My Uncles Barn bike, Value??

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illf8ed said:
Personally I'd pass on it. The parts to put it together will cost more than finding one already together. Check into good running machine ads first. Chrome costs a bunch now. If you can even find a shop. I paid $1200 for my combat in '97. Probably cost another $8,000 in parts and machining even 20 years ago. Combat machines are out there and don't cost as much as an 850 Mk3. Locally on Craigslist is a '71 for $6500, looks ready to go.
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+1. From the pictures it just looks toooooooo far gone. He should just give it to you, then maybe ... but still a TOTAL strip and rebuild, not cheap.
 
illf8ed said:
Personally I'd pass on it. The parts to put it together will cost more than finding one already together. Check into good running machine ads first. Chrome costs a bunch now. If you can even find a shop. I paid $1200 for my combat in '97. Probably cost another $8,000 in
.
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Really no one who can't see the bike in person knows what is and what is not serviceable from just a couple of pictures. To me it looks pretty darn complete. Too bad your uncle is such a skinflint. A decade or so ago I worked at a small shop that did mostly repairs on Triumphs and Nortons with a few restorations thrown in. I have maybe 4 Norton resto's under my belt and the two I remember most was one that started off looking a lot like your uncles' and one that really needed only a good clean and polish to look great. I did not like working on the latter example because it seemed such a shame to strip such a nice example but the guy had the money. Point is if everything is going to be stripped, polished, repainted, with new parts replacing old etc. A poor example will cost about the same as a better example unless of course you get into big buck missing parts. This proved to be the case with these two bikes with the crappy one costing, relatively speaking, not that much more. And with most of the extra cost to the customer because of labor as it took longer to dismantle the poorer of the two. Also polishing alloy of course took much longer as well. If you are the laborer though, well, does paying yourself enter into it?
My nephew has no interest in anything mechanical whatsoever. Anything played with a ball, especially foot and base is his only interest. He sees $ signs only in my Norton. He will not get it. When the time comes my bike will go to an enthusiast.
 
Well If I was you I would "help" your dad clean his up and get the 850 on the road first. That way you would develop some "Norton" skills and knowledge. Then you would have a better understanding of what a monumental task it would be to get your uncles bike roadworthy again. Also your uncle would see what was involved and probably come to his senses. You could buy a bike like his for two grand easy here in America but you could also buy one in much better shape for $2,000 or $3,000. Or excellent runner in the $5,000 to $6500 range. Seriously help your dad clean up the 850 first and keep a list of the costs. Keep that in mind when you discuss buying your uncles from him again.
 
Thanks to everyone for the responses!

Some questions i see that have popped up allot i want to comment on

Am i doing the work? Yes absolutely, everything with the exception of machine work, this is not my first mechanical experience, or even my first experience on a motorcycle project, or old bike. It is however my first british bikes(others were japanese)

Do i want it to be museum quality? NOPE. I do want it to look clean and be rideable and reliable, i also want to keep it in what i call OEM form, unlike some other bikes i have hacked and cut up, i dont want to do that.

Is their family value there? of course, its been in the family for years and was kind a paired bike with my dads. I do put some value on that.

I also put value on what i KNOW is a numbers matching combat bike, maybe some people dont but i do.

AM i doing this for the value of the Norton $$? Of course not, i can buy a beat up honda 750 for nothing and fix it and sell it for 5K CAD here as people go nuts for them, if i wanted money i would do that.

My dads Norton was his first bike, my first was a Honda 360(still have it and will never sell) , this bike would stay in the family for sure.

As for the bike being neglected, i agree it sucks, not much i can do about it now though other then attempt to save it, from what everyone is saying though it appears that may never happen as my uncle has an unrealistic value of what its worth. I would easily be willing to pay $1000 just because i want to save it and i do honestly think its worth at least that, i wouldnt pay anymore than $2000 myself i dont think though.

Also please keep in mind up here in Canada these bikes are harder to find, even in this shape. Not that its pricey to ship one from USA or anything but still to be noted.

Anyone have some good links on previous for sale ads or similar bikes that have sold i can use to show him? other than this thread?

Thanks
 
I built my 1970 bike from a basket case in 1983, so the dollars need multiplying by a factor of (?).
I paid AUS $800 for it,which was pretty steep, considering its condition.
The frame was bent from a collision, the crankcases were shattered, the barrel was broken, there was a hole in the primary cover, and some small parts were missing.
It hadn't had enough time in storage to accumulate as much corrosion as your uncle's bike.
Although not family, the PO was a friend to whom I had loaned the $900 to buy it in 1973.
He needed the money, and my 1972 Fastback had been stolen the previous year.
I didn't have much money to spare either, as I had just purchased a house.

My experience with Nortons was limited to not much more than setting the points gap & timing.
I hadn't built up a bike before and I wanted to see if I could do it.
Also, I wanted to save a Norton from oblivion.
I did all the work myself, except for welding up the broken crankcases & primary cover, and straightening the frame.

I spent about $2000 and had it on the road in 4 months. No internet or forum then, only the workshop manual for guidance.



Even now, some parts like pedal hangers & gearlever are painted silver rather than chromed. It's just not important.
It's the same bike, but I've changed a few things.
My Uncles Barn bike, Value??

My Uncles Barn bike, Value??
 
gtsun said:
Well If I was you I would "help" your dad clean his up and get the 850 on the road first. That way you would develop some "Norton" skills and knowledge. Then you would have a better understanding of what a monumental task it would be to get your uncles bike roadworthy again. Also your uncle would see what was involved and probably come to his senses. You could buy a bike like his for two grand easy here in America but you could also buy one in much better shape for $2,000 or $3,000. Or excellent runner in the $5,000 to $6500 range. Seriously help your dad clean up the 850 first and keep a list of the costs. Keep that in mind when you discuss buying your uncles from him again.
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I think that's great advice. Start there and get one running first with your old man. Keeping track of the time and money involved will probably be an eye opener for all parties. When you get to your uncle's bike you and your old man can both make the case as to how much time, money and effort is involved.
 
rugby if you go to eBay and type in a search for something, then go into the "filter" section & click on "completed items" you can see what past items of your search have actually been bid up to or sold for. That way you can get a good idea of what the actual market is doing. Whatever you choose to do good luck with it.
 
I'm kind of on both sides of the fence here. Allow me to explain.

I bought back my dad's 71 750. Super cool LONG story associated with it that I won't bore everyone with. Here is the actual bike

My Uncles Barn bike, Value??


My Uncles Barn bike, Value??


Original fiberglass tank that has been dry since the Clinton administration and non messed/repaired fiberglass side covers. Yeah, yeah, one is missing the "Commando 750" script.

I'm not pooh poohing your uncles bike, but, I'd like to think this one is in a bit better shape. I payed $3k for it. Now, I KNOW it was a friend price, but, I think your uncle would extend his nephew the same courtesy.

Guess what? It needs WAY less work and I STILL haven't done a god dam thing with it. Don't let nostalgia/family history cloud your judgement.

Here's a bike I bought last summer....

1973 850 Commando. The guy I bought it from bought it having sat for quite some time, he did rings, cleaned up the bores, single carb, electronic ignition, etc etc. I paid $5100.........

My Uncles Barn bike, Value??


My Uncles Barn bike, Value??


My Uncles Barn bike, Value??


Notice anything else? It's a rider!!!!! By the time I get the 71 750 the way I want it, my little guy is going to be picking out a nursing home for me. Don't let emotions cloud your judgment. Finally, I come from the world of modifying cars so you guys saying he's going to have a TON of money into a resto, $8k, that's laughable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I'm an AWFUL parent.... But, but officer, he REALLY got a kick out of it!!!!

My Uncles Barn bike, Value??
 
Another cost consideration is if you are planning to source any of your parts from the USA. Todays exchange is $1.00 USD=$1.33CD. Not to favorable at this time.
 
eskasteve said:
Another cost consideration is if you are planning to source any of your parts from the USA. Todays exchange is $1.00 USD=$1.33CD. Not to favorable at this time.
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However, on the other side of the coin, the British Pound is very low right now. I placed a big order at the end of last week from Andover Norton and the exchange rate was $1 = 0.79 GBP. You can't beat that, especially when shipping was only 50 GBP.
 
Pay a lot of attention to currencies doing the up and down thingy. I'm delaying my JS longer rods and shorter pistons purchase until things get more equal in Canada. :wink:
 
duggyb, pretty thoughtful letter about why you want this particular bike. Keep working on uncle to get him to be reasonable. Nothing takes the nostalgia out of the equation like paying big $'s for the RIGHT to save something you care about.
 
Well, to say it is connected to your Dad's bike emotionally is true; otherwise, they are not connected at all. Very surprised that your uncle wouldn't just gift you the bike and apologize that he took such poor care of it when he put it into storage. If this bike was a barn find Vincent, your uncle's thinking may be on the right track as far as 'it's worth a small fortune' is concerned'...but a rust bucket Commando...hardly. Most Norton owners, and I say most, agree that the best of the best, is a 1974 Norton 850 Commando. All of the other ones had more problems and are less desirable. And, big deal that it's numbers matching as most of them are and it only relates to the engine and transmission. I'd offer him a bottle of Scotch and the opportunity to stop by once in a while and see the restoration and only if he offers you a wee dram! If not, I'd go and find yourself another bike, a 1974 850 barn find, and let him admire his own rusty machine. Difficult to believe that family would be looking to line their pockets with money on an old bike that's been left to rot.
 
cNwRestomod said:
Well, to say it is connected to your Dad's bike emotionally is true; otherwise, they are not connected at all. Very surprised that your uncle wouldn't just gift you the bike and apologize that he took such poor care of it when he put it into storage. If this bike was a barn find Vincent, your uncle's thinking may be on the right track as far as 'it's worth a small fortune' is concerned'...but a rust bucket Commando...hardly. Most Norton owners, and I say most, agree that the best of the best, is a 1974 Norton 850 Commando. All of the other ones had more problems and are less desirable. And, big deal that it's numbers matching as most of them are and it only relates to the engine and transmission. I'd offer him a bottle of Scotch and the opportunity to stop by once in a while and see the restoration and only if he offers you a wee dram! If not, I'd go and find yourself another bike, a 1974 850 barn find, and let him admire his own rusty machine. Difficult to believe that family would be looking to line their pockets with money on an old bike that's been left to rot.
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cNwRestomod,

Your username, to me, is confusingly suggestive of being Matt Rambow at Colorado Norton Works. He speaks for himself, but I believe he would appreciate it if you at least added a signature line to your posts to clarify that you're not affiliated with, or posting on behalf of Colorado Norton Works.

I should probably stop using the FullAuto artwork in my avatar, too.


Would like to read your views on the superiority of the '74 850, too, but in a new thread.



.
 
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