Commando frame number

Hello All

I wonder if anyone can help me or point me in the right direction to look? I live in New Zealand and have a Norton Commando 850. From the previous owner, I understand that it was imported second hand as a complete bike from England in or around 1994. It has no electric start and has a disc front brake. I would like to get a more accurate history or at least manufacture date of the bike and hence have examined the engine and frame numbers. The engine number (stamped on the crank case and transmission) is 305834, which places the bike at 1973, which makes sense. The confusing part is the frame number. There is no aluminium plate riveted to the yolk of the frame (which I understand there usually is), however there is a number stamped into the left-hand side of the yolk and that number is 00115. I have heard that this might make sense if the bike was one of the Commandos from that period which had its frame manufactured in Italy, rather than England, and hence it may be a complete, original bike.

If anyone can shed any light on the situation, that would be most appreciated. Ideally, I would like to know if the bike is complete and original and if so, what is its exact model and date of manufacture. If not, what is the origin of the frame?

Any help would be appreciated

Welcome Bunga,

Bunga said:

The engine number (stamped on the crank case and transmission) is 305834, which places the bike at 1973, which makes sense. The confusing part is the frame number. There is no aluminium plate riveted to the yolk of the frame (which I understand there usually is), however there is a number stamped into the left-hand side of the yolk and that number is 00115. I have heard that this might make sense if the bike was one of the Commandos from that period which had its frame manufactured in Italy, rather than England, and hence it may be a complete, original bike.

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The fact that the certification plate is missing is unfortunate, and it can be a sign that the frame's identity has been changed, but you seem to be on the right track as far as the frame numbering is concerned. The factory apparently begun stamping the frame headstocks with separate F1***** numbers from around mid- 1973, which according to some, signified the frames were of Italian (Verlicchi) manufacture however, all frames mid-73-on appear to have the 'F' number-until about mid-'75 when the frame number often matched the plate/engine/gearbox number.
http://atlanticgreen.com/commandoframes.htm

Bunga said:

I would like to know if the bike is complete and original and if so, what is its exact model and date of manufacture. If not, what is the origin of the frame?

Click to expand...

You could contact the NOC records department with the numbers you have and see what (if anything) is known about 305834 and frame (F?) 00115.
http://www.nortonownersclub.org/