My Commando conundrum

I flew down to Melbourne last week & checked out the Cafe'd bike. It was everything the photo's promised, & more. It ran sweet, & I took it for a nice long ride, before deciding to buy it. I had the transport organised, which was on the way back to the airport. So I had the whole thing done & dusted in 4 hours, & I was back at the airport with an hour to spare, & home the same day.
The bike arrived yesterday, without a scratch (wrapping it in bubble wrap probably helped there). But the 6 boxes of spares are still to show up (should be here by the end of the week). & it's taken the place of my old Norton, as a Lounge Ornament, until the old bike gets blinged up with all the shiny bits in the 6 boxes, & it can resume Lounge Queen duties. I'll put the Cafe bike on the road then, though I still won't be able to ride it much until I've recovered from the shoulder replacement I'm due to get later this year.
I am having trouble starting the bike though. The original owner assures me it's usually an easy starter, & it certainly fired up easily for me in Melbourne (from cold). So something's happened on the trip. I've checked for loose wires, with no joy. The float bowl overflow pipe on the Mikuni does dump fuel on the floor, if the petcocks are left on. So I'm thinking a stuck float might be the culprit. Any other suggestions?

She arrived gift wrapped.


My Babies.


My new Lounge Queen


The fairing's off an 02 Ducati SS 1000, which has had it's oblong headlight blanked out, & the twin headlight's cut into it. I love it! It's drop-dead sexy!


The bike's a 71, with matching numbers. But the motor's been recently professionally rebuilt to Combat specs. It was nice & tight, with plenty of punch, when I rode it in Melb


The gear lever's been reversed, which reverses the pattern. I initially didn't like the rear set ride position, but once I sat forward into the tank, & tucked my knees into their tank recesses, it felt both more comfortable & a lot more controllable.


It's a nice clean unit. I'm very happy with it, & I'll be even happier when I can hear it run again.

Nice score! Hopefully you just have a loose ground wire or maybe a crapped out coil...

Very nice, ol scratcher.

You could still have this one for AUD $35,000 if you feel the need...
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 85&alt=web

I'm sure that bike was featured in Australian Streetbike magazine back in the 90's. When Geoff Seddon was the editor. He had a soft spot for Nortons. The paint was the same and it had the Yamaha brakes and wheels. God knows where my copy is now. I definitely still have it and if I ever dig it up I'll post it.

ashman said:

You be surprised in what some are asking for Nortons down under, have seen a few 850s asking 16K and more, seen one 850 asking 22k, althought I love my Nortons I would never pay that much for one, I was offered a 73 850 for $6,500 last year that was a US import, looked all orginal but the inside of the motor was unknown, I should have jumped at it, at the time I had the money but didn't have the room in my shed, anyway I have 2 Nortons to play with and a 2 year old Thruxton.

Ashley

Click to expand...

Across the Tasman you won't get a running Commando for under 10K AU/NZ ( almost parity with the two $ )
Some asking up to nearly 20K
Last spend up by the Baby Boom generation me thinks along with Kombi vans selling for 50-70K.
Mid 90's Ducati's are the current bargains here, but the $600 a year rego for post 1975 bikes hurts :cry:

Beauiful cafe! Looks like someone grafted an entire Yamaha front end on. Straightforward enough, but I'd love to see detail on how the rear wheel/brake combo was worked out.

I like the raised footpeg setup, although I'm betting it would get tiring on the knees after a while...

Beauty of a bike.

72Combat said:

ashman said:

Last spend up by the Baby Boom generation me thinks along with Kombi vans selling for 50-70K.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Try $202,000 (AU/NZ) for an old Splitie! http://www.smh.com.au/drive/vw-kombi-se ... 3nd9m.html
BTW The bike cost me $11K, with the 6 boxes of spares (still to arrive), plus another grand to ship it all north. Which makes the $8500 I paid for my fixer-upper look positively expensive!
I think it's a recent build by the previous owner, so I doubt it's the same bike that was in a 90s mag. It's a popular look for a Norton, based on a Dunstal kit I believe.

Rohan said:

phillyskip said:

Unless you have deep pockets I would stick with one Norton for now. Fix it up,get it running and enjoy it.

Click to expand...

That was my advice a couple of posts ago.
But he rejected it, in favour of more bikes.... !

Can't help thinking that one good bike is better than a few roughies though.
Starting with something that runs is easy to keep running, compared to something that may only ever be a dream.
??

Click to expand...

& I'm very happy I rejected it too. You assume that both bikes are rough. Not so. Both bikes run. Ok the Cafe's a bit reluctant right now, but it ran well in Melbourne, & I'm sure it's something minor stopping it now, & the Stocker's running a little rough, but it's nothing a tune up won't cure. Both bikes have had extensive recent engine rebuilds, which seem to nave been done to a high standard. The Stocker needs some work to make it brilliant, but all the bits needed are currently in transit from Melb, & the Cafe just needs a roadworthy inspection & some rego to make it perfect & street legal.
One good bike maybe better than two roughies. But two good bikes is better still. & if I had a spare $35K that 850 would be joining the fleet too. Too many bikes is an oxymoron!

The 6 boxes of spares arrived. The black roadster tank's steel. It's paint's worse than the one on my Stocker, but it hasn't got any rust like the original tank has. So I'll probably use it. The silver tank's fibre glass & need's a freshen up too. I do like that colour scheme, but not enough to change the whole bike over to it. I might get it painted, along with a couple of side covers, & one of the cafe seats. Then I could Cafe the Stocker within 15 minutes, without having the hassle of changing the fairing. But it's not a priority. The other tank's fibre glass, & is pretty shabby, but all there. I'll just keep it as a spare. The spare Cafe seat's a genuine Dunstal piece. It needs a polish up too, but I think I prefer it to the seat that's on there (which is a Dunstal copy). Though it's still not my ideal seat/tail piece for the Cafe bike, but I think it's slightly wider indicators will pass a Qld RWC inspection easier than what's on there now. The megaphone mufflers need a good polish up, & I definitely won't be fitting them until it's been for it's RWC inspection. But the old owner said they sound magnificent, so they'll definitely be going on as soon as the bike's legal. The rest of the parts look ok, though I think I'm missing a fork leg, which I hope the transporters can track down. But it's going to take me a day or two to sort through everything & find a home for it, before it gets used on one of my bikes. But that all part of the fun. Innit?

Old Scratcher said:

& if I had a spare $35K that 850 would be joining the fleet too.
Too many bikes is an oxymoron!

Click to expand...

Well, I'd certainly agree with Part 2 of the above.
But you could buy even a brand new 961 for less than that, AND get a warranty.
And have a totally brand new Norton in the stable.



Heck, you should be able to to buy 2 or 3 quite good 850s for that money also.
You could also buy any number of different makes and models of new bikes for less than that,
often considerably less than that.

P.S. You do know that fibreglass tanks are a bit of an unknown these days,
ethanol and solvents in fuel eating them and all that.
Check em out most carefully before use - if they start dribbling fuel on hot engines,
the result can be less than happy.

I do want a 961, & would prioritise one over an over priced museum piece. But if I could afford to get that 850 I would, as it's still a great investment. & it's only because I could only put minimal miles on it, without seriously affecting it's value, why I'd prefer the new bike as a daily rider. I'm glad to see they've finally reached Qld. If they make it to Nth Qld I'm going to be tempted for sure.

AS for the fibre glass tanks. The black one looks real swanky & I'm very suss of it. The silver one looks alright, but I'll bear in mind what you said, & get it pressure tested before I spend any more money on it.

Old Scratcher said:

& get it pressure tested before I spend any more money on it.

Click to expand...

They may more need coating inside to prevent the effects of modern fuels....

Old Scratcher said:

. But if I could afford to get that 850 I would, as it's still a great investment.

Click to expand...

How do you figure the 'great investment' ?
Lotta folks have commented thats a dubious historical point to double its worth ??
And it hasn't sold, we note...

Ones brand new in crates still appear, now and then.
Once the crate is opened, or they are ridden, any extra value evaporates (??).

A bike is worth what someone's prepared to pay for it vs what someone's prepared to sell it for. I agree that that bikes got a way to go before it finds it's buyer, & it's "history" is far from memorable (or important). But if the Seller waits long enough someone will pay his price, & that will set the new bench mark. It's generally accepted that the MkIII Commando was the best of the originals. Most of the ones that are left have been ridden & restored, more than once. & the stock of bikes that are in pristine condition is dwindling. Yes I agree that the more miles you put on that bike, the more you'd devalue it, which is why I'd buy a 961, & both of the bikes I have, before considering it, as I like to ride my bikes. But I still think that if that bike was stored properly, & used sparingly, it'd be a profitable investment within a few years. Anyway it's academic, as I've no intention of buying it, or a 961, in the near future. I'm very happy with what I've got.
PS I'm fairly new to the Norton market, though I have been observing it for decades, & I've a lot of experience buying & selling other classic bike & car marques, mainly Triumphs Ducatis, Jags & Holdens (gotta keep the inner Bogan happy :mrgreen: ). Every marque's going through a different phase of the market. Some vehicles, are so hot (like classic Dukes & Jags) their price is constantly moving upwards. This is the definition of a Sellers Market, & while due diligence should always apply to any purchase, a Buyer needs to move quickly to get what's on offer. Other marques have a niche following & struggle to make price improvements over decades. These are obviously vehicles a Buyer can negotiate a good deal over (a Buyer's Market). Norton's seem to be somewhere in the middle. Special bikes, with a significant provenance, can make mega bucks. But the rank & file bikes just hold their value well, while maintaing a gentle upward curve. So the price one negotiates is entirely up to what the Buyer can talk the Seller into, & hopefully both walk away happy with what they got (I know I did with my two bikes). But what I can't understand is why Norton owners would want to deride someone trying to set a new benchmark with a bike of some significance (no matter how dubious). As the new high price drags up the value of all the lesser bikes below it. & that's something I'd think that every Norton Owner would/should want. A buoyant appreciating market is the best survival tool these bikes have. It's what's kept Vincents & Brough-Superriors alive. A damaged Brough recently brought $140K, & the Buyer probably considered it a bargain! Will Commandos every reach these heady heights? Some of the Race Specials might, but I doubt the rest will. Though I do think we'll see some of the better & rarer bikes break though the $50K mark within the next 10 years. NB I'm talking about the Australian market, in Aussie dollars. I expect other markets to rise by a similar percentage.
PPS I wouldn't touch a crate bike, of any marque. Because not only do you devalue it as soon as you pop the wrapping (like a Star Wars Toy) You'll probably need to do a full rebuild on it before starting it, to replace every hardened rubber & crumbling gasket. & if it's been stored anywhere less than completely high & dry, there'll probably be extensive rust throughout the engine's internals, which hasn't had a protective coat of oil on it in decades! :shock:

Old Scratcher said:

A bike is worth what someone's prepared to pay for it vs what someone's prepared to sell it for. I agree that that bikes got a way to go before it finds it's buyer, & it's "history" is far from memorable (or important). But if the Seller waits long enough someone will pay his price, & that will set the new bench mark. It's generally accepted that the MkIII Commando was the best of the originals. Most of the ones that are left have been ridden & restored, more than once. & the stock of bikes that are in pristine condition is dwindling.

Click to expand...

That bike though has done 32000 miles, and has already been restored and repainted. So where is this 'pristine' coming from ??

When goodish bikes in the US are selling for $6k to $10k, it'll be a while before $35k is the benchmark !?!

I'm not buying it, & never had any intention of doing so. I've got a use for every dollar I've got, so having 35,000 of them spare is never going to happen, & was always me being speculative. But if I had Jay Leno money, & was looking for a well turned out Mk III, I'd be giving that bike a good going over. & the deal breaker would be the condition of the bike, & how true his advertising is, rather than the price. I'd try & talk him down. I always do, & always would, no matter how rich I was. But when I reached his resistance line, I'd pay it. (Speculatively)
BTW Our dollar's in free fall. So landing a good US bike here is getting more expensive all the time. That's why that guy advertised the US dollar price too, which was around $27K. Still a lot for what it is. But I wouldn't be surprised if he gets it. It depends how long he's prepared to wait for that one Buyer who just has to have it (who isn't me BTW)
PS I never said that this bike was from the stock of pristine bikes. Though I'd define a pristine bike as one that presents in as original condition, whether restored or not, which this bike does. An unrestored bike in pristine condition is on another level again, & probably more worth what this guy's asking. But hey! If he can get it, good on him. You can't blame a guy for trying.

Hi old Scratcher.
The term you are looking for is "invitation to treat". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invitation_to_treat
The $35,000 bike seller is inviting the rest of us to "treat" or "bargain" yet someone out there may just cough up for the full initial asking price (but not me either).
Ta.

Hm, would be a shame if Commando got so expensive only collectors with too many bikes to ride could afford them. Only economical sense in owning a Commando is parting them out, anything else is priceless to sell.