1975 850 Pics...My Scooter

Thought I'd share a few Pics of my Mk3. I've owned her since 1994.... 6,976 original miles and original paint job. Paid 5k for her and now have 7K invested. Had a soft cam , but that's sorted out now.

Pics were taken last fall...had the seat and Lt. side cover off and was draining the gas to winterize. She's sittin in the work shop with a warm blanket over her waiting for better weather.

Engine is Standard Specs with a street cam. I took the starter off and the internals in the primary. Bagged and Tagged. Went to a Mk2 Amal single carb. Tossed the Boyer, and went back to points.

Here she is:

Was it parked next to the Triumph for long ? Somehow the Triumph 'Made in England' sticker has transferred to the Norton frame.

Many of the Mk 111s did have the soft cams. Mine was an April '75 example and the original owner told me it had one of those. When is yours from?

79x100 said:

Was it parked next to the Triumph for long ? Somehow the Triumph 'Made in England' sticker has transferred to the Norton frame.

Many of the Mk 111s did have the soft cams. Mine was an April '75 example and the original owner told me it had one of those. When is yours from?

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Mine was May of '75... The original owner put the "Made in England" sticker on her....so can't blame that old '73 Tiger the Norton sits next to.

Nice bike. Let's see it with the seat on.

I need to find out the month of my 75's build, I've never looked.

It has never given me any trouble, although I only have a few thousand miles on it since I got it.

OK, I admit to minor lust for a Mk3.

Cookie said:

OK, I admit to minor lust for a Mk3.

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I'd like to have another 1963 Atlas...completly stock. My youth revisted. I was in High School when the Commando came out, and always wanted one, but just didn't happen until 1994. I didn't really care what year or model.

I got really serious about long distance riding and rode BMWs for many years. Got a "Hardly Dangerous" now and went coast to coast in 2005 with her. Just couldn't/wouldn't do that to my '75 Norton...not now anyway. Don't even own a Harley t-shirt, so not really into the culture.

May or may not do some upgrades on the Ole "MK3" Time will tell.

Funny about the one you had as a kid. My first was a G15CSR and I think I'd trade half my collection for another one. I gave my last Commando away and I wish I had that one back now too.
If you have the electric start Mark 3 that would be a real plus to me these days. I use bikes for all my local errands and trips where I don't need to carry a lot. Usually on a weekend like last week I'll ride the Chang (sidecar BMW type engine) on shopping coffee, etc. When I'm going a little further I take my yellow 76 Goldwing.
The electric start lets you use them like a car.
My old Norton makes you earn a ride, I hope to fiddle it into a better starter after a bit. It's too much trouble to do errands on at the moment so it's a sunny day rider.

I took my electric start off, but saved everything. I may upgrade the system and install the electric start later. Go to a 4 brush, etc. But as long as I can kick her, I will.
My '63 Atlas was a one kicker and my '75 is too(most of the time)... When I was young, all my friends had British bikes, and we would bet each other a $1.00 a kick, so it payed to have your bike timed and tuned...
Especially if you were kickin' for a beer! :lol:

Once you set your points and lube the felt, you should be good for a long time...I put over 20K on my Atlas one summer without messing with my points or timing. Just filed the points once and awhile, and checked my timing. I would spend about 20 minutes a day keeping her squared away.
To be young again?
Don't have the same passion that I did back in those days. We would wrench on British bikes until 2-3 o'clock in the morning.
It's a lot easier to just push the starter button on the Modern bikes...but it just ain't the same.

Since I hit 58 this year and am coming off a bout with shingles that left me many damaged nerves, I realize I don't have the fight I used to with a kick starter.
I rode the Commando for many years in SF as my only transportation and don't even remember starting being any kind of an issue. After a bit of sorting I expect to get this bike down to the one kick starting I had with that old bird.
I'm also thinking of seeing if I can find a Mark 3 starter arm as if that is an inch longer it would give me more leverage.
Oh well, I just got back from the gym and I'll have to up the pressure on the stationary bicycle.
I remember having a girl in a bikini waiting for me to go to the beach and I ignored her until I was done working on my bike. Youth is wasted on the young.