850 in a 1962 featherbed frame?

freefly103 · Jan 26, 2014

Came across this:

1962 Norton 850 Commando Cafe Street Racer. Very nice Norton Commando 850 with a rebuilt and balanced motor and transmission set in a powder coated slim line featherbed frame. Ceriani four leading shoe drum brake with magnesium backing plates all laced to alloy rims front and rear. Norton "Roadhandler" front forks, Lyta Manx style alloy fuel tank with Pringle high volume petcocks. Unity Equipe motor plates, exhaust system and rear sets. Norton Atlas oil tank and tool box, 12 volt electronic ignition, sealed battery and much more. $14,500.00

http://www.batorinternational.com/motor ... orton.html

The engine has been rebuilt according to the accompanying video.

Looks ok to me for the price.

Appreciate comments on whether the combo of 850 engine in the frame would work.

Cheers, Joe

ashman · Jan 27, 2014

I have had my 850 Commando motor in a 1957 Wideline Featherbed for 33 years now and it works very well, as the ad says it has a balanced motor which has to be done to run solid mounts for smooth running, so this set up should run sweet and handle great and the price for a good Norton these days are high so I think if everything has been rebuild its a good price, but thats my opinion as I just love Featherbed framed Commando motors combintions.

Ashley

grandpaul · Jan 27, 2014

"Balanced" can mean anything, but the reader here assumes it's balanced at the proper factor appropriate to a rigid mount system...

Dances with Shrapnel · Jan 27, 2014

It would be tough to put one of those together for that price if you had to buy all the bits, even if you built it yourself.

You have a fair chance if you can pick up swap meet components and build yourself.

My two pence worth.

acotrel · Jan 27, 2014

Better if you can find one with a wideline frame - the pipes look wrong - otherwise it is OK. It depends what you want - for a classic machine, it wouldn't be a bad ride. Sorry, I should not have commented, I have pretty fixed ideas about what appeals to me - what is important is that YOU love it. My feeling is that the commandos should have had featherbed frames - I probably would have bought one in the 70s. The balance factor thing is not important - easily fixed as long as someone has not gone mad and drilled holes all around the flywheel.

ashman · Jan 27, 2014

I also throught the pipes were a bit odd, when I built mine 33 years ago I got my pipes made from a exhaust shop that had a Mandle bender and got the bent close to the frame, but other than that it looks like a good buy, let us know if you decide to buy it, I would if I was looking for one and had the money, you will have so much fun on that bike, once you get use to riding it you will be surprised on how hard you can push it through the corners, after 33 years I stll get a big buzz riding my Featherbed/Commando and will never sell it.

Ashley

Matt Spencer · Jan 27, 2014

Lotta Money .

A Guenuine Replica

Manx Frame & a doggey low miles 850 would be as good a start .

Value would depend if its Dunlop or Akront or those Italian RIMS , of asian recycled beercans .

The pipes should be up & in at the rear end . Ultimately a Manx Commando would be the idea ,
if you wanted a Commando Manx . Thats NOT .

Search the original Dresda & featherbed Nortons .

Chris · Jan 28, 2014

Hi

Nice bike.
Pipes are just plain wrong.
Slimline frames are much more comfortable to ride.
IF & it is a big IF
You can tell the difference between a wideline & a slimline you must be a top top pilot.
However after 6 laps & the wideline chaffing your thighs you might change your mind.

Chris

Triton Thrasher · Jan 28, 2014

I think the pipes are just mounted too low.

Nortiboy · Jan 28, 2014

Triton Thrasher said:
I think the pipes are just mounted too low.

Wrong motor, wrong pipes in wrong frame.

ashman · Jan 28, 2014

I have been ridding my Wideline Featherbed for over 33 years and have never had chaffing thighs ever and I ride it all day without any problems and have done many long distant trips on it, I also own a Slimline Featherbed, but my Wideline is as wide as a Innerstate Commando as that is what seat I use on my Wideline.

I have a 1960 650 Manxman and they do look good, but my 850 Featherbed will out perform it and any other Atlas motor powered Featherbed and be a lot more reliable as well and with the motor leaning forward it just looks faster, but at the time when I built it I only had a Wideline frame and a 850 Commando that I brought brand new when I was 17 years old, it was just the right thing to do at the time to put them both together and I am not sorry i did as it will out handle any Commando, no more mucking around with Isolastics etc. and I have done well over 140,000 miles on this bike.

Ashley

Rohan · Jan 28, 2014

ashman said:
as it will out handle any Commando,

How have you actually determined this ?

(We recall, you have early style forks, with less than optimal damping arrangements ?)

ashman · Jan 28, 2014

I have owned and run a Commando and when I built the Featherbed it shows the Commando weaknesses if the Featherbed has been done right, but that is my opinion and I will always get others who will disaggree and so be good as I know how my bike handles, I run Commando forks but has had the Landsdown internals, plus I ride with other Commando owners and friends who I have converted to owning Nortons, I still have a love for Commandos and would never put shit on them and I have helped built up a few Commandos for friends over the 38 years of owning Nortons.

Ashley

Matt Spencer · Jan 28, 2014

A Dead Stock :? 62 with a 850 transposed might be a good sleeper , and charismatic to boot . Unless it was electric start

:lol: .

Silly Manx.

fourteen and a half should build you a good replica Pickeral 750 Domi , if you had the inclination . At 920 of course .

Jagbruno · May 7, 2014

Here is mine...now running it in after engine rebuilt, I love it (1960 slimline and 850 MkII):

8)

acotrel · May 7, 2014

Jagbruno said:
Here is mine...now running it in after engine rebuilt, I love it (1960 slimline and 850 MkII):

8)

That is a bike of which to be proud. I think that if the motor is correctly balanced for high speed, it might be a pig around town. However on the fast roads with high speed bends, it would be beautiful.

ashman · May 7, 2014

Acotrel these bikes handle and ride just great wheather around town or out on the highways or on tight mountain roads, the best thing with my Featherbed 850 is that its a lot lighter than a Commando, it feels great on any roads and with the hot motor I have all the power I need, at high speed it sticks to the road very good, if the balance factor has been done right they are a very smooth ride, as mine is and I can ride it all day with out any problems, I am now 55 years old and I was 20 years old when I first built it.

Ashley

Jagbruno · May 9, 2014

Re: 850 in a 1962 featherbed frame

Here is a picture taken today of my racer (see above) with the full Dunstall fairing in place...I just love the paint job!

:mrgreen:

jseng1 · May 9, 2014

The featherbed is a great frame. But if you want it to run smooth you need lightweight pistons. No amount of balancing will take the place of that.

cjandme · May 9, 2014

nice ride jagbruno thanks for posting

)

850 in a 1962 featherbed frame?

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