Frame Number Riddle

Davo · Jan 18, 2011

Hi there all!

My 750 frame confuses me.
Stamped on the headstock is B131541. Nothing I have read mentions a B in the frame number.
The number relates to 1969 models. My local Norton Workshop had one look at it and said 1972.
On the gussetting is a stamp R2 72, is this relevant?
The motor and gearbox aren't original and have differing numbers so they are no help.
I sent off an email to the VMC in the UK but haven't heard back.
Does anyone know what the B stood for and is it a '69?

Cheers

Dave

Headstock

LH side Frame

Frame

ILLF8ED · Jan 18, 2011

The frame has center stand mount on the rear engine cradle, means it's a '71 or later. Norton didn't stamp the VIN on the frame, rather on an aluminum ID plate that is riveted to the head stock.

Anglophile · Jan 19, 2011

IMHO it's a '72 Frame. Made by Reynolds in February 1972 to be exact. I have a similar stamp on my frame (R771) and the original number plate is stamped Jul 1971.

grandpaul · Jan 19, 2011

The headstock stamp was done after manufacture by who knows who.

spartan 3956 · Jan 19, 2011

I have just had my date of manufacture checked and it turned out it was older than first thought, now a dec 1972
the frame number has no letter in front and starts 230--- it has 6 numbers stamped. No letters in front, dated by the Norton owners club but you must be a member.

pete.v · Jan 19, 2011

spartan 3956 said:
I have just had my date of manufacture checked and it turned out it was older than first thought, now a dec 1972
the frame number has no letter in front and starts 230--- it has 6 numbers stamped. No letters in front, dated by the Norton owners club but you must be a member.

So it's a 73 750 frame?

batrider · Jan 19, 2011

Where is that R number? Looks like maybe behind the right hand Z-plate? Will check it out if I ever get home in daylight. Winter sucks.

Anglophile · Jan 19, 2011

batrider said:
Where is that R number? Looks like maybe behind the right hand Z-plate? Will check it out if I ever get home in daylight. Winter sucks.

It's on the LH side behind the Z-plate. Since it's not easily accessible I'm sure it goes mostly unnoticed but it appears to be a good way to date at least some bikes.

shrugger · Jan 19, 2011

Welcome to the "My Commando is confusing Club". I've seen a couple frames without a number plate or the holes to mount one :?:
My 72 has the plate and a matching number stamped beside it. But no build date stamped into the plate.
I'm of firm belief that the number of lunch time Lagers or possibly the Luner cycle determined what it was they did.

spartan 3956 · Jan 20, 2011

So it's a 73 750 frame?

All can say it was despatched from the factory in December 1972 so it must be a 72 frame and matching engine.
It was registered in may 1973 some of these machines sat in dealer showrooms for months, so its worth checking.
especially in UK. re tax exception.

batrider · Jan 20, 2011

If despatched in December 72 then I'd call it a 1973 model. However, this was around the time they were getting away from referring to model years and started using Mark numbers so yes it is confusing. But on the other side of the coin, does it really matter? To me the last '72s were the best of the breed.

pete.v · Jan 20, 2011

For the most part, model years ran from September to September. Titling on the other hand is a hole other story. You could have a 68 titled in 74 if it hung around the dealers floor for that long.

ILLF8ED · Jan 20, 2011

It's even worse. I have copies of the Norton factory build records sheets from late '71. 151xxx was being assembly after 200xxx which means '71 spec continued production after '72 spec started. The VIN is a good indication of spec however, just don't rely much on when the spec started and ended.

spartan 3956 · Jan 22, 2011

batrider said:
If despatched in December 72 then I'd call it a 1973 model. However, this was around the time they were getting away from referring to model years and started using Mark numbers so yes it is confusing. But on the other side of the coin, does it really matter? To me the last '72s were the best of the breed.

I agree confusing but if you are a UK owner a 1972 bike becomes an Historic vehicle and instead of paying to ride it on the road about $150 its free.
A 1973 you pay.

marinecommando · Jan 22, 2011

As a UK owner I can agree its confusing....... My Roadster was first registerd on 1/1/1973. The cut off date for historic registration is 31/12/1972. It took about 6 letters and calls between me and the DVLA to convince them that the bike had to have been built in 1972, which is part of the criteria. In the end common sence ruled over bureaucracy. So free road tax and cheaper insurance... Its not the cost but the princable..

spartan 3956 · Jan 25, 2011

Good result the British do not work on Bank Holidays

L.A.B. · Jan 25, 2011

spartan 3956 said:
Good result the British do not work on Bank Holidays

But, New Years Day wasn't a Bank Holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until 1974, although it was already a Bank Holiday in Scotland, so 1/1/73 would have been a normal working day (Monday) in England.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/employme ... k-holidays

marinecommando · Jan 25, 2011

Thanks LAB. I did point that out to DVLA.

askdoctorday · Jan 25, 2011

Whew! After reading all this I am simply grateful that the British are more attentive to the dates they manufacture beer than they are to their motorcycles. Although I have heard that the reason the English drink warm beer is because Lucas also made refrigerators...

Frame Number Riddle

Davo

ILLF8ED

Anglophile

grandpaul

spartan 3956

pete.v

batrider

Anglophile

shrugger

spartan 3956

batrider

pete.v

ILLF8ED

spartan 3956

marinecommando

spartan 3956

L.A.B.

Moderator

marinecommando

askdoctorday

Similar threads