Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 8:34 am Post subject: Whats a good price for a 75 Norton?
Hello, new to the board, so if there is call for an into please forgive me.
Anyhow, I've been working on a couple of Brit bikes for a few years and am now ready for another. I have found a 1975 Commando 850 that is 100% complete and original and has title. The bike runs but not very well. Its been sitting for a couple of years. Anyhow, the owner ask me to make an offer. I'd hate to insult this man, for he is a my friends grandfather. What would be a good price for this bike? I'm not looking for an unheard of deal, just lookinf for fair.
Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 86 Location: The Great White North
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 9:49 am Post subject:
Hi Alpha,
Welcome the the forum!!
To accurately answer to you question, some more info is required:
When was the last time it was on the road?
How is the paint/chrome/rubber? Or how rusty is it?
Does everything work? (Don't worry about the E-start, they never really "worked"!)
What do you mean by "does not run well"? (i.e. bad mechanical noises from the engine, won't idle smoothly, has no power, misses through out the rpm range, etc).
IMHO, the fact that it is complete, together and runs, it should be worth at least $2000US.
From what the old guy told me its sat in the back of his place for about 5 years. I went back there and it was COVERED in dust! Took me a little while to clean it up, but under that dust was a nice surprise. The paint and body seem to be flawless (from what I could see in the dimly lite area). Chrome was in pretty good shape as well. I didn't think to check the under side of the pipes to see if they were banged up. Its been kept in a dry area out of the weather for like I said 5yrs or so. I pretty sure it will need new tires, brakes, and what not.
What I mean by not running well, is its been sitting a good while and it took some time to start it up. I'm thinking old gas, and the carb would probably need to be rebuilt.
I was thinking about offering right at around 2000 for it. I had talk to his grand son and said I MAY be able to get it for around 1800.
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At the end of 1967 the Norton Commando was announced.
The Norton Commando was greeted with a certain amount of scepticism because on first sight the commando appeared to comprise of the old Norton Dominator twin cylinder engine mounted at an inclined angle in a set of new cylinder parts.
It was not realized that the new Norton Commando Isolastic method of engine suspension damped out all engine vibration and produced a machine which had uncanny smoothness for a vertical twin. In due course the critics were silenced and the Norton Commando had the distinction of being regarded as the first of todays so called superbikes. There can be little doubt that the original design concept of the Norton Commando has proved correct, since comparatively few modifications of any real consequence have been made since production commenced during 1968.
Now nearly 40 years later Norton Commando riders like us are a breed of our own, and as far as we are concerned its still more fun to go for a blat on the old Norton Commando, and fast. As a Norton Commando owner and enthusiast, my goal here is to promote and give credit to those who keep the Norton name going.
It is more deserving to give credit to the Commando itself, for after all these years it continues to be respected. The original Commando designers like John Favill are those who deserve the credit for developing this incredible motorcycle.
The Norton Commando Roadster and Interstate of the late seventies, never died. Although the Norton Villiers factory dispersed the tradition lived on. Today Kenny Dreer in the USA is developing the new 952 CC Norton. What a great looking bike this is, and its engineering is still based on the original layout. It will be interesting to see how the new 952CC Norton does in todays tough motorcycle market. One thing is for sure, I would own one if I could afford it.
