Many of you know how this story begins. "So this one night I was looking on Craigslist..." I am sure most can fill in the next part of the story with their own tale.
Mine continues with this little fellow following me home after an impulse purchase. There was a little explanation to my wife on what she was looking at. Luckily she does not know that I paid too much for a bike in this condition ($1800). Nor did I tell her how the vision of restored Norton’s on this site clouded my judgment. Oh well, no reason to dwell on the small details at this point in time.
What is really important is that I now have a Norton in the garage with no personal experience on restoring a motorcycle. I do know that I will have more questions than answers and that this would not be possible for to attempt this without the internet or this forum. The bike is a 1971 Roadster, VIN 144861.
This bike was a barn find so I did not have a chance to look at all of the details. Maybe I should have spent a little more time with a flashlight and I would have discovered what is now painfully obvious.
Yep, the downtubes on the frame are pinched. I later discovered that this is common and easy to do if aftermarket accessories are tightened a little too much. Probably should have known that before I rushed out of the house to look at this bike.
Another trip to Craigslist turned up a frame in PA for the right price ($125). A call to a friend that was in the area to pick it up and a week later it was in my garage. He is better than UPS. I later discovered that the engine cradle was included with the purchase. So this is how you begin to gather duplicate parts during this type of restoration?
Now for my first question: The frame purchased has a VIN of 300044, which puts it as an 850 Commando. I have read about the difference in the frontend rake and the better stability of the 850 vs. the earlier years. If this will not work, I will begin a search for a new frame.
Second Question: As I began to do some more searching on the bike I was unable to find the engine number. Is this the correct location and is there a reason that there is no number stamped here?
So that is it, my story on how I acquired a Norton. I don’t plan to do a speedy restoration. I fully expect that this will take a few years to help ease the finances of the project.
Mine continues with this little fellow following me home after an impulse purchase. There was a little explanation to my wife on what she was looking at. Luckily she does not know that I paid too much for a bike in this condition ($1800). Nor did I tell her how the vision of restored Norton’s on this site clouded my judgment. Oh well, no reason to dwell on the small details at this point in time.
What is really important is that I now have a Norton in the garage with no personal experience on restoring a motorcycle. I do know that I will have more questions than answers and that this would not be possible for to attempt this without the internet or this forum. The bike is a 1971 Roadster, VIN 144861.
This bike was a barn find so I did not have a chance to look at all of the details. Maybe I should have spent a little more time with a flashlight and I would have discovered what is now painfully obvious.
Yep, the downtubes on the frame are pinched. I later discovered that this is common and easy to do if aftermarket accessories are tightened a little too much. Probably should have known that before I rushed out of the house to look at this bike.
Another trip to Craigslist turned up a frame in PA for the right price ($125). A call to a friend that was in the area to pick it up and a week later it was in my garage. He is better than UPS. I later discovered that the engine cradle was included with the purchase. So this is how you begin to gather duplicate parts during this type of restoration?
Now for my first question: The frame purchased has a VIN of 300044, which puts it as an 850 Commando. I have read about the difference in the frontend rake and the better stability of the 850 vs. the earlier years. If this will not work, I will begin a search for a new frame.
Second Question: As I began to do some more searching on the bike I was unable to find the engine number. Is this the correct location and is there a reason that there is no number stamped here?
So that is it, my story on how I acquired a Norton. I don’t plan to do a speedy restoration. I fully expect that this will take a few years to help ease the finances of the project.
