Engine size question

L.A.B. · Apr 11, 2021

Time Warp said:
My bike is the next month after yours (12/73 - 311032 -850F105226 ) but has the extended inner shock mount plate but maybe the F number does have input on that.

Fairly early 850 Mk1 frames can have extended inner shock mounts so I don't think that's the reason.

'73 vs. '74 850

What are the differences? Baffled ham can on the '74? Anything else? I always hear of the '74 (last of the rhs Commandos) as the "Holy Grail" Is it any better than he '73?

www.accessnorton.com

Frankenbike

So I got my bare frame Monday night. It’s a 1973 850. I also picked up a few parts over the next day. More parts are coming tomorrow and next week, but I am missing so much. You guys call it a Bitsa, I’ve always called them Frankenbikes. It’s a matching numbers frame, engine case and...

www.accessnorton.com

Time Warp · Apr 11, 2021

L.A.B. said:
Fairly early 850 Mk1 frames can have extended inner shock mounts so I don't think that's the reason.

I forget if it was answered in the past.
Were Italian and British frames made at the same time and did they both have F numbers in that 1973 period. (Mk1 / Mk2 - Mk2a) ? (Mine being a metric frame as far as I can tell)

Could that be why the inner plate is sporadic.

kommando · Apr 11, 2021

L.A.B. said:
It's a Dunstall (type?) fairing and the plate is in the normal place.

Yes I know, I was pointing out that fairing brackets get in the way and what the factory did themselves, a post factory fitted fairing is the issue as its partially covering the plate and possibly the F number.

My frame is F104XXX, build 11/73, rear shock mount gusset plates in place

L.A.B. · Apr 11, 2021

Time Warp said:
Were Italian and British frames made at the same time and did they both have F numbers in that 1973 period. (Mk1 / Mk2 - Mk2a) ? (Mine being a metric frame as far as I can tell)

Could that be why the inner plate is sporadic.

I understand from Ken Sprayson's book when the frame orders from Norton suddenly stopped because the factory had started buying frames from Verlicchi it left Reynolds with stocks of frame tube and parts so a deal was done allowing Reynolds to continue manufacturing frames to use up the surplus, therefore, it would seem the supply of Reynolds frames wouldn't have continued for much longer after that.

2Xbad · Apr 11, 2021

L.A.B. said:
Well, it's would normally be stamped on the headstock at the RH side of the plate so would be mostly under the fairing bracket.
As the number is on the title then it ought to be there.

Both numbers are on title but only the 309xxx number is on the bike. You can see pics of headstock plate and engine.

2Xbad · Apr 11, 2021

holtcorseaux said:
Hi I am sorry I cannot offer any suggestions as to your machine. I do have a question re frame. My 850 310528 is stamped 11/73 but does not have the shock mount reinforcing, however yours does. LAB do you know if there is a good reason for this? Just idle interest it does not freak me out or anything.
Thank you,
Martin

The answer is simple. This bike is not stock in any way. It was modded by someone to be a Dunstall replica. Other than frame, motor and gearbox which are all matching, the other parts are aftermarket, including the fork brace.

2Xbad · Apr 11, 2021

Where is this mysterious F# supposed to appear on the motorcycle? It is definitely not on the head plate.

marshg246 · Apr 11, 2021

Time Warp said:
Were Italian and British frames made at the same time and did they both have F numbers

Speaking of pre-MKIII only...

I've been told but have never proved one way or the other that the Italian frames had the "F" and the British not and that for a time Norton was using both. I've also been told that the British 850 frames' number matched the engine number. So far, no one who has provided info for my survey has provided any info to clear any of that up.

https://www.gregmarsh.com/MC/Norton/CommandoSurvey.aspx

L.A.B. · Apr 11, 2021

2Xbad said:
Where is this mysterious F# supposed to appear on the motorcycle? It is definitely not on the head plate.

On the right-hand side of the headstock adjacent to the plate, not on it.

lazyeye6 · Apr 11, 2021

On my Mk2 (309647/Oct 1973) the F# is stamped into the headstock on the right side of the bike and headstock plate, and partially obscured by the fuel tank. It is very hard to see as a frame repaint has nearly obliterated it. With my nose 6" away and a bright flashlight I can just barely make it out.

2Xbad · Apr 11, 2021

Ok, I found the location of the F#. Wow, after all these years I didn't know where that was on the bike. I thought it was a mistake on title.

Engine size question

L.A.B.

Moderator

'73 vs. '74 850

Frankenbike

Time Warp

.......back to the 70's.

kommando

L.A.B.

Moderator

2Xbad

2Xbad

2Xbad

marshg246

L.A.B.

Moderator

lazyeye6

2Xbad

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