71 Commando (POS) lol

Ok, so I picked up the 72 Commando, it was actually made in 71 according to the vin, the other night. The "gentleman" wanted to haggle over price after I drove 4 1/2 hours to pick up his rusted out, POS basket case. lol I stuck to my guns, and after some assistance from "Simpson" (thanks for taking my cue buddy) on here I brought her home. He wanted $1200, but I traded him a diamond ring I had (I only had $300 in the diamond) for it. Here's the deal with it:

Frame: Straight but rusted (surface mainly)
Gauges: In tact and seem functional
Engine: Apart but bottom turns, and no broken fins (no vin stamped on it either) (EXTRA SET OF PISTIONS)(someone was in the engine, there is liquid gasket showing on the bottom of the cases)
Forks: SHOT! Chrome peeling off of the tubes
Wheels: SHOT! Chrome peeling off of the rims
Tins: All fenders, side panels, and tank are present, but in dire need of attention.
MIA: Transmission, Headers, Handlebars, Insides of headlight, most electrical, and has a Honda taillight.

You may wonder why I drug this thing home. But it is a Norton, and I figured with the frame, engine, tins, gauges, etc, there was the possibly of a good bike there. And besides, I only had $300 in it. lol

How you you guys approach this? It seems to be a good candidate for a cafe racer in her present state. Any ideas, or does anyone at least have a transmission?

Sounds like somebody ground down the original serial numbers...

If it's a matter of chrome peeling, those wheels are probably salvageable with rechroming. Hubs should polish up nice as well...

Cheers,

- HJ

I found it cheaper to buy new chrome rims rather than have them chromed. The fenders too, except if it's a 68-70 they are not available unless you are willing to go to the later years fenders. I ended up chroming my front and will probably do the rear too, just for original look.

Dave
69S

DogT said:

I found it cheaper to buy new chrome rims rather than have them chromed. Dave
69S

Click to expand...

I was about to say the same thing. Also safer since removing the rust and old chrome thins the rim.

I've seen worse....... Just keep throwing money at it and someday it will be on the road again. You'd probably just waste your money on other non essentials like food and such :lol: And somebody gotta do it, might as well be you

Have fun with it......... :mrgreen:

Tim_S

I'm not sure that the seller wanting to be paid can be described as
" The "gentleman" wanted to haggle over price"
!!!!!!! but have fun....

With what you have to start with, I would suggest not trying for a 100 point restoration, but rather a good looking bike you can ride. You have a steel tank, not correct for a '71, but much better than the stock fiberglass.
Are there primary cases and a clutch in there somewhere?
Since you have a '71 frame, I would weld on a side stand lug for a late model frame. The original lug is probably broken anyway.

You should just part it out and give that steel tank to your friend "Simpson"

-simpson

Ron L said:

With what you have to start with, I would suggest not trying for a 100 point restoration, but rather a good looking bike you can ride. You have a steel tank, not correct for a '71, but much better than the stock fiberglass.
Are there primary cases and a clutch in there somewhere?
Since you have a '71 frame, I would weld on a side stand lug for a late model frame. The original lug is probably broken anyway.

Click to expand...

I was kind of wondering about that. I think it may have been a long ago project that someone abandoned. The bottom end seems great, like it has been redone. The primary cases, are there as well. I figure since she is that far out of wack this one may just be the one I gut and build a somewhat "dependable" Britisch bike. lol Convert the electrics, etc, and make her a daily ride. The Atlas is numbers matching and original. Just seems wrong to do that to it. BESIDES there is this guy I know named "Simpson" who I want to go ride with, and I have to make sure I can leave him in the dust. (LOL I know he is reading this, and no you can't have my tank Simpson!)

part it out. you'll never keep up with me!!!

...especially if I ever get this Commando together!

-simpson