Norton Commando...a worthwhile investment

I bought my first Norton Commando MK3 Roadster four years ago. It was complete but just plain worn out. It was the mechanical hot potato as each owner tried to lash it together to keep it going. I replaced the carbs and got it running well enough to realize that this was a bike that could be a serious long distance classic motorcycle. It was amazing to be on a British bike with ZERO vibration at speed. By summer of 2010 I had rebuilt and gone through every system on the bike except the seat foam. The goal of fixing the bike had always been to ride it Oregon and hopefully back, a 1500 mile trip. So I did. I have about 3200 miles on the bike now and it just gets better and better. Getting modern tires, and chasing down a few odd oil leaks were the final tweaks. The bike is in that rare state now where nothing needs attention. I would hop on this machine and ride anywhere anytime and arrive with a smile.

So if you are in the process of fixing your Commando or even frustrated with some part of the repair process, hang in there. It is worth all the effort to be flying down the road on a REAL British classic. Most importantly, the Commando delivers the authentic, satisfying sensation of being involved with your machine. Alot of people ask me if this is one of the 'new' Commandos. I always say..."Yep..its a 75."


Here are some shots of my ride today on Hwy One through Big Sur California.

Beautiful day, beautiful bike. Nice work!

Good thing you have a vented points cover!

Looks like a nice place to ride a nice bike. Just for interest sake, what does a recently restored Mk111 sell for over there ?

I regularly see "rebuilt engine and gearbox" Commandos going for $5000.00 or so. Like everything else right now its a buyers market.

I feel the same about my Mark III Interstate, INCLUDING THE E-STARTER!

It's ready to go anywhere at and above all posted speed limits, all day long.

Nice bike and nice weather! It's been a long time since I've ridden that road.

Looking outside this morning, the thermometer is reading 8 degrees and everything is covered with snow. So I need more ride pics!

Debby

I've been there, but it's been on a BSA B33 and it was not vibration free at any speed. Of course it's been 47 years too.

Nice riding area, the perfect place where the ocean meets the shore (Ansel Adams said something like that).

Dave
69S

I feel so lucky to live in motorcycle nirvana when I see photos of Highway One. I'm 40 minute from highway 1 and 5 minutes from Highway 25 http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Highway25.htm.

Nice bike and that is a nice place to ride. I also feel blessed living in So Cal but I forget it when I see places like Colorado or others. Then I open a copy of Motorcycle Classics to find them talking about a road I was just on, "Glendora Ridge Road" it is nice and I'm 20 minuets from the Ocean in the other direction. I forget how spoiled I am. Now to find my electrical gremlin.

I know if I had money I'd be living the dream in California. Australia would be pretty fantastic as well.