Rotary Owners' Club

Hi James, Re:the speedo trip metre, The one on my Classic stopped working very early in the bikes life,almost impossible to repair(so I was informed at the time)finances at the time were a bit limited so I managed to live without a trip metre wink, I got so used to not having one that I never did bo...

Hi James,I never had any problems with the tacho on my Classic,so unfortunately I cannot be of any assistance,sorry,seems like you are getting help from our forum,good luck,hope you get it sorted, ride safe,J.B.

With respect , thinking £12,750 for a Classic with the sort of millage yours has done is a cheap bike?maybe thats why it hasn't sold,J.B.

Hi Graham,
pleased to hear you are up and about again.
After my Triple Heart By-pass some sommers back the DVLA said that it wasn't a problem,so hopefully you will get the same answers from them,ride safe,J.B.

I tried LED lights on the Indicators and Tail lights on my Classic,the system would not except them,(mind you ,that was 20+years ago ,so who knows with more modern LEDs)J.B.

Yep, I to had a Balance Resister problem(just the once) with my Classic(I think it was "Del Boy" who put the idea in my head)
If memory serves there was a procedure that did away with the use of the Balance Resister which I used,(not 100% sure though,it was probably 30+ years ago)J.B.

Hi Andy,
I trust your dad has fully recovered from his accident and it hasn't put him off riding.
Good luck with the rebuild,ride safe,J.B.

Hi James, I think the instrument panel was unique to Classic's 'cos almost all the other air cooled rotary Nortons either went to the police,RAC, military or other government institutions and had a different setup,(and of course the water cooled bikes were entirely different)so I expect you will be ...

Hi Andy,
Tell us more about your dads rotory,and good luck and ride safe when yours is up and running,J.B.

Hi guys, I was watching at a recorded episode of "Bangers and Cash" earlier today and one of the cars being featured was a early '70s MG saloon that had been converted to a 4door convertible,as the camera was panning I spotted a IP2 Police bike just at the back of the car,as it was a recor...

My Classic would definitely NOT start with the side stand down. cry Little tip re;starting from cold,full choke,fire up,push choke in when engine starts to "hunt",push the choke in until the engine evens out(12/1500revs?) then clip a clothes peg cool, round the choke cable and push in a bi...

I used C8E plugs the whole 30 years and 71,000,+ miles in my Classic(except for the VARY rare occasions when I tried other types, but invariably returned to C8E's)J.B.

Hi Joe,
not surprised at the high milage on your rear chain,I have been led to believe that having to replace one(bar accidents) is exceedingly rare,J.B.

Hi Mike,if your Classic is as per all Classics, the panel is only held on by two deutz screws,then you can get at the bottom of the fuel pipe where it runs into the carb:(I think,the old memory aint what was)take it off and with a descent battery turning the engine over you will know if fuel is gett...

The lack of fuel?hence my suggestion to check the fuel tap diafram,J.B.

Hi Mike, SU carbs are pretty stable once they are set up,so a bit more info please,has the bike stood for any length of time?try checking the diaframs on the fuel tap,(the dreaded E fuel just loves them,I did away with the vac:fuel tap on my Classic,re-placed it with a conventional "Gravity Tap...

Wow,lucky old you,all those fabulous bikes + waiting delivery of one of "The Mestro,s" rocket ships (they must be the ultimate rotary bike!)am I a tad bit envious?you bet I am,ride safe,J.B.

I seem to remember some years back (before Richard moved to his present location)I was getting some bits from him for my Classic, and he was working on another Classic and having a bit of a problem locating some bits for it(he mentioned that he had been working on that particular bike for some time,...

Well done you,ride safe,J.B.

So,from '92 to 2024 is 32 years into 96,125miles at roughly between three and four thousand a year,not bad ,and as it's an X Richards bike I would think has been virtually trouble free .
Is the Commander your only bike?J.B.

All very well Clive,but how many miles have YOU,actualy ridden your Commander?J.B.

Cant remember miles per year,but I covered 71,thousand+ from 1999 to 2020(when I sold it) on my Classic,roughly between six/seven thousand a year (for about nine of those years it was my only bike )J.B.

When I had the Classic, after umpteen thousand miles the side stand became a bit floppy(technical term )I tried quite a few ideas to try and cure it,with little or no success,didnt take on no excessive lean though.(No help to you,just a bit of a story ,)ride safe,J.B.

Hi guys, While on my way back from the NOC's International Rally in Spain I was getting front wheel judder(like a wheel out of balance)at speeds over 70mph,I thought that perhaps a balance weight had come off,(couldn't see where though) on Monday I had a new tyre fitted on the front wheel and tellin...

I will look out for you,(you will be able to recognise me 'cos of my hat,lots and lots of badges )ride safe,J.B.

Hi guys,
any of you Roteriens going to the N.O.C's International rally in Spain next month? I am ,J.B.

Back in the day when I rode the Classic and tested the hydraulic clutch(time flies so I expect it's 15/20 years? ago)I thought it to expensive for the difference it made(can't even hazard a guess at the cost today)J.B.

I remember trying a hydralike converted clutch that someone had fitted to a Commander,it didn't make the clutch leaver any lighter to operate,didn't actually ride the bike,so can't comment on"finding neutral",so seeing as I had mastered the art of finding neutral before stopping,I didn't t...

I did the same as Ian with bigger ball bearings,but it made no discernible difference,J.B.

Hi Mike,
I believe most rotories suffer with the "finding neutral" when stationary,what I got into the habit with my Classic was to just snick the box into neutral just before coming to a standstill,(I have to do the same with my Deauville)ride safe,J.B.