, courtesy of the late, great Richard Darby of 3D Motorcycles in Wolverhampton. His approach was to drill the kink out of the idle circuit, thus allowing less porridge to accumulate. It works! Although the ‘petrol’ still goes bad if you leave it in the tank for more than a couple of months, I’ve discovered, so it’s best to drain it if you’re storing the bike over winter.
Lot's of people that never has been on a Commando, knows a lot about it. I've been told my MKIII Roadster is a piece of shit, but truth is that is is quite a reliable bike. Super fuelefficient, handles better than any japanese bike from the seventies (even far into the eighties) The nicest sound of any bike I can think of (peashooters) and probably the best looking motorbike ever made. I bought mine in 1997, and will keep it as long as I can. Evertime I ride another bike, and gets back on the Commando, I get the feeling of being on a REAL BIKE again. 🤣😉
The Commando is the one bike I regret buying most. I couldn't keep up with the constant appetite for exhaust pipes. They broke at the balance pipe connection at a frightening regularity. And the twin 6 volt ignition coils fed through a single ballast resistor was a nightmare.
Your choice mate.I have also got a dirty little secret.Always had a soft spot for Vespas.Anyway my brother in law gave me his.Sorted it and just needs MOT.PX125 with the T5😉
Favourite Bikes of My family i) Vincent Comet my Dad ii) 1968 T120Triumph Bonneville brother Bobby iii) 2021 T120 Triumph Bonneville mine Joint iii) my 2017 Triumph T100
With only 5 to choose from there has to be 3 Italians on the list; Laverda Jota, Ducati 900SS, Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mkl. And the Suzuki GT 750 and the Commando 850.
Another good one! Personally, I wouldn't put the Commando anywhere near the top because it was just so awful when it came out. 1971was my first year at university and the rich kid in our group bought a new Interstate Commando. Just about everything went wrong with it. The carbs fell off. It leaked oil profusely. It would go into a tank slapper because of play in the isospastic engine mounting. An oil feed pipe came off and dumped the contents of the engine on to the student union carpark. A main bearing failed due to crankshaft flex. They suffered from excessive bore wear due to the high piston speeds of the old long stroke engine being asked to do things it wasn't supposed to. (That combat cam just asked too much of the bottom end). They were a disgrace to British engineering at the time and I cannot get over that. Classic my arse! I suspect the survivors are now a lot better because they've benefitted from all the retrofitted improvements. They looked nice though.
Thank you for the kind comment and the interesting tale. 😊 I never personally experienced a Commando in the 1970s, the closest I got was one of those awful NVT ‘Easy Rider’ mopeds. It was ratshit. So much so that my mates and I pretty quickly renamed it the ‘Difficult Rider’. The big end went within a month, despite me being careful not to overdo things with a brand new engine. Service from NVT was non-existent. I even wrote a letter to Dennis Poore, begging him to sort it out for the sake of the NVT name. He did reply, but only to tell me I was being silly and that I should be supporting a great British manufacturer, not complaining about it. By the time I got hold of a Commando in the 1990s, it was mostly OK but did need work on the engine and suspension. The person who owned it after me reaped all the benefits!
My 1976 Triumph Bonneville (bought new) vibrated like a paint-can-shaker at highway speeds and the oil would not stay inside the engine; it leaked out the base gasket, pushrod tubes, rocker boxes, timing cover etc. The points ignition would always misfire at higher revs just when you needed the power and the 120 W alternator system was pathetic. A great looking bike though and fun on back-roads. You left off the Kawasaki 500 triple; a 2-stroker that would give much larger motorcycles a hard time.
Ha! Sounds very similar to my mate’s experience. Yes, the Kawasaki 2-stroke would be on my fantasy list of must-have bikes but I didn’t include it as I have no personal experience of them. Thanks for the comment!
@@michaelbrett3749 Tried getting all the leaks fixed repeatedly along with proper re-torquing but no luck. I thing the engine was built with worn out machine tooling. Btw every motorcycle test back in the day mentions excessive vibration at highway speeds with those vertical twins. Kept the bike for 25 years and sold it for the same price I paid for it in 1976.
Owned a Norton commando from 1974 til 2017 just did not like the bike, only rode it 15000 miles in 43 years. Always chose another bike to ride,had one or two in stable. Sad to say never shed a tear when it left for its new owner.
I agree they’re not for everyone. I also had another, modern bike in the shed alongside the Commando, and I remember trying to decide which of them had to go. In the end it came down to ‘Which of these two can I get on, start up, and reliably go for a ride on?’ The rest, as they say, is history. Thanks for the comment.
Thank you! I’d have loved to have included the RDs, I always wanted one but never owned one and I wasn’t going to include anything I didn’t have personal experience of. But I suppose I could do my Fantasy Top Five! 🤔
I loved that swooping 4 into 1! Sad to hear they’re difficult to find these days. Admittedly I had a slightly less baffled silencer - what a howl! Thanks for the comment. 😊
I settled for a 77 Bonnie and will have used every cognitive dissonance reducing strategy avenue possible, for not waiting longer enough to afford a trident or a Norton 850. Them are what they are. I do have a rather mint Bonnie with the UK tank, which is very rare in New Zealand where I am from. Most people of the time opted for the US spec triumph. I'd still wanted to have waited
The 850 Norton was a highway bike for cruising . Probably the only 70s British model that could handle long distances. The Triumph was a ride into town or a visit to a pub. Don't forget the 1970 Bonny was the best looking bike ever made and will attract attention anywhere anytime.
Agree on the Commando (even being a T160 owner), but they were just not as reliable as my Trident. And at that time in my life, it had to make multiple 1350 trips without breaking down. Those Commando bottom ends were notorious for hand grenading. But........ there is not a sexier, better sounding bike. (maybe an early 90's Ducati 900 with Staintunes....and the Trident wasn't far) Cheers, PhilPhilPhil 😉
My bottom end almost blew out but Norman White (the guy in the blue overalls with the race bikes in the video) got to it first. It’s the only machine that looks like it’s doing 100mph sitting on the centre stand! Hope you’re doing well there in KC. 😊
A 650 triumph twin can be pretty smooth ' I had a TR6P for thirty years. And if your mates 750 Tigger shakes bad he ought to get the crank balanced and get the timing set up spot on both sides. The 750 really shouldn't vibrate badly
I’ve heard the 650’s a lot smoother. I suppose my point was it was like that from the get-go, a few months after it left the factory, so it may not have been set up right in the first place. It’s been improved over the last 50 of years of careful ownership, of course!
Thanks for the brilliant response to this video! Because there have been a lot of suggestions for alternative classic 1970s motorcycles, I've created a poll for your own fantasy top five, with a view to making a follow-up video. Please cast your vote here: th-cam.com/channels/ZwqIv_kZu7FoKb_wqePPdw.htmlcommunity?lb=UgkxmHRisOtOsa2WECRG1zflUtyTIa0vyLrx
I owned a Honda 400x4 from brand new. 3 of my friends also had them. They all had a common problem, a large bolt inside the engine on the clutch side comes lose and bores it's way through the engine case, disaster!. to much of a coincidence, inherent fault I think. They also did not like bumpy roads, they would get the speed wobbles, not like my 74 bonnie.
Thanks for the comment. I had two 400/4s and never experienced that fault, perhaps I got lucky! I’d agree that a Bonnie is better for handling, but I don’t recall any speed wobbles either. It was a long time ago, though, and back in the day if anything wobbled I’d probably have put it down to me riding a bit too enthusiastically!
4:31 Good God, I thought, he knows Arthur Daley. Yes, the Honda 350/400 Four, gliding along without any torque at all... Apropos Z 900, only someone with an intellectual capacitiy below the one of an eternit panel can botch a Z 900 engine. Working on the old Kawas is almost self-explanatory.
Five best 70’s motorcycles? European bikes are supposedly included. Where is the 1976-1978 Guzzi LeMans? The BMW R90S? The Ducati Super Sports? A couple of the bikes on the list do not compare to these three.
You got a Lambretta! No, but seriously, I agree with you. I wanted to include at least the Jota, but I hesitated to speak about anything I hadn’t had personal experience of. Who wouldn’t want one of those machines you have mentioned? If I ever own one, I’ll review it!
I’ve never owned one so I didn’t feel confident enough to include one, even though I know folk who love ‘em. However, there is a boxer twin on my Fantasy Top Five poll which is pinned to the top of the comments. Thanks for the comment! 😊
I rode only British for, still going, 54 years. I bought a Fat Boy by chance, now I get it. Harley is a true candidate for tradition in design. The feeling of riding a nice looking Harley is very special. You wont get that on your Honsukayam
your not in autum your well into winter mate.. the kwaka 900 wonderful bike. the honda 400 /4 was bloody horrible little thing.. is they had been four into two would of been better. bonnies looked very nice , but bloody disaster of a bike in the 70s, parts took months to get back when these were new.... Trident even better looking than the bonnie, the norton comando was THE British bike to own,, i almost bought a briklkliant silver 850 but stupidly i waited till the next day and it was gone, it had only done 1200 mile from brand new and owned by a ex motor cycle cop.. so for me its norton , then trident , then the kwaka 900 then the bonnie then the lambretta then the 400/4. i just realy hated honda for putting the lovely 4 exhausts into one...
Ha! I had a 550/4 after the 400, that had a four into four. Worst bike I ever owned! Gutless, and all the silencers were rotting despite it only being five years old at the time. Still, I think we broadly agree there. Thanks for the comment. 😊
Still got my 1970 650 Bonneville which I bought in 1974 at age 20. I'm 70 now and still love it! For a more modern experience I bought a BMW R1100S which is a fantastic bike but the very firm suspension hurts this old body. I always go back to the bonny!
I’ve heard a lot of praise for the 650 Bonneville over the years. I know I’ll be courting controversy when I say it, but perhaps the 750 was a bit of a desperate last hurrah? As for German classics, I know a lot of folk love them but tbh the boxer twins have never held much appeal for me. I’d love a go on an R1100S though! Happy riding!
l owned a BMW R100RS back in the late seventies. Never found a problem with the suspension, handling or brakes, However like all other bikes back then they had technology of the time. most Italian bikes braked and handled better than most, certainly Japanese.... the achilles heel being their electrical system... especially in UK's climate....My ride is a 2014 Street Triple 675R..the suspension is adjustable, it operates from firm to bloody firm!! Handles great.......on smooth tarmac..!
In 1990ish my friend had a old 650 Bonneville. He was big dude 6'4" 300 lbs. He'd take that bike out late at night after a rainstorm when the streets were empty and drift that bike all over town at full throttle. That bike screamed.
@@3Phils The 750 Bonny was just about the best Triumph ever made. My 1978 model ran 45,000 miles with no trouble. In a drag with 750 4 Honda it was purely a matter of who was quicker off the mark. I remember chucking it into a corner two-up fully loaded with camping gear and hitting a pothole right on my line. The suspension at both ends hit full travel and the bike never deviated from its path. A bike you could trust with your life. Never had anything damaged by the vibration. And it would do 60mpg at 60mph. Worth fitting electronic ignition as it allows a grade hotter sparkplugs to be fitted and makes starting easier, especially in cold weather. A Trident oil cooler is, in my opinion almost a must. With the cooler the engine never fades when pressed hard in hot weather or in heavy traffic.
Great selection - I had a blue 400/F directly after my Suzuki T350 - word of difference and I loved it! in the early 70s a chap down the road from my granny's house seemed to spend most weekends working on his Norton Commando - which I found inspirational! And I got to know him a few years later. But the Trident is still No.1 dream bike for me!
My top 70s bike that I have owned would be the Kwak Z1300 introduced in 1979. Not everybody's cup of tea I know, but I loved it until it was stolen. Super smooth (as you would expect), supremely comfortable and sized perfectly for my 6 foot 4 inch frame. It would pull smoothly away from rest two-up in top gear. Not a sports bike but a real Grand Tourer.
I like that you included the Lambretta. Good stuff.
Thank you! I loved my GP200 back in the day, I’d enjoy riding it now if I still had it.
Loved my 750 commando. It had 32mm amals and once I replaced all the wearable out bits it started and ran beautifully.
I eventually opted for the Mikuni single carb conversion on my Commando. It helped with the starting a bit. But I’ve had a lot more experience with Amals since, there being three on my Trident, and I have to say that once you’ve persevered to get them right and follow all precautions against ethanol in our ‘petrol’ these days, they can be relatively easy to live with. Thanks for the comment. 😊
I ride a 1973 Yamaha TX650 twin and it is fairly reliable, looks fantastic and has good enough performance for me. Fuel injection would be nice though.
I have a Ducati SD900 Darmah that I have owned for over 40 years. It is reliable, handles like its on rails and brakes well. The electrics have been reliable and I have ridden it many kilometres with joy. Why wasn't it on your list, its certainly powerful enough. Plus it has a superb exhaust and induction noise. Yes the seat is a bit less than ideal, but its not terrible. The bucket and shim demo valves can easily be taken to a dealer when necessary. Just undo four bolts per head and remove it like a two stroke head. Just make sure you don't rotate the bevel shaft or you lose the valve timing. Great bike and now valued as a classic.
I would have loved to have included a Ducati but this was a very personal list of bikes I’d either owned, or knew from friends who had owned them. Ducatis were rare back in the day and consequently never seen in the shabby, seaside town I grew up in during the 1970s. They’re awesome machines imho, and I must get around to making a video about them. Thanks for the comment. 😊🏍️
Triumph did late on make a 750 twin with rubber engine mounts using a different system to the Commando that didn't require the maintenance. Not very many were sold, mainly to the police. I rode an ex-police one and it was smoother than the Commando (I also owned an ex-police Commando at one time). It felt weird really after my own Bonny. What I have always wanted is a 750 Tiger with a 90 degree crank like most modern vertical twins have. I think you could get a 90 degree crank from Weslake at one time.
I’ve got a Tiger 750 which I’ve owned for 43 years. Had the crank balanced, fitted roller crank bearings and the proper camshafts. Vibration cured and pulls like train. Also fitted ally callipers and floating discs the thing stops just like a modern bike. It’s a bit of work but these are fairly cheap to own and improve.
I am looking for a tiger 750 cheap enough to pull the engine straight away and do what you did.
Hear, hear! I had a 1972 Dunstall 750 Combat Commando. The most memorable bike in my 50 years of riding here in New Zealand. Unusually reliable, quick and smooth and the best sounding bike I have owned (although an MT-01 with Akropovics takes top prize for best sound ever, a Commando on steroids)
Dad had a Lambretta, my English pal a '72 Commando & I a '78 750 Bonnie. Lovely, but I do recall bits falling off on the 1st ride after a 90% resto. Little things, like the huge crown nut of the slip on, the battery, battery tray & all hardware, but a good trade off for setting off car alarms in 3rd gear roll ons....
Ah yes, all that happened to my mate too. Still, the compensation was that small dogs barked and babies cried as he wended his cheery way! Thanks for the comment.
MMMM guys that have bits falling off their bikes never put the bits on properly.
@michaelbrett3749 Potentially, which would mean they were never put on right by the people working in the factory in the first place. But you’re probably thinking of various rubber, after market solutions, I guess.
Brilliant videos and great to see Peter and I remember his rebel phase. Drop me a line next time you’re in Broadstairs for a catch up👍
Ha! Yes, he never bothered with a helmet much in latter years! Nice to hear from you, you still into Royal Enfields? I’ll make a point of popping round next time I’m there, DM me with your address or email wobblyphil@yahoo.com. Unlike Peter, I won’t drop in unannounced, promise! 😊
I learned how to ride on a Honda CM-185 in 1977. Then l bought a new Honda CX -500 Deluxe. Had the bike for 10 years and 250,000+ miles. I have had my 1967 Triumph TR-6 for 40 years with a hard tail and a magneto. Reliable and dependable transportation.
The CX500 was and is a superb motorcycle! (I have owned 45 bikes since 1972) Good handling even if a bit top heavy, punchy and silky smooth engine, excellent brakes. The despatch riders in London loved them and they were hard on bikes, obviously!
@stevec-b6214 Ah, The Maggot! Even today you still see some of those around! They were ubiquitous in the 90s. My mate (called Phil, of course), who is a dispatch rider, used to have one! Completely bullet proof, you could leave one on the sea bed for decades and it would still start when you pulled it out! Nowadays they seem to have become a popular bed for those ‘orrible ‘ipster ‘cafe racers’ you see advertised for silly money on Facebook Martketplace. Thanks for the comment. 😊
Absolutely brilliant video can’t go wrong with a Commando, the advantage is for sure the parts availability currently, having had the Nortons I’ve got from 1927-to the 650ss an Commando then an elsie an having had a rzv500r an rd250c an gsx750et so a mix of all the eras, the commandos parts availability and knowledge base is head and shoulders shoulders above the rest, great handling brilliant engine and soundtrack that is just sublime :) great list and great video.
Thank you! Loving your spread of eras there! 😊
I've had many different bikes, but after buying a 1959 Royal Enfield Super Meteor when I was 17 I became a firm RE fan. Later when I was around 20years old I bought yet another one, this time a 1959 Constellation which I still have, over 50 years later. The RE parallel twins are great brutish bikes with a lot of low down grunt which is released with its distinctive majestic growl though quite rare these days.
I’ve known a few RE fans, and they all seem very enthusiastic. I briefly owned one of the new ‘cafe racers’ a few years back but found it disappointing in terms of performance and, to be honest, finish. It didn’t even compare to my GP200 for speedy thrills! But as they say, horses for courses, and I’ll freely admit I prefer quite a lot of speed in my steed. Thanks for the comment!
@@3Phils
I think you are referring to the new Indian built REs which I know nothing about. All the ones I've owned have been the old Redditch built machines and the Constellation was the largest British bike at the time at 700cc it was the superbike of its day with 115mph top speed and acceleration quick enough to lift the front wheel if you were too heavy on the throttle. It certainly wasn't disappointing to ride, quite the reverse.
You’re right, I don’t have any experience of the ‘proper’ REs, but I do know people who own them and really love them. The cafe racer I had was nothing like you describe, of course, and I felt a bit hoodwinked that I’d bought something with ‘heritage’ that looked good in photos but was poorly finished and had all the oomph of an asthmatic hamster. The Constellation sounds much more like it!
Had a Vespa 180cc with which I travelled in 1967 with friends to Yugoslavie.
Advantage of the Vespa was also that I could manoevre her through the corridor of my parents house to the backyard 🙂
With the Triump Thinderbird 650 that I had afterward, this was no more possible.
Best regards from the Netherlands.
Parts were probably easier to get for the Vespa too? Great story, thanks for the comment, and all the best from the UK to the Netherlands. 😊
@@3Phils
That is quite true!
Now, being nearly 80 years old, I still own and ride a Yamaha XS750SE which I bought once new nearly 45 yeas ago 🙂
I had the first Z1 in my town in 73. Still one of the most beautiful bikes in my opinion.
Wow! Yes, I’d agree the Z1 is a thing of beauty.
Love my 1972 T120R 650, easy to work on and sounds Grate!
An excellent list, Wobbly Phil, especially the blond accessory of the Norton Commando.
Thank you for the nice comment. Not quite sure what you mean by ‘blond accessory’, but I’ll take it as a compliment! 😊
He meant the Norton girl from the posters. 70's British motorcycles were crap. Nothing howls like a Z. A Honda CX 500 was a great bike. I put 250,000 miles on@@3Phils
Aha! I get it now! Perhaps I should have used my best Terry-Thomas impression on the words ‘isolastic suspension’! 🤣
The MCN Motorcycle of Year award is the kiss of death. For the Ariel Leader and the Norton Commando both.
@@frankmarkovcijr5459 That's the nail in the coffin for last year's winner then, the Triumph Street Triple.
Another fine video Phil, thanks for your efforts. You have a wonderful intonation in your voice, not unlike Alan Whicker 😉 PS you really should try out a Morini 350 /500 V-Twin if you want something different that's still great today.
Thank you! It’s a little-known fact that I grew up on Whicker Island. Or possibly my first job as a bingo caller at the end of the pier has influenced my intonations. Two fat ladies - 88! You’re probably not allowed to say that these days. I’ve had little or no experience of Moto Morinis, or Italian bikes in general (as probably everyone could tell from my Ducati video). But they’re definitely going on my bucket list!
I had a CB750F back in the 70s...Flawless....Took myself and my then GF all over New Zealand on Holidays...Just never failed...Much to my surprise it was on a Buy Sell Page this year and only 2 owners since I sold it in 79..Wanting $24000 which is about 12k Sterling....I bought it brand new for 2600$..
Actually 12k GBP seems like not a bad price for a CB750 these days. Thanks for the comment. 😊
I owned a '75 T140V & my brother had a '73 Commando. These days, I think a GS1000 would fit the bill. Obviously I'd love a Jota, a 750 America MV, a 900SS Duke etc etc, but they're way out of my price bracket...
Yes, if I’d had any experience with them I’d have mentioned the Italians - motorcycles as opposed to scooters that is. An acquaintance has had a Jota for decades, which he loves, but apparently it’s a bit of a pain in the derriere on long rides. Must be the different crank set-up, because the Trident is a very smooth ride. He claims his Jota sounds better than the Trident, though! Thanks for the comment. 😊
Agree about the Tiger 750, I’ve had mine for nearly 20years, very few issues just maintenance really and it’s still stock apart from an external spin on oil filter and a smaller sprocket on the wheel. Never went down the electronic ignition route either, starts first or second kick wether it was ridden 2 weeks ago or yesterday, vibes only become noticeable above 70mph, wind pressure is is the limiting factor at high speed, I cruise 65/70 where it returns about the same mpg! Handles beautifully, brakes well, a fabulous gearbox, piece of cake to maintain and I love it’s brutish looks. It does everything I want a motorcycle to do and I’ll keep it until my old leg can’t start it, I’m even looking into an electric start conversion to give me a few more years of use, pricey but that’s how much I love her!!
Couldn’t agree more with your assessment there. My pal had his Tiger for forty years, did minimal maintenance, and it always started and went anywhere he pointed it. He was grateful not to have to mess around with two carbs too! Thanks for the comment.
it`s only money ;)
Electronic ignition is well worth fitting. Because the original points go out of tune so quickly Triumph fitted a grade colder sparkplugs than is really necessary to give a margin of safety when it comes to pre-ignition. With electronic ignition you can run a grade hotter sparkplugs for a noticeable improvement in starting and throttle response.
I have aVespa P -150 in my favorite color orange. Fun little bike. Have a dozen bikes in my collection.
Some good choices. I had an 850 Commando Interstate, new in 1974, but sold it 2 years later to buy a car. It was a lovely bike to ride, but I was only 19 when I bought it, and not keen on all the maintenance you had to do to stop it shaking itself apart.
Fast forward a few years and I bought a low mileage 1978 T140V, which I've still got 31 years later. It's a much more practical and reliable bike to own (it helps that I'm a retired mechanic, so it gets the attention it needs), and I love riding it, despite the vibration.
My only venture into Japanese bikes since my very early experience of a CB160 (passed my test on it in 1974) is the Suzuki GS550 I bought 3 years ago as a cheap runabout for the winter, and I love riding that too.
I’ve always hankered after one of them Suzukis, but as I’ve never even been astride one I couldn’t really put it on my list. Same with the Italian classics - MV, Ducati, Guzzi. Glad you enjoyed the video, and happy riding!
Had a commando in the 70 s bought new. It required a lot of maintenance and the Isolastic didn't really work - heavy engine in a sports frame. The Harley tried the same with the Buell years later. My commando also blew up , big end smashed through the crankcase. Glad to get rid of it though fun to ride and the sound.
Since you said “European” rather than British, I have to mention that the premier motorcycle of the 70s is the BMW R90s. produced in 1974, ’75, and ’76. They didn’t leak oil, or rattle apart and they had Bosch electronics.
Never had one, but mates who have swear by them!
The Honda cb550 four is in my opinion a better and often overlooked alternative to the 400/4, it's also cheaper to buy.
Interesting you say that, because I was going to mention the 550, but not, unfortunately, in such glowing terms. I moved up to a 550 after my first 400/4 but was so disappointed I swapped it back for another 400. Compared to the 400 it was slower, heavier, much more ungainly, not as fast, in fact a downright pig of a machine. But there you go, I might have bought a lemon, I frequently do! 🤣Thanks for the comment!
@@3Phils I think you must of, as for me the 550 with 50bhp is a perfect middleweight motorcycle that looks right. It has the classic looks and good performance. I currently ride a cx500 (the plastic maggot) which I think makes a perfect cheap classic still good for daily commuting and enough power for motorways if needed. also only 2 carbs so easier to get set up.
@paulcooper5610 The Maggot goes on forever!
I don't know about the 400/4 as I never owned one but IMO they were a lot better then the 750 ever was.
@@3Phils
On the Continent, we call her Slurry Pump .
My paternal 2nd cousin was married in March 63.
Her husband died June 2023 aged 89
He was into motorbikes in a big way back in the 50’s
The last motorbike he had was a Triumph Bonneville T100
She sold it last August for £3000
I know it was hidden away in the garage for around 12 years and in their previous house for at least 20 years
It looked in good condition the last time I saw it 6 years ago
I wonder if she was paid a fair price
🏴🏴🏴🏴😎😎😃😃🙏🙏
I’m not an expert, but prices of classic machines have dropped off a bit in the past couple of years. It would also depend on what condition it was in. If it had been stored for 32 years it would in all likelihood need work. So whoever bought it for £3,000 was taking a bit of a punt, and I think the price reflects that. Don’t go by the prices you see dealers asking for on eBay and the like, they’re inevitably asking a grand or two over the top to cover their backsides and make a bit of money. In the end, the price you get tends to be the price a bike is worth, so I wouldn’t fret. If anyone else has any thoughts, or more experience of this kind of thing than I do, please feel free to chime in.
@@3Phils thank you for your help
The last 5-8 years Chris started to have health issues
COPD and from 2021 Dementia
His bedroom was full of motorbike parts and all that ‘entails’ oil and all
that he had originally kept in a lock up garage
I know his wife was desperate to get rid if it all
Sounds like a very difficult time. Motorcyclists tend to be collectors (some may say hoarders) of just about everything they’ve ever purchased because ‘it might come in handy one day’. I’m the same. I took possession of a brand new, empty garage a couple of years ago and now I can barely move around it! 🤣
@@3Philssame here. 5 motorcycles, 4 mopeds and a Bubblecar. (+ all the spares to go with them)
For me: Honda CB/CL 450, Norton 850 Commando (maybe the best looking bike ever built), 1946-1952 Indian Chief, Harley XR750, Yamaha XT 500
Good list! I’d definitely agree with the first two, being mostly a fan of Japanese and Brit bikes. The guy who looked after my Commando used to say it was the only motorcycle that looked like it was doing 100mph just sitting on its centre stand!
Brilliant video. The Triumph Tiger looked and sounded amazing. Shocked the BSA Bantam didn’t make the list!
Ha! Thanks for the nice comment! 😊
I had a 1974 T 140V triumph 750 5 speed with flat handlebars and a chrome peanut tank, it outlasted my first marriage, I still miss it way more than the first wife.
Ha! The thing about motorcycles I’ve found over the years is that they never complain if you forget to do the washing up or leave your socks on the floor! Thanks for the comment. 😁
@@3Phils
Sounds like we’re on the same page.
I had the 850 Norton Commando. I loved that bike. It ended up burnt in a garage fire.
Sorry to hear that.
A fun list ! I'd add the Triumph 500 Daytona which was achieved it's highest development in the early '70's
Thanks! It’s quite a restrictive list because I was being careful to comment only on bikes I’d had actual experience of. I would have loved to put, say, an Italian (motorcycle, not scooter!) in there, a Jota perhaps (or maybe they were British too?!), but apart from having an acquaintance with a Jota I’ve zero knowledge of them. I’ve heard the 500 Daytona is good. Glad you enjoyed it!
I had a 400 four back in the late seventies (F1 engine) I rode it everywhere, including into the ground. I bought another ten years ago and discovered it has horrible drive drain backlash, forks that `top out` with limited travel, and the cylinder head weep that was cured with the F2 engine (stripes on the tank) I just didn`t understand these things 40 years ago, just rode the crap out of it ;) The CX500 that followed was bloody brilliant, as was the CX500 eurosport I bought 5 years ago.
Indeed, there have been a lot of comments about the reliability and longevity of the CX500 here.
Not a bad selection, chap. I’d replace the Bonnie with a Tiger (as you described) and include a Moto Guzzi 850T3 instead of the 400/4. Those Guzzi T3’s were purse quality with superb riding dynamics and dead easy to maintain.
Yes, I always fancied a Guzzi back then (still do) - but back then I could only afford the 400/4. Thanks for the comment!
The '75-'77 GL1000 (naked/standard) even though complicated is a reliable smooth GT.
What a fine collection of motorcycles and scooter. You are a man of impeccable taste. My first bike wa a Blue 1976 Honda 400 Four Super Sports. It was a dream come true. Loved it with a passion and rode it day and night. My parents forbid me from getting a road bike and when I returned home after buying it, all my stuff was in the garage so had to find somewhere else to live. Not long after I got caught carrying a pillion by the police 👮on my L plates, not allowed to do that or ride a bike over 250cc. It was a long time before I was able to get a licence. No bother, back in those days licences were just a piece of paper so used a friends name and address when pulled over or rode away at high speed. The CB400 Four was so smooth and it had a sensible amount of power for a young man, could ride it full throttle and still stay on the road most of the time. Hope you are able to get a Norton Commando back in your garage soon.
All you say there about the 400/4 rings true, it was a fantastic introduction to 'proper' bikes without being a beast. It opened the door to lots of fun and adventures but felt reliable in that it would always get you there without too many cornering or braking dramas. If it's any consolation, my parents banned me from getting a motorcycle too, so I funded mine behind their backs by living on Pot Noodles and saving money from my student grant. As for another Commando, I probably have enough on my plate with the Trident these days! Cheers for the comment.
@@3Phils One more year of pot noodles is a small price to pay for your dream bike back. You have never let your good judgement stop you buying your dream machine before. Last chance, if its proves to be a problematic bike you will still be able to enjoy it beauty over a glass on wine as its sits on it altar in the garage.
@BikesDrones Sadly I am now so old that the money I’m currently saving by eating Pot Noodles will be going on cataract surgery! But you’ve sparked a thought. The Amoco Cadiz (CB1300) isn’t currently earning its space in my shed, if I sold that it would probably get me halfway towards another Commando. Or surgery on the other eye! 🤣😜
@@3Phils You will just have to keep an eye on cycle trader and see what pops up.😜
@BikesDrones 🤣🤣🤣
No BMW R90S? Stylish, with big twin sound and feel, well-built, simple to maintain, reliable, decent handling, reasonably quick, lots of parts and service commonality with other air-heads, massive tank range, capable of huge mileages. Cheaper today than most contemporary CB750s and all Z1s, but much better by most measures.
I restricted myself to bikes I'd owned or known personally. But I totally get that they're magnificent machines with a loyal following. It's just unfortunate I've never encountered one close up! They're included in my subsequent video, though. th-cam.com/video/KllGtoYSFR8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1i4u3sIBVADUBi1n
At my funeral I want played the BSA Rocket 3 and Triumph Trident engine sound at speed, simply bliss !😎
Thanks for the reply, have just subscribed and I like your honesty in getting your Triumph sorted by people who have the knowledge and facilities and the cost, your warts and all commentary is great 👍
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the sub! There’s nothing on this planet that compares to the sound of those triples, except other triples like the Jota, maybe, and a Saturn V rocket taking off!
I had a Honda 550 Four about 20 years ago. Good handling, more power than the 400 and superb quality.
Tbh I found the 550/4 heavy and sluggish when I owned one after my first 400/4, so much so I went straight back to another 400. But I’m prepared to admit that mine might have been a lemon, I am a bit of a lemon magnet! Thanks for the comment 😊
One of my school buddies had a Lambretta 200 when I had a Suzi TS185 (actually, I still have a TS185, albeit sadly not the one I had back then). He was very disappointed when I blew him away from the lights!
Ha! His clearly hadn’t had the ‘special treatment’! My GP easily outran the 185, although I’ll admit I was maybe less cautious and much more willing to gun it than my pals. Happy days! 🛵🏍️
1974 MkllA . Best bike I ever owned.
I'm surprised you didn't have a kawasaki 2 stroke in there.. i remember them being talked about in hush tones in the playground back then.. cheers 🍻
Funnily enough, there weren’t any Kawasaki dealers in the shabby seaside town I lived in. Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, but no Kawasaki. Much later, my local Suzuki dealer went Kawasaki and I bought a couple of Kwaks off them.
Still have my Snorton SS I bought in'79. And the '72 Tiger and. The '81 Shovelhead all need a bit of work as does the owner.....
Great vid and some terrific bikes in the mix. As for the surprise throw away at the end, you could just as easily have included a Fiat 500…. or maybe even a three legged camel. Nice work.
Thank you!
Very nice video, well done. Too bad you couldn't keep the Commando and just sell the Mikuni. I bought the Norton Combat new in '72 and have heard all the comments, Lucas electrics prince of darkness, bottom ends blowing like a hand grenade, parts shaking off as you ride down the road and the cams made from butter. I still own that '72 Combat and it's never let me down. I don't know who starts all the rumours but maybe it's riders that have never owned a Commando or maybe couldn't maintain their Commando. It's still a blast every single time I kick that Combat over. Yes, one kick and idles prrrfect with the dual Amals and that famous grunt is still there when I twist that throttle, but I still ride my old Vespa also.
Thanks for the kind comment. Well quite, but I don’t think I would have got £4,500 for just the Mikuni! Like everyone else, I heard all the rumours about the Combat back in the 70s so it’s interesting to hear the record being put straight by someone who knows. I do go on about Amal carbs, but to be fair it’s probably not entirely their fault, more the fault of the dreaded ethanol in our petrol these days. They weren’t engineered for such water-attracting gunge. Glad you’re still having fun on the Commando, and the Vespa!
@@3PhilsI believe you're 100% accurate about the ethanol in gas. The idle circuitry in Amal carbs was .015" and it would only take a matter of days for the corn syrup to plug up the Amals unless the gas was drained or run out. I don't know much about Mikuni architecture but wonder if the idle circuit is coarser?
@robertshepherd3832 Spot on there, I think. I actually have refurbished Amals on my Trident, courtesy of the late, great Richard Darby of 3D Motorcycles in Wolverhampton. His approach was to drill the kink out of the idle circuit, thus allowing less porridge to accumulate. It works! Although the ‘petrol’ still goes bad if you leave it in the tank for more than a couple of months, I’ve discovered, so it’s best to drain it if you’re storing the bike over winter.
Finally a dose of reality to argue with all those guys that have bits falling off.
Lot's of people that never has been on a Commando, knows a lot about it. I've been told my MKIII Roadster is a piece of shit, but truth is that is is quite a reliable bike. Super fuelefficient, handles better than any japanese bike from the seventies (even far into the eighties) The nicest sound of any bike I can think of (peashooters) and probably the best looking motorbike ever made. I bought mine in 1997, and will keep it as long as I can.
Evertime I ride another bike, and gets back on the Commando, I get the feeling of being on a REAL BIKE again. 🤣😉
The Commando is the one bike I regret buying most. I couldn't keep up with the constant appetite for exhaust pipes. They broke at the balance pipe connection at a frightening regularity. And the twin 6 volt ignition coils fed through a single ballast resistor was a nightmare.
Your choice mate.I have also got a dirty little secret.Always had a soft spot for Vespas.Anyway my brother in law gave me his.Sorted it and just needs MOT.PX125 with the T5😉
Ha! Maybe we should turn this discussion into ‘Confession Corner’. What’s everyone’s motorcycling ‘guilty pleasure’?
Favourite Bikes of My family
i) Vincent Comet my Dad
ii) 1968 T120Triumph Bonneville brother Bobby
iii) 2021 T120 Triumph Bonneville mine
Joint iii) my 2017 Triumph T100
Nice bikes! Thanks for the comment!
With only 5 to choose from there has to be 3 Italians on the list; Laverda Jota, Ducati 900SS, Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mkl. And the Suzuki GT 750 and the Commando 850.
I’ve lusted after all of those! One day, when I win the lottery, they’ll be in my shed! Thanks for the comment.
I had two of these, same colour, loved them both, but sold them for a significant amount of money....my bad.
Another good one!
Personally, I wouldn't put the Commando anywhere near the top because it was just so awful when it came out. 1971was my first year at university and the rich kid in our group bought a new Interstate Commando. Just about everything went wrong with it. The carbs fell off. It leaked oil profusely. It would go into a tank slapper because of play in the isospastic engine mounting. An oil feed pipe came off and dumped the contents of the engine on to the student union carpark. A main bearing failed due to crankshaft flex. They suffered from excessive bore wear due to the high piston speeds of the old long stroke engine being asked to do things it wasn't supposed to. (That combat cam just asked too much of the bottom end). They were a disgrace to British engineering at the time and I cannot get over that. Classic my arse! I suspect the survivors are now a lot better because they've benefitted from all the retrofitted improvements.
They looked nice though.
Thank you for the kind comment and the interesting tale. 😊 I never personally experienced a Commando in the 1970s, the closest I got was one of those awful NVT ‘Easy Rider’ mopeds. It was ratshit. So much so that my mates and I pretty quickly renamed it the ‘Difficult Rider’. The big end went within a month, despite me being careful not to overdo things with a brand new engine. Service from NVT was non-existent. I even wrote a letter to Dennis Poore, begging him to sort it out for the sake of the NVT name. He did reply, but only to tell me I was being silly and that I should be supporting a great British manufacturer, not complaining about it. By the time I got hold of a Commando in the 1990s, it was mostly OK but did need work on the engine and suspension. The person who owned it after me reaped all the benefits!
Fantastic.
I agree with most of that.
Ducati 900 SS, Moto Guzzi 850 Lemans, Laverda Jota, BMW 800/7 and BMW R100RS, Norton JPS..... perhaps a Vespa now that I'm 78 years old....
Ha! Brilliant list! I haven’t owned any of those, but I’m thinking of doing my Fantasy Top Five so watch this space!
Guzzi Le Mans & Laverda 750SF two perfect bikes for our roads and both would leave a Commando for dust.@@3Phils
I’d gladly have those in my stable!
My 1976 Triumph Bonneville (bought new) vibrated like a paint-can-shaker at highway speeds and the oil would not stay inside the engine; it leaked out the base gasket, pushrod tubes, rocker boxes, timing cover etc. The points ignition would always misfire at higher revs just when you needed the power and the 120 W alternator system was pathetic. A great looking bike though and fun on back-roads. You left off the Kawasaki 500 triple; a 2-stroker that would give much larger motorcycles a hard time.
Ha! Sounds very similar to my mate’s experience. Yes, the Kawasaki 2-stroke would be on my fantasy list of must-have bikes but I didn’t include it as I have no personal experience of them. Thanks for the comment!
Why didn't you get these things fixed. I have a batch of these bikes and they are tight and don't shake. New engines after run -in need retorquing
@@michaelbrett3749 Tried getting all the leaks fixed repeatedly along with proper re-torquing but no luck. I thing the engine was built with worn out machine tooling. Btw every motorcycle test back in the day mentions excessive vibration at highway speeds with those vertical twins. Kept the bike for 25 years and sold it for the same price I paid for it in 1976.
Owned a Norton commando from 1974 til 2017 just did not like the bike, only rode it 15000 miles in 43 years. Always chose another bike to ride,had one or two in stable. Sad to say never shed a tear when it left for its new owner.
I agree they’re not for everyone. I also had another, modern bike in the shed alongside the Commando, and I remember trying to decide which of them had to go. In the end it came down to ‘Which of these two can I get on, start up, and reliably go for a ride on?’ The rest, as they say, is history. Thanks for the comment.
@@3Phils It was not a bad bike,OK in its day just could not gel with the thing.
Not a bad list. I'd have included the RD Yammie series in there, but you done good...as one old fart to another!
Thank you! I’d have loved to have included the RDs, I always wanted one but never owned one and I wasn’t going to include anything I didn’t have personal experience of. But I suppose I could do my Fantasy Top Five! 🤔
I think you're wild card is a bit of a shock 😲
I’m just an old scooter boy at heart! 😂
I had 72 Norton
Love my PX 150
#4 , try to find one with the sexy oem 4 into one exhaust: good luck.
I loved that swooping 4 into 1! Sad to hear they’re difficult to find these days. Admittedly I had a slightly less baffled silencer - what a howl! Thanks for the comment. 😊
I settled for a 77 Bonnie and will have used every cognitive dissonance reducing strategy avenue possible, for not waiting longer enough to afford a trident or a Norton 850. Them are what they are. I do have a rather mint Bonnie with the UK tank, which is very rare in New Zealand where I am from. Most people of the time opted for the US spec triumph. I'd still wanted to have waited
To be fair, a beautiful, well set up Bonnie is a thing of joy! And to ride it in NZ, one of my favourite countries, must be a double pleasure. 😊
The 850 Norton was a highway bike for cruising . Probably the only 70s British model that could handle long distances. The Triumph was a ride into town or a visit to a pub. Don't forget the 1970 Bonny was the best looking bike ever made and will attract attention anywhere anytime.
Agree on the Commando (even being a T160 owner), but they were just not as reliable as my Trident.
And at that time in my life, it had to make multiple 1350 trips without breaking down. Those Commando bottom ends were notorious for hand grenading.
But........ there is not a sexier, better sounding bike. (maybe an early 90's Ducati 900 with Staintunes....and the Trident wasn't far)
Cheers, PhilPhilPhil 😉
My bottom end almost blew out but Norman White (the guy in the blue overalls with the race bikes in the video) got to it first. It’s the only machine that looks like it’s doing 100mph sitting on the centre stand! Hope you’re doing well there in KC. 😊
@@3Phils OKC (Oklahoma City) lol
Close 'nuff, m8 :-)
@joeblow5037 Oops, I mis-geographied you in Kansas City! Sorry bud! 🤣
A 650 triumph twin can be pretty smooth ' I had a TR6P for thirty years. And if your mates 750 Tigger shakes bad he ought to get the crank balanced and get the timing set up spot on both sides. The 750 really shouldn't vibrate badly
I’ve heard the 650’s a lot smoother. I suppose my point was it was like that from the get-go, a few months after it left the factory, so it may not have been set up right in the first place. It’s been improved over the last 50 of years of careful ownership, of course!
Thanks for the brilliant response to this video! Because there have been a lot of suggestions for alternative classic 1970s motorcycles, I've created a poll for your own fantasy top five, with a view to making a follow-up video. Please cast your vote here: th-cam.com/channels/ZwqIv_kZu7FoKb_wqePPdw.htmlcommunity?lb=UgkxmHRisOtOsa2WECRG1zflUtyTIa0vyLrx
Yamaha RD350B for you smoker's.
I owned a Honda 400x4 from brand new. 3 of my friends also had them. They all had a common problem, a large bolt inside the engine on the clutch side comes lose and bores it's way through the engine case, disaster!. to much of a coincidence, inherent fault I think. They also did not like bumpy roads, they would get the speed wobbles, not like my 74 bonnie.
Thanks for the comment. I had two 400/4s and never experienced that fault, perhaps I got lucky! I’d agree that a Bonnie is better for handling, but I don’t recall any speed wobbles either. It was a long time ago, though, and back in the day if anything wobbled I’d probably have put it down to me riding a bit too enthusiastically!
Everyone oh yes
Guzzi V7. Laverda 'anything' !
4:31 Good God, I thought, he knows Arthur Daley.
Yes, the Honda 350/400 Four, gliding along without any torque at all...
Apropos Z 900, only someone with an intellectual capacitiy below the one of an eternit panel can botch a
Z 900 engine. Working on the old Kawas is almost self-explanatory.
Yes, I do seem to recall the 400/4 was all about keeping the revs up!
My 1998 Harley has push rod covers from 1936. Valves from 1983 brakes from somewhere in-between.
Five best 70’s motorcycles? European bikes are supposedly included. Where is the 1976-1978 Guzzi LeMans? The BMW R90S? The Ducati Super Sports? A couple of the bikes on the list do not compare to these three.
You got a Lambretta! No, but seriously, I agree with you. I wanted to include at least the Jota, but I hesitated to speak about anything I hadn’t had personal experience of. Who wouldn’t want one of those machines you have mentioned? If I ever own one, I’ll review it!
why not , but the scooter ? my dad warned me , never a scooter !
Hehe! I’m still in touch with the mate (inevitably another Phil) I sold one of my GP200s to, he loves it! Thanks for the comment.
a good selection, but any list that doesn't have a 750 boxer-beemer is somewhat deformed.
I’ve never owned one so I didn’t feel confident enough to include one, even though I know folk who love ‘em. However, there is a boxer twin on my Fantasy Top Five poll which is pinned to the top of the comments. Thanks for the comment! 😊
You forgot Harley-Davidson.
Blyme - Limey!!!!
Ha! As explained in the video, I tend not to comment on matters I know nothing of! 🤣
I rode only British for, still going, 54 years. I bought a Fat Boy by chance, now I get it. Harley is a true candidate for tradition in design. The feeling of riding a nice looking Harley is very special. You wont get that on your Honsukayam
your not in autum your well into winter mate.. the kwaka 900 wonderful bike. the honda 400 /4 was bloody horrible little thing.. is they had been four into two would of been better. bonnies looked very nice , but bloody disaster of a bike in the 70s, parts took months to get back when these were new.... Trident even better looking than the bonnie, the norton comando was THE British bike to own,, i almost bought a briklkliant silver 850 but stupidly i waited till the next day and it was gone, it had only done 1200 mile from brand new and owned by a ex motor cycle cop.. so for me its norton , then trident , then the kwaka 900 then the bonnie then the lambretta then the 400/4. i just realy hated honda for putting the lovely 4 exhausts into one...
Ha! I had a 550/4 after the 400, that had a four into four. Worst bike I ever owned! Gutless, and all the silencers were rotting despite it only being five years old at the time. Still, I think we broadly agree there. Thanks for the comment. 😊