73 norton 850 interstate or 71 750 commando

I'm a lucky guy. I have the opportunity to buy one of these bikes. They are both in pretty good shape and I'm having trouble figuring which one to buy as I can only afford one. I here the 750 is the sweeter machine but I fit the 850 a little better. Tough situation I know but would really appreciate your honest opinions.
Thanks
Steve
stevelindsay@telus.net

I would go with the 850. it is a little milder tune and makes a better road bike with the higher gearing and extra torque, plus the motor is a little stronger.

bill

850 Interstate or 750 Roadster

I agree with Bill if the 850 is your only bike. It's funny both Bill and I have '72 combat roadsters, but suggest the 850. I have an '83 BMW R100RS for the long trips and enjoy the combat 750 on back roads.

david
it might be a 750 now but I have an 850 motor on the shelf and am thinking of building a 920 torque monster. if I can make enough torque I might run a 23 or 24 tooth sprocket so that it will cruse at 80 85 all day long. I bought the 750 to relive my childhood :lol: as that was my first bike.

bill

Re: 850 Interstate or 750 Roadster

illf8ed said:

I agree with Bill if the 850 is your only bike. It's funny both Bill and I have '72 combat roadsters, but suggest the 850. I have an '83 BMW R100RS for the long trips and enjoy the combat 750 on back roads.

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Thanks for the advice. I found this site by surfing the net and am sure glad I did. I'm hoping to have the bike in my garage by the middle of May and on the road soon after. Its been updated with electronic ignition but has been sitting for a while.
Bill suggests I join INOA and certainly will as I will probably have some problems to solve.
Northern Cal. must have some great roads and you guys have the weather going for you like Bill in Florida.
I'm in British Columbia where spring riding requires rain gear most of the time.
I rode a 73 BMW R75 for a while and wish I'd never sold it. It was the most reliable bike I ever owned. Thanks again, Steve

first bike was a combat commando?

Bill,

I'm impressed. My first bike was a '63 Honda 55 Trail, then went to a '66 Suzuki 80, then a '69 Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler..'67 Honda 305 Super Hawk, then the '72 combat 750. With five years riding behind me I had to have the sales guy start the Commando for me. I couldn't get it over the compression with the kick start at my 160 lbs.

David
I guess that I was lucky as I could start mine by myself. when I bought it I was 5'9 135# and a know it all kid. after I got tired of breaking it I traded it for a new ducati 750 sport and beat on it for 4 years with good service compaired to the norton. in 79 I sold the duck and got a suzuki gs 1000, guess that you figured out that I liked speed .

bill

Steve,
I have both. A '73 750 Roadster and a '73 850 Interstate. The performance is pretty similar, since the 750 has 10:1 compression and pulls a 19 tooth counter shaft sprocket while the 850 Interstate has a 2S cam and pulls a 22. The 750 is a little quicker, but the 850 will run all day at 80 mph freeway.
More important is riding position. I find I must sit half way back on the stock seat on the Roadster to have a comfortable angle to the foot controls. Two up on this bike is a real pain. So much so that I recently added a Corbin gunfighter seat. Pretty much eliminates a passenger but the riding position is perfect.
The 850 Interstate is much more comfortable because the large tank pushes the seat back so the controls are at a better angle (for me). I added the lower, narrower European bars and rearsets and made it a perfect solo or two up ride.
My point is, ride both the Roadster and Interstate and consider comfort before you decide.

Ron L