1972 Norton Commando ADVICE needed

I have a chance to purchase a 1972 Norton Commando with only 2070 miles on it. Not restored and stored indoors. It has some very minor rust on the chrome parts. Bike runs great.

I have always wanted an old Norton, just love the way they look however I dont know much about them. The engine number is 203910

What would be a fair price for this bike?

Interstate! Very desirable. $5,000 to $10,000. Sorry I can't get closer. If you can get it for $5000, great, but expect $10,000.

Hi, welcome. Depends a lot on location, condition. A quick fleabay search to show COMPLETED auctions is helpful

Oh, Ouch!

Fair? There is another thread going right now on this topic. Just because a bike is low mileage and in more or less original condition doesn't mean you won't end up going through it. So be prepared for that. It just means that the bits and pieces are a lot easier to clean up and use! The bike looks pretty good, I assume the tank is steel? I would pay a premium for a steel interstate tank, I would subtract for a fiberglass one.

Where I in the market for yet another bike I would probably pay 6-grand for that bike without worrying too much about it. Then I would get busy going through it and bringing it up to snuff for riding. The process would cost another 1000 dollars by the time you did things like buy new tires, gaskets, seals, isolastics, maybe carbs, etc etc.

Now, can you buy that for 6-grand...I dunno. Can you buy it for less than that? If so, don't hesitate too long because I bet somebody else will. Now be prepared, the next post is likely to tell you not to pay over 3-grand for it. And somebody else will tell you it is worth ten. If the asking price vs your cash on hand means you won't have any money left over to spend on it, then the price is too high for your budget.

Russ

Thanks , the tank is fiberglass, they are asking 7500.00 for it. It was the persons fathers bike and he recently passed away. Would this bike have the Combat engine then? Maybe not such a good thing? Sorry dont know alot about these just always loved them and now considering purchasing one. They rate the condition 9 out of 10 because of the minor rust on some chrome. They are sure it is original miles due to the condition of the bike.

Here are some more pictures, to me this is not a 9 out of 10. Maybe not worth what they are asking?

It might have a Combat engine. Look to see if the carbs are 932s as opposed to 930. That is a clue. Combat heads have a "C" stamped in the top but it is usually hidden under the head steady. People will tell you that they can tell by looking at the fins on the engine as the Combat head was milled .040 and so the top fin on the cylinders and the bottom fin on the head are closer together, but it is also possible for a previous own to have detuned it a bit by putting in a thicker head gasket, so it is kind of subjective.

The fiberglass tank is a problem. There is a lot of conversation here about them if you want to do a search. But new gasolines will eat the fiberglass tank. You have a choice of running avgas, finding ethanol free gas, or resorting to lining the tank (which is debated a lot as to whether it is a bad idea). A melting tank or lining isn't just a problem from a leaking standpoint, it can do severe damage to the engine if it is burned with the fuel. Couple that with the reason fiberglass was outlawed originally, because tanks ruptured on impact. Finding a steel Interstate tank is not easily done and you will probably pay near a thousand dollars for one and still need to paint it.

There are tanks being made in India for a lot less but most of us are afraid of them, despite getting a few good reports.

As to whether or not you want a Combat, I wouldn't let that be the determining factor in buying a bike unless I had a specific quest. Like finding an all original Combat. You will have to decide whether or not having and keeping the bike in "as original" condition is important to you. Finding one that is unmolested makes it a lot easier to become acquainted with the bike. If you are afraid of getting inside it for a look around, think twice.

Russ

It is possible the rear fender has been trimmed a bit. There is usually a formed edge that gives it a rounded appearance. In the side photo it looks like I can see it. But the shot from the rear it looks like it is missing. Just mentioning it, as if you decide to buy it, anything you can find to bring the price down helps.

Yamifz6 said:

I have a chance to purchase a 1972 Norton Commando with only 2070 miles on it. Not restored and stored indoors. It has some very minor rust on the chrome parts. Bike runs great.

I have always wanted an old Norton, just love the way they look however I dont know much about them. The engine number is 203910

What would be a fair price for this bike?

Click to expand...

Low mileage might indicate bottom end never got fixed if it's a Combat. It's not the end of the world,but will require $$. So closer to $6,000 would give you a few bucks just in case. Good luck, and hang on if ya get it!

A 72 with a disc front end signifies Combat, it was a linked option, order the front disc and you got a combat engine thrown in. So unless the disc has been added its a combat.

Given the unreliability of the speedo's, cables and drives on these, I would take low indicated mileage with a grain of salt. I rode my Triumph for years with the speedo non-functional. Just used the tach to estimate speed. It's also very easy to change speedo heads too and if its been rebuilt it's sometimes reset to zero. I would go more on general condition.
High indicated mileage is probably not a good thing unless there a reciepts for a competent rebuild but low mileage may or may not warrant a premium.
The other question on even a genuine low mileage bike is how were they put on. If they were all put on in few years and then the bike was improperly stored for a long time, its probably going to need a complete strip down and rebuild anyway.

Assuming they haven't been repainted, I thought all Combats had black barrels. Check the build date on the VIN plate if possible. It could be a very late 72. My 750 was built in Aug 72 and is mostly to 73 spec. It has superblends, 32mm carbs, standard compression head and cam, silver barrels and disc front. Because of the running changes made after the Combat troubles, definitely saying a 72 is or is not a Combat based on a few features is hard.

The asking price is reasonable, but I would make a lower starting offer as rvich alluded to.

If someone offered $600 for it, I'd borrow my neighbor's dog and sick him on them.

The front fender has lost its front stay, and the decal on the tank looks rather high for a factory paintjob, and the rear fender looks like its been trimmed a bit.
So all may not be as quite as original as hoped. ?

There is a date code on the back of the speedo (?), it would be interesting to see if its the original one...

I don't recall seeinng a humped seat like that before...