One of you Northwest Coast Guys Needs to buy this Motorcycle

[Rot 911]

Beautiful bike. ADVrider (You might need to become a member to see the flea market.)

[BeyGon]

This is nice, what are they asking?

[herr_oberst]

Very cool bike. A man would feel like he could do the ton on that.

Has the owner staged the shot on the Columbia River near Portland, perchance?

[Jim Bremner]

I could go Commando.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

This is nice, what are they asking?

$9,200 USD
Not stock.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

looks nice.

I'll say.

Got me thinkin'.....

[aigel]

That's a lot of dough for something that would make me look like the circus bear riding a tricycle ...

G

[Don Ro]

FS: 1971 Norton 750 Commando Special
I've often bragged that I would never sell this bike, but truthfully I always knew the day would come. My oldest daughter graduates from high school this year and expects to attend an institution of higher learning next year. Holy Crap! have you checked tuition, etc. in colleges these days. So anyway, the day has come to say goodbye to an old friend.

I bought this bike in 1996, same year oldest daughter was born and road it for a couple years. Then inspired by restoration projects I saw by Kenny Dreer and Colorado Norton Works, I began to think how cool it would be to have a brand new 1971 Norton Commando.

So in 2001 I drew up a plan and took it to Dick at DJ's Cycle Shoppe here in Portland, undoubtedly the top English bike mechanic on the west coast. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. 6 months and several thousand dollars later Dick completed a frame up restoration.

The goal was a beautiful, rideable, vintage bike that was reliable and ran like a scalded ape. Every item on the bike was scrutinized for what would work best towards that goal. Function and beauty.

The engine and gear box were completely rebuilt. I resisted the temptation to try to get more power out of the engine during the rebuild, again because I wanted it to be a reliable rider, not a race bike. We did upgrade the bearings and installed the adjustable isolastics. The result being for a vintage English twin it rides surprisingly smooth. Gearing was kept stock as well. I also resisted the temptation to do a primary belt dive conversion as I could not see the advantages out weighing the cost / hassle factor.

I did send the heads to Colorado Norton Works to have the exhaust ports replaced with inserts. Nortons are notorious for blowing out the threads on the exhaust ports, this fixes that once and for all.

The bike was completely rewired, eliminating all of the Lucas Prince of Darkness. Dick also ran the rear tail light wiring through the frame for a more sanitary look. Boyer Brandsen electronic ignition installed. We lost the zener diode and put in a sold state voltage regulator. The famous "blue thing on a spring" was replaced new. It's got a sealed battery.

A single 34mm Mikuni replaced the dual Amals MKI & 1/2s that came on the bike (WTF you ask?, they were an interim carb between the mkI and Mk II, not stock on this bike and rather rare. I already sold them) with the result being a bike that starts first kick, or second if it's been parked for a bit. Yes we lost a couple MPH off the top end but I never really wanted to slam it past the ton much anyway.

The stock steel wheels were replaced with shouldered Excel rims and stainless spokes, 19" front (stock) and 18" rear. It's currently shod with Avons but you'll probably want to put new ones on soon enough.

The frame was powder coated. Fasteners were replaced with stainless and hex heads replaced philips where appropriate.

The careful observer will note the fenders don't look exactly stock and you are correct. The front fender was a plastic sportbike fender when I bought it so I replaced that piece of crap with a proper Manx replica fender and mount from Clubman Racing, cause they look cool as hell and much better than the stock Commando front fenders.

The rear fender is actually a stock Norton Fastback fender (without the Fastback tailpiece) with a period correct, Lucas style cafe tail light, in polished aluminum. Again I think it looks better than the stock Commando rear end. And it was what came with the bike.

Since we are on the subject, I'll tell you right here the engine and frame numbers do not match. They are close, indicating the same year production, but not a match. I never really gave a crap cause I bought and built it to ride. But if you're one of those kind of collector types, who think that kind of thing is important, then please move along. But the great part for me was since the bike was not a true original I could do pretty much what I wanted without screwing up a valuable original example.

The careful observer will also notice I have installed rearsets. For me this setup is more comfortable and Yes I do have the original stock pegs, brake and shifter. It shifts on the right, as the Queen intended. However with the rearset installed it's the more familiar down and up pattern.

The seat shown is a Corbin and I also have the stock seat, which is in great shape.

The chain guard was powder coated black, (stock is chrome) and that was purely cosmetic.

The pipes were ceramic coated here by Finish Line Coatings. The ceramic coating not only looks good but has the benefit of dispersing heat better. Are you getting the idea I'm not a chrome fan? And these hipsters that tape their pipes to look cool immediately identify themselves as idiots.

The front disc is stock on the bike, they were introduced halfway through '71. I replaced the stock master cylinder with a Brembo that makes for a two finger brake that works very well rather than the death grip stock setup. The rotor was replaced with this drilled unit from Old Britts. Rear brake is stock.

The rear blinkers were added by me cause I wanted them for safety. I had fronts one the headlight ears but removed them cause they were ugly. Safety 3rd! The switch was replaced as well with a modern one I sourced from Bevel Heaven a bevel Ducati specialty house.

The air filter is a K&N, the bike did not come with the stock unit and the K&N is discreet and works well.

Fuel Line routing as well as the primary case vent hose routing were cleaned up using 90° fittings for more sanitary look.

Speaking of oil lines, I originally replaced them with stainless braided but changed them to the current braided fabric ones, which are period correct and looked better on this application. The front brake line is braided stainless, again for function.

Forks were rebuilt with new springs and a steering damper was added. Koni shocks on the rear. Handles great.

The tank fenders and side covers were painted by Ted at Europa Motors, an acknowledged master at auto and bike painting. Decals have been clear coated over. The paint is in great shape but there is the patina of having been ridden. The side covers show more wear than the tank as they get more contact from my legs.

So there's probably some stuff I've forgotten. Ask away. If I remember I'll add it.

I have taken the bike out on several road trips over the years, mostly to Eastern Oregon or down the coast. The longest trip was to San Francisco. Mostly it's day trips around the area. It's got 10,000 miles on it since the rebuild / restoration in 2001. I suppose you could call it a 1971 / 2001 Norton Commando.

The bike handles fantastic, it's a Norton. It starts easy and has surprisingly good power for the technology of the day. Then again the Commando was sometimes referred to as the original superbike. Until Honda came along and destroyed the ancient regime. But I guarantee you one thing, no Honda ever had the pure sex appeal, the elegance, the rawness or pure character of a Norton.

$9200 US Dollars.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Very cool bike. A man would feel like he could do the ton on that.

Has the owner staged the shot on the Columbia River near Portland, perchance?

I think thats on Mercer Island in Seattle, looking North.

[Evans, Marv]

I'd give my left nut to have a Norton. I don't have the space for something else though. I took one out for a test ride in 1969. At the time I had my old '59 AJS twin as my transportation. After I returned it after the test ride, I decided not to ride one again because I'd willingly go into debt to buy a new one unless I let it rest. At the time I was putting myself through college and absolutely couldn't afford it. I've thought of one off & on since, but I'll just stick with the bike I have.

[vash]

that is awesome.

one of my dream bikes for sure.

[speeder]

Needs more description.

[futurefun]

I've also had a thing for Nortons especially the Dunstall versions. That is beautiful.

[LakeCleElum]

Have sold 3 Commando's in the last 5 years. Fun bike, BUT: Ride for 20 minutes and your Nutz tingle for 2 hours.