considering a 72 comando interstate combat 750

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69triguy

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Feb 13, 2013
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Hello,

I am considering purchasing a 72 cic750. I am looking for something a little bigger than
my trophy 500.
The bike seems to be in great shape and the owner says he is the second person to own the
bike.
So i guess i am wondering if these are good solid bikes or are there any major mechanacal
issues that would make them unreliable?

Any advice would be great. I am new to this site but hope to be checking in more.
I like all the old brit bikes and hope to own a norton 750 or 850 sometime soon
and later in the future a bsa as well.
 
The Norton is a wonderful bike to own once they are fully sorted - having said that, a 2 owner bike may not need that much sorting. Combats were infamous for early main bearing failure (sorted once replaced by Superblend main bearings - you might want to enquire whether or not this has been done). Any Combat these days with considerable mileage would almost certainly have had the main bearings upgraded - many were done under warranty when the bikes were new,
Cheers,
Dave
 
Thanks dave,
Thats really good info to have.
This bike has 16500 mi. If the main berings have not been
replaced yet are the superblend or another good replecement available?

Matt
 
Superblend bearings are available - but you'd probably be better getting some input from some of the guys that are VERY familiar with Combats - from your engine number they would be able to tell you if this is one of the early ones prone to failure or a later one produced with the Superblend upgrade.
Nortons also suffer from having a gear box originally designed for a much less powerful motor and as such are borderline in the layshaft bearing - again upgrades are readily available - a gearbox rebuild on a Norton is a piece of cake. You will end up with a superb bike - a very usable classic (daily rider if you want it to be).
Cheers,
Dave
 
Not to turn you away, but be careful. A not sorted Norton can be a real nightmare and lots of $$$. A well sorted one can be a real pleasure, but that goes for any bike. The Norton does take care, much like your other half. I'd have an experienced Norton person look at any bike with you rather than think you may know if you're not experienced with them. I'm sure there is someone around your area that would help. There are a few upgrades that do need to be done with these antiques to make them reliable. All I'm saying is be careful, you can get burned real quick.

Dave
69S
 
As a combat owner would recommend this model in roadster form. If you need an Interstate the 850 motor is better suited...my opinion.
 
69triguy said:
This bike has 16500 mi.
Click to expand...

I don't think its possible for a combat to do more than 5000 miles on original bearings. 16500 miles would have to be new bearings.

Whether they are superblends only a previous owner will know.

Grab it, they will only get more expensive
 
I am considering purchasing a 72 cic750. I am looking for something a little bigger than
my trophy 500.


Its a LOT bigger , Like 50 % . in more ways than one . If its not buggered , grab it .
 
cjandme said:
Grab it while you can, If you want a smaller tank you can get it later IMHO :)
Click to expand...

+1. The market is brisk, it may be snatched up while you research/ponder.
 
Coincidence. The first bike I ever owned was a Trophy 500 w/ a kick-ass one-piece Tracy body done in Tangerine. I loved that bike. But when my Buddy back in my home town bought the bike I own now ('72 Combat), I realized there was a whole different dimension to riding. The morning I drove the Combat away from his house back in '78 I wasn't 1/2 way down the block and I was yelling "Holy Sh*t" under my helmet...as I was so used to the Trophy 500 power & gearing. Was it a rush? The fact I still own the Norton says it all.
 
Combats are the Cream of the Commando Crop to me too. Here's where they went wrong and then got corrected - keeping in mind Combat's were the 1st InterState tanks fitted. If ya got balls enough to risk the engine to hang on into redline the front can become redundant.


All the errors and warrantee work put Norton so behind it never really caught back up. Educational on one thing leads to another and another. Read and rejoyce.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk31 ... ph0003.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk31 ... ph0004.jpg
 
" do the make a lowering kit for this bike? "

Now dont be rediculous , everythingll drag running the bends if ya do that . :p
Youd have to go for a Featherbed if ya want lower , but Id only use a wideline
OR Lowboy . :lol:

WHAT you DO , is , slide yr but over to the high side of the road , and forward , where the seats narrower .
If you must ride in town or stop at lights . A finger on the Fr Brake keeps it from rolling . And DONT put yr
foot ( toes :lol: ) in a pile of gravel sweepings . You only do that once .

Gees , half these modern supermotard things , the seats about a FOOT Higher .
Just practise , dont ride in town , or only stop to refuel . :D
 
Roadster tank and seat make a huge difference compared with Interstate . Riding position is different because roadster tank is about 5 inches shorter and seat is lower and narrower.
IMHO interstate are much more confortable, but it suits taller rider best.

So yes there is a factory lowering kit : it's the Roadster . Easy to mount but do not expect to feel like on a Triumph.

Look at this guy : a Commando is really tiny
considering a 72 comando interstate combat 750
 
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