Just a bit of trivia - bought my 72 Commando new from a showroom and paid $1900. Still have it and still love it. Nicely presented video. Thanks for the review.
It was the Triumph workers sit in at Meriden that finished off Norton Villiers Triumph. The Meriden factory was due to close as it was just producing the old Triumph twins that were past their sell by date. So the workers had a sit in and saved that factory but the NVT group went to the wall. Including the Norton Commando, BSA & Triumph triples and prototypes including the Norton Wankel and Wulf, the BSA Fury and a single mounted in an isolastic frame (can't remember the name)
I have a 71 Commando (converted to a front disk) . It was my first real big bike and I bought in the late 70's. I still own it to this day and I will own it until I die. My only comment I want to make is the throttle cable is routed wrong, but you've done a great job on it. Nortons RULE !
At some point someone put a shorter throttle cable on and that was the only way to get any free play. The way it came in it was pulling the slides up quite a bit.
Nice video and it warms my heart that the younger generation is discovering and enjoying these old Brits. FYI, "unit" and "pre-unit" description doesn't apply to the big Nortons because they never went to unit construction. That term applies to Triumph and BSA that went to unit construction in the early 60s, so the early bikes were "pre-unit" construction. The Nortons are definitely built with a separate transmission but they can't be pre-unit if they never went to unit construction.
Came across your video. Just purchased my first Commando from its Second owner. It’s a 71 Roadster and this gent has had it since 1974. It was originally the same blue but he had it blacked out shortly after he bought it. Planning on putting her back to stock colors. She needs some love but she runs and sounds fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing!
You said it right , they are good fun , I ride a 74 920 commando & love her , many years back I gave a friend a ride on my S8 sunbeam ( me on back ) got t-boned & broke bones and bike , my mate rode a Honda so changed gear with brake lever etc ! 30yrs later he's still a friend but don't let him ride my bikes ,,,,
I bought a 850 Commando as a basket case in Arizona in 1981. $400. I spent the 'winter' getting it back together and I was riding it to the base for work and ran into a bud that had an old KZ1000 so we redlight raced for a few miles. The Norton beat him 4 out of 5 lights. I sold it when some guy made a sweet offer. Probably a mistake. That thing was fast and handled great, no bad vibes because it had the first rubber mounted engine I'd ever seen.
Great video , I've only had my 73 750 for 1 ½ years , it's a bit of fun , it's also got a Triumph T160 to sit beside , gear changing is easy but your right about switching back , might keep the brain from going into dementia, got hope .
Great video as always, Dylan. Just stopped by over the weekend while riding around, and finally rode this loop. Those turns are sharper than they look on video!
Great video! I am a confirmed Norton nut and have a 1972 750 too. I agree about the gear shift it is so much more intuitive to use. The vibes are down to the adjustment of the Isolastic rubber mounts. You can adjust those till you get a magic carpet ride above 2500 rpm. Mine came back to UK from Ohio and has been rebuilt with a monster front disc from AP Racing. I keep her in France these days. If you feel inclined check out my vids from France by clicking on my icon. Keep em coming and all the best with your dealership Nick
That's what I had at age 21, bought in Long Beach, CA, new in '72; this is the first time I've seen that Blue Metalflake, which mine was, on TH-cam, or anywhere since; I had the Combat, and the tank and side covers were fiberglas; it looks like this one has the steel tank, with the hem on the tank bottom. Correct? I sold it in August or September of '73 to guy in Philadelphia, and, of course, I WISH I KEPT IT! PS: I took to the shift pattern instantly (maybe because this was the first bike I bought!)
My '72 was a blue metal flake with fiberglass tank and side covers as well. Combat motor. I bought it with a few thousand miles on it from a guy who wanted a pound of pot, so I paid him $600 and rode it home in '76. I'm still riding it, but I bet that pouind of pot didn't last the other guy very long. I've had that bike from coast to coast and in Alaska as well. I did a complete ground-up rebuild a few years ago and of course, along with new superblend bearings, I added an electronic ignition and went to a steel tank. Color is now black with gold letters and striping. Looks great, runs and rides even better and remains my favorite bike..
We must around the same age. My DOB is 19Dec51. I got my 750 Norton Commando with the Combat engine in the summer of 75 when I was transferred to my first W. Germany assignment (USAF). I think it was either a 72 or 73. It was known as the "Fastback" model with fiberglas tank, side covers and the bit around the seat too and was painted orange or kinda red. My first bike I got around 1970 which was a late 60s Bultaco Pursang which I used to take out to the desert in S. Cal (I grew up in LA). Then I got a early 70s Honda CB350 for the street. Used to tag along with a LAPD motorcycle officer, John T. Lawler, who was like a big brother to me, so decided to join LAPD early 72, but I was too skinny! Height requirement wasn't a problem for this Chinaman, I'm 6'1", but only weighed around 135/140 at the time so, while they wanted me, I was too light! Ended up joining the AF instead! Man, I so wish I had kept that Norton! Probably more faithful than my German girlfriend!
I know this is going to sound obvious to a lot of Norton riders, but changing down gears to take some of those corners wasn't necessary, you could have stayed in 4th and the torque from the engine would have helped brake up to the corners, and again the torque would have easily pulled you out of the corner with so much ease :) that was the beauty of a lot of motorcycles of that era pure 4 stroke torque :). Great Video by the way
I’m sure I would consider that “lugging” the engine which is not a good practice. Isn’t shifting part of the fun of riding a motorcycle? Also, those are very slow corners, top gear is just out of the question.
You got a great deal. I paid $1900 for the same year. I wouldn't remember the price after all these years, other than still having the original registration.
The shifter on a Norton was a more natural feel. When you roll off the throttle and pull in the clutch, you're momentum is bringing you forward, so you naturally come down on the shifter.
If you think that’s what I’m saying, you are crazy. I do not think the engine and transmission are connected by the primary cover. I said they are connected by the primary, which they are. The circles in the Venn diagram of people who “correct” people in the TH-cam comments and people who are correct do not touch.
A British twin motorcycle suffered from vibration, 600cc was about as big as they could get before vibration became an issue, 650 had more power, yet produced more vibration so that was as big as they could go before the vibes became a serious problem. Honda came out with the 750cc transverse four cylinder, so the Brits were forced to produce bigger cc bikes In order to compete (when more cc’s meant better, to the general public) but still based on their traditional parallel twins, Norton tried to alleviate the problem by using rubber mountings, to try to separate the engine from the frame (Isolastic suspension)
I bet that blue really sparkles on a sunny day. It would've been the first ever Norton popcorn maker if you had fired it up before cleaning all those kernels out of the exhaust..
I don’t think it would have fired. At least on the right cylinder, the exhaust valve was held open with corn. Plus we did our standard vintage inspection which includes compression check and camera in the cylinder so hopefully we always catch something like this.
Nice job. Bike seems to be running well. You really shouldn't be feeling much vibration through the pegs betweem 2500 to 4000rpm. I find my 72 fastback the smoothest of all my motorcycles in that range.Poorly adjusted and /or worn isolatics seem to impact negatively on vibration not just handling. Could be worth a look. Triumphs with tired suspension and mounts still seem to go round corners okish, commandos are far less forgiving .
I agree, the bike should be smooth above 2500 rpm. The isolastics use shims, major PITA, in 1975 they went to vernier adjusters and most people will or should retrofit . The 1975 Estart can be made reliable. I just completed a nut &bolt resto of a 1973 850, Colorado Norton Works electric start and Brembo 320 mil floating disc and master. Nothing like riding a Norton!
I had a '72 Commando for a while. Does that one have the combat engine? My '72 got wrecked and I bought a '74 850 Commando to replace it. While I had those 2 Commandos, I also had a '77 Triumph Bonneville. It was fun switching between them, but after doing it a few times, it became second nature.
Don't kick a Commando over while it is sitting on the kickstand. You eventually will break the kickstand right off (don't ask me how I know). Either kick it while on the center stand, or leave both stands up and balance it when you kick it. 25 years with a Commando almost ruined me for life as far as the shifter is concerned. I still need to think about it when I shift a standard bike.
The Royal Enfield is just so easy to own and ride. The Norton is very sexy and unique l, but really takes a knowledgeable owner to keep running. If you can keep an old bike going, it can be very rewarding in a way that a new bike can never be.
The 750 absolutely annihilates a modern 650 RE in performance. Standard quarter, roll on, top speed, etc. Similar fuel economy to the enfield. Around town , commuting, general ergonomics, ease of operation, convenience and reliability. RE hands down. Its got an electric starter !..... that works !!! When I go on a ride I don't need to bring the emergency tool selection ,which I modify depending on the journey, strapped to the norton. Although the norton has never left me stranded there's always that niggling breakdown anxiety accompanying every journey when riding a commando. All up the RE is truly the better bike. Fabulous engine and chassis design. Um Norton..., don't go there.No known reliability problems or design flaws. Really really like the enfield. Both bikes move the body but only the commando moves this soul.
Love the blue metal flake finish on this example. Re. the vibrations, the rubber mounts (isolastic) engine suspension, likely need to have the shims checked/adjusted. Or the rubber components can be shot and need replacement. A little out of spec makes poor vibration control or poor handling as the whole rear end of bike will "hinge" around the mounts under heavy cornering. Later Nortons have no shimming required as they have vernier adjustable collars at the engine mounts.
Easy to know now if you bought a Norton in the 70's there are many suppliers of brand new Norton parts that are easy to buy to keep your Norton like new. Not so for the Asian manufacturers who stop supplying parts after a few years so you will buy a new bike and scrap the one you spent your hard earned money on. Those buyers of Asian iron never saw that coming. Too bad.
Just a bit of trivia - bought my 72 Commando new from a showroom and paid $1900. Still have it and still love it. Nicely presented video. Thanks for the review.
Has it been reliable?
@@Spartansrule118 Yes, as long as you keep up with the maintenance.
It was the Triumph workers sit in at Meriden that finished off Norton Villiers Triumph.
The Meriden factory was due to close as it was just producing the old Triumph twins that were past their sell by date.
So the workers had a sit in and saved that factory but the NVT group went to the wall. Including the Norton Commando, BSA & Triumph triples and prototypes including the Norton Wankel and Wulf, the BSA Fury and a single mounted in an isolastic frame (can't remember the name)
I have a 71 Commando (converted to a front disk) . It was my first real big bike and I bought in the late 70's. I still own it to this day and I will own it until I die. My only comment I want to make is the throttle cable is routed wrong, but you've done a great job on it. Nortons RULE !
At some point someone put a shorter throttle cable on and that was the only way to get any free play. The way it came in it was pulling the slides up quite a bit.
Touche pal just love their torque
Nice video and it warms my heart that the younger generation is discovering and enjoying these old Brits.
FYI, "unit" and "pre-unit" description doesn't apply to the big Nortons because they never went to unit construction. That term applies to Triumph and BSA that went to unit construction in the early 60s, so the early bikes were "pre-unit" construction. The Nortons are definitely built with a separate transmission but they can't be pre-unit if they never went to unit construction.
Got love a Commando & those handle bars, beautiful & 1up 3 down takes me back.👍
I think those are semi western, like my 750 .
Sure bring back memories, i had a 1972 Norton Combat and wish i still had it even though it took some work to keep it running smooth over time .
Came across your video. Just purchased my first Commando from its Second owner. It’s a 71 Roadster and this gent has had it since 1974. It was originally the same blue but he had it blacked out shortly after he bought it. Planning on putting her back to stock colors.
She needs some love but she runs and sounds fantastic!!!
Thanks for sharing!
You said it right , they are good fun , I ride a 74 920 commando & love her , many years back I gave a friend a ride on my S8 sunbeam ( me on back ) got t-boned & broke bones and bike , my mate rode a Honda so changed gear with brake lever etc ! 30yrs later he's still a friend but don't let him ride my bikes ,,,,
I bought a 850 Commando as a basket case in Arizona in 1981. $400. I spent the 'winter' getting it back together and I was riding it to the base for work and ran into a bud that had an old KZ1000 so we redlight raced for a few miles.
The Norton beat him 4 out of 5 lights. I sold it when some guy made a sweet offer. Probably a mistake.
That thing was fast and handled great, no bad vibes because it had the first rubber mounted engine I'd ever seen.
In my misspent youth I had a 72 with a combat engine with Dunstall pipes. Now I ride a 90 K-75.
Great video , I've only had my 73 750 for 1 ½ years , it's a bit of fun , it's also got a Triumph T160 to sit beside , gear changing is easy but your right about switching back , might keep the brain from going into dementia, got hope .
Great video as always, Dylan. Just stopped by over the weekend while riding around, and finally rode this loop. Those turns are sharper than they look on video!
Thanks! Yeah we are lucky to have such a good route so close.
Would love to hear how your project Commando turned out! I have a '75 & very happy...
Great video! I am a confirmed Norton nut and have a 1972 750 too. I agree about the gear shift it is so much more intuitive to use. The vibes are down to the adjustment of the Isolastic rubber mounts. You can adjust those till you get a magic carpet ride above 2500 rpm. Mine came back to UK from Ohio and has been rebuilt with a monster front disc from AP Racing. I keep her in France these days. If you feel inclined check out my vids from France by clicking on my icon. Keep em coming and all the best with your dealership Nick
Thanks!
Vibration? The Commandos predecesor was the Atlas , one of the biggest shakers of all time. The isolastic engine mounts help a lot.
That's what I had at age 21, bought in Long Beach, CA, new in '72; this is the first time I've seen that Blue Metalflake, which mine was, on TH-cam, or anywhere since; I had the Combat, and the tank and side covers were fiberglas; it looks like this one has the steel tank, with the hem on the tank bottom. Correct? I sold it in August or September of '73 to guy in Philadelphia, and, of course, I WISH I KEPT IT! PS: I took to the shift pattern instantly (maybe because this was the first bike I bought!)
My '72 was a blue metal flake with fiberglass tank and side covers as well. Combat motor. I bought it with a few thousand miles on it from a guy who wanted a pound of pot, so I paid him $600 and rode it home in '76. I'm still riding it, but I bet that pouind of pot didn't last the other guy very long. I've had that bike from coast to coast and in Alaska as well. I did a complete ground-up rebuild a few years ago and of course, along with new superblend bearings, I added an electronic ignition and went to a steel tank. Color is now black with gold letters and striping. Looks great, runs and rides even better and remains my favorite bike..
We must around the same age. My DOB is 19Dec51. I got my 750 Norton Commando with the Combat engine in the summer of 75 when I was transferred to my first W. Germany assignment (USAF). I think it was either a 72 or 73. It was known as the "Fastback" model with fiberglas tank, side covers and the bit around the seat too and was painted orange or kinda red. My first bike I got around 1970 which was a late 60s Bultaco Pursang which I used to take out to the desert in S. Cal (I grew up in LA). Then I got a early 70s Honda CB350 for the street. Used to tag along with a LAPD motorcycle officer, John T. Lawler, who was like a big brother to me, so decided to join LAPD early 72, but I was too skinny! Height requirement wasn't a problem for this Chinaman, I'm 6'1", but only weighed around 135/140 at the time so, while they wanted me, I was too light! Ended up joining the AF instead! Man, I so wish I had kept that Norton! Probably more faithful than my German girlfriend!
Love this bike!
You have a unique and enjoyable way of presenting your videos🙂 👍🏼
Thanks so much for taking the time to say that!
I know this is going to sound obvious to a lot of Norton riders, but changing down gears to take some of those corners wasn't necessary, you could have stayed in 4th and the torque from the engine would have helped brake up to the corners, and again the torque would have easily pulled you out of the corner with so much ease :) that was the beauty of a lot of motorcycles of that era pure 4 stroke torque :). Great Video by the way
I’m sure I would consider that “lugging” the engine which is not a good practice. Isn’t shifting part of the fun of riding a motorcycle? Also, those are very slow corners, top gear is just out of the question.
The corn is from field mice that stash it there....Ask me how I know!
They were about $1300 in London, about $1,600. in Chicago.
In 1972 i bought a brand new Norton Commando for $1425.00 OTD in San Mateo California. 👍
You got a great deal. I paid $1900 for the same year. I wouldn't remember the price after all these years, other than still having the original registration.
The shifter on a Norton was a more natural feel. When you roll off the throttle and pull in the clutch, you're momentum is bringing you forward, so you naturally come down on the shifter.
Totally agree
I have a 73 850 roadster. The engine and transmission are connected by a subframe, not the primary chain cover.
If you think that’s what I’m saying, you are crazy. I do not think the engine and transmission are connected by the primary cover. I said they are connected by the primary, which they are. The circles in the Venn diagram of people who “correct” people in the TH-cam comments and people who are correct do not touch.
A British twin motorcycle suffered from vibration, 600cc was about as big as they could get before vibration became an issue,
650 had more power, yet produced more vibration so that was as big as they could go before the vibes became a serious problem.
Honda came out with the 750cc transverse four cylinder, so the Brits were forced to produce bigger cc bikes In order to compete (when more cc’s meant better, to the general public) but still based on their traditional parallel twins, Norton tried to alleviate the problem by using rubber mountings, to try to separate the engine from the frame (Isolastic suspension)
I bet that blue really sparkles on a sunny day. It would've been the first ever Norton popcorn maker if you had fired it up before cleaning all those kernels out of the exhaust..
I don’t think it would have fired. At least on the right cylinder, the exhaust valve was held open with corn. Plus we did our standard vintage inspection which includes compression check and camera in the cylinder so hopefully we always catch something like this.
Nice job. Bike seems to be running well. You really shouldn't be feeling much vibration through the pegs betweem 2500 to 4000rpm. I find my 72 fastback the smoothest of all my motorcycles in that range.Poorly adjusted and /or worn isolatics seem to impact negatively on vibration not just handling. Could be worth a look. Triumphs with tired suspension and mounts still seem to go round corners okish, commandos are far less forgiving .
Thanks!
I agree, the bike should be smooth above 2500 rpm. The isolastics use shims, major PITA, in 1975 they went to vernier adjusters and most people will or should retrofit . The 1975 Estart can be made reliable. I just completed a nut &bolt resto of a 1973 850, Colorado Norton Works electric start and Brembo 320 mil floating disc and master. Nothing like riding a Norton!
Matchless, Ariel, AJS, JAP. A lot of other Brit bikes died early ‘60s
If you get one, I would love for you to do a ride/review on a 1987 Yamaha srx250
It’s a little outside of our year range but I’d love to!
I had a '72 Commando for a while. Does that one have the combat engine? My '72 got wrecked and I bought a '74 850 Commando to replace it. While I had those 2 Commandos, I also had a '77 Triumph Bonneville. It was fun switching between them, but after doing it a few times, it became second nature.
Combat was 9:l compression wasn't it? Must have better mains crank and rods to be still running.
Have a look at the AJS Porcupine!
They only had 4 gears because they were an over square engine with lots of torque, and they didn't need lots of gears.
Don't kick a Commando over while it is sitting on the kickstand. You eventually will break the kickstand right off (don't ask me how I know). Either kick it while on the center stand, or leave both stands up and balance it when you kick it.
25 years with a Commando almost ruined me for life as far as the shifter is concerned. I still need to think about it when I shift a standard bike.
Paid $1450 for a new Commando in 1972. Nice bike.
Great video👍🏾How do you think the norton commando 750 does compared to the present Interceptor 650,which one would do you prefer and why...cheers
The Royal Enfield is just so easy to own and ride. The Norton is very sexy and unique l, but really takes a knowledgeable owner to keep running. If you can keep an old bike going, it can be very rewarding in a way that a new bike can never be.
Very true👍
The 750 absolutely annihilates a modern 650 RE in performance. Standard quarter, roll on, top speed, etc. Similar fuel economy to the enfield. Around town , commuting, general ergonomics, ease of operation, convenience and reliability. RE hands down. Its got an electric starter !..... that works !!!
When I go on a ride I don't need to bring the emergency tool selection ,which I modify depending on the journey, strapped to the norton. Although the norton has never left me stranded there's always that niggling breakdown anxiety accompanying every journey when riding a commando. All up the RE is truly the better bike. Fabulous engine and chassis design. Um Norton..., don't go there.No known reliability problems or design flaws. Really really like the enfield. Both bikes move the body but only the commando moves this soul.
Love the blue metal flake finish on this example. Re. the vibrations, the rubber mounts (isolastic) engine suspension, likely need to have the shims checked/adjusted. Or the rubber components can be shot and need replacement. A little out of spec makes poor vibration control or poor handling as the whole rear end of bike will "hinge" around the mounts under heavy cornering. Later Nortons have no shimming required as they have vernier adjustable collars at the engine mounts.
Thanks! I’m sure this one could use new rubber mounts.
I had a 72
4 is plenty
Ugly intersection.Wouldn't get traffic lights like that here in New Zealand😁😂🇳🇿
As they used to say… “weird flex,but ok”
im born in wrong time wrong place
Snortin Norton
Easy to see how the cb750 or z900 outsold this.
Easy to know now if you bought a Norton in the 70's there are many suppliers of brand new Norton parts that are easy to buy to keep your Norton like new. Not so for the Asian manufacturers who stop supplying parts after a few years so you will buy a new bike and scrap the one you spent your hard earned money on. Those buyers of Asian iron never saw that coming. Too bad.