Pictures of your Norton Commandos

gortnipper · Aug 2, 2014

Very sweet!! I bet it goes like a stuck pig!

Boanerges · Aug 6, 2014

Great build thus great bike! You have one sweet ride!

pierodn · Aug 7, 2014

Time Warp said:
alfa10530 said:

porterg said:

Nice bike and I really like that Atlas? tank.

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It is the tank used on the Police patrol bikes (called interpol) and the same tank was in the Long Range Fastback costume.

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It is probably a fastback long range tank, the Atlas under side is different and the Interpol has the cut out for a radio (iirc)
They come up on eBay here now and again, there is one listed right now.

I have a Long Range steel tank.
The tank tap is not central but ahead on the left.
The Atlas tank cap is almost central and is not ahead like Long Range tank.
Ciao.
Piero

alfa10530 · Aug 13, 2014

A job well done!

Now I need to tidy up the rest of the bike in order to put these beauties on!

SquareHead · Aug 13, 2014

^ Very nice!!

Nater_Potater · Aug 13, 2014

Fast Eddie said:
I then decided to 'tidy it up a bit' and 'take the head off for a look' ... Next thing I know its turned into a full on rebuild!

I want to pull the head off mine to seal a small weep, but I know how those things can cascade! Maybe this winter, but there's a 1973 Buick Riviera 455 GS that's been tugging at my shirt tails for a number of years that might come first. Is there an "Access Buick" forum? :wink:

Very nice all around. I like the striking blue!

Nathan

Fast Eddie · Aug 14, 2014

Nater_Potater said:
Fast Eddie said:

I then decided to 'tidy it up a bit' and 'take the head off for a look' ... Next thing I know its turned into a full on rebuild!

Click to expand...

I want to pull the head off mine to seal a small weep, but I know how those things can cascade! Maybe this winter, but there's a 1973 Buick Riviera 455 GS that's been tugging at my shirt tails for a number of years that might come first. Is there an "Access Buick" forum? :wink:

Very nice all around. I like the striking blue!

Nathan

Nathan,
When you get stuck into that Buick, you'll be entering into a world not too dissimilar to WW1 trench warfare, haemorrhaging cash and blood for every yard gained... and lost !
You could rebuild the Norton before starting you own personal WW1, at least you'll have the satisfaction that it is done. You could look at it and smile when you're up to your elbows in Buick guts.
Funnily enough, the 'striking blue' is the one aspect of the bike I'm not 100% on, its growing on me, but I can't seem to fully get rid of the desire for a full red-white-blue JPN paint job!

Nater_Potater · Aug 14, 2014

Fast Eddie said:
When you get stuck into that Buick, you'll be entering into a world not too dissimilar to WW1 trench warfare, hemorrhaging cash and blood for every yard gained... and lost !
You could rebuild the Norton before starting you own personal WW1, at least you'll have the satisfaction that it is done. You could look at it and smile when you're up to your elbows in Buick guts.
Funnily enough, the 'striking blue' is the one aspect of the bike I'm not 100% on, its growing on me, but I can't seem to fully get rid of the desire for a full red-white-blue JPN paint job!

Agreed on that. Were it me and the blue was anything less than 100%, that JPN is the way I'd go!

As for the Buick, it'll be more of a "rolling restoration" rather than a 100% concours. Like the Norton, it'll get used. Speaking of which, we're averaging thirty trouble-free miles a day commuting to work, and now prepping for a five-hundred-mile round-trip next weekend. I'll be surrounded by asian cruisers. I hope to do you guys proud!

Nathan

Big_Jim59 · Aug 15, 2014

Last night, I browsed this entire thread. I am humbled, amazed and over awed at such fantastic examples of the Norton brand. I also noticed that I had not posted a picture of mine. (At least not that I could find in the thread.) Suffice it to say it is rough. All the bright work has rust pits. The frame was done years ago and the whole bike needs a cosmetic overhaul. Mechanically it's just wonderful and I just keep riding it so I never have the inclination to strip it down again.

These are older pictures and do not show the drilled disk or updated shocks. I work on it and upgrade it as time and funds allow.

I was told by some observers at a Norton rally that they they didn't think to highly of my yellow frame. I built what I wanted and I like it. It's all that matters to me.

Hobot · Aug 17, 2014

Gosh Big Jim yours looks like it could be mine or Wesley's rural runners. Have to say the yellow frame don't appeal that much to me either, so Peel will get pearl white tubes.

Big_Jim59 · Aug 17, 2014

hobot said:
Gosh Big Jim yours looks like it could be mine or Wesley's rural runners. Have to say the yellow frame don't appeal that much to me either, so Peel will get pearl white tubes.

It gets plenty dirty.

I like different color frames. I think it shows that it was apart and someone cared to do something different. I had one with a blue frame and I saw a Commando at a show with a silver frame that looked really good. This is my old blue frame bike. It was built from a wreck and used bits I had laying around.

mschmitz57 · Aug 22, 2014

Years ago I bought an old Fastback tail and fiberglass Interstate tank on Evilbay and converted my `71 Roadster into an "Interback".
Modified a Fastback seat from Leighton to fit the longer Interstate tank tank. Used a JPN front fender from Old Britts.
Painted everything in a Manx color scheme.

Fast Eddie · Aug 23, 2014

mschmitz57 said:
Years ago I bought some old Norton fiberglass on Evilbay and converted my `71 Roadster into an "Interback".

I don't think I've seen that variation on the theme before, it looks good, nice one!

mschmitz57 · Aug 23, 2014

Thanks. I'd seen a couple "Interbacks" before, I think John Edwards (editor, Cycle World) had one with scrambler side pipes that he used to display in the magazine. My Interstate tank was fiberglass and the gasohol began to soften it despite my efforts to seal it (Hirsch sealer, total crap). Getting the seat shape correct was the hardest part. I had to cut off the Fastback "ears" and shorten the pan, then it took several trips to the upholstery shop to get the seat foam shape just the way I wanted it. I may build another "Interback" if Emgo ever makes repo steel Interstate tanks.

I sold this bike on Evilbay and it was shipped to Denmark.

COnorton750 · Aug 28, 2014

Hello. Traded my 65 Triumph Trophy T-100sc bitsa and now have this 1972 Roadster. Remarkable bike. Great community here. Thanks!

bryan b · Sep 6, 2014

hi all
quite new to the forum this is my first Norton had it for about 6 months done some work on cycle parts new rims and spokes new fork tubes with Lansdowne internals , maney outrigger bearing , just fitted steel tank and new seat ++ .
any way her she is and I am smitten

marc · Sep 7, 2014

an updated pic of mine

wit61 · Sep 13, 2014

After a few years without a Norton, I am back with another Commando. This one is not a basket case, so a few changes are happening, but no major rebuild. I am learning slowly

Saddlesaw · Sep 15, 2014

I have posted a pic before but I have just completed a full nut and bolt rebuild over winter including the engine. After 50000 honest miles she deserved it although still only needed to go to .20 thou over! First ride on Saturday with a mate on his roadster. Loved it...Finished and a couple of before shots. Took the opportunity to convert to 3 phase Alt.