Blue Stripe finish

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ekuna

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Recently I looked at a 1974 Commando Roadster. The tank and side covers have a base color of white. Over the white is a wide blue stripe and smaller red stripe. The bike looks exactly like the photo in the 1974 brochure on page 7 where the caption reads “New first time Blue Stripe finish.”

The seller believes this paint scheme makes this Commando a "John Player Replica".
1. Is this true?
2. Did Norton produce a "John Player Replica"?
3. Does the paint scheme have any connection (other than color similarities) to a real JPN ?

I've done hours of research on the subject, mostly in this forum and have my opinions, but want to hear from the subject matter experts.
Ed
 
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ekuna said:
Recently I looked at a 1974 Commando Roadster. The tank and side covers have a base color of white. Over the white is a wide blue stripe and smaller red stripe. The bike looks exactly like the photo in the 1974 brochure on page 7 where the caption reads “New first time Blue Stripe finish.”

The seller believes this paint scheme makes this Commando a "John Player Replica".
1. Is this true?
2. Did Norton produce a "John Player Replica"?
3. Does the paint scheme have any connection (other than color similarities) to a real JPN ?

I've done hours of research on the subject, mostly in this forum and have my opinions, but want to hear from the subject matter experts.
Ed
Click to expand...
No.
Yes.
Define a "real JPN". But the underlying 74 bike with a blue stripe paint scheme has underlying similarities with JPN race bikes, and is wholly similar to Norton produced JPN replicas, under the covers.
 
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A blue stripe roadster is NOT a JPN replica ! A JPN replica is a full on race replica with twin headlight fairing and special bodywork. It’s all cosmetic though, not performance differences to a stock bike.

The blue stripe roadsters do have a big fan base though, it’s a great colour combo. But it isn’t a special model or special edition or anything like that, it’s just a paint job.

Norman White even told me that the factory referred to it (unofficially) as the ‘Jubilee’. RW&B being the UKs flag colours and the Queens Jubilee being not far away at the time. Norman said it was not called a JPN paint job by the factory at the time.

I don’t know if Norman is right or not, just passing on what was said.

Neverthless, it is a great colour combo, so if it’s a nice bike and you like it, buy it! Just don’t fall for any BS about it being worth thousands more cos it’s ‘special’.
 
This is what a JP replica looks like. I'm not saying this is perfect but you get the idea.
 

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And this is a blue strip paint job.

But definitely not a JP replica.
 

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I have that paint scheme on my MKIII, the second year offered, and I can confirm that nowhere is it referred to as having anything to do with John Player. It's certainly NOT a JPN replica. An actual JPN replica photo having been posted already. JPN replica sadly is just bodywork, no performance enhancements, just a stock bike.

The comments on the below link are not mine but somehow got attached. Nonetheless, it's a photo of my bike I took for Hagerty. The throttle cable got secured and the bike still looks the same except for a real front brake. I've owned it for decades and it's the only ride I still have, or at least registered and operational. Colors are not exact but I love the scheme.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos

Well, at least the clutch and front brake are Commando. My daily ride since 1995.
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
 
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The white with blue-and-red stripes Roadster is a JPN tribute, not a Replica.
 
As you say, Norton literature for it's first appearance states: “New first time Blue Stripe finish.”
Subsequent (Mk3) literature refers to it simply as: 'Navy Stripe on White' or: 'White with Red and Blue striping' (the last beneath a Roadster photo, NOT the Cafe Racer)....
Mind you, fabled or not, by the time the JPN reached Mk3 status it was only referred to in the brochure as the Commando 850 Cafe Racer...
 
Check the literature that came with the JPN when you bought one

Blue Stripe finish


No mention of Tribute just John Player Norton

And the 74 range brochure with JPN included as 'John Player Norton' no mention of replica or tribute.


75 Brochure for the MK3 has the Cafe Racer but none were ever made, the photo used looks like a MK2a not a MK3.


Dealer info for 75, the Roadster tank was available in White with blue and red strip, no mention of JPN colours or Jubilee for Roadster Tank.

Cafe Racer was also White with blue and red strip.

 
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Okay, Sherlock Holmes here has dug deeper... The pre Mk3 colour scheme appears to have been blue with a lower gold band, the Mk3's being blue with the red.
(This is from Norton sales brochures)
I would guess your 74 has been repainted incorrectly, perhaps?
And given John Player sponsorship stopped late '74, maybe that's why the Mk3 cafe racer makes no mention of their involvement?
(Just to confuse more: 'The Ultimate Ride' Mk3 brochure uses: 'Commando 850 Cafe Racer', but 'The Powerchoice' Mk3 brochure show the cafe racer (with left hand leading caliper) as 'John Player Norton'
But again, all roadster model photos '74 and '75 are simply labelled: '850 Roadster'...
 
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I recall seeing a white/blue/red 75 MKIII Roadster in the dealer's showroom. Lovely color. The 74's that he had were red or black (I bought the red one).
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Time for Specsavers??? (me!!)
PS: Steve Wilson agrees
Click to expand...

Then Steve Wilson needs to go with you and it's not the only thing he gets wrong in his book.

Seen lots of pics of the white/blue/red but not seen a white/blue/gold one yet.

Mk2 still in its crate.

Mk2, not actually "1975"

Bonhams : Former property of Eddie Lawson, 8 miles from new,1975 Norton 850cc Commando Roadster Frame no. 317998

Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars
www.bonhams.com

Blue Stripe finish

Edit:
The Mk2/2A and Mk3 'White' colour scheme had the same '163' colour code.
 
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We always called it a "Union Jack" paint job.. I know I know it's not the flag but American interpretation maybe
 
I
L.A.B. said:
Then Steve Wilson needs to go with you and it's not the only thing he gets wrong in his book.

Seen lots of pics of the white/blue/red but not seen a white/blue/gold one yet.

Mk2 still in its crate.

Mk2, not actually "1975"

Bonhams : Former property of Eddie Lawson, 8 miles from new,1975 Norton 850cc Commando Roadster Frame no. 317998

Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars
www.bonhams.com

Blue Stripe finish

Edit:
The Mk2/2A and Mk3 'White' colour scheme had the same '163' colour code.
Click to expand...
I stand (kneel, bow?) corrected!! Though RGM's printers ain't up to much :)
However, I think we can agree that 'John Player' rears it's head nowhere in the equation?
 
EstuaryBoy said:
I stand (kneel, bow?) corrected!! Though RGM's printers ain't up to much :)
Click to expand...

I have the same RGM poster.
Going by the shadow, the sun appears to be behind the bike so the photo was taken into the sun which makes the thin line look dark and the printing process probably lost the colour.

It has been suggested previously (as it's certainly not the first time the white/blue/red scheme has been discussed) that the thin stripe is another blue line. The 163 Roadster colour scheme is described in the Mk2/2A parts supplement as: "Dayglow White, blue stripes"

The thin stripe in the ad, below, certainly doesn't appear to be red (or gold) but either a very dark blue or black as I've seen a couple of white with double black striped ones on UK ebay, so it's likely they experimented with the colour scheme before deciding on the white/blue/red. Maybe there are a few white/blue/gold ones out there?:)
Blue Stripe finish
 
To me the JPN bike is a replica of the race bike. Like johnm's first pix

I have always referred to the white blue red paint job as a John Player COMMEMORATIVE (paint job) which was rumored (love that term) as a JPN deal that fell through.
It was ment to be a "tip of the hat" to John Player as races sponsors but that deal fell through.
It, the paint job, then was down graded to the "blue" paint job.
apples and oranges.....
Blue Stripe finish
 
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