When does a Norton Commando become a "Replica"?

Larso1 · Feb 23, 2014

chasbmw said:
I wish that was true, but unfortunatly Nortons staright out of the crate were so bloody unreliable (especially if you used that performance) that you had to modify them to keep them on the road.

I may be repeating myself here from another thread, but I recall a "superbike shootout" article in one of the cycle magazines from around c.1972. It was a 1/4 mile drag race and as I recall there was the Honda CB750, Triumph Trident, Harley Sportster 883, Ducati 750GT, Norton Commando 750, and maybe one ore two others. Of course the Commando won handily (I think it was in the mid to upper 12's?), but it was revealed in the article that the Norton was "specially prepared by Norton guru ______" (don't recall the name). They even showed a photo of him doing last minute tweaks to the bike near the starting line. This always bothered me because it seemed so unfair to have an expert fettler prepare the Norton, and apparently none of the others did (and in retrospect they probably didn't need it). I imagine he fully tuned the carbs, set the points and timing and valves, and maybe even stuck a 19T C/S sprocket on it, although they never mentioned that in the article.

dennisgb · Feb 23, 2014

Larso1 said:
chasbmw said:

I wish that was true, but unfortunatly Nortons staright out of the crate were so bloody unreliable (especially if you used that performance) that you had to modify them to keep them on the road.

Click to expand...

I may be repeating myself here from another thread, but I recall a "superbike shootout" article in one of the cycle magazines from around c.1972. It was a 1/4 mile drag race and as I recall there was the Honda CB750, Triumph Trident, Harley Sportster 883, Ducati 750GT, Norton Commando 750, and maybe one ore two others. Of course the Commando won handily (I think it was in the mid to upper 12's?), but it was revealed in the article that the Norton was "specially prepared by Norton guru ______" (don't recall the name). They even showed a photo of him doing last minute tweaks to the bike near the starting line. This always bothered me because it seemed so unfair to have an expert fettler prepare the Norton, and apparently none of the others did (and in retrospect they probably didn't need it). I imagine he fully tuned the carbs, set the points and timing and valves, and maybe even stuck a 19T C/S sprocket on it, although they never mentioned that in the article.

As I remember this he was just tightening some of the parts that had come loose moving it from the trailer to the test track.

openroad · Feb 23, 2014

I wish that was true, but unfortunatly Nortons staright out of the crate were so bloody unreliable (especially if you used that performance) that you had to modify them to keep them on the road.

When I bought mine in '74, it was easily the most reliable of my friends bikes. Harley at that point were put together poorly, and Triumphs and Beezers always had bits vibrating off. No one I knew would ride a Japanese bike back then, so I can't compare their reliability.

Hobot · Feb 23, 2014

The shoot out bike did 12.24 sec 1/4 m. Factory just slapped em together to get out the door so of course more like a kit you have to set right but no after market parts involved. Asian cycles have way way longer lists of bad production and built to cost electrical issues that Nortons do. Replicate or reproduce em as able.

Larso1 · Feb 23, 2014

hobot said:
Asian cycles have way way longer lists of bad production and built to cost electrical issues that Nortons do. Replicate or reproduce em as able.

hmmm, this sounds suspiciously like something a dedicated Brit-bike fanatic would say..... :lol:

dennisgb · Feb 23, 2014

dennisgb said:
As I remember this he was just tightening some of the parts that had come loose moving it from the trailer to the test track.

Just trying to be funny...but then the build quality of Brit bikes wasn't that good toward the end. A good reason to upgrade them IMO.

acotrel · Feb 24, 2014

When I was a kid, I always had hotted up 500cc and 650cc Triumphs. If you got beyond 15,000 miles without a rebuild you were an absolute star. The Japanese bikes were a whole new different game. I never liked them however I acknowledge that they were technically much better. The first time I ever raced a Japanese two stroke, I won the race. I never achieved that with my Triumphs. It was simply that I had no love for bikes which were so impersonal.

Matt Spencer · Feb 24, 2014

this is D type 505 , the Le Mans WINNER . it was built from the front subframe retrieved from D 504 which came from 505 when it was scrapped . So its all better now . :?

When does a Norton Commando become a "Replica"?

Hegel · Feb 24, 2014

When does a Norton Commando become a "Replica"?

My definition would have to be 'any' bike that was 'manufactured' after the factory shut its gates.

What was the serial number of the final Mk3? 325***? That'd be the last of them.

How owners modify them consequently for cosmetics, or improved performance (myself included), is irrelevant.

S

worntorn · Feb 24, 2014

comnoz said:
Being the owner of a bike that just kind of looks Norton- ish anymore but no longer has any part that has not been modified or upgraded I must say I have no regrets. I have never build a Norton to be of any value to anyone but myself.

I was rather happy when I entered my bike in the INOA concurs event in Canada some years back, in the modified class. They had real judging where they added points for everything that was not right. I got first place with a perfect zero. They could find nothing that was not modified. Jim

From now on you are known as Jim Nonstock :mrgreen:
Glen

jeffmack · Feb 24, 2014

Becomes a replica when u send ur bike to CNW :twisted:

Hobot · Feb 24, 2014

I'm sure CNW can reproduce a factory replica but mostly make customized specials not mimicking anything else.

When does a Norton Commando become a "Replica"?

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