72 Combat identification

Jabberwocky said:

I'm interested. But never start a sentence with "I know a guy..."

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When an old guy is trying to help you it's best not to give him orders...

marshg246 said:

When an old guy is trying to help you it's best not to give him orders...

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My apologies. Purely jesting.

what’s your history riding bikes?

jan nelder said:

what’s your history riding bikes?

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Not a great deal recently. My last regular ride was a XT350 while living in Thailand 25 years ago.
Mostly ATVs, snowmobiles at work since then but less of that lately.
This will be my first owned.

What part of the country are you in? I’m in Ontario and Commandos are fairly plentiful, and prices are reasonable. The one in Manitoba sounds way over priced by our standards, but they may be harder to find there.

I suspect the economy in Canada is similar to the US. It’s a buyers market right now and these toys are not selling well. Don’t over pay.

Interbak said:

What part of the country are you in? I’m in Ontario and Commandos are fairly plentiful, and prices are reasonable. The one in Manitoba sounds way over priced by our standards, but they may be harder to find there.

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I'm in Calgary. There's not a lot being advertised locally. I missed the recent swap meet at Millarville, but should network with locals when I can to find the unadvertised bikes.

There used to be a high school teacher in Sundre, AB. who had a side gig restoring Brit bikes. He helped a friend rebuild a 750 Commando back in the '80's but I lost track of him when our mutual buddy passed away. I think his name is Eric. If anyone knows who that is please let me know, it would be great to catch up. Perhaps he knows what happened to that particular Norton.

Cheers

lazyeye6 said:

1974 Norton Commando 850 Roadster - motorcycles/scooters - by owner

Ready to ride. Alton electric starter Good braking with master cylinder upgrade, braided stainless steel line. Amal Premium Carburetors Electronic Ignition Grab rail, seat, tank, mufflers replaced...

vancouver.craigslist.org

1972 (titled 73) numbers matching Norton commando combat full...

For sale, one late 1972 production, numbers matching, full tear down and rebuild with documentation and images, Norton Commando Combat ( Roadster HiRider Interstate ) with upgrades on factory...

seattle.craigslist.org

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The 750 seems and looks great...

For sane riders who dont speed , and ride in town , the 1970 odd drum Fr brake jobs perhaps more nimble and less off a handfull .

A open road tourer or semi track bike , though , is a differant story altogether . If your looking to run with a Laverda SFC or 750 Sport .


A Commandos a fairly ' large ' machine , when its got a large tank , anyway .
The Domiracer Frames available , and 1300 or 1500 ( sleeved ) pistons ( ford )
in a 850 got it out to 920 or 960 . So a cheap ! ? sports motorscickle is doable .

These used to be unsaleable . But a seat & bars wont break the bank , there a ' S S ' too .



But for a long distance heavy hauler you want the 72 on reinforced cases without the breather at the cam , for 100 + cross country use .
Any Commando can be deceptively quick in town . So Chassis , roadholding & brakes are important , maintained in top line order .

The COMBAT is really the rip snorter equivalant of a early ' P. R . ' ( Production racer ) in road bike trim . Introduced as the INTERSTATE .



P. R.

peculiar .

The only big differance is a ' full hemi ' re angled inlet valve ' big valve ' head . However , the 1 5/8 inlets'll go in a stock 750 head ,
and with the ports tapered from the curve through to the manifold ( like a Mk II alledgedly So my prejudious Vs E.S. isnt entirely justified )
can get it Real quick . The Lumpy ' S S ' Combat Cam comes in around 3200 , so isnt really a ' Town ' Camshaft . unless theres lots of traffic
lights and competition .

So Id be very carefull as to operateability / Condition . Or buy a elementaly sound long unused v low milage project .
TGHIS at 1/4 the price of a SO CALLED ' CONCOURS ' thing , to me would be sound sense . SEE its a Steel Tank Interstate .
The 850 had near the grunt of the 750 Combat . A sanely tweaked ' 850 ' isnt crap .

Jabberwocky said:

I'm in Calgary. There's not a lot being advertised locally. I missed the recent swap meet at Millarville, but should network with locals when I can to find the unadvertised bikes.

There used to be a high school teacher in Sundre, AB. who had a side gig restoring Brit bikes. He helped a friend rebuild a 750 Commando back in the '80's but I lost track of him when our mutual buddy passed away. I think his name is Eric. If anyone knows who that is please let me know, it would be great to catch up. Perhaps he knows what happened to that particular Norton.

Cheers

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Do you ever talk to John Oland at Motoparts in Edmonton? John has lots of contacts in the Norton world and might know of some good, well sorted machines that are on the market in your area.