1973 interstate reawakening

Hi all

Nice to see some familiar faces here from triumph rat.

Eli here, brit based in France with an unhealthy obsession with classic cars and bikes.

I've had my bike licence for about 18 months and I've been bitten by the britbike bug hard!

First to come was a 1968 triumph t100c. New loom, rebuilt the carb, changed wheel bearings, new front wheel and brakes, oil pump, had gearbox out a few times... It's now a sweet running bike with oodles of patina.

Then about two months ago I bought a 1970 tr6 which was delivered just before Christmas. New tank, tyres, rebuilt the mikuni carb, lots of wiring work and it's now a one kick bike. I've put 1000km on it in just over 4 weeks. Time flies and so does this bike!

And this morning I received delivery of a bike baxter cycle in the US found for me 10 months ago! A very original looking 1973 interstate which has been off the road for at least a few years, maybe more.

Here's Dad in his overalls sizing up the new bike!


The 650


And the 500



Here are some more pics of the Norton : https://postimg.cc/gallery/wv8FJT7

I plan to follow the advice from waking the sleeping beast. I'm undecided between keeping the original fibreglass tank and finding a steel one for safety reasons. Other than that I don't want to restore the bike but get it so its usable for long trips. Electronic ignition, better headlamp, maybe a mikuni carb... But no touching the patina!

EliTR6 said:

Hi all

Nice to see some familiar faces here from triumph rat.

Eli here, brit based in France with an unhealthy obsession with classic cars and bikes.

I've had my bike licence for about 18 months and I've been bitten by the britbike bug hard!

First to come was a 1968 triumph t100c. New loom, rebuilt the carb, changed wheel bearings, new front wheel and brakes, oil pump, had gearbox out a few times... It's now a sweet running bike with oodles of patina.

Then about two months ago I bought a 1970 tr6 which was delivered just before Christmas. New tank, tyres, rebuilt the mikuni carb, lots of wiring work and it's now a one kick bike. I've put 1000km on it in just over 4 weeks. Time flies and so does this bike!

And this morning I received delivery of a bike baxter cycle in the US found for me 10 months ago! A very original looking 1973 interstate which has been off the road for at least a few years, maybe more.

Here's Dad in his overalls sizing up the new bike!

The 650

And the 500

Here are some more pics of the Norton : https://postimg.cc/gallery/wv8FJT7

I plan to follow the advice from waking the sleeping beast. I'm undecided between keeping the original fibreglass tank and finding a steel one for safety reasons. Other than that I don't want to restore the bike but get it so its usable for long trips. Electronic ignition, better headlamp, maybe a mikuni carb... But no touching the patina!

Click to expand...

the tank should be steel ?

alans said:

the tank should be steel ?

Click to expand...

Definitely fibreglass. Tested it with a magnet to be double sure yesterday.

It's one of the first 850s (pre mk1A) , built between April and September 1973

Howdy, Eli!

Beautiful bike & family.

I'd go with a steel tank. I think there was a nice one for sale here...

grandpaul said:

Howdy, Eli!

Beautiful bike & family.

I'd go with a steel tank. I think there was a nice one for sale here...

Click to expand...

Thanks. If its the one that was advertised on ebay for 1200usd, it's gorgeous but out of my price range.

I'm going to order from one of our Indian ebay friends...

EliTR6 said:

It's one of the first 850s (pre mk1A) , built between April and September 1973

Click to expand...

850 Mk1 production started in late January 1973 and was up to (at least) 307091 by May '73 (so amongst the 850 Mk1A series). There would normally be a month/year date stamp on the headstock certification plate (assuming it's there?) and I'd estimate that to be around 2/73 - 3/73 for your early serial number (3008**) 850 Mk1.

L.A.B. said:

850 Mk1 production started in late January 1973 and was up to (at least) 307091 by May '73 (so amongst the 850 Mk1A series). There would normally be a month/year date stamp on the headstock certification plate (assuming it's there?) and I'd estimate that to be around 2/73 - 3/73 for your early serial number (3008**) 850 Mk1.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I stand corrected

EliTR6 said:

Thanks. If its the one that was advertised on ebay for 1200usd, it's gorgeous but out of my price range.

I'm going to order from one of our Indian ebay friends...

Click to expand...

Beware WHICH of the suppliers! There are 1 or 2 GOOD ones, and 1 or 2 dozen BAD ones!

grandpaul said:

Beware WHICH of the suppliers! There are 1 or 2 GOOD ones, and 1 or 2 dozen BAD ones!

Click to expand...

Absolutely. I bought a good Indian made interstate tank but it still cost $150 to get it to fit. Taps had to be moved, the petrol cap was a very bad fit and had to be rewelded. and the central tunnel had to be widened. Then finished for painting.

My total cost with painting was well over US $ 1200. Roadster tanks are easy available from many of the main dealers. They are made in Taiwan for Emgo. Good Interstate tanks from India are much harder to get. 10 % of them are good. 90 % are scrap.

This is the link to the story of my tank.

Thread 'Rivet counter question about the Candy Apple colour scheme' https://www.accessnorton.com/Norton...on-about-the-candy-apple-colour-scheme.27115/

Thanks Grand Paul and John

I didn't check to see if the current tank has a liner already. I want to caswell it short term whilst I get an Indian tank to fit.

I'm going to order one already painted and am ready to accept that it won't be perfect even without modifications. All my vehicles get used and moderately abused, there's no point in having an immaculate paint job here. I'll ding or scratch it within a week!

Quick update. The tank doesn't look lined.

@L.A.B. Id plate says March 73, good shout

There's still old fuel in the bottom of the tank!

Loom looks OK apart from this giant mess of melted connectors.

Nice find!
The silver cylinders are correct for the 73 Mk1 850.
They went black in 74/75.
With them being silver and still has points, original cheesehead screws on timing cover, that engine may have never been opened up.
Good or bad? Who knows...... Just an observation.

EliTR6 said:

Loom looks OK apart from this giant mess of melted connectors.

Click to expand...

Not generally available from Norton parts suppliers, that disintegrating double 5-way junction block is available from Jaguar parts suppliers although five double common connectors will replace it.

MichaelB said:

The silver cylinders are correct for the 73 Mk1 850.
They went black in 74/75.

Click to expand...

Black (again) for the Mk2/Mk2A (after 307311) so later in '73.

This will be a fun project!

MichaelB said:

Nice find!
The silver cylinders are correct for the 73 Mk1 850.
They went black in 74/75.
With them being silver and still has points, original cheesehead screws on timing cover, that engine may have never been opened up.
Good or bad? Who knows...... Just an observation.

Click to expand...

And I don't know since how long and for what reason it was put into storage then sold....

EliTR6 said:

Definitely fibreglass. Tested it with a magnet to be double sure yesterday.

Click to expand...

The fibe tanks on todays fuel turn into a gummy stew that then gums up the carbs & engine.

74ok said:

The fibe tanks on todays fuel turn into a gummy stew that then gums up the carbs & engine.

Click to expand...

Yes. I've ordered an ethanol proof liner kit from Restom, a company that has a good reputation in France.

If it works, gonna be yuuuuge news.

Good luck and have fun with your project, it is great that parts for these classics are available