Barn find 1974 850 Commando

Hi All-
New member here. As the owner of several different Brit bikes this is my first Commando street bike. (I raced a 750 Fastback in AHRMA back in the '80's). I picked this bike up a week ago in Colorado after hearing about it from a friend. It is a 2 owner bike with 19K miles and has been sitting dormant in a garage since 1992. Frame, engine and trans #'s all match. The owner also gave me the original sales receipt, sales brochure, factory manual, owners manual and tool kit. I decided to clean it up a bit before doing the fluid changes, new battery etc. and was amazed at how well preserved it was. I got it looking like this after 30 minutes of degreasing and wiping down!

After doing a bit of research I have yet to see a Roadster in this color. It kind of looks like Tangerine but I don't see that color as being available for the Roadster. I have seen a Fireflake Bronze? listed but again not sure. The backsides of the side covers are the same color and do not appear to have been repainted. I know the bars are not stock (will replace with european style) as well as the coil mounts (plummers tape!) but everything else appears to be original. Can anyone tell me what color this is? I hate it and would love to repaint it (black of course) but if it's a rare color...

Thanks for any feadback and look forward to this forum.

Steve

That really is a tidy bike, nice find.

Don't know about the color, there was a range of colors listed for the 850s, some of which are rarely seen. (Anyone got the color chart that came separately from the brochure ?).
Having a look inside the tank cap and underneath the tank will sometimes show what the original color was, if there was one. No decal on the sidecover, which does suggest the color was changed.

BTW, the mesh for your airfilter is missing. This crushes the paper element, and if it tears it then the filtering effect is gone.

Don't be tempted to ride on ancient tires and tubes.?
Have fun .

P.S. If you polish the rust off the front disc, with some sandpaper, bike will look like a new one. ?

Welcome to the forum, Steve.

That's the best looking "barn find" I think I've ever seen!

Mini Mo said:

After doing a bit of research I have yet to see a Roadster in this color. It kind of looks like Tangerine but I don't see that color as being available for the Roadster. I have seen a Fireflake Bronze? listed but again not sure.

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Yes it does look like original Fireflake Golden Bronze.

Looks like somebodys looked after it . You might be right about that colour though . :lol:

If that tyre says ' Continental ' its not as bad as a 70s Chen Shin , but its more dangerous . :shock:
Looks like a PZ2 michilen ??

If you keep it under 5.000 / 5.5000 , it should go forever . However , . . . If you must Go Fast . . . .

Start the ' race prep ' . One doesnt ordinarily redline a 40 yr old machine to increase its service life.Unfortunately .

Just seen someone who liked the colour , too , Very 80s .They must have pretty good barns , in youre neck off the woods .

Thanks for the replies. So it's most likely Fireflake golden bronze. I DO plan on replacing those tires before riding it a mile and will look for the mesh for the filter. I plan on removing the tank for a thorough flushing and overhauling the Amals. Luckily this bike being in CO. with the dry air was a blessing. Not a speck of rust in the tank or on the bike other then the rotor. I drove from California to Colorado and back in 48 hrs, 2200 miles round trip to get it. And yes, she had a very cool 'barn' with lot's of stuff in it!

Ok i'll ask. How much did you pay for it.

Since the horn is not working, you will have to take it all apart to fit a new one, I could save you the trouble and pick it up for free :wink:

Jean

Guido said:

Ok i'll ask. How much did you pay for it.

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Bought this Norton, an all original '75 Honda CB750k, which I plan to clean up and sell and a Triumph 250 Trophy which I've already sold. $4500 for everything. Hope I didn't overpay!

I took these pics at the Empire Rally as I hadnt seen the color before .The owner had the bike from new and said it was Fireflake bronze.Its a beautiful colour.I believe the decals are recent if I remember correctly.

Oh and nice find BTW Good Luck with it, its really nice.

Welcome, Steve.

That's more of a "time capsule" than a barn find!

Heck of a good deal, too.

Mini Mo said:

Guido said:

Ok i'll ask. How much did you pay for it.

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Bought this Norton, an all original '75 Honda CB750k, which I plan to clean up and sell and a Triumph 250 Trophy which I've already sold. $4500 for everything. Hope I didn't overpay!

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Yeah, you stole it. :mrgreen:

Mini Mo said:

Guido said:

Ok i'll ask. How much did you pay for it.

Click to expand...

Bought this Norton, an all original '75 Honda CB750k, which I plan to clean up and sell and a Triumph 250 Trophy which I've already sold. $4500 for everything. Hope I didn't overpay!

Click to expand...

Now I'm depressed

I'll bet there wasn't a barn on the property.

Damn great deal.
I gotta go barn hunting now.

Barn find? Whos barn? Smithsonians?

Man, that fine. Walcome.

"Hope I didn't overpay!" You a funny guy!

Mini Mo, SWEET! Welcome, Lots of knowledge & good help here on this forum. Cj

No actual 'barn' but a detached garage with stuff everywhere. late '50's TR-3 Triumph, early '60's Indy car in some dis-repair set up for club racing, vintage quarter midget, late model Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, 1945 Harley Flathead... you want me to go on? It was crazy. I might go back if she decides to sell the TR!

Here is a E-Bay find that came today. It's a Fireflake Golden Bronze Tail section (like new or NOS) to match my NOS Fastback fiberglass tank I aquired this past June. Never thought I'd get both from different sellers. I'm a very "Happy Camper" today. I like the color. This will be for a project I'm currently in progress with. Making a 73 850 into a Fastback. (I know Fastbacks were not made for that year) Mini Mo, if the condition of the painted tank & side panels are good, I would keep it. OEM you know. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thought I'd chime in.

To quote Young Hiel , your strange but dont change . etc . Class act , preserved . Mustve been ahead of its time . Long Story . . .

Would be good to see a Original silver green dot orange seat fastback worked 850 , to put the Katanas in their place , :lol: sour note , but the latest things should blow of a prehistoric katana 1100 .in my books. or their not worth their keep . so thats sour grapes .
To close to it now , A worked P-38 Leyland is almost kindred for a ' 4 wheeler ' to a Commando . But were crushed under the heal of ignorance oppression and not a little commercial raw panic . . . as I said , long story .

Only problem with the flash paint , youll have to dress in style so as not to make it look shabby . Mustve been the problem at the time ? ? ?

Mini Mo, if the condition of the painted tank & side panels are good, I would keep it. OEM you know. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thought I'd chime in.



Yep, that's the color. I've pretty much decided to leave it original. It's in great condition and I haven't even begun polish or wax it yet. Thanks again for all this input.