Did I get ripped off?

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hudson rider

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Oct 12, 2010
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Hi All,
I'm new to the forum and fairly new to riding motorcycles. I impulse bought a 72 Norton Commando 750 Hi-Rider with 14,000 original miles on it. I paid a little over $1,000 for it. I know value is dependant on a number of factors, but I'm hoping to tap into the huge reserve of knowledge of the forum members. I will list what I know.

The Good: Numbers matching engine and trans, good compression, 14,000 miles, the bike is complete minus the stock seat and mufflers, still has the original "easy rider" style handlebars

The Bad: Has not been run since 1978, apparently missing frame tag (not on the neck of the bike), looks to have been dumped lightly at some point, hacked up wiring harness, fiberglass body work, shot tires, brakes, cables as expected with the age and lack of use.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

PS: Sorry, do not know how to attach photos
 
I'd be willing to give you what you paid for it. Title or no. Parting it out would fetch you a nifty profit.
 
A steal minus the bars of course. Thank god some considerate soul rid it of the seat and sissy bar. You would make a profit on it as is if sold right.
 
hudson rider said:
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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You bought a bike on impulse. And now that you're adding up the costs of repairs/replacements, you have a case of Buyer's Remorse. Nobody ripped you off. Like the guys say, you could get your money back just reselling the bike. For a M/C newbie, especially if you're not an accomplished wrench, a Norton is probably not a good choice for resurrection, or even for riding. Forget about the "good compression". Any bike that has sat that long and obviously hacked up should be completely torn down and rebuilt. Plan on $10,000 to put it straight and back on the road. If that number gives you a heart attack but you go ahead and start the project anyway, you'll likely get about halfway done before running out of money and enthusiasm, then sell the project for a loss. It happens all the time. But if $10K sounds reasonable, have at it, and have fun.

Stu O
 
I can't think of any bike where 1500 is getting ripped off. Hell, there's used scooters around here that go for that much
 
Thank you all for the response! I found the instructions for posting pictures.

Did someone mention ugly seat?

Did I get ripped off?


Did I get ripped off?
 
I would say you did quite well. Welcome. Now you need to decide if you want to make it original or make it something else. It will not cost you $10K unless you really just throw money at it. I restored my 69S completely for around $5K and it was a rust bucket to start with, but complete. But, you will have to do most of your own wrenching, repair and buying. I was a real cheapskate when it came to buying parts, look to the UK for parts, they are about 1/2 US prices even with the shipping unless it is a large item. It looks like a good project, but I would take it completely down, including the motor and gearbox. There is plenty of good information and helpful people here. If I can do it in my spare bedroom, you can do it too. It will take hundreds of hours, and if you don't like fettling, forget it, nothing on a Norton is like you would wish it to be. The best love affairs are the ones that you put up with way too much crap, but if you like torque, you will like the Norton, 25 to 70 in second gear and it pulls the blood out of your head. Just be careful.

Dave
69S
 
74JohnPlayer said:
hudson rider said:
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
You bought a bike on impulse. And now that you're adding up the costs of repairs/replacements, you have a case of Buyer's Remorse. Nobody ripped you off. Like the guys say, you could get your money back just reselling the bike. For a M/C newbie, especially if you're not an accomplished wrench, a Norton is probably not a good choice for resurrection, or even for riding. Forget about the "good compression". Any bike that has sat that long and obviously hacked up should be completely torn down and rebuilt. Plan on $10,000 to put it straight and back on the road. If that number gives you a heart attack but you go ahead and start the project anyway, you'll likely get about halfway done before running out of money and enthusiasm, then sell the project for a loss. It happens all the time. But if $10K sounds reasonable, have at it, and have fun.

Stu O
Click to expand...


That's pretty much the truth. If you are not a wrench, with a space and tools, the ability and equipment to fabricate, stop right now. If you have deep pockets send the bike to CNW for a restoration. I don't know for sure, but I think they charge over $25,000. If you are of limited means, which by the look of the other denizens of your garage you are not, sell that sucker. These Nortons are real wallet vacuums. If you are dead set on having a Norton and don't want to restore this one, buy one that someone else has spent big bucks restoring. You can usually purchase one for considerably less than the owner has spent. BTW, there are some on this site who do restorations for profit.
 
I think it depends on what hudson wants. He really hasn't said, and I think most are being pessimistic. If he wants a project he has one, if he wants to buy a Norton to ride he can do that to and sell this project, heck, I'd give him $1200. I've had about $100K of stone work done around my house by others, but it doesn't compare to the time I spent on my 69, and it's all my work. But you have to love Nortons, it's not for everyone.

As you can tell, we all have our opinions, and I'm sure we all come from different places and situations.

Dave
69S
 
$1k? Good deal. That's what I paid for mine. Plan on spending at least $4k on parts plus yours or someone elses labor! :mrgreen:
 
Looks like a combat head...does it have 32mm Amals? 1972 Hi Riders didn't come with disc front brake either. If this is a combat, you did even better for the money. :)
 
You did just fine with your purchase.

If you do the work yourself, you can have it running and rideable for about $5K, $10K and up if you go crazy (happens all the time)
 
$10K and up if you go crazy (happens all the time)
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Grand Paul, you don't actually have a lock on sanity where Nortons are concerned. I think crazy is nice. I only wish I could afford to be more crazy.
 
74JohnPlayer said:
For a M/C newbie, especially if you're not an accomplished wrench, a Norton is probably not a good choice for resurrection, or even for riding.
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I beg to differ. I bought and rebuilt my very first motorcycle ever, which was a Commando.

Trial by fire. No other better way in my opinion and now I know that bike inside and out, but I knew exactly what I was in for. Same goes for the triumph I'm working on now. I had never even sat on one then bang, I have a hard tailed custom on my hands.

I don't know why some of you guys are telling the thread starter to stop ect. In my opinion there is no better way than to just dive right in and have at it and buy tools as you need or progress. It's not like the guy is trying to build a space shuttle.

If you have any mechanical abilities then you can rebuild a motorcycle.
 
Thank you all for the input. I just assumed it was a hi-rider based on the shape of the tank and the goofy handlebars. The carbs are Amals and I believe they are 32mm. Is there an easy way to correctly identify the model?
I think you all are spot on about deciding what I want to do with this thing. I like to think I am fairly handy with a wrench. I love the looks of these bikes when they are done cafe style. I don't want to get sucked into some high dollar restoration .

This decision will have to come later. Currently I am sitting at the hospital awaiting the birth of my first child.

Again, thank you all for your input.
 
Did you get ripped off ? For the equivalent of 700 blighty pounds you positively mugged the bloke (no offence intended).
:) You've got one, that's what matters and when it's got a hold of you, well..............you'll find out. Welcome and enjoy.
 
Coco said:
74JohnPlayer said:
For a M/C newbie, especially if you're not an accomplished wrench, a Norton is probably not a good choice for resurrection, or even for riding.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ. I bought and rebuilt my very first motorcycle ever, which was a Commando.

Trial by fire. No other better way in my opinion and now I know that bike inside and out, but I knew exactly what I was in for. Same goes for the triumph I'm working on now. I had never even sat on one then bang, I have a hard tailed custom on my hands.

I don't know why some of you guys are telling the thread starter to stop ect. In my opinion there is no better way than to just dive right in and have at it and buy tools as you need or progress. It's not like the guy is trying to build a space shuttle.

If you have any mechanical abilities then you can rebuild a motorcycle.
Click to expand...

With respect Coco, as I recall, you sent your motor away which immediately puts a restoration into another league financially and you've yet to clock up any significant road mileage. It's keeping them running at 100 % efficiency if things don't go completely as planned that requires the character and determination. You may find that you've got a head-shaker or that you lose a cam lobe in short order. A ground up restoration can seem like a pleasant memory when you've run out of ideas to solve some of the very real problems that can arise.

I like the realistic attitude of this forum. No-one say "jump in, it'll be OK" The fact is that building a sweet-running Commando requires either money, aptitude or experience learned the hard way and even then there's no guarantee.
 
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