Remanufactured Mk2A 850 Commando

CNW rebuilds DONOR bikes.

I don't know that the CNW guys have ever rebuilt/remanufactured/restored an actual STOCK Commando; it seems from their records that all of their bikes leave CNW as Commando-based CUSTOMS.

(unless I'm mistaken...)

Paul - I think they have, though they are clearly moving more and more custom. Look at the details for the build - http://coloradonortonworks.com/cnw-rebuilds/custom-motorcycle-pricing-policies-terms/

And you can also see a lot of pretty stock looking bikes that look more like rebuilt/remanufactured/restored in their Gallery, though those are likely most found in their earlier builds. for example, this is #20

When I think of the modifications I've made in the last 42 years of Commando ownership:- camshaft, ignition, front dampers, oil filter, led lights, voltmeter, iso's, head steady, alternator, headlight relays, power box, indicators, sealed wheel bearings, better pistons, silicon carbide bore coating, headlight unit (not led), gas tank, coils, handlebar switches, front brake, front master cylinder, 2LS hydraulic rear drum brake, swinging arm spindle location, carbs, petrol taps, wiring harness.
It's just about as good as I can get it now within reason and illness is curtailing my riding, what a pisser.

Reading that list, I'm feeling guilty about mine. I flog it pretty hard at times and have only given it a better front brake to slow down after the flog. Plus some open pipes and skinny head gasket to make the flog a bit more intense.

Not much of a list, but then it works ok as is.

Glen

Many years ago I saw a near-new Ducati 450 road bike at a race meeting. The owner had put post-it notes all over it to show where the faults had occurred. There would have been at least 80.

gortnipper said:

Paul - I think they have, though they are clearly moving more and more custom. Look at the details for the build - http://coloradonortonworks.com/cnw-rebuilds/custom-motorcycle-pricing-policies-terms/

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Still requires a donor bike, and the supply of good ones is limited...

Ironically a MkIIA is the one that can't be made from new parts because there aren't any airboxes available - goes for MkIII also.

Just out of interest, how many UK/EU forum members think a CNW-style operation would do well in the UK?

Probably not. Not enough spare cash around at the moment and the cost of the finished item would probably be high when comparing with what else is available.

B+Bogus said:

Ironically a MkIIA is the one that can't be made from new parts because there aren't any airboxes available - goes for MkIII also.

Just out of interest, how many UK/EU forum members think a CNW-style operation would do well in the UK?

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Norvil Norton Works? Classy!

B+Bogus said:

Ironically a MkIIA is the one that can't be made from new parts because there aren't any airboxes available - goes for MkIII also.

Just out of interest, how many UK/EU forum members think a CNW-style operation would do well in the UK?

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Wouldn’t fly at all. Most Brits are too tight. There’d be a handful of punters, but no where near enough to make it viable.

You’d have to focus on supplying the whole of Europe, and Holland Norton Works already does that.

I posted this topic to put the thought into your minds. Probably the only items which are not currently re-manufactured are Commando frames and engine cradles. It might be worth somebody going down that path ? I noticed that one of the guys on this forum took the trouble to make a new swing-arm - that's a start. If you could buy a re-manufactured chrome-moly rolling chassis and a wiring loom, the rest would not be difficult. It would probably be a better place to start than with a donor bike.

Old Britts has two new frames with Washington state titles, ready for your build. Might as well get started.

http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_sale.html

Andover stock 68 - 70 also the Mk111. They are out of stock at the moment of 70 on.

Chris

Firstly, no, Andover Norton would not build you a bike. We are simply flat-out with spares and run no workshop.

Secondly, give us a bit of warning and we can supply 99% of the parts needed. The main parts missing for a newly-built 850Mk2A would be the switchgear- though I can get it, replicas, Made in China- the rear wheel hub, and the black plastic air filter for which no tooling exists. Now how about an 850Mk2? Nothing else comes to mind.

The reason why certain items are "not in stock", like complete forks and certain gearboxes, is, that we rarely sell them and if somebody orders one it is assembled from all the parts that are in stock. Had we more time we'd assemble some for stock. And we normally have a pretty good fill rate with few if any items missing. So assembling a gearbox is just a puzzle with all parts in the stores. So is assembling front forks.

Frames we are getting made all the time so it is possible one type is briefly out of stock. Where the wisdom comes from that we have neither frames nor gearbox cradles I do not know. I was in Andover a week ago and saw both on our shelves.
For those who don't know- I run my German shop most of the time, but I can look into our stores online so know what is there.

I have never tried to "cost" a new bike. I see it as an academic exercise as there are few countries left in the world where a vehicle to 1970s emissions levels can be registered as "new".

If somebody wants such a bike built I could recommend a few people to go to.
Joe Seifert/Andover Norton & Norton Motors GmbH

I you built a re-manufactured Mk2A, you might have to fit at least one second-hand part to it, so you could claim it was not 'new', to get it past the 1970s emission laws ?

The question is not if there is one old part on it. The question is if a historic registration exists for the number(s) on the bike. I.e. if this vehicle was registered in the old days. With a set of documents you could theoretically build a new bike, stamp the old numbers into it, and ride off happily and legally- as long as no relevant parts of the old bike, say the stamped frame, still exist- into the sunset.

Does the computer system check for duplicate frame numbers, nation-wide ?

I believe they do in Australia.

acotrel said:

Does the computer system check for duplicate frame numbers, nation-wide ?

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It’s not the frame number per se that’s the issue. If one buys a ‘frame with title’ it’s the title that’s the isssue, and this is checked by computers in most countries I believe.

If it’s not, you’re not free of issues, you could end up with two duplicate bikes, and what would happen regarding traffic offences and, even worse, how you could prove which one was ‘real’ in the event of it being discovered I do not know!

Since the original topic is lost now, with about the same money you could build the bike Norton should have built. It is built from almost all Norton parts with a lot of modern updates and it has a title.

http://dvnr.org/articles/featherlastic.html