Project Norton

[rfuerst911sc]

I remember back in the 70's seeing my first Norton . It was a black/gold Commando and I just thought it was stunning . Such classic lines it embodies what a motorcycle should look like . Good luck with your restoration and thanks for sharing .

[cstreit]

Before and after of front fender.

[herr_oberst]

Impressive dent removal skills. Very impressive. I like how the bike is being restored, but not overrestored. Tastefully done as the British would say.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Impressive dent removal skills. Very impressive. I like how the bike is being restored, but not overrestored. Tastefully done as the British would say.

Thank you. It took about an hour and a lot of patience. Still some remnants but as you said - not over-restoring. Its a 51 year old bike - I don't want a museum piece but rather a bike that looks like its original, well cared for and ridden.

[jyl]

This thread makes me happy!

[Jeff Higgins]

This has always been on the top of my "bucket list" bikes. I have been absolutely in love with Nortons since the late 1970's, when one of my riding buddies picked up a John Player Special. We were quite the little riding group - me on my Sportster (which I still own), a couple of buddies on Bonnies, one on a real - I kid you not - Ducati 750 Super Sport (yes, like the one that went into six figures on BAT recently), and the guy on the Commando. The Ducati made the biggest impression, and I've been able to kinda "scratch that itch" with my '93 900 SS, but the Norton has always eluded me.

I understand these are "easier to own" than at any point in their history. Plenty of aftermarket support, building "better" parts than those with which they were even delivered with back in the day, making them truly "rideable" today. Boy, the pain we all felt back then, trying to keep these not quite "old" yet (in those days) two cylinder paint shakers alive was at times very daunting. The Ducati was the first to suffer the inevitable, with my buddy finally giving up on it in the early '80's through lack of parts and a constant need for them. I bet he's kicking himself now...

We had a local who was rebuilding Nortons in the early 2000's, and selling them for not unreasonable prices. I almost grabbed one then. But, alas, the "yeah, someday" attitude prevailed again. Dang it. If I keep watching you, though, one day I might start blaming you... not that my wife would actually buy that...

Anyway, yeah - you are my current hero. I'm envious as hell.

[Bill Douglas]

I don't want to make anyone cry (especially me) but when I was 16 and had my Bonneville Saint, my friend had a Triton with the featherbed racing frame. We were sad it wasn't a real Norton, and he sold it.

[Jeff Higgins]

That was a very popular combination back in the day, and remains so today. "Sportons", Sportster motors in Featherbeds, are another popular combination.

Interesting story behind that. This is from an acquaintance who races a vintage sidecar down in your neck of the woods. A big bore stroker Sportster running on methanol of all things. Anyway, he tells me that the Triton was spawned because Triumph couldn't build a frame, and Norton couldn't build a motor. The Norton motor was notably powerful, but notoriously fragile when pushed to its limits in racing. The Triumph mill addressed that problem. He tells me the combination is even legal for vintage racing, it became so ubiquitous in its day.

[Steve F]

Fender..........Nicely done Chris!!

[911Ghia]

My wife’s commando ,picture is a little faded. She’s 5’ tall, had a Norton P-11 prior to this one. Color is Chrysler Lime light Green, sporting the Dunstall dual disc front brake.

Rich

[Rot 911]

Might as well throw in a picture of mine. The market has pretty well topped out on these bikes. A nice one will run you about $8000.

[cstreit]

Thanks for all the comments. I sat on this thing for 12 years and then was just decided it was time to ***** or get off the pot - so I cleared some space and dove in. The Norton was the standard by which all other bikes were compared until the rise of the Japanese machines. ...the thing I like about them is that they're so mechanical. They respond well to maintenance and restoration and can be "brought back" unlike many modern machines.

What I like is that I can "dive in" on any part and its not hard to sort out how it was intended to work. ...and parts are still very reasonable compared to 911's and other things I've owned.

Today I learned that if you leave the ignition on with a points equipped vehicle you will kill one of the coils. Overheated one and it started pissing oil. Time to replace it - and to make sure I fix the ignition warning light so i don't do that again.

[Bill Douglas]

There is certainly a comradery amongst British bike owners.

An example being; a friend and his buddies went to watch the Isle of Man racing and to do a ride around Britain while they're at it. Mike's Triumph crapped out as they do and he needed a fairly major part. He posted something on a British Bike group's Facebook page and immediately got lots of offers. A guy said "Look I'm just down the road, I can help." He drove a couple of hours with parts and tools. Together they all got the bike fixed and he refused payment. Just said if I ever make it to New Zealand you can buy me a beer.

[Jeff Higgins]

If this won't make you a Norton fan, you might want to check your pulse. Granted, this is an old Dominator, but what music:

[herr_oberst]

That Norton has a problem - above certain speeds the speedometer gets shaky and blurry!

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by 911Ghia

My wife’s commando ,picture is a little faded. She’s 5’ tall, had a Norton P-11 prior to this one. Color is Chrysler Lime light Green, sporting the Dunstall dual disc front brake.

Rich

For some reason, a bike like that without the front fender, always looks cool to me.

[cstreit]

Couple of updates. Winter project commenced. I may have went a little farther than I planned but its only end of December and bike is already goign back together.

Put it up in the air



Sorting this mess



A moment of "What have I done?"

[cstreit]

Powdercoated the swingarm and some other bits. Didn't date put the shocks in the oven so those were painted.



Polishing the springs took forever with tshirt strips and mag polish



Oil tank

[cstreit]

Got creative to paint the underside of the frame



3D printed an adaptor for modern smaller AGM batteries into the factory battery tray.

[Bill Douglas]

Well done Chris.

That should "Put her right" for the next 40 or 50 years.