what exactly do I have?

I bought this Norton in 1986. One previous owner, he had it stored in a machine shop for many years. Best thing for it cause it was covered i ngrease, but under the grease- no rust.

I replaced the rubber lines, cleaned up the carbs, new tires, seat, tune up other misc and it became my wifes bike until 1995 when she went to HD. engine is virtually untouched, I did put new head gasket on it

The bike has been stored for last 18 years, 12,000 original miles when parked, turning it over every year, but it hasn't been fired up in past 7-8 years. No problems there- I'm a good enough wrench its not going to take much to get it up again. We both ride HDs, and to be honest, its time to sell the norton.

But I'm not sure what I have- I bought it as a Hi Rider- but its not a pure Hi rider for sure. Its got a steel tank, & had a typical Norton seat (we took the frame and had a custum 1 up seat made) and front disc brake. Paint is not stock of course- its Magenta Pearl.

Any help as to what model it is? VIN is 204013

As far as I can tell it does not have a combat engine

Looks like a 72 Roadster to me.

'72' Combat introduced the RH front disc but Cdo are modular so anything can fit on the 750's. Looks like Interstate side covers as also introduced on Combats, while the Roadster style is more triangular. If there is a low down rear breather tube then its got a Combat bottom end, while '71 had breather off the cam end. The early 750 had matching stem tag and case numbers.

hobot said:

Looks like Interstate side covers

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I think you need to take another look?

hobot said:

If there is a low down rear breather tube then its got a Combat bottom end, while '71 had breather off the cam end.

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Oh no, not again! :roll: If it's got the low breather then it's any '72 or '73 750, Combat or otherwise, as it's a 2xxxxx number, obviously not a '71 model.

hobot said:

The early 750 had matching stem tag and case numbers.

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And the late ones had....what exactly? :?

I'll just shut the fuck up on this subject you got covered LAB.
Do set me straight on the cases, were any changes made to '72 Combat cases with low breather for those used in the '73 750's? The side covers look like my 1st Combat fiberglass kind that came with fg IS tank, not like steel covers on 2nd my Combat Roadster tanker. MIxing and matching in factory and afterwards confuses me of course.

It's the hodge-podger model. Why is one instrument sitting lower than the other ?

you made me laugh out loud there Steve.
A completely unexpected response from you.
All the best.

I think the lower instrument is just pic angle

the side covers are steel

don't Combat engines have a "C" on front of heads between covers? any other way to tell?

from what I understand- change tanks, side covers, bars and one 72 750 was basically the same (beyond the Combat Engine)?

I see Norton riders are a scrappy bunch..... :mrgreen:

trappnman said:

I think the lower instrument is just pic angle

the side covers are steel

don't Combat engines have a "C" on front of heads between covers? any other way to tell?

from what I understand- change tanks, side covers, bars and one 72 750 was basically the same (beyond the Combat Engine)?

I see Norton riders are a scrappy bunch..... :mrgreen:

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The "C" is under the head steady. It would be to the advantage of all concerned to pull the gas tank and remove the head steady to reveal the truth. At least we will know what kind of head you have or not. It's not a big job. You might as well start mastering gas tank removal. It is a procedure you will perform 100's of time. This is not an exaggeration.
Please hurry and do this so we can all get some sleep tonight.

trappnman said:

don't Combat engines have a "C" on front of heads between covers?

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Yes, usually, however, it seems not all Combat heads were stamped.

trappnman said:

any other way to tell?

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Anything could have been changed over the last 40 years, there is a fair chance that it would have been a Combat model originally.

What are the Amal carb numbers?

If it was sold in the US with a 204xxx number it's probably a combat engine. The head may or may not have a "C" stamp under the head steady. Easiest way to tell if the head has 0.040" milled is the lower cooling fin of the head is much closer to the top cooling fin of the cylinder compared to all other fin spacing. Original combat Amal carbs wer 932/20 and 932/19 for US models (stamped near the tickler). More difficult verification is measure valve lift. Combat is around .440" intake and .390" lift exhaust. Std camshaft is around .370" lift for both.

to other comments - instruments are not even, is the fork cap loose on the lower one? Mix of bits, only the seat and handlebars look not to be roadster. If the numbers on the engine, frame red tag and top of gearbox are all the same, then fairly original.

hobot said:

Do set me straight on the cases, were any changes made to '72 Combat cases with low breather for those used in the '73 750's?

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As far as I'm aware, no apparent changes were made to the 750 breather assembly during '72 - '73 (according to the parts books) therefore all '72 (and '73 long stroke 750 engines) had that same breather regardless of whether they were Combat models or not, although late '72-on (and '73) crankcases no longer had the hole (covered by a blanking plate) at the rear of the timing case.

Whatever it started life as, it's going to be the 'crimped downtube' model now.

My understanding of the breather aspect is exactly as per L.A.B. Between the disappearance of the Atlas-style timed breather on the camshaft and the 850 type in the rear of the timing chest, all the conventional 750s had the breather with separator mounted down low at the rear of the crankcase, regardless of trim and engine spec.

Here's the real question...

How much are you selling it for?

Might as well tell us what part of the country you are in. I thought people moved from Harleys back to Nortons, not the other way 'round!

Russ

LOL Ross- if I hadn't fallen in love with Ironhead sportys, I could see being a diehard Norton man. So much stuff I think is cool on that bike from the slotted wheel, to the choke lever, to the shift indicator to appliance plug in- hell, just the right side case/tranny setup floats my boat.

but heres my baby....73 XLCH. A little different that from the factory.





wanted wife to have her own bike, and didn't want run of mill- so bought the Norton in 1986 for $650 dollars frm original owner. Luckily I had a complete Norton shop (Wheels Unlimited, Marion MN) nearby so all tuneup parts, cables, gaskets, etc nuts and bolts were over the counter. PS- I've had all electrical/gas/etc off more than once- got pretty good at seeing over ole' Lucas shoulder......

good Norton story- Lori rode it to Sturgis a couple of times and on the way home from the 50th at Chamberlin in the rest stop, a guy came up to her asking how the bike ran. He was a Norton shop guy coming back from the Rally, had a big truck of Nortons and parts- cannot recall name, but from MI. She said great, we said goodbye, and on the way out of the rest area, I shite you not, her clutch cable broke.. I sent her back with a bro to get a cable and started taking off old-

she came back waving the cable- I asked- what did it cost? she said nothing- he said us norton riders have to stick together!

lots of good memories in that bike- she learned to ride on that bike, and took her lic test on it- only girl there, and only bike with a kickstart.

last night a bro came by to look at it , asked me whats it do? 60-70? Lori and I just laughed.

but I'm 62, and we don't need 3 bikes. I do have all turnsignals mounts etc....... as to price, I'd be interested in offers, and I live in SE corner of MN.
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Amal numbers are 932/19.

VINs all match.

thanks for the tip on the C engine- yes, the distance between the head and jug fins is much smaller than the spacing of the rest- so it is a combat. Is that good or bad? I've heard it's a "faster" or at least a more tweaked engine, but I've read it also could be troublesome? if so, wasn't for us.

that seat is not stock and is a one of a kind seat. Its the original frame, custom made to a one up seat. It originally was a two up typical type seat.

so I'm guessing I have either an interstate, or roadster- with Hi rider bars added?

whats the difference between roadsters and interstates?

trappnman said:

whats the difference between roadsters and interstates?

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Tank, side covers, seat and pipes. These bikes were simply trimmed out differently. I don't beieve there is any difference other than that, aside from the Combat thing. Whether a Combat or non Combat, both could be trimmed to suite, as in an Interstate Combat.

so- steel tank, steel side covers, big megafone upswept pipes-

Roadster or Interstate?

trappnman said:

whats the difference between roadsters and interstates?

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One has a big tank and low mufflers, and the other has a slim tank and upswept tweety mufflers.
There are other differences, like sidecovers and how far back the seat is set, but thats about it.

If that was an Interstate, there is no sign of it there now.

trappnman said:

so- steel tank, steel side covers, big megafone upswept pipes-

Roadster or Interstate?

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I see Roadster. Maybe a Combat or not but still a Roadster. It is debatable whether a Combat is better or not, but they are desirable and will bring more money.

so an Interstate, with different bars. thanks- good knowing. its also, if the difference if in space is definitive, a combat engine