Engine number question...

Fast Eddie · Jul 5, 2020

Just browsing eBay and saw a nice 1972 Commando. The engine number looks rather ‘busy’ to me. Anyone know why there are the other numbers on there, and what ACT stands for?

Engine number is in the 8th pic of the advert...

1972 Norton Commando 750 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1972 Norton Commando 750 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

ILLF8ED · Jul 5, 2020

I don’t think Norton Villiers put the extra characters on the case. The 230xxx looks correct.

ILLF8ED · Jul 5, 2020

Whoops, the “1” has the wrong font. On another string it was noted Norton engine number “1” characters don’t have the 1 underscore.

Ron L · Jul 5, 2020

From what I can see in the photos, this appears to be a late 1973 (MkV) 750. As David states the extra characters on the engine cases are not normally on a Commando. The MkV series had the long, black clockholders and the large rear taillight. The serial numbers are generally thought to have run from 22XXXX to 23095.

johnm · Jul 5, 2020

A number stamped like this would have troubles in NZ. It would need a very good explanation.

And a check on the police database.

In Australia ACT would be Australian Capital Territory. But that makes no sense for a bike in England

The red plate looks ok.

concours · Jul 5, 2020

OP, is the engine number a REQUIREMENT to register/license the vehicle?
In the US it is not. Or is this a curio for you?

johnm · Jul 5, 2020

concours said:
OP, is the engine number a REQUIREMENT to register/license the vehicle?
In the US it is not. Or is this a curio for you?

In most countries but perhaps not the US it is necessary to get a MOT inspection (UK) or WOF inspection every six or 12 months in order to licence and insure the vehicle

And the inspector checks the numbers and enters them into a database. Numbers like this would get a big question in NZ.

Fast Eddie · Jul 5, 2020

concours said:
OP, is the engine number a REQUIREMENT to register/license the vehicle?
In the US it is not. Or is this a curio for you?

I have no connection to this bike, I am just curious.

Engine numbers are not required by the authorities here in the U.K. either. But it can help if trying to register something that’s not already in the system.

ILLF8ED · Jul 6, 2020

concours said:
OP, is the engine number a REQUIREMENT to register/license the vehicle?
In the US it is not. Or is this a curio for you?

California is strict on having engine and frame numbers match. It can be a show stopper if the vehicle is out of DMV system. In the case of this one it would depend on the particular inspector at DMV.

swooshdave · Jul 6, 2020

illf8ed said:
California is strict on having engine and frame numbers match. It can be a show stopper if the vehicle is out of DMV system. In the case of this one it would depend on the particular inspector at DMV.

They must not like BSAs.

concours · Jul 6, 2020

illf8ed said:
California is strict on having engine and frame numbers match. It can be a show stopper if the vehicle is out of DMV system. In the case of this one it would depend on the particular inspector at DMV.

That leaves out Fords.

Ron L · Jul 6, 2020

concours said:
OP, is the engine number a REQUIREMENT to register/license the vehicle?
In the US it is not. Or is this a curio for you?

Vehicle registration is a state requirement in the US. Each state has its own regulation. In some states you will need an engine number on a motorcycle, but not in all.

concours · Jul 6, 2020

Ron L said:
Vehicle registration is a state requirement in the US. Each state has its own regulation. In some states you will need an engine number on a motorcycle, but not in all.

Name a State please.....

ILLF8ED · Jul 6, 2020

swooshdave said:
They must not like BSAs.

Sometimes I think the goal of California DMV is to keep as many old vehicles off the road as they can. Like the terminator you can’t reason with them.

johnm · Jul 6, 2020

We are pretty lucky in NZ in general I think. Here in Wellington there are inspectors who are old bike enthusiasts so they know the bikes and can check correctly.

They will also pick up things that may have a bad player history and ask questions.

However if you are known in the old bike community and have a good record they will listen to what you say with an educated ear. They know the rules but also know after 50 years lots can happen for perfectly good reasons

swooshdave · Jul 6, 2020

illf8ed said:
Sometimes I think the goal of California DMV is to keep as many old vehicles off the road as they can. Like the terminator you can’t reason with them.

There are many prices you pay to live there.

lazyeye6 · Jul 6, 2020

swooshdave said:
There are many prices you pay to live there.

I have brought 2 out of state bikes here (California). In both cases all the DMV folks cared about was the frame number and collecting the sales tax. They never glanced at engine #. The prices I pay to live here are exorbitant property taxes, high sales taxes, high income taxes and high vehicle road taxes. Thse pay for the nanny state whereby one lives well if one has the money to live here. You couldn't pay me enough to live in mega metropolitan areas of SF Bay Area, Greater LA or Greater San Diego or Greater Sacramento. More rural parts of the state are quite nice when the city folks aren't visiting.

swooshdave · Jul 6, 2020

I thought they cared more about the frame number than the engine. I wonder if @illf8ed needs to make more friends at the DMV.

marshg246 · Jul 6, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
Just browsing eBay and saw a nice 1972 Commando. The engine number looks rather ‘busy’ to me. Anyone know why there are the other numbers on there, and what ACT stands for?

Engine number is in the 8th pic of the advert...

1972 Norton Commando 750 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1972 Norton Commando 750 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Just a guess: Govt. re-stamping. The number above being a new VIN and "act" meaning "actual". The certification label appears original to me and it matches.

marshg246 · Jul 6, 2020

concours said:
Name a State please.....

In VA, they certainly don't look at anything but the title to transfer title/register a bike. If you have normal plates then you must be inspected annually and if there is confusion, you would point to the number on the bike that matches the "VIN" on the registration. If you have historic plates, no "official" ever looks at the bike unless a cop pulls you over. In that case, your registration has a "VIN" on it and if the cop asks - you better be able to point to it. Every Norton I've ever registered had the engine number as the "VIN". Of course. every Norton I've ever registered had a matching certification label. Since most Nortons (at least old ones) don't have a permanent frame number or if they do, you can barely find it, the engine number is the glaring "permanent" number. Triumph, on the other hand has a clear permanent number stamped into the frame so that better be on the title/registration.