Earliest Combat?

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Russ,
great day and a great ride thanks for the scenic ride.
You have a great riding area in Upper Bucks.
Thanks for posting the pic from the day.
I clocked 121 miles that day door to door.
Marshal
 
MarshalNorton said:
LAB,
when they detuned the combats at the factory did they ship w/ black barrels or were they back to silver?
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Sorry, I don't know the answer to that.
 
I have a Combat which was not registered until 74, it has black barrels. Assuming a bike that was built in sept 72 but not registered/sold for over 12 months or more was sent back to the factory for detuning then it looks like the barrels were not repainted silver. Whether this bike was detuned is another story, it has the combat head but a new std cam and the old cam is nowhere to be seen so can't say if it had a std or 2S cam fitted.
 
First time I've heard of the Norton factory detuning previously built Combats but anything is possible. Kommando what is your serial number from Sept 72? ?
 
batrider said:
First time I've heard of the Norton factory detuning previously built Combats but anything is possible. Kommando what is your serial number from Sept 72? ?
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I've read this before, but never actually seen any evidence first hand. Perhaps this is just a confusion on the introduction of the MkV 750 (S/N 220000) with slightly less compression and the standard camshaft? Of course, you can't rule out that during the transition, they put together whatever they had in the bin, be it Combat or MkV parts!
 
Ron L said:
Of course, you can't rule out that during the transition, they put together whatever they had in the bin, be it Combat or MkV parts!
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I can't help thinking that they were doing this for quite some time, possibly late 71 on. They were under a lot of pressure. It must have been truly heart breaking and gut wrenching to try and keep such provenance, history and pride afloat. It is an honor to own one and I ride it proudly.
 
Earliest Combat?


This was built in December 1971 nr: 201931 as an Interstate.

It came to Norway from US in 1992.

JR
 
206621 is the number, registered Jan 74 built sep 72. Combat head, 32mm carbs and manifolds. Conrod has met crankcase at some point, can't tell if any decompression plate was fitted as bought it as a basket case, superblends are fitted, +20 bores -30 big ends so rebuilt 2 or 3 times.
 
kommando said:
can't tell if any decompression plate was fitted as bought it as a basket case,
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No (de)compression plates were fitted as far as I know, just thicker head gaskets.

There may be some confusion over the term "first detuned Combat"?

According to the Norton service notes, the 211110 number actually means "first Commando built with 32mm carbs, standard cam and lower compression ratio, brought about by the use of the new (8.9:1) RH5 or (9.3:1) RH6 cylinder heads, so there's no actual evidence to say that the 211110 number specifically refers to any previously built Combat model which had been returned for modification-although it has been reported that it did happen, twice in some cases apparently, the first time to have Superblends fitted, and the second time to be "detuned".
 
A close freind has a roadster- disc brake 32mm carbs "c" stamped on head e/n 200985 imported from USA in the "80s" first and only NewZealand owner.
 
What makes it not a combat is the early engine number, the gearbox number(235xxx) and the frame (149xxx). As a unit, it is sublime and I am very proud of it.
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Does Michigan title by the motor? The frame is a '71.
 
Although it is titled by the frame, the state see's it as a 72. I believe that this is because it has always been a Michigan bike and the PO titled it that way and it has carried on. My insurance comp. see's it as a 71. Go figure.
 
Just curious how the frame evolved w/ the combat engine?
Did the PO wreck?
And did you get my response all combats welcome.
I really got some amazing responses PM'd to me as well.
Some guys have 12/71 assembled combats before they're supposedly to exist.
The travel time sales time and title time looks like it lagged quite a bit back in the day.
Especially if you bought a 71 leftover in 72. Probably just got titled as a 72
Marshal
 
Your guess is as good as mine. It is a very fine conglomeration though. Goes like hell.

What is really freaky is that a frequent poster here on the forum in the process of a build has the gearbox that matches my frame number. He is clear accross the country. Small world.
 
I'm a bit confused. My bike is 200937. I got it in 1994 (it had been off the road for about 10 years) and always thought it was a combat engined interstate.

I thought it was an interstate because it had:
interstate tank
interstate panels
low exhaust pipes and silencers (mufflers) and fixings

I thought it was a combat because:
C on head
large carbs and manifolds
front disc
high comp pistons
combat gearing

The registration (Title) book under model/type gives "Interstate" and it was first registered in the UK on 4 September 1972.
 
I think that "Combat" was a "performance package" offered during the 1972 and early 73 model year.
There were Combat Roadsters and Combat Interstates. I think.

Les W That number 200937 would jive with a 4 Sept 1971 Manufacuring date. If it were Sept. 72 the number would be more like 209xxx or higher. Although 4 sept 1971 is probably a 1972 model year. I think. L.A.B will set me straight. 8)
 
Les W said:
I'm a bit confused. My bike is 200937. I got it in 1994 (it had been off the road for about 10 years) and always thought it was a combat engined interstate.
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200976 is accepted as being the first "production Combat".


Three possible explanations why your Combat has a lower serial number than that?

1. Either the 200976 first Combat number is wrong?

2. The specification of your bike has been changed?

3.The factory was building batches of bikes out of sequence by 1972, so the "first" Combat with serial number 200976 could have been built earlier than yours even though yours has a lower serial number?


Les W said:
The registration (Title) book under model/type gives "Interstate" and it was first registered in the UK on 4 September 1972.
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It's unusual to have Interstate recorded on the V5 registration document (unless you mean the old "log book")?


As the model type isn't usually recorded for bikes of that age (not even "Commando") only:

Make = Norton
Body type = Motorcycle
Taxation Class = Bicycle
etc..
 
grandpaul said:
Combat in Interstate trim?
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You bet. A friend has an original, unmolested example in interstate form from 1972 I believe.
 
Les W said:
it was first registered in the UK on 4 September 1972.
pvisseriii said:
That number 200937 would jive with a 4 Sept 1971 Manufacuring date. If it were Sept. 72 the number would be more like 209xxx or higher. Although 4 sept 1971 is probably a 1972 model year.
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In the UK, vehicles aren't usually registered until they are sold by the dealer, so there's no reason why it couldn't have been registered in September '72 if it had sat unsold in a dealer's stock for some months.
 
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