I brought my 850 Commando in 1976 new, it was the last 74 black Roadster left in Brisbane hiding in the back of the dealership surrounded by all the new model 75 Norton/Triumphs, last of the KS and right shift in Brisbane when I was 17 years old been riding jap dirt bikes since I was 15 so was my first right hand shift, only took me about 2 weeks to get use to the change as I was still riding the dirt bikes, but my plan was to do a Featherbed conversion as soon as I got hold of a good Featherbed frame (a 750 Commando in a Wideline Featherbed was my first Norton I rode that belonged to my mate Don, 2 weeks later I brought my new 850) and way the last 49 years my Norton has been modified since 1980, built by me and my own hands, I had no problems at all doing the conversions to the Featherbed and the motor was built for the hard mount frame.
the first few years of the Commando I had lots of minor problems, mostly points set up before finding the AAU was the problem, easy fix with a Lucas EI, but it failed within 1 year, replaced with a Boyar unit in 79 the year I found a Featherbed frame from my mate Don, but the before the conversions the Commando wheels had peeling chrome, the paint job on the tank was lifting, it was painted from the factory without undercoat, the front brakes worked great for the first few years before becoming bad, the stock isolastics were giving me hell, handling was crap till I threw on new Koni shocks the bike was only 4 years old and so many problem on and off with the stock set up, mufflers rusting out, Amal carbs completely worn out, the Commando was my only transport so wasn't happy, but I did give it a hard time being a teenager flogging the guts out of my Norton (burnouts every Friday nights) broken chains then the blown lay shaft bearing all within the short time I owned it.
1980 I had enough and was the start of the Featherbed conversion, I was on the dole at the time so money was tight, took 2 1/2 years to build, the motor was fully built for the Featherbed frame, crank balanced, 40th rebore as my cylinders were worn oval from too many burn out major port work and my stock cam built up to a 2S cam grind/profile, rebuilt the stock Commando front end and front brakes was installed, new Akront alloy wheels, new open exhaust system and being a 1957 Wideline Featherbed frame a modified interstate seat, most of my commando parts where used only the frame, oil tank, battery box and engine mounts were different, the bike was built for me the way I wanted it, for lightness, handling and performance, and reliability, fully modified and over the last 44+ years more improvements as spare money came along.
I didn't build my Norton to be sold, or for anyone else for that matter, it was built for me and me only, didn't care what others said and to be honest was the best thing I ever done and even better after installing the Joe Hunt maggie, the bike is running the best it ever has in the last 15 years, I changed the Amals to PWK carbs that Jim built for my bike, but have since gone back to the replaced Amal I brough new back in 1980, yes they were alloy Amals, not pot metal Amals, yes they were around back in the 80s.
Well my Norton has proven itself in the 44+ and has been so reliable the only time it has let me down was a blown Boyar 100 miles from home, 1 broken rear chain, one dropped coil but I rode home on one cylinder, and it was an everyday rider till 2013 when I brought my new Triumph Thruxton, the Norton is semi-retired but I still ride it regularly as it's still my number one bike that I built, it's my play bike and still shows up a lot of modern bikes up in the ranges/twisties, yes my Norton is fully modified, for me and no one else, what happens to it when I am dead and gone will be up to my youngest daughter.
I don't care what others think, I have a very reliable Norton, it's lighter than a Commando, shorter in the wheelbase, handles like it's on rails and very comfortable to ride all day and long road trips and its right hand gear change and it fires up first kick every time with the Joe Hunt and Amals, 30 years ago I was offered a lot of money for it but no it was my bike and no one else, I have had so much fun on my hotrod Norton and still do every time I take it out, it's showing its age now but that's because it ridden, it's never been a show pony but it draws a crowd when I am parked up on bike runs, and the old blokes think it's an old Domie.
Would I change it back to a Commando, no way, it's the way I like it.
Ashley
