1972 Norton Commando Self Restoration

I have a 1972 Norton Commando 750, it has been out of operation for many years now, however I am looking to completely restore it. I will try to do this myself without sending it away to a professional, however I am wondering how much the restoration will cost me in the end (new parts, hoses, fittings etc.). If anyone has restored their own bike themselves I would love to know how much it cost them, and an estimate of how many hours you worked on it would also be helpful.

Thanks,
Matt

Nice to hear another ones heading for the road again. Well, assuming its all there and overall in fair but aged condition, I'd allow $5,000 over 12 months.

If its really trash allround, and lots more new parts are required, i.e. gearbox innards, add another $3,000 to $5,000. Time is assumed on the basis you have:

a) the factory manual and parts book, b) good equipped workshop, c) cashflow, d) free weekends and e) an understanding missus or better no missus at all.

Mick

That's a question that is pretty much impossible to answer. It depends on the condition of the components when you start and how particular you are. Some owners are willing to accept chrome on pipes and mufflers that is a little discolored or scratched where others won't accept anything other than perfection. Also some will leave a gearbox alone if it was working when the bike was parked, but others will take the opportunity to replace all the bearings and bushes.

Also where and how you buy the parts can make a big difference. If you need the part tomorrow, you may have to pay additional shipping and higher price for one that is in stock at the moment.

Matt,

It all depends on how much you are willing to spend. These bikes are really wallet vacuums. I would think it difficult to hold spending to $5,000. A presentable, NOT show quality, road bike with the popular upgrades would be more likely cost somewhere over $10,000 in parts and labor. Those figures are assuming you supply most of the labor. When you consider that a CNW Norton is over $20,000 plus a donor, spending ten grand on your 72 is not too bad. I can't overemphasize how much a thorough search of this forum will save you money, time and anguish. Knowing what you want and where to get it is a big part of the battle. You must really approach a restoration as a hobby rather than being cost effective. Good luck and stay tuned.

My answer- A LOT! you could maybe stick to 5k if you spray paint and polish yourself. If you want a nice paint job, polishing, maybe re-chrome some stuff add to it.

I spent maybe $200 just on tools.

You want to upgrade stuff it'll be more.

Make a big list of parts you need to save on shipping. Of course then you will still have the odd bit that you'll spend a dollar on and have to pay $5 shipping because you forgot or lost or broke.

There is an older thread here someplace in which grandpaul itemizes the costs for various steps of a rebuild. I can't find it, but if you PM him he might know where it is. Other than that, you might read this from Old Britts: http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_start.html

I just discovered the provided link doesn't go where I thought it would. It goes to the home page for Old Britts...scroll down a bit and there is a link there for Commando restoration. It has lots of information.

Even at the amount mentionned, having a classic like a Norton is cheap compared to a new bike and really cheap compared to any HD. The fact that a 40 year old bike can be taken from a pile of bolts to a bike that looks like it rolled off the factory floor speaks for parts availability. Take a look at the winner of the most improved bike of 2009 ( most-improved-karl-hoyt-strunzo-t6218.html?hilit=improved ) if I am not mistaken, he did it on a very tight budget.

Jean

One thing you might want to do before you start is to go to the Old Britts website and check out the price of things. It will give you a general idea of what things cost. You can get things cheaper by ordering from the UK but you are more or less on your own as far as advice goes. And it's a pain to return things if you need to. The only way I could ever justify the cost of a restoration is to figure about half of it as entertainment. It can become something of an obsession, but every day that packages come is like Christmas

bpatton said:

One thing you might want to do before you start is to go to the Old Britts website and check out the price of things. It will give you a general idea of what things cost. You can get things cheaper by ordering from the UK but you are more or less on your own as far as advice goes. And it's a pain to return things if you need to. The only way I could ever justify the cost of a restoration is to figure about half of it as entertainment. It can become something of an obsession, but every day that packages come is like Christmas

Click to expand...

My wife only allows it as it's good therapy. At least that's the theory.

If you have a nice machine shop setup, racks and bins of steel, aluminum & titanium stock, painting booth & supplies, upholstery sewing machine and vinyl stock, polishing wheels, powdercoat equipment & oven, and metal plating dip tanks, you can do the whole darn thing for next to nothing beyond the cost of a few critical replacment parts that you couldn't make for yourself!

Still, as Ron stated, it would be hard to state even a ballpark figure without seeing the inside of the engine in closeup photos.

If the engine's internals are in very good shape, if you farm out paint, powdercoat, chrome and machinework work, and do all of the rest of the labor yourself, you might get by with as little as $2,500 for the basics including tires, cables & battery.

I did it on a poor mans budget.
The bike pictured to the right is a 72 combat made June 72.
It had 8,000 orig miles and was garaged so I dodged a complete engine over haul.
I'm preparing to do the tranny bearing this year. I keep putting it off during riding weather.
I purchassed the bike for $4,200.. from orig. owner.
I have between $2,000 - $3,000.00 invested in replacing hoses, all rubber, tires etc....
I shelved the fiberglass tank and side covers and replaced w/ 1973 metal set. so additional
expense I chose to do. Tank was $300.00 if I remember right and paint all 3 components was about
another $400.00.
On the positive side it is a reliable rider w/ 1600 miles logged w/o any suprises.
She also has several 1st place trophies from local motorcycle shows.
See Showing Off thread by me on this site for pics.
It can be done reasonably if you don't get carried away.
If you are the A type where everything must be 100% spot on then nothing less than a CNW bike
will do. But you will be hard pressed to sell it for any where near what you have invested.
A really nice commando seems to top out at around $7500.00 here on the east coast.
If you keep your costs down w/o comprimising safety, reliability and still in a state that you enjoy riding
then I think you have mastered the classic bike thing.
Some things don't need to be taken apart just because it's old.
If it's a combat and verify it is first then the crank bearings can be an issue if you want to hammer on it.
Keep it at 4-5,000 rpms and Fred from Old Britts told me I should be ok. Most combats w/ over 5,000 miles
should have had the main bearing upgrade by now or they were blown up and not a concern any more.
The AMC gear box needs a new lay shaft bearing 6203 c-3 series. I am due for this upgrade now.
Old tyres should be replaced A safety issue. Dunlop 19" run around $100.00 a piece.
Old carbs will need a rebuild or resleeve. Approx. $180.00 for resleeving both.
Hope you get a basic idea.
As I always recommend start at the front and work backwards.
If it runs and is a good candidate to start with you may be better off than you think.
If you read everything about commando's as I did when I first purchased mine in 2004 it will
make you think you need to disect the whole bike.
In my personal experience based on my combat I did not have to disassemble every component to make it
an enjoyable rider.
As others have expressed the skys the limit w/ these bikes. Set a water mark and aim for it.
Better slow and safe then rush job and get a block from home and something blows off.
Pushing sucks trust me from previous endeavors.
Thee Marshal

Ludwig said it best with a whole lot less words than I
Amen to that!!!
Done bike is always to the buyers advantage.
I have one classic because I can keep up w/ it.
I have friends w/ a whole garage full of others' projects they bought.
They will probably remain in that curent state the remainder of my life time.
Only to be a burden for the spouse or children to liquidate.
One done is a whole lot better than 10 apart
Just my thoughts.
Marshal

Stop talking total price! My wife may see this! :wink: :wink: :wink: