Great video !! Every Brit bike buff needs to make the pilgrimage out to Baxter Cycle in Marne, Iowa. Long drive from just about everywhere on the planet but worth it. The last Nortons IMHO were among the most beautiful Brit bikes ever made, really fast and always draw a crowd when parked.
I got my first classic bike only 5 yrs ago...a '74 850 Commando HiRider. That's the one made up to look like a chopper, with ape-hanger bars, 5 3/4" headlight, banana seat, tall grab rail and a very svelte 2 gal. tank. I immediately converted it to the Roadster styling, just kept the nice little tank for its looks.
I remember the 850 Hi Rider for one reason, a lovely lady named 'Tina', posing on one with very few and no clothes no, in a 'Gentleman's' magazine, so for that reason it has always been very memorable to me!
Known in uk as the norton 'in a state! At 18 i had a 750 roadster120mph on one occasion,and now have a '76 850,slower but more reliable. All i need for nostalgia is long hair and flares!
I do like a commando , I think that style of exhaust was called an anular discharge silencer . Regarding the fuel capacity discrepancies , UK gallons versus US gallons ? I hope who ever buys any of those bikes rides the wheels off them . Be a real shame for them to sit in a basement again . Thanks for posting .
They are a beautiful motorcycle. This one even more so for its story. You may be right about the fuel capacity discrepancy issue. You're absolutely correct about the riding issue. No bike should ever sit. Wahoo!
The 69 Commando 750 went thru the 1/4 in 12.69. I have the Cycle Mag test , May 1970. It's called " Superbike 7" The Commando outran everything, Harley Sportster, Honda CB750, Kawi H1 and Triumph Triple. You won't get that one going that fast without replacing those silencers with some open peashooters and 260 Mainjets in the carbs. The annular discharge silencers are very quiet but they kill the bike's power. I tested some recently and they turned my 850 into a gutless scooter!
The annular discharge silencers were also fitted to the Triumph T160V Trident. In 1982 I bought a T160V with a Norman Hyde 871cc big bore kit and upswept tulip megaphones installed, with those upgrades the top speed was raised to 135mph, Trident's were thirsty for fuel with 35mpg average consumption. I always wanted a Commando Mk3 but sadly the right machine never came my way.
Had same bike early 80s favorite bike loved it guy I bought it from cut kick stand .drag on turn and after market pipes with baffles removed he put something in there so if cop check it with Billy stick it would pass fast dependable bike mph dial didn't work I think they went to rear wheel instead of front just wouldn't stay on and starter never worked was stolen in Austin Texas mid 80s PLEASE RETURN love that Norton definitely a interstate also john player special John player not the pilot cigarette sponsor
My first one was in 1972 I bought brand new 750cc which had the P11 tank which was quite small, about 1.25 imp gal. The tanks came in various sizes which many times depended on whether the tank was made of metal or fibreglass. I purchased the 1975 Mk 3 in 1983 with only 2,000 original miles. My 1972 was faster than my 1983 Mk 3 and it was also quicker to respond, I could put her down faster and farther in a high speed turn. I even filed the bolts for the mufflers in one turn when I got her low, I needed to to make it through. In my opinion the 850 may have reduced the stress on the Commando, but I believe the 750 was the best, excluding the Combat.
Just a quick note, the silencers were standard on this model, I bought a MK3 electric start model new in 1976 in London and it was delivered with these silencers, I thought I heard that they were designed for USA legislation but don't quote me on that. I really like the look of them but most owners these days seem to prefer the older style Norton silencers, of maybe this type are hard to source
Thank you, I love unique input like yours. Love this bike and would like to remake a better video of it if given the chance. Sorry for the very slow response was in Hospital for 9 days, darn deer. Home now. Wahoo!
Got my 1'st Mk3 in 75 while I was in USAF at RAF Lakenheath. Grate bike, tour UK and Belgium. Sold the bike after College. Later in 81, I got a another Mk3 which was in bad shape. Needed lots work. Now I'm 72 and still doing upgrades. Still riding and enjoying retirement.
I had a black 850 mk 3 Interstate back in 1979/80 and it was a great bike with a few faults..... the primary chain tensioner allowed the chain to flap around a bit at lower engine revs and could have done with a manual adjuster , the swing arm bearings wore out quick, the front brake was 'wooden' and the starter motor only had two brushes when it should of had four. These things are now easy to put right - belt drive, better bearings and upgraded starters and brakes are readily available but I think the performance , though OK back in the day would be a bit lame these days, but it'd be a nice bike for Sunday rides though. STOP PRESS : both the front and rear brakes were opposed piston calipers so 'dual spot' as you would call it .
@@forgottenmotorcycles It was quite a blast having the fastest Brit bike of any of my friends and I was only 19 when I bought it from Slocombes motorcycles in Neasden North West London... all my mates had Triumphs and BSA's but I had to go one better.....
The Mk.2A is sometimes considered the last true Commando because it was the last one with the right side shifter. The Mk.3 has “electric start” on the side covers as if it was a big deal in 1975, 10 years after Harley and Honda came out with electric start bikes. And the one on the Commando didn’t always work. Kinda sad.
@@forgottenmotorcycles Yes. Good that it has a kicker. The original starter motor can be upgraded to where it’s reliable. Norton improved on other features over the years such as the isolastic mounts which do not require disassembly for adjustment. The head steady was better on the 1975 model. Also the timing case was modified so that oil did not seep into the sump. It’s too bad the improvements were not made earlier.
@@forgottenmotorcycles No. I sold it 2 years later and bought another bike that i can't even remember now. I didn't like the right-side shifter it had on it. It kept messing me up on shifting. I'm a left shifter guy. Funny story. I didn't even know it had a cam in it because I only took it up to 4000 rpm. One day I went to pass a car and when it hit 5000 rpm it felt like a turbo kicked in and i almost rolled back off the seat. The only thing that saved me was my hand flew off the throttle and I was able to grab it back and keep it under control. Scared the hell out of me. But after that when i passed a car i would hold on for dear life and it felt like a rocket ship taking off. Big Fun.😀
I'm not sure if this is relevant but 3.6 imperial (UK) gallons is a little over 4 US gallons (4.3 actually). Nice bike but too heavy for a wimp like me.
The 750 was the fastest and the mk1 850 was proned to gearbox failure. They lowered torque in mk2 so gearbox could cope. Mk3 had vernier isolastics which were easily adjusted,previous models had to be re-shimmed. Those black cap silencers and plastic airbox were fitted to satisfy the American market and made them slower.
@@pauldavies3764 on my 750 the layshaft broke twice. I never heard any similar problems from the 850. And yes that vernier adjustment was sooo much better than the shim type.
There were several people down here who had gearbox failing on mk1 but '71 750 only had clutch slip until i cleaned plates every few mths. After a few hrs standing in rain it would rarely start! Now have a mk3'76, and is smòother,slick gearbox,starts on button every time and unlike my 750 when i was 18,has more than two positions on throttle. Perhaps the Mikuni helps make it smoother. Quite fancy another T150v,smooth but horrendous fuel consumption
I was very interested in seeing this bike. It was advertised regularly in the motor cycle mechanics magazine when l was in my last couple of years at secondary school. Couldn't watch your video with all that camera movement, like being at sea on a boat, very nauseous.
Sorry about the quality of this video. Next time one of these beautiful bikes come through Baxter Cycle I'll make a better video. If you go to baxtercycle.com you may fine many of the bikes we loved in our youth. Wahoo!
Great Bike! But an uniformed, erratic presentation. Too bad, because Baxter Cycle in IA is probably the U.S. Mecca for new & vintage Brit Bikes. I purchased a new Tri. T-120 & had it shipped to me a few yrs. ago. I worked w/ Jeremy P., Mgr., who is vastly informed on all of their bikes. He would do a great job w/ a review like this.
Great video !! Every Brit bike buff needs to make the pilgrimage out to Baxter Cycle in Marne, Iowa. Long drive from just about everywhere on the planet but worth it. The last Nortons IMHO were among the most beautiful Brit bikes ever made, really fast and always draw a crowd when parked.
Totally agree!
Bloody long way from West Wales!
I got my first classic bike only 5 yrs ago...a '74 850 Commando HiRider. That's the one made up to look like a chopper, with ape-hanger bars, 5 3/4" headlight, banana seat, tall grab rail and a very svelte 2 gal. tank. I immediately converted it to the Roadster styling, just kept the nice little tank for its looks.
Sounds like an interesting machine, would love to see some pictures of it. Could you post some to our Forgotten Motorcycles Facebook page? Thanks!
I remember the 850 Hi Rider for one reason, a lovely lady named 'Tina', posing on one with very few and no clothes no, in a 'Gentleman's' magazine, so for that reason it has always been very memorable to me!
The U S Navy boys based in Brawdy,Pembrokeshire, loved the Hi-rider in '70's.
The US Navy boys stationed in RAF Brawdy in '70,s used to like the HiRiders
Baxter motorcycles has the best smell and feel of any motorcycle shop I've been in the past 53 years.
You sir, are correct!
About to ride to breakfast on mine (exactly like that one). The Interstate has the big tank. My favorite bike of all time😉
Right on!
@@forgottenmotorcycles This video has the worst camera work I think I've ever seen. Were you drunk?
@@autodidact537 please watch more of my videos. Clearly, many of my videos have much worse camera work. :-)
Known in uk as the norton 'in a state! At 18 i had a 750 roadster120mph on one occasion,and now have a '76 850,slower but more reliable. All i need for nostalgia is long hair and flares!
I do like a commando , I think that style of exhaust was called an anular discharge silencer . Regarding the fuel capacity discrepancies , UK gallons versus US gallons ? I hope who ever buys any of those bikes rides the wheels off them . Be a real shame for them to sit in a basement again . Thanks for posting .
They are a beautiful motorcycle. This one even more so for its story. You may be right about the fuel capacity discrepancy issue. You're absolutely correct about the riding issue. No bike should ever sit. Wahoo!
The 69 Commando 750 went thru the 1/4 in 12.69. I have the Cycle Mag test , May 1970. It's called " Superbike 7"
The Commando outran everything, Harley Sportster, Honda CB750, Kawi H1 and Triumph Triple.
You won't get that one going that fast without replacing those silencers with some open peashooters and 260 Mainjets in the carbs. The annular discharge silencers are very quiet but they kill the bike's power. I tested some recently and they turned my 850 into a gutless scooter!
The annular discharge silencers were also fitted to the Triumph T160V Trident. In 1982 I bought a T160V with a Norman Hyde 871cc big bore kit and upswept tulip megaphones installed, with those upgrades the top speed was raised to 135mph, Trident's were thirsty for fuel with 35mpg average consumption. I always wanted a Commando Mk3 but sadly the right machine never came my way.
Had same bike early 80s favorite bike loved it guy I bought it from cut kick stand .drag on turn and after market pipes with baffles removed he put something in there so if cop check it with Billy stick it would pass fast dependable bike mph dial didn't work I think they went to rear wheel instead of front just wouldn't stay on and starter never worked was stolen in Austin Texas mid 80s PLEASE RETURN love that Norton definitely a interstate also john player special John player not the pilot cigarette sponsor
@@rongates7766 sounds like you had one heck of a motorcycle! We're trying to get more of these classic bikes on video. Love the commando!
My first one was in 1972 I bought brand new 750cc which had the P11 tank which was quite small, about 1.25 imp gal. The tanks came in various sizes which many times depended on whether the tank was made of metal or fibreglass. I purchased the 1975 Mk 3 in 1983 with only 2,000 original miles. My 1972 was faster than my 1983 Mk 3 and it was also quicker to respond, I could put her down faster and farther in a high speed turn. I even filed the bolts for the mufflers in one turn when I got her low, I needed to to make it through. In my opinion the 850 may have reduced the stress on the Commando, but I believe the 750 was the best, excluding the Combat.
They really are nice and fast bikes :-)
Nice looking roadster
I think so too!
Just a quick note, the silencers were standard on this model, I bought a MK3 electric start model new in 1976 in London and it was delivered with these silencers, I thought I heard that they were designed for USA legislation but don't quote me on that. I really like the look of them but most owners these days seem to prefer the older style Norton silencers, of maybe this type are hard to source
Thank you, I love unique input like yours. Love this bike and would like to remake a better video of it if given the chance. Sorry for the very slow response was in Hospital for 9 days, darn deer. Home now. Wahoo!
Got my 1'st Mk3 in 75 while I was in USAF at RAF Lakenheath. Grate bike, tour UK and Belgium. Sold the bike after College. Later in 81, I got a another Mk3 which was in bad shape. Needed lots work. Now I'm 72 and still doing upgrades. Still riding and enjoying retirement.
I had a black 850 mk 3 Interstate back in 1979/80 and it was a great bike with a few faults..... the primary chain tensioner allowed the chain to flap around a bit at lower engine revs and could have done with a manual adjuster , the swing arm bearings wore out quick, the front brake was 'wooden' and the starter motor only had two brushes when it should of had four.
These things are now easy to put right - belt drive, better bearings and upgraded starters and brakes are readily available but I think the performance , though OK back in the day would be a bit lame these days, but it'd be a nice bike for Sunday rides though.
STOP PRESS : both the front and rear brakes were opposed piston calipers so 'dual spot' as you would call it .
I've never rode one but would love to. Beautiful bike. Wahoo!
@@forgottenmotorcycles It was quite a blast having the fastest Brit bike of any of my friends and I was only 19 when I bought it from Slocombes motorcycles in Neasden North West London... all my mates had Triumphs and BSA's but I had to go one better.....
I remember a guy telling me he had a Norton and traded it for a BSA. He said that was a big mistake.
Oh, dang!
May have been the awesome rocket 3
The Mk.2A is sometimes considered the last true Commando because it was the last one with the right side shifter. The Mk.3 has “electric start” on the side covers as if it was a big deal in 1975, 10 years after Harley and Honda came out with electric start bikes. And the one on the Commando didn’t always work. Kinda sad.
Yes, I've heard all kinds of wonderful things about the electric start on those bikes. Good thing it has a kicker huh
@@forgottenmotorcycles Yes. Good that it has a kicker. The original starter motor can be upgraded to where it’s reliable. Norton improved on other features over the years such as the isolastic mounts which do not require disassembly for adjustment. The head steady was better on the 1975 model. Also the timing case was modified so that oil did not seep into the sump. It’s too bad the improvements were not made earlier.
It was called "isolastic", I didn't know Baxter's had so many awesome bikes in their secret back room. Are they for sale?
Almost everything in that room is for sale...almost. Visit the store if possible, it is worth the drive. Visit the website at baxtercycle.com
In 1972 i bought a brand new Norton 750 Commando for $1425.00 OTD.
Not sure what they sold this one for. Do you still have yours?
@@forgottenmotorcycles No. I sold it 2 years later and bought another bike that i can't even remember now. I didn't like the right-side shifter it had on it. It kept messing me up on shifting. I'm a left shifter guy. Funny story. I didn't even know it had a cam in it because I only took it up to 4000 rpm. One day I went to pass a car and when it hit 5000 rpm it felt like a turbo kicked in and i almost rolled back off the seat. The only thing that saved me was my hand flew off the throttle and I was able to grab it back and keep it under control. Scared the hell out of me. But after that when i passed a car i would hold on for dear life and it felt like a rocket ship taking off. Big Fun.😀
Great story :) I've not ridden a Commando...yet. Wahoo!
That sounds like a damn good price for that time.
I'm not sure if this is relevant but 3.6 imperial (UK) gallons is a little over 4 US gallons (4.3 actually). Nice bike but too heavy for a wimp like me.
I always wonder about this when dealing with British bikes. Googled specs are not always clear. These are nice bikes. Wahoo!
Isolation/isolastic
Wahoo!
Not the fastest Commando model. The Mk2A was. Isolastoc suspension had been used on all models. Any other model is a better bike to own.
Nice
The 750 was the fastest and the mk1 850 was proned to gearbox failure. They lowered torque in mk2 so gearbox could cope. Mk3 had vernier isolastics which were easily adjusted,previous models had to be re-shimmed. Those black cap silencers and plastic airbox were fitted to satisfy the American market and made them slower.
@@pauldavies3764 on my 750 the layshaft broke twice. I never heard any similar problems from the 850. And yes that vernier adjustment was sooo much better than the shim type.
There were several people down here who had gearbox failing on mk1 but '71 750 only had clutch slip until i cleaned plates every few mths. After a few hrs standing in rain it would rarely start! Now have a mk3'76, and is smòother,slick gearbox,starts on button every time and unlike my 750 when i was 18,has more than two positions on throttle. Perhaps the Mikuni helps make it smoother. Quite fancy another T150v,smooth but horrendous fuel consumption
Rescued?
Will it see some serious use now or will it just be sitting in another basement?
I don't think it will see many miles though I'm thinking it may find a better home than a basement...I hope.
Interstate tank is larger capacity, gearing taller.
I believe you are correct. Thank you.
"Iso-lastic" Rubber Engine Mounting...Vibrated in line, rubber damped side to side...
Thanks!
60 h.p. and 56 ft lbs.of torque.
Thank you!
More like 50 hp. A restrictive exhaust and airfilter doesn’t make wonders.
That's a roadster. Isolastic engine mountings
Nice, thank you
Early 750's were the fastest
I was very interested in seeing this bike. It was advertised regularly in the motor cycle mechanics magazine when l was in my last couple of years at secondary school. Couldn't watch your video with all that camera movement, like being at sea on a boat, very nauseous.
Sorry about the quality of this video. Next time one of these beautiful bikes come through Baxter Cycle I'll make a better video. If you go to baxtercycle.com you may fine many of the bikes we loved in our youth. Wahoo!
Great Bike! But an uniformed, erratic presentation. Too bad, because Baxter Cycle in IA is probably the U.S. Mecca for new & vintage Brit Bikes. I purchased a new Tri. T-120 & had it shipped to me a few yrs. ago. I worked w/ Jeremy P., Mgr., who is vastly informed on all of their bikes. He would do a great job w/ a review like this.
Jeremy does know his stuff. Very well informed, for sure. Wahoo!