Pictures of your Norton Commandos

difazio said:

The front is by Jack Difazio, he modified a test bike for Mike jackson

The headstock was cut off and replaced by a pivot which moves the tank back by an inch or so.


There are 2 lockheed callipers which through the linkages have anti dive built in, the wheel moves verticaly in the frame and hub steers about a central king pin

Rides solidly and stops quite well!

I will look out the restoration pictures, Norman White did the engine, he is only a few miles from Andover. incidently I am about 100 yards from the eold showroom/office from the 70s!

Runs a new home built loom, pazon rectifier, o ring 520 chain and Falcon shocks, still need to sort the spring rate out

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New thread with a ton of pics would be awesome!

Im away for a few days with work but I shall try to put something together on my return

Any other ex test fleet bikes out there?

Hortons Norton said:

Gary that's it, If ya see em tell them I said hello. And hope all is well with your projects, Anything new? Come on tell us, LOL. Have a great day, Chuck.

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I wish I could get back to the projects but 19 Norton heads and 2 Ducati heads lined up on the bench along with a couple motors are going to have my nose to the grindstone for a few more weeks . It's spring. Jim

Here's mine a '72 Commando.
She's on the way to be road worthy.
This is her mocked up with the orig fiberglass tank, old tires, and custom exhaust.
Next month during May will bring new tires, paintjob w/ pinlines on a new steel tank, side covers and fenders and a stock exhaust system with stainless peashooters.

Heres some pix of my '72 non combat:



I met him on eBay, a battlescarred (down more than once), bone weary faded vet. Being possessed of similar characteristics I recognized a kindred spirit immediately and adopted him forthwith.

We takein strays of all sorts around here but this is the first motorcycle. He came here w/a strong heart and good lungs. Here's what I've done so far re his rehab:
overhaul gearbox w/ new 19 tooth sprocket
surflex clutch plates and rod seal
njb shocks
did 520 x ring chain conversion
rear brake shoes
overhaul m cylinder and caliper w/braided, stainless line
xhaust pipes and transplanted peashooters
NRC carbboiled out oil tank and fitted new lines
xs650 it really works. Bike is bone dry
new coils
transplanted used Boyer w/stud mod to stator for ring terminal
patched,hirrsch sealed fuel tank
rattlecan paint and clear
all new isos w/ hemmings adjusters
rebuild rear wheel, new Cush rubbers
brush painted frame, easy to touch up
new ignition switch
20w halogen pilot w/weatherproof toggle
Avon road handlers
electronic speedo&tach, oil pr Gage, voltmeter not yet mounted
overall clean and polish

still need to upgrade/rebuild forks,sleeve master,wire and mount gages,figure out a good seat.

Sorry for the length but my wife gets this glassy look on her face when I relate my latest mechanical adventures. You guys on the other hand understand. Rick

Rick, nice story of adoption.

And those timing cover, gearbox, and primary cases look just perfect for a beautiful polishing job!

pvisseriii said:

pvisseriii said:

I agree. Show pieces are nice and all but how bout some roadrunner.

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I was wrong! They are all show pieces and all special and all roadrunners.
Sometimes the barnfinds are the most photogenic.

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Just messin' with ya! I actually need to ride mine a lot more!! I have several other bikes I can ride but my Commando is still the most fun.

Not a Norton but at least it was British. On top of a post in the middle of no-where. I think it was in Oklahoma. Had to turn around and go back for a look. Jim

comnoz said:

Not a Norton but at least it was British. On top of a post in the middle of no-where. I think it was in Oklahoma. Had to turn around and go back for a look. Jim

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I think that's a BITSA :mrgreen:

Jean

That poor bike. Its luck ran out when it met that owner.

Debby

MichaelB said:

Looks like a Combat to me.

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Has all the appearances, but we don't know if the disc is original or what size carbs or what head. We'll have to defer to the owner that these are non-Combat.

Owner says: sn2037xx, 30mm amals when I got him, head has no
markings ("c" stamp or other and I've not delved into the motor to positively I'd head), transmission has a "c" stamped after serial, gap between head and barrel fins is less than other fins. Hey I'd love for it to be a combat but we don't abide fakirs in these parts. Please tell me it's a combat and I'll pin the decal on his chest. Oh yeah, front disk is original, I think

rgrigutis said:

Owner says: sn2037xx, 30mm amals when I got him, head has no
markings ("c" stamp or other and I've not delved into the motor to positively I'd head), transmission has a "c" stamped after serial, gap between head and barrel fins is less than other fins. Hey I'd love for it to be a combat but we don't abide fakirs in these parts. Please tell me it's a combat and I'll pin the decal on his chest. Oh yeah, front disk is original, I think

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From the literature we are led to believe that front disc = Combat. But as you well know, discs can be added, head and carbs can be changed. If I had a non-Combat back in the day I'd certainly have thought about upgrading.

Hey Guys, great looking machines!!! Finally got my spare tank and side covers back from the painters. (Note to Swooshdave: thanks for all your help on the red white and blue scheme, but I decided to go with the red.) Removed the old black ones and swapped to the new candy red one on last week. Now I can change between black and red (depending on the "weather" and mood). What do you guys prefer??? Black or Red.

what's in the center of the handlebars?

Hi Pelican, that contraption is the docking attachment for my Tom Tom GPS / Bluetooth for wireless headset communication for mobile phone, Cardo Scala Rider to Passenger communication, MP3 music etc. A little bit of modern technology meeting 35 year old classic! I find it really handy to have on "longer" rides.

My old friend as it was a year or two back, has since had a CNW chainguard fitted, plus Compac bags and the 100/90 front replaced with a 90/90 which looks better with the stayless guard. Oh and Keihin Flat Slide Carbs. Perhaps her indoors has a point afterall. :roll:

gw88 said:

Hey Guys, great looking machines!!! Finally got my spare tank and side covers back from the painters. (Note to Swooshdave: thanks for all your help on the red white and blue scheme, but I decided to go with the red.) Removed the old black ones and swapped to the new candy red one on last week. Now I can change between black and red (depending on the "weather" and mood). What do you guys prefer??? Black or Red.

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RED!!! Very pretty bike!!

Any Fireflake Blue C-dos out there?

ntst8 said:

My old friend as it was a year or two back, has since had a CNW chainguard fitted, plus Compac bags and the 100/90 front replaced with a 90/90 which looks better with the stayless guard. Oh and Keihin Flat Slide Carbs. Perhaps her indoors has a point afterall. :roll:

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That's a cool seat. What is it?

tpeever said:

That's a cool seat. What is it?

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Its the Interstate version of the Corbin Gunfighter. When i bought they were only available from Doug Macadam of Dougs Nortons (Matts former business partner at CNW). I'm not sure whether they are still available.
I find it great for an hour or two but too hard for whole day rides. The fit at the tank is average at best as well. I plan to have a local seat specialist give it a Birthday one day but my 16H is hogging all the attention at the moment.