73" 850 commando

just joined this site today. reason being i've just found a 73 850 commando in a neighbors garage. he want to sell it. it's been sitting in a damp garage with canvas tarp on it for many years. it turns over with a thump so it's not stuck. lots of pitting on rims excetera. he wants me to decide how much it's worth. he knows it's worth big money. i didn't look at the odometer and i can't remember what mileage he said it has but i do believe it's under 10k. don't know what to offer him for it. any suggestions??

Welcome! Search fleabay, choose"completed auctions" and what sold for what. Pics would help us... $2000 is probably what you describe. Plan on $5000 more if you do a lot of the work yourself.

Worth lots of money. Of course it is. Sadly, properly parted out it is worth lots. But pitted rims bring about zero on Ebay. In fact anything that needs re-chromed is worth just about nothing because the cost of the process. So what is it worth to you? A complete bike, ready for restore is getting harder to find. Or so it seems. There might be thousands out there that have not been discovered but with the popularity of "reality" TV and themes on finding cool and forgotten stuff...sorry I diverge.

Photos would help. But rolling basket cases seem to bring a couple grand these days. I paid 800 dollars for the bike below, and that was with a title. The owner decided I had ripped him off somewhere between selling me the bike for 500 bucks and giving me the title. So I handed him 300 dollars for the piece of paper because I figured it would save me that much grief later. It is still debatable as to whether or not I got a good deal. As I told him..."I will spend at least 6-thousand dollars on the project and have a few thousand hours in it. And when I am done the bike will be worth about 6-thousand dollars".



With that said, I would pay 800 bucks for another one in a moment. Two grand...I dunno. Its amazing how many bits and pieces there really are in a bike like this and you get to decide whether or not to replace them or salvage them. I am salvaging a lot. But each one takes that much time. Nobody makes money on a real restoration. Check as to how much CNW charges. And they have the process identified. So, really the price of the original bike...probably doesn't matter much if you really want it. Unless of course the guy thinks it is worth 5k or something. I can tell without photos, it isn't!

Russ

Norton Commandos are not the cheapest bikes to restore. I bought a 73 850 roadster about 3/4 years ago for $3500. It had about 20k on the clock and other than some cosmetic issues (dented tank & side cover) it was in relatively good condition. After having the exhaust ports reworked, tires, paint & bodywork I figured I've put at least $1000 - $1500 in it. That doesn't include the other things like the electronic ignition, halogen reflector & bulb, better master cylinder, other items and general maintenance. This one has become my daily driver and I put about 5000 - 6000 on it per year. My other bikes (65 Atlas, 71 T-120 & 70 Victor) sit idle most of the time. If you buy it I would strongly suggest you start by only doing what you have to to get it running (engine, brakes, etc), clean it up cosmetically the best you can and ride it. Then during the "down times" (winter) take it one step at a time. Don't tear it into little pieces with the plan of "restoring" it right off the bat because it is very likely you will still be putting it back together five years later (with your wallet empty and nothing to show for it). That was the story behind my Atlas.

This list , swap meets, eBay and other British bike sites are great sources for parts. Join a local Norton or British bike club. You will find the other members helpful and there is nothing like riding with people who have the same bike interests as you.

Dave

mcisco said:

. he knows it's worth big money.

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You should find out his expectations. I have purchased two non-running and complete 850 commandos. Both for $US2500. This would be the max you should pay. Get some pics and we can help.

The last 850 non runner I purchased cost me $1200, and that included a freshly painted set of tins.

I would figure out what "big money" means.

A fully restored bike will only fetch around $10K -$12K tops. Seems the average is in the $6k to $8k range.

And will cost $1,000's to get to that level. Almost a wash in some cases.

Like others have said, "worth big money" is a common misconception among non-enthusiasts. I do classic car inspections, sad sometimes, when people don't accept "condition, condition, condition" as the value benchmark. Worse now, more than ever, with dozens of TV reality shows showing a 15 second snippet in the blast cab, another 15 in the paint booth, and VOILA! 30 minute shining new old car/bike/gas pump, etc.

lets not forget this treasure too :shock:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/03-21-Revised-L ... 232597b209

ludwig said:

bwolfie said:

The last 850 non runner I purchased cost me $1200, and that included a freshly painted set of tins.

I would figure out what "big money" means ..

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Are you the same guy who put up a half complete basket case 750 FB for 4000 $ in the ' for sale ' section ? :

" 1968 Fastback project, mostly complete, $4000 " ( quote )

Now , thàt is big money ! ..

My stuff = gold . Your stuff = junk , right ? ..

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