750 SS ?

I've been mulling over what I should do with the increasing collection of parts, was casting an appreciative eye over the SS on the NOC website. Does anyone here own one? How does it differ from the 'S', other than the exhaust pipes and the front mudguard/fender?
One of the bike pics on the NOC site has the centerstand attached to the gearbox cradle, the other it would seem has the stand bolted to the frame. <edit> <On further examination, both have the stand attached to the cradle>
As I've been reading it certainly wouldn't cut it as a 'desert-sled', but as something a bit different from the norm it might be fun to assemble one. Interestingly the bike I'm working on now has the numbers within the correct range.

Thoughts?

Steve

Hegel said:

How does it differ from the 'S', other than the exhaust pipes and the front mudguard/fender?

Click to expand...

Fuel tank, handlebars, headlamp assembly.

L.A.B,

Ah yes, sorry I forgot the tank and the bars

Which headlamp assy did it have? I can't seem to find any pics on the web of what it looks like

Thanks!

Hegel said:

Which headlamp assy did it have? I can't seem to find any pics on the web of what it looks like

Click to expand...

The SS had the smaller Lucas MCH66 (60280) 6" headlamp assembly-same as the Hi-Rider model.
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... &Plate=024

The SS also had the same fuel tank as the Hi-Rider.

Steve, I have an original factory brochure featuring the SS on it. It has the later type Roadster frame with centre stand mounted to the gearbox carrier, it also has the later triple clamps (yokes) and Roadster side panels and side oil-tank with the ignition key mounted to a bracket on the rear air filter plate. Differences from Roadster spec seem to include a small Hi-Rider type tank, different seat with a narrower nose than either the S or Roadster types, High mounted front mudguard, smaller headlamp (also on Hi-rider), cross-braced handlebars, skid plate and obviously the exhaust- which have some dedicated brackets securing them to the Z-plates at the bottom and to the frame at the top,. cylinder-barrels are painted silver and the bike shown still has the cam-shaft driven breather coming out of the left side crank case. The colour shown is a yellow tank with black side covers with the 750 Commando script on them, although I think they were available in other colours and have seen one with a tangerine coloured tank and black side panels.

I personally like the style of the SS and might utilise this exhaust arrangement on my next cafe-racer. Good luck with it.

I, too, was thinking "Desert Sled" when I snapped these possible variation shots...

dave M said:

The colour shown is a yellow tank with black side covers with the 750 Commando script on them, although I think they were available in other colours and have seen one with a tangerine coloured tank and black side panels.

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Both "Solid Canary Yellow" and "Solid Tangerine" were listed for '71 Hi-Rider and SS models, and as you mentioned, there are a number of minor differences between a '69/'70 750 S type and a '71 SS due to the fact that they were different year models.

S'lookin good there Paul! Is the tank steel or fiber glass? I bet the tanks are rare as hens teeth.


Thanks for the link L.A.B, see you can still get the headlamp shell.

That was a beautiful steel '75 High Rider tank, long gone.

That bike ended up as a Production Racer replica, I just made a deal and the deposit check is on the way.

Now I'm really down to the last of the bits & bobs and loosely assembled them into a rolling chopper project that'll be for sale after this buyer decides which bits (if any) he wants to buy as spares for the other bike.

Paul,

You know...Life is weird. I thought; I'll just hop on to ebay and have a look, see if there was one on there.

And do you know what? There was one! And I bought it!!

Steve

HA! That's too cool. Congrats.

Pix ASAP.

Sure, will do. The seller had some pics, it's in an unpainted state at the moment.

Dave,

Thanks for that! I'd love to see the pic, if you get a mo to scan it in, or even just take a photo of it.

Cheers,

S

I have a friend locally with two. Only built for part of the '71 model year, so they have the risky pin-type side stand. However they are based on the later style frame unlike the '69-'70 'S".
- Hi-rider style tank (fiberglass)
- Hi-rider style small healdlight and fat spacers
- Unique head pipes and muffler mount brackets (standard Roadster mufflers)
- Fiberglass heat shields
- Unique spring mounted fender attached to the lower fok yoke.
- Only Commando to come with the skid plate (found in most parts books as an "option").
- Unique seat that comes to a prominent "V" at the tank.
- Yellow or Tangerine tank with black side covers.

The rest of the parts are standard '71 Commando.
It uses the side mount oil tank rather than the 'S' center mount and the side covers are late style rather than the sharper 'S' and '70 Roadster style.

There's a picture of it here http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... mmando.pdf It looks to me like it has the later style and longer prop stand.

Dave
69S

Steve, Dog T has beaten me to the punch and posted a photo of the same brochure that I have.

Hi Ron,

Many thanks for the info! I must say I'm rather jealous of your friend there. I'm quite surprised at what's still available, tho the major sticking points so far seem to be the front fender, seat, and heat shields. As far as the fender goes...I wonder if it's the same as the roadster item, but with the holes just drilled differently and no support bracketry? The seat on the other hand has me completely stumped at this point. :?

Thanks Dave(s)!! On the one hand...There's a part of me that'd like to turn the wheel, crank out a standard looking machine, as in the brochure photo...

But on the other there's this little devil that keeps whispering in my ear, wants to turn the 'desert-sled' into a complete hooligan :twisted: : Hmmm......

I wonder if it's the same as the roadster item, but with the holes just drilled differently and no support bracketry?

Click to expand...

The fender is the same in shape, but is shorter and has only the two holes to fix it to the mount.

Hi Ron,

Thanks. I'm still trying to figure out if it's been cut down at both ends? I might have to give Andover a call, see if they have the drawing for it, or if they can supply a blank (WHY)?

Well the SS/Hi-rider tank showed up yesterday evening; (you'll have to right click the images and open them in a different tab to see them full size) Sorry for the ham fisted image posting



Some noodle in the past had chromed it (Now pitted with some rust), but over all it doesn't seem too bad. There aren't any dents or any particular show stoppers that I can see.





For some reason I seem to getting a bit of a collection of tanks at the moment :shock:



The Interstate and Roadster tanks are already away for spraying.

Actually...I've got a question about tanks in general. What's the best way to store them long term? I ask as it's going to be a while before I can assemble the SS. It will have been thoroughly cleaned/ blasted and sprayed before hand.

Cheers,

Steve