1974 Commando. i need advice and parts!

Hey Guys, new to the thread and new to Motorcycles in general. I just picked up my first bike ever and its a '74 commando and i need some help!

i'm really hoping you members can help me out over this winter for parts and advice.

First off, i'm in dire need of a wiring harness and rearsets. the wiring harness is hacked and burnt and a world of a mess. the P.O. hacked in a new ignition and did all sorts of wierd things. If anyone has one or any suggestions on reputable place to get one i'd really appreciate it!

second, i need rearsets. i've found a few places online that sell them but it seems like the price tag is insane! one guy on norton neuvo said he'd build some for $600! i saw the pics, they really were well crafted but i cant pay almost what i paid for this bike just on shifter linkage! so again, if anyone out there has rearset laying around, knows anyone that fabricates them or sells them for a reasonable price.... i would really appreciate it!

i have a few parts i dont need aswell if anyone is interested... stock rear fender, tail light, stock bars, oil tank... everythig that comes off on a cafe build haha!

thanks alot guys.

Jherrid in Ohio.

Hi Jherrid and welcome to Nortonhood. I was just thiking you've got your hands full taking on a Norton for your first bike but then I remembered my first bike was a 1960's Norton 750 at the age of 17 so I can relate! As for Rearsets, yes you found the very nice but VERY high $ ones and now you need to shop some average ones. Look for Norton Dunstall ones on eBay. I think there are two sets up right now. You can buy new ones from RGM in England rgmmotors.co.uk or Norvil in England, check out Oldbritts here in the US. They are supper good people & can do anything Norton. oldbritt.com I like SOME of the old Dunstall ones but they are crude compaired to modern sets. Dunstall made & sold aftermarket race equipment & stuff for the "cafe racers " of the 1960's through about 197??? Very crude but period stuff. Be carefull to know your getting ones for "your bike". The ones for older model Nortons such as the Atalas or Dominator may not fit. I know the Neuvo ones are expensive but they are really nice, have machined bearings etc etc, your going to pay a fairly high price for the ones sold by other companies too & they are all pretty crude. Do a search using the forums search feature and you will find some very nice ones built by some of the well skilled owners here. Good luck & post some pictures.

Welcome to the world that is Norton. I started on the path you are going about 14 years ago. I have most of the Dunstall parts available for my bike. As for rearsets. You could find a set on E-Bay, or do what I did. I got a set of Dunstall rearsets from a Kawasaki H1, then used the parts to make my own. I went so far as to make a jack shaft, and now i HAVE lh SHIFT AND rh BRAKE. It works very well. You can check my photo's to see what I did. If you have any questions or need any help, please e-mail me. I have a large collection of pictures of Dunstall pieces. I saw a set of crossover rearsets go on ebay for$1200. I made mine for $150.


http://s1029.photobucket.com/albums/y35 ... ld%202010/

thanks alot guys! you're very welcoming, i appreciate it.

i've seen the oldbrits.com rearsets and they do look nice. i was trying to avoid the $300 price tag but unless i can find someone to sell me or make me a pair that looks like the route i'd do. i would try and make my own but there is no way i could machine the parts for the shift linkage. just not skilled enough haha.

i finally got the old bitch put back together the other day. Previous Owner chopped off the shock mounts and we just welded new ones on and pieced back together the rear end.

Now we're getting into "Get her Started" territory. any advice on what i should do or some sort of check list? i believe she was running over the summer or less than a year ago and the motor is complete. i just havent put on the coils and tried to kick her over yet. anything crucial to do before this happens??

your advice is priceless.

still need rearsets if anyone has a pair or can make them!

by the way, that mono-shock build on your photobucket..... god damn is that sexy. i'd kill for that kind of ability and knowledge! i'm sure it looks great!

I'm hoping in the next 2 or 3 weeks to have it on the suspention. I just made an order to RGM, so i'll have my front hub and some other bits. I'm excited to get it done.

does anyone have a wiring harness diagram? i went out today and bought all the things i'd need to get her running and i go to hook up the battery and coils and such and find out exactly what a mess my wiring harness is. there is only one lead for the battery and only one lead for the coils. brake light portion is cut in half and about 5 abrupt ending black tape balls and 10 exposed wires.

i have no clue which wires are the leads to the battery and coils and ignition.

this leaves me with a wasted day and a desparate need for a new harness and a diagram.

can anyone point me in the right direction?

In the top post which is a sticky there are links to online manuals with wiring diagrams, a 72/73 wiring diagram is close enough. I have a 74 and use the 72 wiring diagram when working on my bike.

Your first ever bike is a Norton Commando? You would have been a flagellant during the plague years! Can you spell
H O N D A?

OK, seriously, Welcome!

imwastefull said:

does anyone have a wiring harness diagram? i went out today and bought all the things i'd need to get her running and i go to hook up the battery and coils and such and find out exactly what a mess my wiring harness is. there is only one lead for the battery and only one lead for the coils. brake light portion is cut in half and about 5 abrupt ending black tape balls and 10 exposed wires.

i have no clue which wires are the leads to the battery and coils and ignition.

this leaves me with a wasted day and a desparate need for a new harness and a diagram.

can anyone point me in the right direction?

Click to expand...

Depending on your budget you may want to save yourself some frustration and go for a new harness. You may also need the set that goes to the headlight and switch gear.
Wiring diagram available in the technical section of our site. Color coded wiring works well.

http://www.commandospecialties.com/Prod ... ?MSecID=54

>>Wiring diagram available in the technical section of our site. Color coded wiring works well.<<

I mis spoke. I can't find diagram in our technical section.

For a wiring diagram plus all the other really really important stuff you will need to figure the bike out I suggest you get the Norton Service Manual and the Norton Parts Book.

http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_start.html