Not looking for another Norton but...(2012)
- Thread starter swooshdave
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pvisseriii said:
Complaining about yellow is how you show your love. :mrgreen:
Hortons Norton
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A Yellow Norton is what infected me to loving motorcycles, I was about 12 or 13 in the early 70's. There was a guy in our neighborhood that had one that would race up and down the street and then come back home and work on it a bit and then back out, It sounded so cool and was so fast all the kids would watch. I can still hear and see it in my memory. :wink:
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" What's wrong with yellow? "
Its to heavy , all those pigments . Clear or white will save 1/4 ounce .
Its to heavy , all those pigments . Clear or white will save 1/4 ounce .
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I own two '73 and none has silver barrels :?:BillT said:
Fritz
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bad_friday said:
Should have clarified that by stating that '73 850s had silver barrels. The 750 short strokes with the 850-style barrel had black barrels.
All Commandos through '73, except '72 Combats and '73 750s originally had silver barrels.
'72 Combats, '73 750s, and '74-on 850s originally had black barrels.
Some think the silver barrels look better, some think black barrels look better. When I first did my '73, I painted the barrels black because I didn't know any better. They're silver now.
http://classicbike.biz/Norton/Mags/1970s/1973NortonMC-World.pdf
http://classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/1973NortonLineUp.pdf
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Yeah, I like those period articles because they give an impression of what the bike was like without the benefit of hindsight. All the testers have to compare it to is what else is available at the time. There was a reason why the Commando was well regarded in its time.
These articles are also a good source for what the bike looked like off the showroom floor: where components were placed on the bike, colors, fit and finish, etc.
These articles are also a good source for what the bike looked like off the showroom floor: where components were placed on the bike, colors, fit and finish, etc.
Yes BillT, I like how, performance-wise, the Commando still stands up real good against the current crop of retro wannabees like the Triumph, Kawasaki, M-Guzzi, Sportster & etc, even if they do ask a bit more in return, it is part of the pride of involvement..
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BillT said:
That Motor Cycle World article was bad. Two things that stood out as laughable was when they said how reliable and race proven the gearbox was and then how nice the front brake was.
Maybe they meant, as BillT alluded, by contemporary standards..a new gearbox on test remember, not a well hammered one, 40 years old.
You have to take into account that the 1st generation of disc brakes on bikes were built to be safe for riders to grab a big handful, as they had to previously with pissy drums, so that for riders attuned to modern, bitey 2-finger pulls, the oldies feel blunt.
But if you do have the confidence to get `em howling the front tyre, they do stop, the test numbers stopping distance-wise show this, & being a fairly light machine helps in this regard, too.
You have to take into account that the 1st generation of disc brakes on bikes were built to be safe for riders to grab a big handful, as they had to previously with pissy drums, so that for riders attuned to modern, bitey 2-finger pulls, the oldies feel blunt.
But if you do have the confidence to get `em howling the front tyre, they do stop, the test numbers stopping distance-wise show this, & being a fairly light machine helps in this regard, too.
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Exactly 
I think that AMC gearbox fared pretty well, considering it was designed in the early '50s for a range of motors up to 600cc and maybe 40HP.
The box in the Ranger is really sweet, and is original to the bike - except I replaced 2nd gear. I assume its got about 20,000 miles on it, 3K by me.
The box in the Commando is nice, too, but the shifting action not quite as crisp as the Ranger. Not sure how many miles on it, as I got the bike as a basket case, and the box is not original - 209xxx serial on it. I assume a previous owner broke the original and stuck a '72 box in.
When those gearboxes first came out, they were usually fitted with 18-tooth sprockets for the hotter engines, and 20-tooth for the milder engines, with a range available from 15 to 21 teeth. (from 1956 AMC parts manual)
Circa 1960, the standard sprockets were 16 or 17 tooth (1960 parts manual)
N15CS came stock with a 17-tooth sprocket, while the N15CSR, Atlas and P11 had 19-tooth (1968 parts manual)
Early Commandos came with 19-tooth, later with 20 or 22, with a range available from 19 to 24.
There's a big difference on the stress to a gearbox when being driven by a 750 or 828 cc motor, then driving the rear wheel with a 22-tooth sprocket as opposed to a 17- or 19-tooth. The standard sprocket for an N15 was 17 tooth, being driven by a 7.5:1 750 motor. Just 4 years later, the same basic box is being driven by a 10.5:1 engine and driving a 19 tooth sprocket. The next year, the same basic box is being driven by an 8.5:1 828cc motor, and driving a 20 or 22 tooth sprocket.
I think that AMC gearbox fared pretty well, considering it was designed in the early '50s for a range of motors up to 600cc and maybe 40HP.
The box in the Ranger is really sweet, and is original to the bike - except I replaced 2nd gear. I assume its got about 20,000 miles on it, 3K by me.
The box in the Commando is nice, too, but the shifting action not quite as crisp as the Ranger. Not sure how many miles on it, as I got the bike as a basket case, and the box is not original - 209xxx serial on it. I assume a previous owner broke the original and stuck a '72 box in.
When those gearboxes first came out, they were usually fitted with 18-tooth sprockets for the hotter engines, and 20-tooth for the milder engines, with a range available from 15 to 21 teeth. (from 1956 AMC parts manual)
Circa 1960, the standard sprockets were 16 or 17 tooth (1960 parts manual)
N15CS came stock with a 17-tooth sprocket, while the N15CSR, Atlas and P11 had 19-tooth (1968 parts manual)
Early Commandos came with 19-tooth, later with 20 or 22, with a range available from 19 to 24.
There's a big difference on the stress to a gearbox when being driven by a 750 or 828 cc motor, then driving the rear wheel with a 22-tooth sprocket as opposed to a 17- or 19-tooth. The standard sprocket for an N15 was 17 tooth, being driven by a 7.5:1 750 motor. Just 4 years later, the same basic box is being driven by a 10.5:1 engine and driving a 19 tooth sprocket. The next year, the same basic box is being driven by an 8.5:1 828cc motor, and driving a 20 or 22 tooth sprocket.
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Ok, update. Me and my friend Mike went to the shop this morning. Mike was really keen on getting his first Norton so the goal was to insure that first and then work on the second bike. The IIA was really original. The only part that was questionable was the handlebars but even those could have been those hideous things that the Americans put on those poor Nortons back in the day. It showed 12k miles on the odometer and looked it. Light surface rust inside the tank. Some surface rust in a couple other areas. Missing the mufflers. No title but he knows the previous owner well and there shouldn't be any issue getting a lost title. My friend had to do that on his Triumph and it went smoothly, just some paperwork and a signature from the previous owner releasing interest. I'm guessing that some mufflers, clean carbs and fresh oil and gas and it should start. Engine turned over with ample compression. It will clean up really nice.
The other bike was originally this guy's bike. Bought new in Minnesota. He rode it a bit. It had a fiberglass tank (toast) and poorly recovered seat. The primary was off chasing a leak from the points seal. He had a RITA on it but it doesn't work. He had chromed the Z plates, rocker covers and master cylinder cap. It has Dunstall mufflers although one is has a scrape at the back. I think if you replaced the tank, put the primary back together and threw a Boyer on it (plus clean carbs) I think it would run. It has Triumph instruments (he says he has the originals (although scraped from a fall). And maybe the original mufflers and center stand. He has made his own exhaust nut (oversized) to jam into the head. Probably doesn't leak.
We offered $4000 for both bikes and were turned down. He said he had some lady in CA (isn't it always) who offered him $5000 for both. I had to carefully balance offending him and making sure that Mike got his bike. We managed to get him to $4700 for both. Mike was willing to go $2500 on the Mk IIA so then it was up to me come up with $2300 for the other bike. With so many things wrong with it I was hesitant. We managed to seal the deal on the Mk IIA for $2500. I'm still on the fence on the other one. It's probably worth the money but it's not a steal. It needs some work but I'd rather work on a Norton than another Ducati. :mrgreen:
$2500 for any rough Commando, we've seen way more than that recently. Those poor folks overseas would give a left nut for those prices. The choice now is to pick up the bike as they aren't just laying around any more and not going down in price. Or pass. I have a few days. But I'd need to sell my Triumph T120TT engine. Triumph engine or Norton bike... when I put it like that it's not a hard choice... Now to find the rest of the money.
The other bike was originally this guy's bike. Bought new in Minnesota. He rode it a bit. It had a fiberglass tank (toast) and poorly recovered seat. The primary was off chasing a leak from the points seal. He had a RITA on it but it doesn't work. He had chromed the Z plates, rocker covers and master cylinder cap. It has Dunstall mufflers although one is has a scrape at the back. I think if you replaced the tank, put the primary back together and threw a Boyer on it (plus clean carbs) I think it would run. It has Triumph instruments (he says he has the originals (although scraped from a fall). And maybe the original mufflers and center stand. He has made his own exhaust nut (oversized) to jam into the head. Probably doesn't leak.
We offered $4000 for both bikes and were turned down. He said he had some lady in CA (isn't it always) who offered him $5000 for both. I had to carefully balance offending him and making sure that Mike got his bike. We managed to get him to $4700 for both. Mike was willing to go $2500 on the Mk IIA so then it was up to me come up with $2300 for the other bike. With so many things wrong with it I was hesitant. We managed to seal the deal on the Mk IIA for $2500. I'm still on the fence on the other one. It's probably worth the money but it's not a steal. It needs some work but I'd rather work on a Norton than another Ducati. :mrgreen:
$2500 for any rough Commando, we've seen way more than that recently. Those poor folks overseas would give a left nut for those prices. The choice now is to pick up the bike as they aren't just laying around any more and not going down in price. Or pass. I have a few days. But I'd need to sell my Triumph T120TT engine. Triumph engine or Norton bike... when I put it like that it's not a hard choice... Now to find the rest of the money.
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batrider said:
Sorry, yes. Typo. Leaking from the timing side.
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Norton MKIIa
It would be a $4500 bike to your door in Australia.
$2500 purchase price.
Road transport $595. (J C Motors)
Sea freight $900.
Tax $250.
Transport within Australia $300 / $1000.
Restored value maybe $11000 to $15000 ?
One reason I elected to buy a restored MKIIa from the USA,as long as you don't get a lemon its all good.
I would say $2500 would be a bargain based on eBay sale prices over the last 6 months.
The 1972 Roadster at $7000 now might be interesting depending on the reserve.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251205425977?ss ... 1423.l2648
swooshdave said:
It would be a $4500 bike to your door in Australia.
$2500 purchase price.
Road transport $595. (J C Motors)
Sea freight $900.
Tax $250.
Transport within Australia $300 / $1000.
Restored value maybe $11000 to $15000 ?
One reason I elected to buy a restored MKIIa from the USA,as long as you don't get a lemon its all good.
I would say $2500 would be a bargain based on eBay sale prices over the last 6 months.
The 1972 Roadster at $7000 now might be interesting depending on the reserve.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251205425977?ss ... 1423.l2648
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