Profile

Mike

Roccanti

I've been riding motorcycles for 50 years but didn't get a British bike until around 20 years ago. A friend of mine who owned many bikes suggested I get a Commando. I found one on Craigs List and took him with me to check it out. It looked to be in decent shape, just missing the exhaust system and the seat needed recovering. The guy said all it needed was oil and gas and was ready to ride. Got it home and tried starting it but the kickstart wouldn't move with me standing on it. Took the engine apart and found that he had installed .20 over rings but didn't bore out the cylinders. I needed a hammer handle to pound them out! I also discovered that the engine had been put together by hand, the connecting rod bolts were only hand tight, good thing it didn't start. I spent the next few years stripping the bike down to the frame and searching for parts I needed at British flea markets with my parts book in hand. I had to learn a lot about British bikes in those years and now love riding it. It reminds me of the 60's muscle cars!