Roadster Tank D stripe?

Q

quawk

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Have researched some of the other posts here on the forum and other sources about whether or not the "D" stripe would be originally correct on a '73 Roadster tank. Some info indicated they were used on the black tanks, but not on the other color tanks of that year. Like a lot of other things, it seems there is conflicting information about what was/is correct. Can others weigh in, again here as to what's correct. Regardless whether it was correct or not, I intend to add the "D" stipe to my '73 black roadster tank in converting my Hi-Rider to roadster trim. Is the D stripe available from vendors as the vinyl stick on type decal? Have been researching them a little and have yet to find them. Any recommendations? Would just as soon not paint the stripe on.
 
The 'D' is correct for a black 750 Roadster tank. The pinstripes were originally hand-painted.
 
My 1973 750, built in November 1972, has the “D” stripe. Purchased the bike used in the early 90’s, but there was no indication that the tank had been repainted. No evidence of a wreck either, so I consider the tank to be the one that the bike came with.
 
There is a Norton Commando ad that shows the “D” stripe on a disc brake 750.
 
1973x75 said:
My 1973 750, built in November 1972, has the “D” stripe. Purchased the bike used in the early 90’s, but there was no indication that the tank had been repainted. No evidence of a wreck either, so I consider the tank to be the one that the bike came with.
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Is your bike black, or some other color? Others have said the "D" is correct on a black 750 roadster tank.
 
quawk said:
Have researched some of the other posts here on the forum and other sources about whether or not the "D" stripe would be originally correct on a '73 Roadster tank. Some info indicated they were used on the black tanks, but not on the other color tanks of that year. Like a lot of other things, it seems there is conflicting information about what was/is correct. Can others weigh in, again here as to what's correct. Regardless whether it was correct or not, I intend to add the "D" stipe to my '73 black roadster tank in converting my Hi-Rider to roadster trim. Is the D stripe available from vendors as the vinyl stick on type decal? Have been researching them a little and have yet to find them. Any recommendations? Would just as soon not paint the stripe on.
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AFAIK:

There were only fiber hi-rider tanks and they are not Roadster shaped.
A 72 or 73 Roadster tank could be fiber or steel but if a Combat (72) or maybe High-Performance (73) would be steel and if black would have the gold "D". If not black in any case, no gold "D".
A Combat or 73 750 would have a disk brake in front.
The cylinders for a Combat would the painted black all other 72/73 silver.

So far, I believe this to be correct and if someone sees something wrong and has evidence I would appreciating hearing about it:

Norton Commando Color Schemes - GME

Norton Commando Model Colors
gregmarsh.com
 
Andover Norton has a dimensioned sketch in their tech database that provides layout instructions for the ‘D’ stripe. Also shows it to be 3/16”. The drawing is labeled for a 1971 tank, but I would disregard that.
 
1973x75 said:
Andover Norton has a dimensioned sketch in their tech database that provides layout instructions for the ‘D’ stripe. Also shows it to be 3/16”. The drawing is labeled for a 1971 tank, but I would disregard that.
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Also, I've never seen an original tank with it that narrow - most seem to be about 1/4". This is a picture of a real one from Sep 72 Cycle Guide Magazine:

Roadster Tank D stripe?
 
I had my tank repainted and striped recently, and the painter did 1/4” stripes. The original was 3/16”. The 1/4” in my opinion is too much.
Greg, what’s up with the tail light in the above photo? I thought by the time they went to disc brakes, they all had the big square tail light?
 
1973x75 said:
I had my tank repainted and striped recently, and the painter did 1/4” stripes. The original was 3/16”. The 1/4” in my opinion is too much.
Greg, what’s up with the tail light in the above photo? I thought by the time they went to disc brakes, they all had the big square tail light?
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The problem is that is was up to the hand of the painter originally. Not only the width but the exact placement too.

That is the correct tail light. I agree with L.A.B on when it changed but see the 73 MK V note here: https://gregmarsh.com/MC/Norton/Info/CommandoID.aspx

Also, that is a picture of a real bike in published SEP 1973 so taken in somewhere between JUN and SEP depending on their publishing lead time - hard to dispute!
 
I did that drawing now published on our website and copied from an original, worn and unmollested petrol tank so the width of the stripe is correct. That was a 1971 Roadster.
I guess those that had the "D" stripe were all like that.
 
ZFD said:
I did that drawing now published on our website and copied from an original, worn and unmollested petrol tank so the width of the stripe is correct. That was a 1971 Roadster.
I guess those that had the "D" stripe were all like that.
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I have no doubt about what you say or did. However, the original 72 steel Roadster Combat tanks I've had were slightly more or less than 1/4" and the picture I posted certainly appears to be wider than 3/16". Doesn't really matter much - even in a concours show no one can be sure since they definitely were inconsistent in width, location, and shape.

Also, if I've read it right, the 71 parts manual (101/71) shows that the Roadster tanks were fiber, not steel. What was the tank you documented?
 
A steel one. But then I heard some markets did not accept glass fibre hence bikes for those were fitted with steel petrol tanks. I know it became an issue in Germany in the early 1970s.
 
Here is picture of my original tank - 750 Combat Roadster- June 1972 manufacture. I have since repainted it but I recall measuring it for someone and it was 1/4 “ . As others have noted these were done by hand so line width was affected by the person doing the painting.
Roadster Tank D stripe?
 
ZFD said:
A steel one. But then I heard some markets did not accept glass fibre hence bikes for those were fitted with steel petrol tanks. I know it became an issue in Germany in the early 1970s.
Click to expand...


Steel Roadster tanks were supposed to have been introduced on black models only from 203200.
 
L.A.B. said:
Steel Roadster tanks were supposed to have been introduced on black models only from 203200.
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Very interesting. I've been going on the assumption that the 1st Roadster Combat was 200976 and that 1st Interstate Combat was 212278 and they all had disk brakes, Roadster Combat had black cylinders, all others has silver, and at least the black tanks were steel. But the parts book 063402 says that for Interstate both steel and fiber were for Interstate in black with gold lining and only steel for Roadster in black with gold lining. Of course, that parts book has no publish date (at least on my copy) so who knows. It could have been published long after they started building the "72" models.

Also, of course, "72" Roadster Combats started being built probably in Oct 71 as I have quite a few in my survey before Jan 72.

Can you provide the source of that info?
 
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