Help me with my value

Hello everyone. I just received this 1974 Norton with a pretty nice faring on it from my father’s estate. I don’t see this on any websites. can anyone tell me more about this bike and what it may be worth? Hank

Plenty of pics, but no information

Does it run? What country? If US, does it have a clear title? Does the number on the side of the engine match the number on the top of the gearbox and the red label at the front of the steering? Any rust? How many miles? It looks clean, but there are several non-standard things which may hurt its value.

Looks like an 850 Interstate 73/74 model with Dunstall mufflers and a single Mikuni carb with a very big touring fairing, it has stock front disc brake on it, mufflers, carb and fairing aren't stock, as for value depends in which country you are in, whether the bike is a runner or needs work, looks like a runner, looks like it's in pretty good condition for its age and seems to have been looked after by your father, each country has different values and here in Aus would be worth over $12K+ a member on my Triumph rat Forum in Aus just sold his Commando for $12k with a worn out motor that needed a rebuild, I think he was a member on here as well, but a lot more Norton's were exported to the US of A the US was a big market, it all depends on who is willing to pay good money, Commando prices are going up and up each year, well here in Australia anyway.

Ashley

Thank you everyone,
The numbers match. It runs well but does need tires. I have clean title. I live in Florida USA

Thepaxsons said:

Thank you everyone,
The numbers match. It runs well but does need tires. I have clean title. I live in Florida USA

Click to expand...

OK, if it were stock, I would say $6k-$9k depending on a close inspection. Since it's quite different than stock, it really depends on the buyer. For instance:

To me it looks good, but the paint is so wrong that to many over $1k would need to be spent just to correct that.
It needs $300-$400 in tires and if the rims are not rust free, make that a LOT more.
There are those that would hate the single carb and those that would consider it a plus.
I really don't like the exhaust, but some might consider it to be a plus.
To me, a Norton should not have a fairing, but there are people from time to time here looking for them.

One of the biggest issues is where you try to sell it. The place that "usually" brings the highest price is https://bringatrailer.com/. Lots of bikes are sold on eBay and you probably get the most people looking there. Listing it here will ensure that people interested in Commandos will see it, but most already have at least one.

This bike is supposedly perfect and listed for $10k OBO and is being looked at but no takers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1352260887...uid=7IK5PclKT32&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Or, if you just want to be free of it, I'll give you $5k and you pay to ship to me . I need a hole in the head more than another project, and that is more than I should offer for a Norton that I would return to stock, but...

IMO, 2 kinds of people want a norton. One is a collector. It isn't about riding for them, and they are looking for the most desirable or rarest models. One of the better jokes about Norton's is that the factory made 1000 production racers and after all these years there's only 5,000 left in existence... (people convert ordinary bikes into proddy racers) So the values of certain models are collector values.

The other person who might want a norton are vintage MC riders who probably were young men when Nortons were in production and are still interested in them nearly 50 years later. Most of them actually want to ride their Norton because they might be older technology, but a commando still easily joins the flow along side modern traffic. Mechanical correctness is king for this group, not special accessories like that fairing.

As far as prices go, they can be all over the map. I'm not great with valuation, but a few guys here have bought, restored, and traded in nortons for decades and they have a better handle on the value of your bike than I would. You should take the bike to a "norton guy" to get it running. If it has power, idles well, and looks as good as it does, then $10,000 seems like a decent starting price to me. If it's a "collector's model" of some sort, I would say that it could be a many thousands more. If you can't get it running then $5,000. based on it's appearance.

If it doesn't run, then you can't sell it as a "ready to ride" bike. There's definitely a market for those who DON'T want to rebuild a vintage bike, but want to have one to ride. Those people pay for a finished project. The people who are going strip the bike down, paint the frame, rebuild the engine/gearbox/primary don't want to pay finished project prices since they will put a lot of time and money into the restoration.

In the end, you might get $12,000 or you might get $8,000. depending on finding the right buyer. I don't think most people here buy other guy's finished projects, but the general public does. Guys who collect motorcycles and just want a Norton in their collection are probably your target buyer for your best price.

I have a dunstall fairing on my bike. I know it gets some weird looks from other norton owners but it keeps the wind blast down at 80 mph so I like it for that. Your fairing is kind of cool, and kind of weird (like mine) but I'd love to ride behind it to see how well it works. Although I am pretty sure I would remove it because a Norton is a sport bike and that fairing is more of a full coverage touring fairing. I think some guys might love it, but I ride my commando in a sport bike fashion so it's not appropriate for my style of riding (twisties)

anyway, Cool bike thanks for posting it.

...... Edited to add @ Greg,.... stock nortons don't look as good as this to me



In fact, the puny fuel tank on a roadster looks completely disproportionate to the rest of the bike without clip ons and rear sets. Even then the bike looks better with a race fairing like this

What mileage? Any documented engine or transmission work done? As previously stated, it needs a correct paint job and to lose
the faring. Even if all is well, it could easily cost $2000 to get it into a running, riding and saleable condition. It could then bring up to
$10,000 if the right buyer came along. The Bring A Trailer web site will allow you to review the sales price, photos and description
of every Norton Commando they have ever listed, and there have been quite a few. It looks to have a lot of potential.

If I was buying something like that, I would want it before it was fixed by somebody who did not know much about it.

acotrel said:

If I was buying something like that, I would want it before it was fixed by somebody who did not know much about it.

Click to expand...

Word.

Prices in the US are somewhat regional. The DC area had strong norton dealers in the day and thus the bikes are fairly available and the prices are perhaps somewhat lower than some areas. The fairing is somewhat more difficult to take off than many because the headlight has been converted to fairing mount. In the VA area 10K is for a really nice bike that is desirable and at least mostly original. It was not that long ago that you could buy 850 roadsters in good running condition for 5-6k here. Gregs' price range is basically what it would trade for around the DC area and are more realistic than 10k for the bike as it sits. I doubt that BAT would accept this bike as is and even the prices they get are generally within the range of 6-9K for less than near perfect specimens.

My opinion is that the fairing will lower the sale price but maybe not enough to justify the cost of removing it.

It is hard to put a value on vintage bikes. From my experience they are worth about half of what I put into them.

If you have the time and patience advertise it for 10k, if zero interest lower it by a grand to 9k, if still no interest (no one phoning up asking if it is still available) then lower again down to 8K. carry on like this until the phone starts ringing, then you will have an idea as to what its worth. Lose the fairing, it looks shite, the polished up tyres (tires in the US of A) are a dead giveaway that they are old and have been cleaned up to sell. Don't expect top dollar if it is not reasonably original and in good working order

2019 registered Massachusetts plate on it, so hasn't been ridden in 5 years.
You've gotten pretty good ballpark numbers, that fairing does not enhance it's value. Purchasers are likely going to devalue it's worth by what it would cost to put it more like a stock model.

Any reason why you don't want it?

under recent (scroll down)

hi-low

marshg246 said:

This bike is supposedly perfect and listed for $10k OBO and is being looked at but no takers

Click to expand...

I cringe when someone is asking near/top dollar and posts un-cropped "portrait" framed pictures of a "landscape" subject.

Thepaxsons said:

Hello everyone. I just received this 1974 Norton with a pretty nice faring on it from my father’s estate. I don’t see this on any websites. can anyone tell me more about this bike and what it may be worth? Hank

Click to expand...

My condolences on your father's passing, it would appear that he lovingly cared for that bike.

There is an expression "all over the map"...

IF IT WERE ME - I'd remove the fairing and carefully clean up anyplace that it was attached. Then, I'd slip on a new set of tires.

Change the oil & filter, flush the carb & gas tank, any tidy up anything else that's not 100% roadworthy (brake fluid, chain adjustment, etc.). New battery if needed. Bike should be running to demonstrate viability.

At this point, put it on e-bay with a starting bid of $7,000 and maybe a reserve of $8,000 and see where it goes. Offer the fairing separately with a starting bid of $350; shipping will prohibitive due to physical size. It could be SLIGHTLY reduced by detaching the windscreen.

It would be a total coin toss as to whether repainting it would return the money to do it...

grandpaul said:

My condolences on your father's passing, it would appear that he lovingly cared for that bike.

There is an expression "all over the map"...

IF IT WERE ME - I'd remove the fairing and carefully clean up anyplace that it was attached. Then, I'd slip on a new set of tires.

Change the oil & filter, flush the carb & gas tank, any tidy up anything else that's not 100% roadworthy (brake fluid, chain adjustment, etc.). New battery if needed. Bike should be running to demonstrate viability.

At this point, put it on e-bay with a starting bid of $7,000 and maybe a reserve of $8,000 and see where it goes. Offer the fairing separately with a starting bid of $350; shipping will prohibitive due to physical size. It could be SLIGHTLY reduced by detaching the windscreen.

It would be a total coin toss as to whether repainting it would return the money to do it...

Click to expand...

That's close to what I would do, but considering the required parts/wiring/knowledge to put the lighting/front end back to stock, the time/cost of replacing the tires, and knowledge/time needed to do the rest, it may well make no economic sense for @Thepaxsons especially if hoping to get $8k. It may better to take anything he can get over $5k as is. So, I would consider a first time listing on eBay as is with a $8k starting bid. If it doesn't sell, relist lower.

The bike I linked on eBay is a 99+ Winners Circle bike listed at $10K OBO so quite the competition.

​

marshg246 said:

That's close to what I would do, but considering the required parts/wiring/knowledge to put the lighting/front end back to stock, the time/cost of replacing the tires, and knowledge/time needed to do the rest, it may well make no economic sense for @Thepaxsons especially if hoping to get $8k. It may better to take anything he can get over $5k as is. So, I would consider a first time listing on eBay as is with a $8k starting bid. If it doesn't sell, relist lower.

Click to expand...

I don't see it as much over a grand for tires & fairing removal. The rest is only "as needed". With good title I'd pay a local/nearby shop to swap the tires. I don't see any special skills required to remove the fairing...