Pictures of your Norton Commandos

Just ran across this picture of me on my PR from back in the '70s. Still pretty original, except for the 2-into-1 exhaust. I experimented with several alternative systems before going back to the original peashooters. Note the stylish leathers, with the latest high tech armor, diamond stitched horsehair padding. This was my first set of racing leathers, a two piece style made by a local shop that made them for dirt track racers. And don't miss the trick race boots, cheap wellingtons work boots from K-mart. I think the tires are the KR73/KR76 triangulars. The track is probably Willow Springs.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Ken
 
And hopefully you will explain that top tube?
How is the Seeley Weslake these days?

Quite a while since you came around Steve, so I can't remember whether I'd had the cancer op' or not.

Anyway a combination of the cancer and the accident has made working a bit of a challenge, i.e, fatigue and some physical problems.
Just grateful I got my road licence returned in the end.
Racing was obviously a no go thing, but be thankful for what you've got I suppose.

Couldn't bring myself to sell the Seeley, but I'd used a few parts on my Thruxton (1200 Hinkley.) and it came out better than I could've hoped, so got to thinking how about building a complete bike.........

There are quite a few pars from the Seeley going on to this, so it's still with me really.

The top tube is 4" longer than stock, steering head lowered 1" and frame raked 2.5 degrees.
Very much a "Show N Go bike" I guess and unsurprisingly represents my biking life since I last had a Commando in the late 70s/early 80s.
 
The Seeley was in your garage and in need of a little TLC when I saw it, that was probably around 6 or 7 years ago. Been living in Normandy for the last 5 years.

I had a 'minor' off in September 2019, at Pau Arnos, southern France, which left this old bloke getting a helicopter ride to ICU with 5 broken ribs and a punctured lung. Not a good plan at 65!

Been slow to recover and get to work on my Rickman.

Today was and AJS day, learning to do magneto timing. Tomorrow get the primary chain on and maybe get some miles done before the weekend!

If I can start the bugger! Still if it proves difficult it will be out with the race rollers!
 
The below black 1974 was a covid lockdown project that I completed and since parted ways with.

The below Fire Flake Blue 1974 was a pleasant unexpected purchase I made a couple of weeks ago. Paint appears to be original with the hand painted stripes starting to rub off. Previous owner installed a 3 phase charging system, Podtronics RR, and Trispark ignition with coils. Outside these modern upgrades, and new pipes, the bike is VERY original. A proper fuel line, set of new isolastics, DT Head Steady, tires, and rear shocks are on order. Outside that, it needs nothing but a rubber ignition sleeve, a good cleaning and a polish. Receipts (dating back to early 2000s) indicate continuous maintenance. It does not leak a drop of oil (for now:), and it started on my first kick. It is a wonderful rider which I plan to preserve "As Is". I could not be happier.

Cheers,
Gatsby

Pictures of your Norton Commandos
Pictures of your Norton Commandos
 
My Ladies want to be ridden! (the inanimate one(s) anyway...). Regrettably, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak...
 

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July 2020 vs July 2021. Had been parked since 1988, started first kick!
 

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VERY nice comparison shots!!!

Well done indeed.
The guy I bought it from didn't know what he had. His friend left it as his house when he moved to California sometime in the 80's.
Now he was moving and figured he'd try and sell it quickly. If it didn't sell he was going to throw it in the scrap dumpster. Paid $1,200 and then proceeded to triple what I had budgeted to rebuild!
 
The guy I bought it from didn't know what he had. His friend left it as his house when he moved to California sometime in the 80's.
Now he was moving and figured he'd try and sell it quickly. If it didn't sell he was going to throw it in the scrap dumpster. Paid $1,200 and then proceeded to triple what I had budgeted to rebuild!
If you have to ask “ how much will it cost to restore it ? “ then you can’t afford it ...
 
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