I'm doing a frame up resto of a 72 Commando. I've been carefully tracking costs and my estimate of doing a complete resto on a fairly complete but rough bike is in the 6000-7000 $US range beyond the cost of the bike. This is to nice rider condition, not a 99pt show bike. This assumes an engine and transmission rebuild with doing most of the work myself. Only things being farmed out are painting, plating, powdercoating, wheel lacing and machine work. Original purchase price for the bike was 2500$US which included new exhaust system, rear rim and spokes and K&N air-filter. So all in costs somewhere between 8000 to 10000$US. I've really tried to keep costs down by shopping for good deals and using some used parts. I don't see how it could be done a lot cheaper unless you could do the painting and powdercoating yourself.

Dammit boys, my wife might find this thread.

Hi Road Scholar
Have you a URL of this report? Cant seem to find it on google.
Thanks
Mark

Hello Mark,
The articaI referenced is in the latest copy of Cycle World, under "Leanings" by Peter Egan. I imagine that the artical could stir up a good bit of interest in Nortons, which, in my opinion, are the most elegant of the 20th century British motorcycles, with the possible exception of the Vincents...

RS

Assuming the bike am almost certainly going to purchase is as bad as yours Htown, what is the most difficult and expensive operation you have carried out?
Has anyone uploaded a full spreadsheet of ground up restoration costs before this that I could view? i would be fascinated to see where exactly in the Black hole of rebuild costs that the money will certainly heamorrage.
Thanks for all your advice Guys.

marknorton wrote:Assuming the bike am almost certainly going to purchase is as bad as yours Htown, what is the most difficult and expensive operation you have carried out?
Has anyone uploaded a full spreadsheet of ground up restoration costs before this that I could view? i would be fascinated to see where exactly in the Black hole of rebuild costs that the money will certainly heamorrage.
Thanks for all your advice Guys.

Old Britts has this all detailed out and is an excellent reference guide. Or you could just believe all us now-poor-Norton-owners.

Old Britts Restoration Guide.

I'm not sure if this spreadsheet will layout properly, but here goes:

NORTON RESTORATION
COST
ITEM COMPLETED CONDITION PARTS SUBLET
CHASSIS
FRAME Powdercoated $250.00
SWINGARM Powdercoated $50.00
TRANNY CRADLE Powdercoated $50.00
SHOCKS NEW shocks $80.00
FORKS Overhaul & polish $120.00 $20.00
YOKES Powdercoated
HEAD BEARINGS New head bearings $20.00
ISOLASTICS Replace iso rubbers $350.00
F. WHEEL & HUB NEW nipples & spokes, rechrome rim $150.00 $175.00
F. WHEEL BRGS. NEW bearings $25.00
F. BRAKES Braided stainless hose $35.00
F. FENDER Polish, paint hardware
F. TIRE NEW Avon AM26 Roadrider $90.00 $35.00
F. AXLE Refurbish $20.00
R. WHEEL & HUB NEW nipples & spokes, rechrome rim $150.00 $175.00
R. WHEEL BRGS. NEW bearings $30.00
R. BRAKES O/haul master cyl & caliper, drill disc $30.00 $90.00
R. FENDER Polish, paint hardware
R. TIRE NEW Avon AM26 Roadrider $90.00 $25.00
R. AXLE & ADJUSTERS Replace missing parts $50.00
SPROCKET/DRUM Refurbish
CYCLE PARTS
SEAT NEW seat $250.00
SEAT KNOBS polished $15.00
GAS TANK Completely strip, seal & paint $50.00 $550.00
OIL TANK Paint $50.00
SIDECOVERS Paint $150.00
INSTRUMENTS Overhaul $300.00
AIR FILTER NEW K & N dual neck $75.00
HANDLEBARS NEW Clubman café $30.00
HEADLIGHT EARS Re-chrome $60.00
THROTTLE NEW Barnett $25.00
CLUTCH LEVER ASSY. NEW aluminum assy. $25.00
F.BRAKE LEVER ASSY. NEW UJM master cyl. Assy. $75.00
CENTERSTAND Powdercoat $20.00
SIDESTAND Powdercoat $10.00
MIRRORS NEW $65.00
FOOTPEGS Re-chrome $125.00
PILLION PEGS Rechrome, new rubbers $10.00 $40.00
SHIFTER Cleanup, new rubber $5.00
R.BRAKE PEDAL Rechrome $30.00
KICKSTART LEVER Rechrome $30.00
CABLES REPLACE ALL $120.00
CHAIN REPLACE $80.00
CHAINGUARD Re-chrome $50.00
BRACKETS Replace, powdercoat, repaint $20.00 $20.00
HARDWARE Replace as required, replate, cleanup $30.00 $50.00
RUBBER MOUNTS (ALL) REPLACE $25.00
Z-BRACKETS Polish $30.00
ELECTRICAL
HEADLIGHT NEW replacement $60.00
TAIL LIGHT Bulb $12.00
WIRING NEW harness $140.00
BATTERY REPLACE $60.00
SWITCHES NEW UJM handlebar switches $80.00
IGNITION Electronic ignition $150.00
COILS NEW coils $30.00
BOTTOM END
CRANKCASES One-way breather mod $50.00
CRANKSHAFT Clean sludge trap
MAIN BEARINGS NEW $240.00
RODS Cleanup, new bearings & bushings $40.00
PISTONS NEW pistons & rings $275.00
TIMING COVER Polish $20.00
CAM Cleanup
CAM BUSHINGS Cleanup
PRIMARY COVER Polish $30.00
PRI. CHAIN NEW primary chain $30.00
PRI. CHAIN TENSIONER NEW rubber foot $30.00
CAM CHAIN NEW camchain $20.00
CLUTCH Replace friction plates, cleanup $60.00
ALTERNATOR Cleanup
TRANNY CASE Cleanup
TRANNY COVER Polish $20.00
TRANNY GEARS Thorough cleanup
TRANNY BEARINGS & BUSHG'S Replace all $125.00
SPROCKET REPLACE $60.00
OIL PUMP Overhaul
GASKET SET NEW $80.00
OIL SEAL SET NEW $25.00
OIL LINES NEW incl. Rocker feed $135.00
TOP END
CYLINDERS Re-Bore, bead blast $165.00
TAPPETS Reface tappets $80.00
HEAD Bead blast, re-face valve seats $150.00
HEADBOLTS Cleanup
GUIDES NEW guides $80.00
VALVES New valves $100.00
SPRINGS Cleanup
ROCKERBOX CAPS Polish $30.00
PUSHRODS Cleanup
CARBS Overhaul kits $20.00
HEADERS NEW $175.00
EXHAUST NUTS NEW $60.00
MUFFLERS REPLACE (Peashooters) $160.00
ENGINE BOLTS & SCREWS Cad plated $65.00
CONSUMABLES, FLUIDS, SPARK PLUGS, ZIP TIES, ETC. $60.00
$4,482.00 $2,960.00 $5,000.00
PARTS SUBLET LABOR

SUBTOTAL RESTORATION (NO LABOR) $7,442.00

SUBTOTAL RESTORATION (WITH LABOR & MARKUP) $16,744.50

To get the "Grand Total", add the cost of your "donor" bike, and subtract stuff it doesn't need done.

marknorton wrote:Assuming the bike am almost certainly going to purchase is as bad as yours Htown, what is the most difficult and expensive operation you have carried out?
Has anyone uploaded a full spreadsheet of ground up restoration costs before this that I could view? i would be fascinated to see where exactly in the Black hole of rebuild costs that the money will certainly heamorrage.

Assuming you were able to buy the bike for what you intend to pay, every restoration is going to be something of an unknown quantity, as who knows what you might find when you get started, but if it's going to be all about spreadsheets and costs, then are you really sure you want to go ahead with this project?

So far I've spent
Purchase bike 2500$
Powder coat 450$
Paint & bodywork 500$
Plating 150$
Parts 3200$ (mainly along the lines of grandpauls list but not everything)

left to spend
machine work 300$
sleeve carbs 200$
additional parts 700$
total budget 8000$

I've also spent about 500$ on whitworth wrenches and other special tools.

Big disclaimer here. I'm into Brit Bikes as a hobby not as an investment. While I would hope that if this resto turns out okay I could recoup at least a good part of my money if I had to sell it, thats not what I plan to do. Also, I'll probably add some niceties once I start riding it. Just thought I would post this info so that someone considering a project had some idea as to costs. I hate to think about bikes being taken to bits to restore and then not finished.

Balance all this discussion with results from the recent Mid America Vegas auction, DeLand (Daytona) Auction, and recent e-bay SOLD results for Commandos...

THAT will give you an idea of what you MIGHT be able to recoup from a sale, but typically you'll have to settle for less in a buyer's market (what we have right now).

Thanks LAB. Yes the spreadsheet and cost is very very important. I accept that I will spend well over a purchase price if Ibought one on ebay, but I need to budget over a period of up to 3 years to do this properly and within my finances. so if I know I have to allow for say 2500 pounds per annum over 3 years then I will have a vague idea of where money is going to run out or where or whereabouts I should be at that point in time.
Hope I am making sense, as if my price is accepted i am doing the deal. Just want to go into it with my eyes open thats all.I want a restoration project you see as well as a beautiful work of design and engineering at the end that I can enjoy on summer days.
You do have a valid comment though and thanks for your post.

GrandPaul: thats Awesome. Thanks, I am sure I am not the only person who is going to benefit from this. Ahem... the question I have is.... I hope the bike is now finished?

Maybe.....

RoadScholar wrote:Peter Egan of Cycle World just did an editorial on older Nortons, he purchased one. The article is very complimentary and could easily effect the value of our machines.

RS

He's either got one bedeviling him or he's lusting after one. The guy's got it bad.

Danno wrote:

RoadScholar wrote:Peter Egan of Cycle World just did an editorial on older Nortons, he purchased one. The article is very complimentary and could easily effect the value of our machines.

RS

He's either got one bedeviling him or he's lusting after one. The guy's got it bad.

He's had Commandos before when he wrote for Road & Track.