Commando values

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Neil

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Hi
Was wondering how much a Commando in good condition is affected by not having the origional frame and engine numbers, speaking to people that are looking to buy a classic motorcycle it seems this is a must.

Thanks Neil
 
Good question!
Because the only reason matching numbers is "important" is for future resale value, is the answer to your question.

I own my Commando for the rest of my life, I will never sell it.
So to me I could not care less if I decide to swap the cases for any reason and the number does not match the frame number.

In fact I did exactly that some 15 years ago when AMR in Tucson rebuilt my bottom end and Mike there suggested to me that he had some cases that "looked" newer and better than mine.

I told him to go ahead, why not?
 
Numbers-matching means very little to me. To some, it may mean more.

I'm pretty sure my frame is not original, although the tag would indicate it is. I don't really care. It passed inspection and I was able to get it titled. I don't intend on selling my bike at any point, so it's irrelevant to me.

/shrug

-Jordan
 
Had my Commando for over 10 years now and have no plans to sell it. I was caught out with the numbers thing and it did spoil it to a point. However, when the time does come to pass it on to someone else to enjoy, how much would the value be affected or is there no real answer to this?
 
I looked for a matching numbers bike when I purchased my 1974 Commando Mk2A but I didn't know much then. I doubt I will ever sell and, as others pointed out, it only matters for collector types who want to torture people with stories of their perfect buys.
 
Something to consider is what kind of restoration you are doing. If you are doing a concours resto, then you better look for matching numbers. If you plan to make the bike into something other than original then why bother? As far as buying one...I like to find something that has been molested as little as possible by the PO.
 
Commandos are old and modular, including the numbers. If completely wholesome component why not make the numbers match by re-newing the stem tag. Many of those so worn away can't read anyway. If anal enough I guess 1970's are could be sourced for a price and peace of mind all correct as left the factory. Of course some left factory with things dropped inside on purpose, but that'd be ridiculous to match now.
 
to someone expecting matching numbers it means the world, a show stopper otherwise.
enlighten us a little, are you buying or selling?
 
There CANNOT be a numerical value placed on a bike to indicate the relative difference in value whether the numbers were original matching, refurbished to matching (by replacing frame tag), or non-matching, EXCEPT to a particular buyer and/or seller of a particular bike at a specific moment in time.

You look a man in the eye and ask him if the numbers match, then you take it from there with whatever his answer is.
 
The bike in my avatar has matching numbers. I would trade it for Grandpaul's avatar regardless of whether his has matching numbers or not!
 
rvich said:
The bike in my avatar has matching numbers. I would trade it for Grandpaul's avatar regardless of whether his has matching numbers or not!
Click to expand...

That's just the kind of guy you are, eh Russ? LOL
 
If you are buying a Commando, and the numbers don't match, it is a useful negotiation point. But if the bike is perfect in every other way, many people won't discount the bike much. But every seller and buyer will bring their own "Commando values" to that discussion.

There are a lot of minty new number plates on Nortons. If you prefer, consider in every case a well intentioned soul faithfully restamped the same old number on the new plate. But that would be somwhat naive. If you are paying a high premium for matching numbers, it should have a solid pedigree.

Stephen Hill
Victoria, BC
 
Neil said:
Was wondering how much a Commando in good condition is affected by not having the origional frame and engine numbers, speaking to people that are looking to buy a classic motorcycle it seems this is a must.
Click to expand...

Well, everybody in this thread apparently anticipates this as a matching nos. question but the way you worded this makes me think a little further - if it doesn't have the original FRAME no then the question is does the frame no aka VIN match any kind of sufficiently official paper to make it road legal without too much fuss in the state or country of the seller? If not that would be a major blow to the value of said bike.


Tim
 
I have yet to buy a non-matching bike with a receipt from a dealer for a new frame or engine case(s) with the serial numbers matching the bike.

Then again, it has never mattered to me.

I did have a set of new, unstamped Triumph Bonneville cases and sold them to a friend with the numbers stamped on it to match his frame for a restoration once, and provided him a notarized receipt for the sale.
 
To answer the original question is, clearly, NOT ENOUGH .

Barn finds seem to range from "take-it-away"to 1500. Commandos in unrestored (lower end machines may be highly molested), running condition seem to range bewteen 2000 and 5000. Pristine unmodified, well cared for examples with fresh paint and updated mechancals seem to range between 4000 and 10000; doing your own bike where you refurbush the engine, transmission, suspension and have the frame painted/powder coated and have the tank/sidecovers painted is a 10,000+ proposition; I have spent considerably more on each of my Nortons and my disease has just dragged a '76 R90s into its sphere; watch for the GDP of Germany to spike!

I have come to the conclusion that owning a Norton (insert name of virtually any motor vehicle) is a losing proposition, good thing they compete with sex for a good time...(at my age anyway :mrgreen:

If inflation gets a running start and my heirs manage to out live me they may break even when they sell off my roling stock.

Now if I had only purchased that 1967 427 Shelby Cobra for $6995 or one of the first original Colt Pythons for $225, or held on to my box of basball cards...

RS
 
Are there Norton owners out there who don't wrench on their own bikes? I am sure there must be, but I don't think any of them belong to this forum. Due to that you are not going to get both sides of this issue. Really there are three kinds (in a general sweep). First you have the guy who buys a Norton so he can add the name to the stable and a notch on the gun. Second you have someone who wants a classic motorcycle, because it is a classic. Third you have the group that we mostly have here, people who tinker and ride. To the tinker and ride-it crowd it is more important that the bike be well sorted than whether it is completely correct. The first two would place a higher premium on the matching numbers. The first would rather find a bike that has never been restored but looks like it came off the show room floor! You pay a lot for that bike because they are hard to find.

Russ
 
RoadScholar said:
Now if I had only purchased that 1967 427 Shelby Cobra for $6995 or one of the first original Colt Pythons for $225, or held on to my box of basball cards...
Click to expand...

If everyone had mothballed their toys instead of enjoying them, they would be worth less than... mothballs. If you have a Norton, just enjoy it. As for matching numbers, when I sold my Commando S after owning it for about 5 years, it was on its third gearbox shell.

Jean
 
I've been watching Commando prices both here in New Zealand and abroad. I'm not sure how many bikes get sold word of mouth but our local version of Ebay, Trade Me is where a lot of 'stuff' gets sold. Is it just me or they causing the prices to go up as they become a reference for selling?
Here a basket case goes for about 2- 3 k US, a runner without matching numbers up to about 5.5K and a good running bike with matching numbers 6.5 plus.
A fully restored 850 sold here last week for an eye watering around 9k US.
Thats my tuppence worth ( getting into the whole imperial measurement thing..)
almost the first question asked is " has it got matching numbers", not really an issue when riding or owning but sure helps when selling. My bevel drive Darmah hasn't got matching numbers as Ducatis don't ...Italians could not get that organised :roll:

In the US do prices vary on what State they are in? seems shipping from one side to the other can add up....then I suppose you have to change plates..etc.
In NZ once a bike/car is 40 the rego goes down about $300 US a year to a nice $80 :D and insurance thru the vintage car club is not much more.
 
Having done 2 commando restorations in the last 3 or so years, 850 mk2a cost over $8000NZ not including purchase price and with the 70S that was featured in this forums "most improved 2010" i stopped counting at $10000NZ though this could have been less as i strive for as arigonal as possible but included upgrades like mk3 isolastics etc. At some time when the wife has to put me in a pine box THen the bikes will return a fair figure to aid her live out the rest of her life with her knowing i have enjoyed doing them. And i have not finished yet as my next project a 650SS has just gone on to the work bench.
Al
 
FWIW I paid $4000 for my "73 850 Interstate last summer, about 90% restored, frame and engine numbers match, w/ fresh paint, new tires, etc...bike #9 (and Commando #2) and the first I'm sure I'll never sell
price was definitely good but may be about right these days as this local ''72 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2157800763.html has been listed repeatedly and not sold at $5K, have not checked it out in person though.

Commando values
 
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