Hello Access Norton

Hello Nortonistas
I am Andy from Devon in England. I have ridden motorcycles since I was 15 - I am now 61 (today).
I have ridden a range of motorcycles including a Norton Jubbly and Triumph 650/750 but I always liked Nortons.
Earlier this year I purchased a 'bitsa' 750 Commando (1972) and have been gently refurbushing it.
I was luck enough to be at the TT in 1973 and the Silverstone John Player Grand Prix races in the early to mid 1970s.
This is my Norton.

I'd like to keep it as standard as possible but wuth 'sensible' upgrades.
I have already enjoyed a few miles on the Commando on our local B roads.
Thank you to all who post helpful information on this forum.
All the best to all.
Andy

Very nice looking rider!

One small detail: re-locate the red ground wire at the rear of the right side foot peg to the inside of one of the foot peg attaching nuts. It appears it is currently connected to the Zener diode base mount.

Welcome Andy from just along the coast in sunny Dorset!

Your bike looks great - you have found the best place for tips, tricks, knowledge and banter!

Welcome Andy, its a nice straight Norton, just do what is needed and replace things as you go, one thing I will say is do the upgrades to the front brake as being over 40 years old it will let you down, get rid of the orginal front rubber brake line and replace it with a S/S one, mine swelled up and blocked the flow of brake fluid without notice and the stock front brake will get worst the older it gets, but anyway enjoy your new ride, they are very reliable when you keep up the maintenance, I have owned mine since new and still love riding it although mine is not all orginal no more.

Ashley

Welcome Andy .... good looking "72 .... have fun with it ...
Craig

Nice ride!

Thank you for the welcome folks and for the advice on the earth wire and front brake.
Regards Andy

Welcome from a former N-V engineer. Hope you enjoy riding your Commando. I had a real blast for over a year riding the prototypes around the UK 5 or 6 days a week and getting paid to do it!

I saw the writing on the wall in early 1968. I'd spent about 5 months on the AJS Stormer program after the Commando became a production development program run out of Plumstead. M y wife and I decided to bag the whole British engineering mess of that era and emigrated to a job for me with Boeing.

US traffic (and being on the "wrong" side of the street) resulted in my decision not to ride a street bike here. I missed it initially, but after 47 years here (and pushing 74) I've got used to it. If I did get another bike, it would probably be a Honda CX-500.

I retired from Boeing after almost 30 years and we now live in a quiet seaside town in NW Washington called Anacortes. It has a lot of similarities to Grange-over-Sands, but isn't as old (maybe originally settled in the late 1880's). I'm not leaving here unless I'm in a wooden overcoat, or too senile to stop someone else making the decision!

Anyone from the UK coming to visit the US should really consider a couple of days here. It's the antithesis of the brash, show-biz style of so many US tourist destinations.