1971 Norton Commando - Purchase Advice?

Hi Everyone,

I've been on the lookout for a Commando or Bonneville project for a little while now. My Grandpa had one of each when he was still kicking, so the project would be somewhat of a tribute to him.

I've recently stumbled across this 1971 Commando in my hometown.

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/mcy/4451632571.html

Was wondering if you guys could give some opinions, advice, things to look for, and so on.

I'm very reluctant to buy a bike that is in boxes (as the ad states), because I am by no means a mechanical expert. I've done a lot of tinkering around on my motorbikes, but never something like this. My biggest fear is that I'll end up dumping thousands of dollars into this and never finishing it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi, welcome. Rare and pleasant a treat when some does research BEFORE plopping down the gold with their heart. :mrgreen:

A "basket case" is not for the feint of heart. Many parts could be missing, if you don't know what to look for. BUT, if the build is part of your satisfaction of accomplishment, so be it. A very personal thing. What are you into it for? Riding? a project building for a few years? Are you retired? Or very busy already? Help us help YOU :lol:
Click on this link, then one of the red lines, then after the exploded image appears in miniature above, click on it. Start taking inventory. Repeat, repeat.
http://www.oldbritts.com/nor_comm_71.html
Some here have cited TENS of thousands of dollars. :shock: :shock: :shock:
A cheapskate like me has done it all functional, low rent aesthetics with no stainless steel jewelry to be found.

Jp
If you are not “mechanically inclined” as you say, then I would pass and look for a bike that is already safety certified and road worthy. It will cost more but by the time you figure out the parts, bike tools and getting it right will reach the same or more in dollar value with parts and a good mechanic’s hourly rate to put it right. The mechanic is the trick. If you ask him if he knows anything about “Positive Ground” and he gives you the 1000 yard stare…. keep clear.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

I bought a 1972 Combat five months ago after many false purchasing starts.
BEST advise by far I got was "Buy a bike that runs and has been taken care of by the owner".
Did that.
Still racking up investment dollars to get it where I am comfortable with reliability.
If you are not an experienced mechanic, AVOID a 95% machine at your peril.
Other Notorns are out there for not much more $ and MUCH LESS investment in time and $.

Keep looking. Looks like a money/work pit and as said there are plenty others out there running well for twice that amount or so. Don't jump in to a basket case here unless you have the required time/money/mechanical means. :|

Price is not bad, but if you want a Norton that appears normal, you'll be spending a lot of loot. I'd look for one more in standard stock unless you want a one off.

Agree with all of the above.
The other question: Commando or Bonneville?
I have both, and the Bonnie is redundant since my first Commando was roadworthy.
The Bonnie is a great 'town bike', but the Commando is infinitely more relaxing to ride, and eats the miles up in comfort.

I'd buy it and put $15K into it over the 2 years it will take to restore it.

I wonder if that picture is now or before he took it apart and put it in boxes?

That bike is not worth $2800. No way. Maybe $1500 because it's titled. Not to say someone won't give him $2000 for it, but they would be upside down
on it by the time they got it looking reasonable and rideable. It needs everything. It will break your wallet and your heart.
Assume the parts not shown in pictures are mostly junk and will need to be replaced (seat, mufflers, pipes, lights, gauges, fenders, side covers).
The main tool used by guys who build "bobbers" is a stick welder and a grinder so I'd look for other "customizations" that need fixing.
The solo seat looks like it's had some mounts welded onto the frame. Also the rear axle support of the swing arm looks like it's been modified.
And something looks odd about the rear frame loop. Almost like it has some reinforcement strip added along the bottom?

If you're not comfortable with a full restoration, I'd save my money and find a rough but complete running bike for around $4K that hasn't been hacked-up.
I see them on eBay and Craigslist all the time. Nice old Bonneville's seem to sell for $3K range.

Just my $.02
Mark

My biggest fear is that I'll end up dumping thousands of dollars into this and never finishing it.

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Your fear is very likely to happen.

My advice is, never get a basket case unless you get it for almost nothing or at max the sum of the value of any key components in good condition. When running and rideable it has a value greater than the sum of its parts but with a basket case it only has a value of parts because that is all it is, boxes of parts. If the seller says it's worth the value of the bike then why doesn't he throw it together so that it is a bike.

You have never seen it running so you don't know the state of all the bearings, bores, valve guides, does the speedometer work, does the rev counter work, does the alternator stator work, does the zener diode work, infact, does anything work, well you don't know.

So you laboriously check and replace most components to be sure that you don't rebuild it, start it, and hear some horrible noise. Most basket cases were taken to pieces because they did not have the sweetest of motors, or they were just pretty damn sick to start with.

Very time consuming and very expensive.

So why do I do it, well because some people paint pictures to relax and because they are creative individuals, rebuilding a motorcycle can be very rewarding and pleasurable. So don't do it for any other reason than you enjoy it, it will take loads of time and money, so much that it has to be a hobby where you don't count the money or the time.

If this is not the case then get the best bike you can and pay lots for it, the previous owner has sunk more into it than you will pay.

Thank you for all the valuable feedback. I think I'm going to take the majority of the advice, and steer clear.

My biggest reason for starting a rebuild project is because I enjoy the mechanical side of motorbikes as much as I enjoy riding.

My first goal would be to get the thing running well, and then slowly tinker away at the aesthetics over the years.

That being said, however, it seems to me like a Norton rebuild might not be a good first project.

Here is a treat for you all:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/m ... 64001.html

JP, am I correct in assuming that you live in Australia? If that is the case I think this bike is not a bad price, given that Commandos and other classics go for a lot more money in Oz than in most other places. If I found a bike like this with a Hong Kong title I would buy it immediately for this price, however to make this a decent bike again you would need a fair amount of mechanical ability and some specific Norton knowledge and of course as others have said a decent fighting fund. It is quite amusing that the previous owner went to the trouble of having the frame alignment checked and then fitted a 16" rear wheel rim on it, I think you would have to get off and hail a taxi whenever you came to a corner! If Nortons come up occasionally in your area the advice to pay more than double for a runner is probably sound, but be prepared to spend additional money on almost anything that you buy.

dave M said:

JP, am I correct in assuming that you live in Australia? If that is the case I think this bike is not a bad price, given that Commandos and other classics go for a lot more money in Oz than in most other places.

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It would still cost a reasonable amount to get it back here, not to mention getting it to Seattle including what looks to be a possible border crossing.
If the OP is in AU then this complete Commando might be of interest even though there are no bids at this stage.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1974-Norton- ... 4ad677378c

Oops my mistake, I read the advert and thought the bike and potential purchaser were both in Victoria Australia. Ignore everything I said, it is too expensive.

dave M said:

Oops my mistake, I read the advert and thought the bike and potential purchaser were both in Victoria Australia. Ignore everything I said, it is too expensive.

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I think most of us would like a $2800 Commando (locally)