Getting the Commando roadworthy

Hi folks,
I'm brand new to the whole retro vintage bike scene, though I'm an expat and remember my dad owning a Commando in the 70s so I have that connection thing going on.

I just picked up a 1972 Norton Commando (20,000 miles). The guy I got it off is a friend , also an expat, who put it into winter storage in 92 where it remained until two weeks ago .

It has a small amount of rotten gas still in the tank so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to get it relined. The overall condition of the bike is good, though the chrome is a little pitted in places, the rubber seals have dry rotted and the engine looks visually worn. It doesn't have a battery and it hasn't been kicked over since the early 90s.

Anyway, here are my questions;
1. What would be the best thing to do in regards to getting it roadworthy;
a. Attempt to rebuild the bike with all of it's original parts, Clean, keep original paint, polish the old chrome etc...- E.G It looks like an old Commando because it is.
or

b. Repaint the frame, replace any damaged parts with newer parts, rewire etc... - E.G. It looks like a shiny 1972 Commando but it's actually only 50% of the original bike with a bunch of newer replacement parts.

2. How does this affect the value?

All the best,

Steve Mac.

Welcome Steve,

You have plenty of time to decide what to do with her in the long run. I'm confident you'll be spending a little time here and in that way figure out whether you want to return it to original condition, with all original parts, or want to make some upgrades. and don't worry about the long term value. I assure you, you will have a lot more into her then you'll ever get out, in terms of $$, when you sell it. that is, if you sell it.

Do all the turn up requirements. Clean the tank and re-coat, probably, and clean the carburetors. Lube everything. Replace battery and tires. Just get it running and then ride the heck out of it and enjoy yourself. Give yourselves some time to get to know one another.


Congratulations and good luck.

I have to agree, get some miles on the bike before you decide what to do. With that said you should:

-get some oil into the cylinders and the rocker boxes and turn the engine over slowly. If it hasn't been kicked in 20 years you want to make sure nothing is hanging up.

-get the carbs cleaned up and see if you can get it running

Before getting on the road you are gonna want to check out the brakes, tires (of course), wheel bearings, the swingarm, and probably the cam chain and the primary chain. While you are in there, check the clutch it probably could use cleaning. Since the rubber has rotted you might as well do the main seal while in the primary and new seals in the timing cover while you are checking that. Then you might as well check the isolastics, and if you tear in far enough to do the rear iso (heck you are checking the swingarm right?) you might as well fix that layshaft bearing in the gearbox.

Jeepers! What are you getting yourself into? The above sounds like a lot, but it really isn't and you will feel like you have learned about most of the major components on the bike when you are done. I recently got a '72 back on the road after 19 years of rip van winkling and it cost me less than 1000 bucks which included a fancy electronic ignition and new tires. Those together were half of the expense.

Between the workshop manual and the people in this forum I had no trouble getting it done, I probably spent more time at the keyboard than in the shop.

Enjoy, they are great bikes.

Russ

Go to work and make lots of money and sell the farm and borrow too ,then drive into the sunset... yay !

Its risky business to just freshen up and ride. Last '72 I was easy able to get roadworthy after year in a cycle shop, fractured its old stress riser oil slotted pistons because they were rubbing too long on an AL gasket that had smooshed out into the bore. Ugh.

Main danger is the front brake master cylinder is prone to moisture rusting the piston near the lever end and ruining the piston exterior seal to leak out each time of use but be blown away so unaware the very next brake need give absolutely nothing!!!!
Caliper will be full of rust too and likely need new SS pistons. Beware.

Forks similar if not worse.

But with that in mind - I'd sure try her out and if breaks you know where to start and join the rest of us on the highs and lows of Commando farting, i mean fettering. Its worth it - afterwards, like babies I hear.

Welcome to the forum.

It seems we've had a significant influx of new Nortonphiles here in the last few weeks/months...

Cheers Fellas,

Brilliant stuff, thanks.

Its never been a money thing as the bike will probably stay with me for life, more of an insurance thing and the possibility of eventually giving it to my boy.

By the way the bike came with a 1971 Belstaff jacket which I just waxed Anyway, thanks for the information, I'm on it and I'll post as I go.

All the best,
Steve Mac.