I Bought a Brand New 1975 British Motorcycle(Rare)
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I got the chance to buy another very old motorcycle and unbox it as if it were 1975. Its a very rare and valuable norton commando. and I cant wait to see what its like inside.
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Hey man, bikes are meant to be ridden. I hate seeing bikes rotting away not living their purpose. Keep saving em. You guys rock.
thanks
@@BikesandBeards thats an awesome bike. Keep up the great work, love how positive all your content is.
Aymen to that, my old man rides a 1928 Norton almost daily so it can be seen and used. No one gets to appreciate a garage queen.
Agreed, the only thing worse than a bike not ridden, is a bike never seen.
Let Jay put the miles on it.
PLEASE for the love of God, SCAN and upload that manual to the internet. As an owner of an older/rare bike, finding a manual was such a struggle. There are so many project builders out there who could benefit from that manual that may be extremely had to get ahold of
dont say the lords name in vein :)
i agree
@@Mrman08
Vain not vein
@@vertmicko4763 idk how to spell bruh 😭🙏
@@Mrman08
Thats ok, mate.
l'm not very good at Maths.
Good idea
As a biker and British I applaud and respect you for what you did. It shouldn't be left in a crate to gather dust for time in memorial, it should be used for what it's creator intended. Too many good bikes are squirreled away in "private " collections or museums stood dormant for all too long. keep unboxing them and giving them a life they deserve. Good man.
A Britain
@@flynick😂😂😂
Except it all went out the window when he offered to trade a Norton for a Honda....
@@osric1730can't blame him for wanting something reliable
Hey Richard. As I recall we didn't have unleaded fuel in the UK until early to mid eighties. Did they just put unleaded fuel in an engine that's not unleaded ready or compatible?
I'm from The UK, and in around 1986 I worked for a company that made the exhaust pipes for Norton. I was surprised to find out that out of each batch of pipes, some would be stamped with the Norton logo and some were not. The ones with the stamp went to Norton and the ones left blank were sold as cheaper non original parts. But they were made in the same place and identical in every way.
I always wondered about things like that. …..:-)
I can't say for other manufacturers, but I know for sure if you have a had a Norton Commando back then you were wasting your money buying an "Norton" part. Unless you really really want the Norton stamp for authenticity/@@sbrunner69
Stop fooling around and open the damned box, JESUS!
I found the best old school motorcycle story' teller.
Bag of moisture free pellets
As a life long biker, born in UK 1960, I can assure you this is a piece of motorcycling history. As a kid of 15, seeing this on the road was something special. For the price you couldn't go wrong. Great video guys !!
i had a 750 comando in the 70s as daily transport , (no car ) yes just walk away from it.
@@nickbrowning6652 Happy and sad to hear. Happy you had a Badass Bike! Sad it was a Norton! Not the most reliable bike,but so kickass!
Norton Rules.
@@keithhampton9700 But the only thing from anywhere than jap, that could win over them on tracks back then, it was claimed. HP isn't everything.
I used to own and ride similar model of bike back in the late 70’s here in the U.K. It didn’t have the electric start. You really had to jump on the kick start to turn it over and for someone who only weighed 12 stones (168lbs) I really had to jump.
I bought a 1975 Norton Commando (black) brand new, a beautiful motorcycle and rode that bike all over Texas. The bike felt alive with every thump of the motor and every shake of the bike a true classic.
Awesome. I owned three Norton's and worked on them for years. You needed three sets of tools, SAE, Metric, and British Whitworth. Use the wrong tool and tears would flow. Never had the electric start or Disk brakes. People bought the Honda 750-4 because of four cylinders but I could still spank them on the Norton. Loved the sound of the Dunstall pipes. Thanks for showing this. It brought back many memories. Made me think of Barney Tillman again.
so true
I worked in the late 70s at the factory that made those brakes (becoming a manager in 1984). Lockheed was made under licence by Automotive Products at its Tachbrook Road, Royal Leamington Spa site (long since knocked down and redeveloped). The only surviving part of that company is AP Racing, whose brakes you will still see today on high end and race vehicles.
Your name is perfect for your role and Britishness
OMG I thought I’d never see another Norton in my life. My first motorcycle was a 1974 Blue Norton 850 Commando. I loved that bike! It was stolen off my side carport the night my first love and I broke up. It was like I lost the love of my life twice in less than 24 hours. This episode sure has brought back some fond memories. Glad you spent the money. Listening to it run really brought it back. Thanks for the memories!
I'm an old Norton rider from Way back. First was (2) 650 Triumphs, then my '73 850 Commando. I restored (2) '75 MK3 850s. After my neck surgeries, I had to quit riding and sell everything. Too sad.
Coincidence? Hell hath no fury.
Bet she is still riding round on it! Second Hell have no fury …………
@Jon Tibbatts Plot twist: Some kid he bullied in the 3rd grade, went to the gym, and got his revenge by stealing his girl and his bike on the same day. Best served cold.
Double heartbreak! That’s terrible. Is it ok to ask after all these years, which you miss the most? 😉
FINALLY!!!! There's a lot of Harley Love on this channel...which is understandable. But I've been waiting for some cool British bikes because, let's face it, Classic British bikes are pretty frickin' cool!
yeah they are
I want a Triumph Bonneville bobber so badly.
My eyes lit up when I saw this. I have an INT650 and hope to get a Triumph
@@BikesandBeards So you've done Triumph, now you've tried a Norton, next....get a BSA. I recommend the A65 Lightning. In 1973 BSA, Triumph and Norton merged. Most of these bikes were made at the BSA factory...even before the merger.
@@BikesandBeards someone using ur name and cheating people. Take action against him, please
In 1975, I went to the Norton dealer where I lived and test drove this bike. Wow. I was actually amazed that he let me take it for a ride. So cool.
In the U.K. Norton’s are legend. They have an amazing history you need to read up. You have a classic beast to be proud of. I had no doubt she would start. The engines were tank like in their reliability.
These old bike unboxings are my favorite episodes on your channel. When I was a teenager, this was considered the ultimate bike ,and Norton had the best ads in bike mags.
Yes, when I was 15 my friend and I both had small motorcycles and we also spent a lot of time looking at motorcycle magazines and we loved looking at this very Norton 850. It seemed so amazing to us. But I especially remember looking for a long time at the really pretty women who were sitting on those bikes. ( Don't tell my wife about that part.)
True but the bikes were made out of junk let alone all the major flaws.
@David Raye The few flaws it did have (like many other new bikes) were corrected. It didn't win machine of the year for 5 years in row for nothing. Podium finishes at the isle of man TT with lap records, many wins at races around the world. Not bad for a bit of "junk"
The prir 650 Dominator was a far superior bike, especially if you dropped a Thruxton Bonnie engine into the Featherbed frame for a Triton Cafe Racer. There were a lot of those around. Best Wishes. Bob.
They sure did !..awesome ads...
That was and still is my dream bike…….I’ve been riding 55 years and this bike in its time looked like pure muscle.. what a beauty.
Dear Lord, why...
@@robspear03 Because harleys look like golf buggies
My uncle Mike had one of these, brand new, back in ‘76. I remember riding on the back at 80 mph early in the morning on the way to breakfast. He only let me take it out once. I was 13 and I rode it to town, felt like a man. I loved it.
I’m 64 yrs old. In 1975 I worked for a motorcycle dealership in my hometown. I built new bikes from the crate. I built plenty of Nortons.
That really brings back some great memories watching you build that bike.
The guy that I worked for had a Norton still in the crate in his barn later on in life. I wonder if your bike is that bike?
I’d love to hear your story of where that bike came from!
I hate the crowd that let BSA slip into the void!
I'm 61 and worked in Suzuki and Kawasaki shops. Assembled a million from crates too. Often called in at the British bike shop. Triumphs and Norton's are awesome.
I just turned 66, a good friend of mine bought a 73 Norton Commando and took delivery sometime in 74 I believe. I've had an old 650 Atlas, about a 67, 441 Victor, 64 Triumph and currently have a 78 Triumph in my garage, along with a couple Harley's, the Brit bikes are fun to ride.
Me and my dad had always planned to build a bike when I got back from the war. Unfortunately, the rotation kept coming until I was injured in a combat jump and when I was healing after retirement, we found out that he had very aggressive cancer and couldn't finish the fight the way I wanted. Don't feel bad, he's pain free, racing the hills of Heaven and I'm fortunate to have been his son. Thank you guys for sharing this, he would have loved it as much as I do! Godspeed brothers.
Sua Sponte
I bought a 1974 850 Norton Commando brand new!! It was a gorgeous metal flake blue. My favorite bike, ever!
Right out of high school, I bought a new orange 1974 Norton. It will always be my favorite bike. I've had Harleys ever since, but none of them were as fun to ride as my Norton.
When I was in the AF my buddy and I both bought new black 1975 Norton Commandos 850 cc V-twins. The electric start would sometimes start the bike, but it was a great kick-start assist. They handled like a 350cc bike of that time. The gold letters on the black tank looked wonderful. The Honda Goldwing 4 cylinder had more power, but on a twisty road, you would leave them in the rearview mirror. Compared to Harleys they were much quicker and handled better, but being cool is what a Harley is all about.
I also had a canary yellow 1971 Norton 750 which was so much fun.
Enjoy your bike.
The Commando engine is NOT a V-twin, it is a parallel sloped twin based on the legendary Combat engine.
In 1975 I was 9 and my father's friend bought that exact bike in Pomona California and I asked if he could give me a ride and my dad yes he always said No to every thing. Man we hit the fast lane on the Pomona freeway and I was hooked big time best day of my childhood I was so in love I touched the beautiful exhaust when we got back and fried my hand true love for bikes thanks for sharing 👍God bless from Mt Dora Fla.
I am the Commando technical advisor for the Norton Owners club. My recommendation is that you put new tyres and inner tubes on those wheels, before riding it. I have a 100,000 miles on my own Commando so I do know a bit about them.👍🇬🇧
Yeah that’s a no brainer for most who have ridden or have half a brain and common sense. I guess that would eliminate half of society!
👍
Thanks for this vid guys ... In my 50 years as a motorcycle mechanic, I unboxed hundreds of bikes. So wish i could do it one more time for myself, but sadly that will not ever happen. BTW the bag of "stuff" in there is Silica Gel and is deigned to absorb water to stop corrosion in transit/storage. Looks like it worked, another great Commando saved 😁
Who's going to perform warranty work and recalls without the dealer network?
Bikes & Beards gift this man a motorcycle to let him unbox it!
@@memewizard8372Are you serious? Sounds like you need to stick to new bikes
@@JesusLives889 And you need insight into how manufacturers perform recalls and warranty work, even on 20 year old vehicles that come in for service at an authorized dealer.
@@memewizard8372 Oh really? I have been working on antique automobiles and motorcycles since the 1970s. I have never needed anything besides the factory shop manuals and proper tools. I love how you condescend the very ones you would actually need to keep your dreams alive. Brilliant 👏
You scored a nice find!The 1975 Norton has an electronic 'assist'.It is not a starter as you will find out.When it is real cold or hot you have to kick to help it start.
Anything else,just ask.
Buddy of mine had one. We called it “The Lizard” because it would only come to life once ya shoved it into the sunlight. Great memories.
Very beautiful bike, and will last forever with the amount of engineering that went into those bikes, the way it was crated alone shows how the British build with care and attention.
commandos were awful unreliable vibratory rubbish, like most other British motorcycle products, there is a reason all those companies went bust
@@johndoe-lo1yx Ultimately it was the Japanese brands that caused the demise very much like many car brands including giving the American brands a kick up it's Rs. They were cheaper and more reliable. As for unreliable British motorcycles, they were being designed and built on a mass scale since the twenties through to the eighties and fetch enormous prices so you really are talking out of the end of what should be sat on a lavatory.
@@QuoPaperPlaneBuilt on a mass scale......and fetch enormous prices.... could it be that the vast majority of those unreliable bike were just scrapped?
@@simonpaine2347 I don't see any Japanese motorcycles from yesteryear on the roads but I don't assume they were junk! Why quote 'on a mass scale' and 'enormous ' prices' ? They're sort after by many enthusiasts as there are plenty than haven't been scrapped but let's assume you're not the youtube expert, shall we? What brand/make of any vehicle where the majority that were made are are still on the road? Stone me!
@@QuoPaperPlane You're right, I'm no expert, just giving my opinion, but why you so angry? Did you miss your meds? A change in diet can make significant changes to your mood.
Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki are still in business because they make durable, reliable products. British manufacturers of any bikes or cars, not so much.
British aluminum castings were purposely made with a rougher than average surface finish, this was to facilitate cooling by providing a greater surface area. Many people have polished the cases, and heads only to discover that they would overheat far more easily. A great video, enjoyed it immensely. (You know why The Brits drink cellar temp Beer? they all have Lucas Refrigerators..)
Yeah, I was thinking exactly the same thing when he was remarking about the rough castings.
100%
That doesn’t explain the rough yokes.
No. That was simply the best finish possible at the time for the right price.
@@paultinwell5557, back atcha with my ‘NO’.
Craigs face when the engine started was priceless. He looked like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and he knows what’s comin’😂
Yep, he looked like the little kid who got caught doing something his dad told him not to do.
My dad had that exact bike. It kicked like a mule
Every Norton rider gets that look if it starts.😁
My thoughts exactly. Put a smile on my face after a rough week at work. Thanks guys for the great content.
If a Norton is tuned at all,tickle the carbs and it should start first or second kick.
Cool vid! I’m no bike expert but I’ve seen what happened to vintage snowmobiles that are 50 years old in a crate. It’s not good. Things dry rot. Piston rings seize to cylinder walls, mice eat their way into things and poo everywhere. Bearings set up. So yea I really enjoyed you bringing these bikes back from their tomb. I want to hear them run, not be a wall hanging.
What you don't know is those rough surface sand castings were more cooling efficient due to an increased surface area . So they don't bother to polish them smooth . I thought it was Norton Commando 850 . I had that motor in a dirt track side car many moons ago . Twin Amal fuely carbs running Shell A racing fuel and 12 to 1 compression . You could not kick start it , it could break your leg . We had to push start each time .
Thank you for knowing something about these bikes...it was painful to hear this guy go on about stuff he knows nothing about...Gee, why are the cylinders so smooth? Could it be cast iron vs. sand-cast aluminum? etc and so on...and Lockheed....the brakes must have come of a jet plane!
Put those restrictive mufflers in storage, they might be rare as hens teeth but the weight added to the poor exhaust flow are going to give the 850 very little horsepower. Buy a set of dunstall mufflers, rejet the carbs, put the factory airbox in storage (I suggest besides the mufflers) and install a pair of K&N filters. This should give approximately similar power rating to an earlier model. I purchased a 1975 T160 Trident new from a local Triumph dealer in 1975, couldn't believe how sluggish the bike performed, did the above modifications and the bike came to life.
Schrodinger's bike: If you put a bike in a box and seal it, it's not alive until you open it and ride it!
Thank you for bringing some true value and joy to this bike and sharing the experience.
That is a true jewel of motorcycles... Congrats on the awesome find... Wish it was mine...
I had an 850 Commando bought it brand new... Ton of great memories.
This Norton is an absolute classic, and not only has this one never been fully assembled, but it's never been ridden, never been fired up, never enjoyed. Enjoy this thing bud. I just started the unboxing part, but I know that you will enjoy it. It's part of the Ton Up club!
Edit: I just wanted to say that I am absolutely in support of the unboxing of this beauty. It didn't just make for incredible content, it made for an incredible unveiling of a piece of history.
First thing I'd do with that is put a solid-state ignition on it. That gets rid of nearly all the problems with these Nortons. They were excellent bikes, unfortunately for Norton a little too little too late.
You are a machine thanks for all you do and appreciate.
As a Brit it's a crying shame what happened to the British bike industry and all the staff who lost their jobs because of lack of foresight and investment to fend off the Japanese dominance.
I hope some of them are still around to see the resurgence of interest in British bikes.
The Japanese used to say you won the war but we won the peace
The Lucas electronics gave Brit anything a bad name here in America.. I have a 1970s jag. It’s a nightmare when she’s grumpy. Lol.
I remember being given a tour of the Lucas offices in Solihull. It all seemed very modern for the time. It was only later that I learned what a mess they had made of their business.
A german TH-camr (Andis Funktionspunk) just recently bought a Norton Commando with accidental damage and rebuilt it. The new, black painted Tank with all the trims and Logos came around 200 Euro, shipping from India included. So, unfortunately it's not worth 5000 bucks. Keep up the good work.
i dont understand how can someone say you are "devaluing" the bikes. Keep up the good work saving these beautiful bikes and getting them out there.
i guess there is an arguement that it was worth more in the crate.....lets face it that was a very unusual find and i am a bike collector.......would i take it out of the crate...yes...should i take it out of the crate..no
My first motorcycle was a '75 Norton Commando Mk III Roadster. It was black with gold striping just like yours and it also had the interstate pipes. That is a spitting image of mine. I know every inch of that machine. What a treat! I never should have sold it. The torque heading up the canyons of Utah always brought a smile to my face. Well done, gents!
unboxing old crap, why you trashed it ?
@@lucasRem-ku6eb Bad England you talks.
first bike a commando? sheesh.... some people have the luck/money
@@annpeerkat2020 Yep. I was 21 and I paid $2850 for it. 20 years later, when I sold it for $6500, the guy that I sold it to didn't even balk at the price. As he drove it away, I thought, "What did I just do?"😢
The Norton "Commander" was a rotary-engined bike built in the late 70s to early 80s. I had several Commando's. Including a 75 850 Mk III (mine was red), a 73 750 MkII, and a chopped 70 750. I also owned and rode a 68 Norton P11A 750 and a 65 Norton Atlas. I loved all my Nortons, and they are still my favorite brand of bikes. Thanks for this, it made my day.
it's my only brand of bike..but there again I'm a tad biased
@@the195111 I would love to have one of the new ones! Norton is still my favorite brand.
What do you mean by “rotary engined” as it obviously is not a rotary engine
@@patpatpat999 it’s also not a Commander, but a Commando. The Commander was indeed a rotary, and extremely rare. Only a few hundred were made.
@@BrianRLange The Norton Commando was an old fav.,then people took bits from a Triumph and a Norton and the hybrid Triton appeared
That’s amazing! A guy a few houses down the street where I lived in Durrington England had one of these in 1976. I used to love seeing that bike when I was a kid. I was telling my wife about the bike just days ago. The bike was built to be ridden. Great job rescuing it!
This Vlog took me way back to 1972 when I bought a brand new Honda 500 four, which was also unboxed before my eyes! Whan an experience never to be forgotten!
Beautiful bike. British bikes of that era are definitely my favorite. They are so beautiful.
It's a terrible shame that lovely Norton has been sat unused so long. Bikes should definitely be ridden
I am 56 years old...when I was a kid, there was a sign artist across from his butcher shop. Jack was old school, fun to watch him letter signs, he even fixed neon signs... Jack had two Norton motorcycles...both Commandos (750 & 850) he goldleafed the tanks and side covers...the 850 had a supercharger that ate the belts... Jack never wore a helmet, just a British driving cap...this proved useless when a gal pulled out in front of him...thanks for the memories, he was a great guy to a kid
Looks even more beautiful than it did in 1975. Thanks for sharing and good luck.
My first bike in 1971 was an ancient 250-twin Norton Jubilee. It spent most of its time stripped down in cardboard boxes. I wanted an 850 Commando Interstate but by then I needed four wheels so it never happened. Great job guys😊
Wow you must be very old!
100% meant to be ridden! Completely agree it's sad to see these beautiful bikes rotting away in the dark. Not to mention the stupid mice. You guys do these things that many of us will never be able to! Keep the videos coming!
The Norton Commando was a fabulous machine, not without mechanical Issues but a good one was an absolute joy to ride. Loads of character, tons of torque from that muscular vertical twin engine and pretty vibration free compared to other British twins. Out of interest the Norton Commando was voted machine of the year in the UK for 5 consecutive years - 1968 to 1972. You’ve got a real chunk of British history there.
Any chance Norton had organised the poll? 🙂
@@TeddyBear-ii4yc any chance you are a f'wit?
@@TeddyBear-ii4yc The popular bike publication Motorcycle News annually asked readers to vote for their machine of the year - they could have chosen any bike available at the time.
@@TeddyBear-ii4ycI could see that.
@@robspear03 It's only since twitter that some people think everything is fake lol
I had a 750 Commando, loved every minute I rode it.Thanks fer saving this one.
Walking around Barber Vintage bike swap meet I was amazed at how many Norton Commanders Oops Commandos the vendors had . One after another . One of my faves. Beautiful bike.
I worked at a GM Pontiac dealership in the 70's and one of the mechanics brought in this exact same bike, but it had a bent fork. He fixed it, but had to sell it because he had bills. It circulated through about 7 people at the dealership- other mechanics, (me a 25 year old and I LOVED that bike), and the parts manager (who was my Dad and was 55) before it finally was sold to someone somewhere. We all regretted our decision to sell. NEAT little nuances was the owners manual said to "Kick start it while USING the electric starter to make it easier on the starter and possibly save it for longevity. The other was the fact that it had a 2 prong plug in (the FIRST EVER?) so gentlemen could plug in their electric shaver. What a feature! And yes I miss it and wish I still had it as it did it all very gracefully!!!
Even though i'm English and an ex-biker in my mid 50s,i've never really been a fan of British bikes but i would give an arm and a leg to have this.There's a famous place called 'Box-Hill' here in Surrey where all the bikers meet every Sunday.That Commando would turn some heads to say the least
LOL another Brit here from Staffordshire and bikers gather every Sunday through the summer time at a place called Matlock, a small town in the Peak District which gets packed with bikes of all sorts. Even Police bikers turn up!
You would have been a fanhad you been riding in the days when british bikes were the best , your not a fan because your from the era where the British areor were no longer building great bikes n the number that they used to .
Don't know if they still meet there but in the 1950s/60s we met at the Saltbox café at Box Hill. Maybe it doesn't exist nowadays.
You're far too young to appreciate how great British bikes were.
Haven't been to Box Hill for years, used to be all the jap bikes met down the bottom and the old iron met at the top. It got a bit ruined when a reporter wrote a stupid item on it titled "the rocker Box where the bikers roar" and idiots started coming, it got too big and the council made a dedicated big park designed to halve our numbers. I remember Phil Read used to turn up, often on an MV Augusta. Before it got silly used to be just two bike cops, we called Pinky & Perky, who were ok..."I see you got no tax disc, come back next week with one and I'll forget your number plate".
That was sooo cool, brings back some very fond memories for me, had a buddy back then who owned a brand new 1975 850 Commando, I had a 1973 Bonneville 650, then owned my first Harley, a 1975 Sportser electric start which is still my favorite bike of all time. Now I got a brand new kTm which is an absolute beast!. Ride safe and god bless😁.
In the late 70's I spent 4 months in a hospital and have back issues ever since .. but I still have found memories on my green 750 Norton Command
I put +35k on that bike.
The spark advance was poorly implemented with a set screw that aways shook loose ..I recall many a time on the side of the road turning the assembly and tuning by ear to get back on the road.
Thanks for the great video. Brings back a lot of great memories of my old friend and I touring all around Texas on our bikes. Joe my friend had a 1967 750 commando and I had a 1967 650 BSA lighting. We turn some heads when we crank them up at the same time. I will never forget the sweet sound of those twin cyl engines. Those were the days of real freedom.
I can hear this box's sigh of relief as Craig cuts the packing straps. It has been waiting to be opened for decades, and you guys fulfilled its wish
Yes, it's like Christmas in....whenever.
Easiest way I've found to cut metal straps like that is to use two crescent wrenches. Put the wrenches on the strap without leaving a gap between them and the handles facing opposite directions. Pulling the handles towards each other will then shear the strap without it slapping you in the face. Hope that helps on the next unboxing!
I'm absolutely a sportsbike guy but i've got a lot of time for Nortons. I've seen a fair few at my local spot in the UK and they always look amazing.
One more thing - while originality is key to a bike's ultimate value - the petcocks that came on the Commando do not handle fuel with Ethanol well, they will degrade quickly leading to fuel leaks. Andover Norton (the original and still Norton parts supplier) sells Ethanol safe petcocks you can install on the bike.
Agreed, the ones on my dads 850 comando literally disintegrated after sitting with gas for a year.
The original 850 Mk3 fuel taps/petcocks had a nylon spindle/cone that didn't handle anything well and usually broke at the lever after not a lot of use.
@@les3066 Another reason to upgrade to the beefier Ethanol-safe version.
Modern oil in these old engines is tricky also
@@Simulera I used Royal Purple HPS Street Synthetic Motor Oil 20W50 in my Mk III. It was rated very highly by the NOC in the UK when they did a very thorough oil analysis for use in Nortons.
As a brit who bought a brand new Interstate 850 (silver tank) in 1975 I found this video amazing. My word of warning, watch out for the isolastic suspension.
And everything else either braking down or falling off. Like any British motorcycle of that era. Sorry but when I see all this excitement which were pretty awful, really, *And* horribly made, it just comes out of me. At least the Japanese were very well made, and the Ducatis very nice to ride.
@@nomayor1 ❤ Asian here watching listening and reading comments
@@Fake_Sailor They might as well do.
@@nomayor1 You're not wrong, but you're still missing the point.
@@semilog643 I know. The point with such bikes is to ride them, think of a supposedly wonderful past, and ignore all of their blatantly obvious problems. But at some point reason has to enter the equation. That's why what I ride is a 2008 CB1300, a yesterday throwback, without any of yesterday's drawbacks (Quote from J. Clackson, when he was reviewing the Weissman convertible).
My late brother-in-law bought a new red 750 Norton Commando in 1970. We used to ride together and switch bikes occasionally, I was riding a 1971 Mach 3. That Norton was amazing as it handled beautifully, and way better than my Kawi. It would literally just touch 60mph in first gear if you wound it out. He later put a set of Dunstall megaphones on it and you could sure hear it coming, but especially going for blocks away. I wish I still had them both!
How very fortunate you are to be in a position to purchase such a gem like this
I rode several of these in my youth and owned two 650s nortons and two triumphs
I would swap my 98 ultra classic for the Norton you have there i just love them
Cheers and thanks for your videos
I had the privilege to see the company's collection storage. Dozens of models of bikes they built throughout the history. From very early types to modern superbikes. Cool stuff.
In 75, I was in high school and worked at Yamaha East in Portland Oregon, they sponsored Rick Burgett and Chuck Sun, btw. They sold BSA and Nortons, my first job every morning was to wipe up the leaked oil from the brand new British bikes. Good times
great video, Always wanted a Commando, but never had the cash for one, lovely machine, you are so lucky to have found this. keep up the great work with your vid's
I drove one of these in 1975! WOW! Can I have it!! Congratulations. My neighbor owned one. Only issue is the brake pedal and shifter are backwards compared to my 1973 Honda. Incredible. They were so powerful. Ride. Ride. Ride.
have great memories of this bike. my dad had one in the 80s and took me out on it before i was even in school.
being so young i just remember the black color with gold writing and that square pattern on the seat. ☺️
Great stuff, I had a 73 Norton 850 Commando for over 25 years. It was great when it ran right. It taught me a lot about mechanics and road side repairs.
how often would it run right though
I remember they spent a lot of time being worked on
I'd love to return to my roots, old Triumphs. But I don't want a another hobby, wrenching. Diagnosing bike problems taught me a lot in the past however.
if you upgraded the ignition and carbs they could be very reliable.
@@Spartansrule118 My father's cousin had a Norton. His ran well until it was wrecked. That cousin would probably be diagnosed as autistic today, though. Appeared to have little going on upstairs unless asked about motorcycles, whereupon he would be able to recite obscure details about vintage bikes few people even remembered had been made. He was generally brilliant at interacting with machinery, no good at all with people. If you need to be a savant to keep it running, beautiful though it may be, I think I'm OK with not having a Commando.
the "bad crank" models were the 750s with the Combat motor - very high compression, flexy crankshafts. As the crank flexed the bearing rollers would ride on the edges and wear very fast. The main bearings were replaced with superblend barrel shaped rollers that allowed for the crank flexing. The 850 was an attempt to get combat power levels without the high compression.
Sean you have entered in a respecticle world of Snorton Nortons. I owned a 1973 Norton 750 Commando kick start. Anyone who knew bikes, it was a cult bike comming from England, BSA,Triumph was the faster record bike in mph. IT's great it gets mentioned in all 52 black vincent songs. Jay Leno owns one. I just turned 70 years old, but right after the movie EZ Rider, I chopped my norton, hard tail twisted steel chrome struts, 6 bend z bars,killer king and queen seat, strait bologa plpes, side eagle tail light and custom paint job of the Leslie West Mountain climibing album, ilived and loved the 70's best music. I love your Bikes and Beards , been following a long time.I retired from life long Maine, now retired in Tucson, riding Kawa Concours 1400 abs that eats the miles out here. Stay cool man Tucson Tim
I knew instantly the bike would kick over at 24:51 because the rear wheel was already spinned when you were messing with the clutch. Phenomenal craftsmanship from the decades old brits.
No, you're wrong. Japanese bikes gained popularity as they were better and reliable. The story at the time was anyone with a British bike had to leave cardboard under the engine to catch the oil. I'm sure it's an exaggeration but there's truth to it. It was the vibration.
But the 850 Commando was the polices bike back then. But that was prob a political decision in that they "bought British". After the Commando they bought BMWs as there was no Brit motorcycle industry by then.
But don't drink the koolaid. 🙂
@@TeddyBear-ii4yc Historically it was Honda which entered the UK with bikes which were cheaper and with favorable purchase terms. Once they had taken over the bread and butter market up went the prices. There were plenty of British manufacturers at the time catering for different markets.
@@TeddyBear-ii4yc I was brought up on British bikes, I stopped riding bikes when I was 21 years old (1965), then I bought a Yamaha XT 350 trail bike when I was 50. Put the bike in the garage and found an old tray to catch the oil from the engine/gearbox, all my British bikes had leaked oil. After a few weeks and no oil stains I asked some people at work and they said, Japanese bikes just don't leak oil, why did British bikes leak then??? I was soon so impressed with the XT and I started my trail riding career down here in South Wales, UK. I'm not sure it was just the vibration though on British bikes, castings on the XT were far superior to any on any British I'd ever had. Great days trail riding down here in South Wales, pity about the Countryside Rights of Way act 2000.
I bought a brand new '75 850 Roadster in June of '76 from a dealer. It was exactly the same bike you have here. Over the years, I've had 7 other Nortons but have had to sell all of them due to financial difficulties. I just bought my 9th Norton 4 months ago and I'll never be without a Norton again. I love riding them. Okay, they're not as fast as todays bikes and you do need to fiddle with them occasionally, but they are very fun to ride. And that is what riding is all about. FUN! Note: The "bad" part in the motor was the main bearings, primarily in the '72 Combat motor. The fix is to install "Superblend" bearings. However, the '75 came with Superblend bearings, so no worries. There was another "faulty" part in the transmission that should be replaced also. In stock form there was a "ball" bearning on the end of the lay shaft and should be replaced with a "roller" bearing. The '75 was the slowest of the Commandos as the factory de-tuned them slightly to increase reliability. They can be made to go a lot faster with a few after market parts.
If you make the trade with Jay Leno, I recommend getting another '75 that has been well sorted and ride it. Really ride it. It will bring a smile to your face every time. You will be amazed how well it corners and tracks.
I had a 1974 Norton 850 Commando. Wonderful bike. The rubber shift, on the right side, left your membership mark on your right boot.
That’s unbelievable 😍 my dad bought an ex police Norton commando in the 70’s and turned it into a chopper and he’s owned it ever since. After 20 years of it sitting in the garage he’s planning on reviving it as a flat-tracker 🤌🏻
Great unboxing. I had a '71, 750 in the early '80's. That bike always got a lot of looks everywhere it went even then. It was also a lot of fun being very light and nimble. Just riding around or at idle it was fairly quiet. It just growled when opened up. Thanks for the fun memories!
Oh boy. Without doubt my favourite motorcycle of all time, and still in the box. The Norton 850 Commando. I remember when the police here in the UK used to ride them. Magnificent machine.
I’m an English biker. Thank goodness you saved the 850. What a waste in a box. The Commando 750 was the first with kick start and she was a difficult bike to kick. The 850 had the electric start because they were losing sales due to the hard kick. You won’t beat a Norton
My absolute #1 dream bike right there. Thank you for unleashing her and giving her life.
Collectible vehicles are not the same as collectible toys, action figures, comic books etc. Vehicles have material that will rot if left in its original packaging. You'reabsolutely right for opening and giving these things what they deserve! Also, I never knew Jay Leno shouted you out, that's awesome!
I think the two bags you pulled out are desiccant for moisture. Harley used to put desiccant bags in their boxes before they switched to their new domestic transport system. They may still do it for overseas shipments. They are great to put in gun safes if your in a humid climate.
My best friend once owned a 76 Commando 850. Here is my advice. Every time you take it out for a Sunday afternoon ride in the country, bring along the spare bag you've already put together for this purpose. Wonderful bike, but it shakes off fasteners and goes through fuses like no tomorrow. Bring odd spare tools along as well. Good luck
the bike was waiting for the road this whole time. you saved it from the 'collectors'... great job!
Not a motorcycle rider, but love the videos. Always cool seeing something like this being found, like somebody finding a old car with not a lot of miles on it in some garage. 👍
The mandated left hand shift started in 1975. According to "The Comprehensive Vintage Motorcycle Price Guide" a 1975 Norton in "very good" to "excellent" condition average price is $9,000 to $12,000. They were made up until 1977. Definitely one of my dream bikes. That it's still in the box is very cool, but doesn't effect price that much, other than weathering. Bikes are meant to be ridden. That poor thing has been cooped up for far too long. Great that you're getting it back on the road.
What a great advert for Norton. So nice to see you get a bike out of box and not have any issues
My best friend's Dad rebuilds and restores old Nortons and has a collection of them. His prized one so far is an old Norton Police Bike. He has several Commandos. He doesn't completely refurbish them, rather he restores them to running original condition. He's entered them in motorcycle shows and has won several awards.
I have a very modified 1972 Norton Commando fastback that I have owned since 1976. So much fun on winding country road's.
My favorite TH-cam channel. I genuinely look forward to Sean and Craig’s motorcycle shenanigans
Me too. The world is crazy but these guys are just doin their thing and navigating the crazy and taking us all along for the ride. Christian brothers too. Awesome.
Same.. addicted
@@valiant7357 Me three. I've appointed myself a Deputy Sherf. Mind you, in my culture the most infamous one was the Sherf of Nottingham. He probably road a Matchless.
same here! love this channel! pure love on motorcycles
I had a 1970 750 Norton Commando. Red tank and kick start. Its weakness was that oil ran down the back of the valve stems and the valves would burn out. They fixed it on later models by having a rubber washer type of thing half way down the valve stems. It was a light bike for a 750 at the time (compared to a Honda 4) and had great acceleration. I did get 100 mile per hour out of it once. It would cruise at 80 with 2 people and gear.
Awesome work guys. As a 17 year old I worked my Willie's off, traded Thunderbolt towards a 1969 Commando 'S'. 2,700$ comes to mind. Was stolen, breaking my heart. But many bikes later absolutely nothing was a sweet as that ride.
You guys love those brand-new old bikes! I love these videos!
Glad you like them!
@@BikesandBeards I hope Jay does the trade with you guys!!! 🙏
Yes they love the "Commander" ha ha
I love this old unboxing videos is actually a good way to preserve history by showing the process for everybody to see
That look on Craig's face when he hit the start......LOL!
I remember in the late 1960-early 1970s in Australia there were rumours going around of wartime Harley-Davidson still in boxes. They were allegedly to be numerous but I never found anyone who had ever bought one. There was one man in my suburb who had a 42 WLA with a delivery box sidecar who used to mow lawns for a living and carry his lawnmower in the sidecar box. While it was a wartime Harley it certainly wasn’t one that recently came out of crate.
You got an absolute bargain. Not to mention a British Legend. Worth every penny. Well done guys. Cheers.
During our late teens, early twenties, in the late 1970s, my best mate had a Norton Commando 850 Interstate and I had a BMR R90S. He put VERY LOUD megaphone silencers on his Norton and I put VERY BRIGHT twin spotlights on the crash-bars of my BM. I can tell you that peoples' heads were definitely turning as we rode through the small villages around Leeds in Yorkshire, England. Happy days! 🙂
BTW, the Norton parts shop on Hunslet Road in Leeds is still open, so if you're stuck for spare parts for your Norton, check them out. They're called Startright Motorcycles.
You’ll remember that then there was great many ‘No bikers allowed’ pubs.
We used to have to go out of the way to find a bike friendly pub….
Those Norton motorcycles are absolutely gorgeous! I've always liked them as soon as i saw them in a book as a child! Amazing looking bike!
A Vincent black lightning would be the holy grail.
850 commando is definitely up there though
I bought a new 1975 Norton 850 Commando when I was 22 years old.
It was the most fun motorcycle I owned. The thin tires and wonderful balance the Norton had made it the best mountaineering bike available in 1975. I loved that bike. They look a bit boxy now days, but it's a great riding machine.
It did have a box of cat litter under it on the showroom floor. It leaked oil until I had it rebuilt 9 years later. Leaking oil is a special feature Norton built in.
So glad I found this video.
Scrape the pegs, this bike loves it!
Here is why it was running rough:
1) May not have oil in the gearbox
2) May not have oil in the primary case
3) May not have lubricated the secondary (final drive) chain
4) The contact breaker points need dressing. After 48 years (even 1 or 2 years of winter sitting) they corrode. Don’t overdo or you will affect the timing.
5) The carb float levels may be off, a friend bought a new Commando in 1974 and he found that the float level in one of the carbs was way low
6) You may have been running it on ethanol / low octane gasoline, use non-ethanol in the highest possible octane rating, add lead substitute.
7) I don’t think there were mice but check inside the air filter for a possible nest.
P.S.: There are two fuel taps (petcocks) one is MAIN and the other RESERVE, stock were crap, replace with modern ethanol resistant ones. To start, tickle the carbs first. (Also use choke in cool or cold temps). AMAL is short for “Amalgamated” and so should be pronounced that way but many say “A-mal” as in “anus”. I expect this makes people who worked for that company cringe. You can buy modern superior direct replacements.. Replace stock starter motor with better one (usually done). Replace points with electronic ignition and replace old rectifier and zenor diode with solid state. (Not needed if bike is not ridden a lot). Add zinc to the engine oil. Ensure there is oil in the forks, dunno if came from factory with oil in forks. The bottom end and gearbox problems were resolved by 1973.
WZ
Do you have your wallet you had your phone it’s not right lol OK, so why are you here if I listenijjjjnnjiiiip
It'd be wild if they didn't check any of that. You'd think if you had the money to buy an untouched British classic, you'd have enough sense to know what to check on it. May have and not thrown it in the video, but who knows. These old British machines run great with a little bit of attention every now and then.
Nah, there's only one reason: made in England.
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 Copium.
@@KoffinKicker
48 year old oil is cool ain’t it?
Boy did I enjoy this. I had a 1974 Black Norton 850 Commando in1980 for many years after. What's most interesting is the changes I see made from 1974 to 1985 . Big 2 are the move to standardized left hand s( foot) shift and right hand b( foot/ brake and the electric start. Also the elimination of the rest sprocket /brake drum combo to a disc and separate rear sprocket... Tool kit goes under right side cover( fits inside) ,also center instrument light console between speedo and tack is different. Watch kicking ,it can really kick back so keep leg straight and don't hesitate,go full out on the kick. I see it still retains both center stand and side stand. $17,000 you got a deal!! It also should have a capacitor so it doesn't require battery to kick start. If I'd had seen it I'd have bought it...sold mine to pay my school tuition but I'd trade my degree to get it back after all these years. Have had many bikes since ,Hondas, Harleys, Suzukis, but the Norton was and always will be my favorite. Ride it in good health and keep the shiny side up. Hope you have plenty of bugs in your teeth.
Wow!! I am SO jealous! LOVE the Commando!!