Help me decide if I should sign up for more punishment!

Ok, so I found a '71 S Model locally and I'm really entertaining picking it up (yes, I know my 850 isn't even done yet...) but I can't decide if it's even worth the hassle.

Here's the guy's description:

"This is a very nice example of a numbers matching 1971 Norton Commando 750 survivor. Bike is nearly complete but engine is out and apart. This is a pretty original bike with some extra parts. Bike is all together right now as a complete roller minus the engine, transmission is still in the bike and functional. Bike has original frame, swing arm, engine, transmission, gas tank, oil tank, chain guard, air cleaner, side covers, front forks, wheels, headlight, seat, rear fender, tailight, etc. There is not much missing at all. Best I can tell it would need a new head steady, front fender and brackets, carb, throttle, outer primary, footpeg rubbers, grips and exhaust. Bike has not been wrecked, it is very straight, gas tank is clean inside. Bike is red but was originally blue.

Engine is apart, originally one rod had come loose and put a minor gouge on the inside of one half of the cases, no big deal, not a structural problem. A donor motor supplied a replacement crank, rods and pistons as well as a second set of cases that are very nice, although the original cases can still be used. I inspected everything, crank is good, rod bearings are std., doesn't even need polished, I have new F.A.G. brass main bearings, the recommended upgrade for this engine. Rods are good, might need a little polishing and new rod bearings. Pistons may be usable if cleaned up and the bore is within tolerance. Pistons are also std. Will need ke comes with at least new rings and a hone, at most new pistons, rings and a bore. The head is all there, valves aren't beat in, they look good, rockers move easily with no abnormal play. "

And here are the pictures:














I'm really thinking I'm only a buyer if I can get it for $1500 or less (seems unlikely), but IDK.. He's sending me some more pictures tomorrow.

-Jordan

Ruh roh

I would certainly pay $1500 for it if this is the figure mentioned. It looks quite complete and you already know what issues there are with the engine, so no nasty surprises. I find that most classic bikes projects cost about the same to restore except for the engine, which is the one intangible until you get it apart and see what is needed.

Masochism is spelled: N, O, R, T, O, N.

you have to ask yourself if the moments of pain are outweighed by the moments of pleasure.

JD

Are you sure its a 1971 ?, looks like a 1970 Roadster to me ( Halo headlight, centre oil tank, shrouded rear shocks, old type centre stand, single warning light, curved chainguard, clock faces ) ?.

ask for a picture of the seat ,as that is not like the roadsters ,it should be thinner and the nose upwards
that asking price is very fair to me .
funny nobody recognised it ....what type is it ?come on anoraks

It is a roadster. It has the mounts for the low exhaust whereas the "S" has high pipes.

20M3S/139332. Should be somewhere between a 1970 and a 1971.

I want it, but I don't think the guy will go lower than $1800 and that's about $300 too much for me.

KSUWildcatFan said:

20M3S/139332. Should be somewhere between a 1970 and a 1971.

I want it, but I don't think the guy will go lower than $1800 and that's about $300 too much for me.

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Yes 300 bucks less gets you the Lansdowne Dampers...What a great start 8)

john robert bould said:

KSUWildcatFan said:

20M3S/139332. Should be somewhere between a 1970 and a 1971.

I want it, but I don't think the guy will go lower than $1800 and that's about $300 too much for me.

Click to expand...

Yes 300 bucks less gets you the Lansdowne Dampers...What a great start 8)

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Lol. I assume this bike would have to sit for a while before I'd actually start tinkering with it. I just can't justify buying it unless it's a better-than-average deal. ;/

I personally would 'buy it now' for $1800 if I lived in the US, it would be a shame to loose such a gem for $300. You could probably sell the spare cases and other engine bits and probably recoup most if not all of that.

dave M said:

I personally would 'buy it now' for $1800 if I lived in the US, it would be a shame to loose such a gem for $300. You could probably sell the spare cases and other engine bits and probably recoup most if not all of that.

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I certainly want it, but idk. Convincing my wife it's worth a dime over $1500 will be tough. Ugh.

Tell him it's a Bitsa. The Steel tank is a give away on that matter. :wink:

I agree with those who have said it is a roadster not an "S". The S had a silver tail light mount this one is black. Also the gas tank looks to be an aftermarket steel one. I am under the impression that all S models had a glass tank and the rear mount would have have been a large O ring that hooked onto two buttons on the rear of the tank and looped under the backbone. Also the gas cap is backwards indicating an aftermarket tank. In todays world with corn gas that is not a bad thing. As it has been said check the exhaust pipes an S whould be the high scrambler style.

Ugggggggh. Down to $1650..

The motor in pieces scares me.

Probly a good thing with a non runner.
I'd certanly consider it at that price. If I didn't already have 2 British classics exhausting my mind and liquidity.

shrugger said:

Probly a good thing with a non runner.
I'd certanly consider it at that price. If I didn't already have 2 British classics exhausting my mind and liquidity.

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I'm torn. I want it, but $1650 isn't cheap enough to convince me to dump the cash, knowing fully well that it will piss off the wife. Ugggggggh!!!

At least you can see what work the motor needs to complete the project. Tell your wife a guru from Asia told you to buy it and then blame it on me! Will she really be any more pissed off at you for spending $1650 as opposed to $1500?

Buy it. You know you want to!

It looks like 10 grand worth of work, easy. That is the figure you need to except.

Take the lead in this deal and stand tough. Stick with the $1500 and be ready to walk away if needed. He don't want that basket case anymore and way too many questions on its internal integrity.
That being said, if you can afford to bring it to life then a buck and a half won't matter much. We all want to see a these things brought back from the dead but we don't want to see it become an unmanagable situation for someone.
Keep your addictions safe and managable.

dave M said:

Will she really be any more pissed off at you for spending $1650 as opposed to $1500?

Buy it. You know you want to!

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exactly!!!! what's $150 in the long run? nothing.

Get it, store it away, even if it takes you 20 years to finish so what, you've already got one that will be done soon.