Norton Commando 1968

I agree buy it now! Beautiful bike, too bad for those ugly Fontana brakes but hey I will buy those from you anytime

Gian85 said:

But does it still exist?

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Yes, it still exists. I'm going to rally with him in a week.
The bike has been restored to the exact condition like when he bought it in 68. Silver with black frame and black ears for the light. Norton Villiers are recerrs in the tank and tail.

I like the looks of the rear section of the display model. Please note the meaty 4.00x18 tire fitted. I guess the front tire is 3.00 x 19.
Please find an extract of the initial Cycle World test of the 1968-69 model:
http://www.classicbikeswapmeet.com/norton-1968/

-Knut

L.A.B. said:

It's difficult to tell exactly from the Earl's Court photos. The early production tanks certainly had a recessed "Norton Villiers Norton" badge. As 130634 is late '68 or probably early '69 then the smooth tank with Norton decal is likely to be original. The prototypes and '68 Commandos would not have had the "750 Commando" oil tank and side panel decals.

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The side decals may have been placed after repainting the bike. They are just labels that can be removed at any time.
Did not the whole series have the recesses in the tank?

Kvinnhering said:

Yes, it still exists. I'm going to rally with him in a week.
The bike has been restored to the exact condition like when he bought it in 68. Silver with black frame and black ears for the light. Norton Villiers are recerrs in the tank and tail.

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I think that is very rare this Commando. Probably dangerous if it has its original frame since they broke.

nortonspeed said:

I agree buy it now! Beautiful bike, too bad for those ugly Fontana brakes but hey I will buy those from you anytime

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Much more functional than its original but aesthetically they are bad.

I do not share your opinion about the aesthetics of the Fontana brake, Gian, sorry.
To me, that brake sends a message that the rider is serious about his bike. In fact, I think it looks fantastic, and especially so with the alloy wheels. Hope you get it!

Mr. Rick said:

I do not share your opinion about the aesthetics of the Fontana brake, Gian, sorry.
To me, that brake sends a message that the rider is serious about his bike. In fact, I think it looks fantastic, and especially so with the alloy wheels. Hope you get it!

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The aesthetic tastes are personal each person has their own.
I prefer the originality of a motorcycle. Except in case of triton, cafè racer or special.

Initially, thanks to the idiotic PR outfit N-V got tangled up with, the word "Norton"didn't appear ANWHERE on the bike. The tank didn't have recesses for a typical badge and the green spherical "logo" was attached with adhesive. I was on the stand at the '67 Earl's Court debut and one visitor asked why the "turn signals" were green and mounted so far back on the tank! Bikes didn't routinely have turn signals back then.

The show bikes, and maybe the first 100 or so production machines all had silver metallic paint on everything that wasn't chromed or polished alloy.

I think there was a recall of the first block of production bikes that got a free replacement tank with recesses for a badge and the owners later got a metal badge to fit. Later ones got the traditional metal Norton badge at the factory delivery time. I'm not sure how many were delivered with a decal version of the traditional badge.

The way N-V was run, once the bike was cleared for production, everything that pertained to it that was in the experimental dept in Wolverhampton was transferred to the production department in London. Wolverhampton moved on to what became the AJS Stormer, based on the M-X team bikes.

Hi Gian,
greetings from Italy.
It is a nice bike, buy it at soon.
It looks to me to be a first six mounths 1969.
My friend has an August 1969 Fastback with 130... numbers.
I have never seen before this bike.
I remember a 1969 bike in Rome, same colour, with the gearchange lever on the left built from the owner that had a problem to shift with the right foot.
Pay attention to the front 250 Fontana four TLS brake, it is really an hard brake.
The rear Fontana is more quite than front.
Ciao
Piero

pierodn said:

Hi Gian,
greetings from Italy.
It is a nice bike, buy it at soon.
It looks to me to be a first six mounths 1969.
My friend has an August 1969 Fastback with 130... numbers.
I have never seen before this bike.
I remember a 1969 bike in Rome, same colour, with the gearchange lever on the left built from the owner that had a problem to shift with the right foot.
Pay attention to the front 250 Fontana four TLS brake, it is really an hard brake.
The rear Fontana is more quite than front.
Ciao
Piero

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Hi Piero, credo di poterti parlare in italiano La moto non la comprerò perché il proprietario mi ha tirato un brutto scherzo. Hai informazioni dove posso trovare un Fastback prima serie. Se mi vuoi contattare tramite email e poi scambiarci i numeri di
cellulare il mio indirizzo é gmp85legal@gmail.com
Aspetto tue notizie.
Gian

Gian85:
Benvenuti nel forum. Spero che trovi la moto per essere quello che vuoi. Ci sono
molti grandi persone qui con un sacco di conoscenze ed esperienze. Essi saranno molto utili. Vi auguro il meglio. Buona Fortuna.

I am to the research by the Norton Commando Fastback 1968. If any person have info write to me.

Gian85 said:

I think that is very rare this Commando. Probably dangerous if it has its original frame since they broke.

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I came over this thread to day as I was searching for info on why they chose that rather dramatic, but to me, pleasing color scheme. The reason is that the owner of the bike mentioned by "Kvinnhering" was here today delivering some bike bits he wants me to vapor hone. We discussed his bike and it's history, and I know "Kvinnhering" knows the story far better than me, but since he didn't answer your question about the original frame, I'll relate what he told me. The frame actually broke under braking after a few years and had him off in a big way. Long story short; heavy injuries, bike sold off, bike bought back decades later and restored. I've seen it, it's great!

But can anyone tell what the idea behind the orange seat was? I think I read something about NVT wanting it to stand out at the show or something to that effect. True? Or was it just a case of someones rather peculiar taste?

If you want a "collector" bike, it seems to be an excellent example. If you want a "rider," a later model would be a better choice. I wouldn't personally want a Commando prior to the 1971 model.

I don't think he bought it as a "collector" bike in November '68...