Help me ID this... thing.

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I buy it for $500 it has a lot of usefull parts on it, the bottom half is a Featherbed frame as is the swingarm, don't know why they would do that to a Featherbed frame be easy to fine out as the numbers on the frame will tell the whole story, the frame mumbers will be on the bottom left hands side engine gusset if it a Featherbed frame and it looks the have a Norton front end just longer exturtion, make a good project bike still come across good Featherbed frames on EBay and swap meets, so I would go for it at that price, I would even pay litttle more for it...

Ashley
 
brianh said:
Would you give $500 for it?
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Yeah, it's worth $500 in parts, but not if it was $500 that you need to use to get another Norton.

The comment about not knowing a 750 from an 850 was probably meant to say that it's more valuable to do some research and gain a little knowledge than jump on the first pile that is thrown at you, although this particular pile is a good talking point.

There are a lot of very smart and experienced Norton owners here (and no one would put me in that category) that will give you an honest opinion if you let them know what you want.

For example if you said you wanted a bike was a little sporty, that wasn't for touring and was complete and running, they'd probably say get a 750 and you'd probably end up paying $2-4k.

If you want a project you probably won't ride for a couple years and spend untold thousands of dollars, you can pick up the bike in your pictures. :mrgreen:
 
I'd struggle with $500 but there are a lot of usable parts there. If you were a good welder you could repair that frame but it would be a lot of work. As time goes on folks will be restoring Nortons from a lot worse rigs to start with.
I've seen a couple of complete restorable Commandos go for around $1500 but there are lots of bikes here in CA, things may vary regionally. It's not apples to apples but I just bought a complete 72 Trident for $1500.
I have a featherbed with a Commando engine in it and my opinion is that it is a lot of fun as a short range bike. At around 2500 RPM it is fairly smooth but it lacks the sweet cruiseing spot you can get with a Commando frame.
If it were up to me I'd offer $300 and at that point I'd figure I was buying an engine and tranny corre at a good price. Those parts will drop in to most Norton Matchless frames, but agin it would be a lot of work.
 
@SwooshDave: Thank you for that. I might note that your avatar indicates you're good at, at the very least, two things. I suspect your actual skillset ranges far beyond what is evident here.
 
@Cookie: Thank you. Your perspective is clearly based on experience and wisdom... qualities which, like good old brit bikes, are getting harder and harder to find. Tell me some more about that Trident. That's what I'd go for, if I can't get the Norton I want.
 
The swing arm is Commando and is attached to the gearbox cradle as per Commando. The frame rear upper section is very BSA in form, and the lower side rail with the cut off appendage indicates an an A75 frame, but that peanut tank seems to sit on have a modified or added tube to the headstock. Lots of Bondo in the juncitons too. The whole frame configuration tells me its either an A65 or an A75 which I tend to think it is, a complete style abortion. And yes, its an 850 motor coz the barrels sides have no nut flange like the 750. And we all know you don't fit a 750 head to 850 barrels unless you're into wasting a lot of time and money.

Mick
 
hi all , definately was a slimline featherbed,swingarm looks commando attached to gearbox cradle ,fork sliders look commando as do the yokes and front hub,rear hub,so for 500 dollars you get an 850 motor{could be a short stroke 750 which would double the price but unlikely} gearbox,cradle ,fork yokes, fork sliders front hub with disk, caliper, rear hub with speedo drive,drum and sprocket snatch his hand off real bargain
 
The main issue would be that it appears to be solidly mounted in whatever frame was used, which means, as an 850, it would shake the fillings out of your teth as you ride down the road. As much as I hate the parting out of old, complete bikes, I'd say that's the best route to go with this one.
 
hi all forgot to mention the primary side,inner, outer primary covers plus whats in there bargain if you get it for 500
 
ML said:
.... The frame rear upper section is very BSA in form, and the lower side rail with the cut off appendage indicates an an A75 frame, but that peanut tank seems to sit on have a modified or added tube to the headstock. Lots of Bondo in the juncitons too. The whole frame configuration tells me its either an A65 or an A75 which I tend to think it is, a complete style abortion.

Mick
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The top half of the frame looks a lot like my '55 A7 frame.

Will
 
Will, my answers to your questions
1) it is an example of what happens when bed wetters grow up, and 2) I wouldn't touch it if they paid me.
cheers,
Don
 
Looks like maybe a Matchless frame (AMC) could also be an AJS of the same ilk. Could be a BSA, not sure.

That's no Featherbed, for sure. edit: seems somebody has bastardized a featherbd in a similar manner, but without the bondo!

Engine & forks are worth a grand, from what i've seen on e-bay recently.
 
grandpaul said:
That's no Featherbed, for sure.
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There is absolutely no doubt that this frame started life as a slimline Featherbed. Whether the headstock was fabricated or the villain used a portion of another pitiable victim I don't no.

edit: seems somebody has bastardized a featherbd in a similar manner, but without the bondo!
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Yep! :mrgreen:


Tim
 
The bondo really makes it so much more appealing to the eye, doesn't it?

Kinda like this one; I still haven't found a buyer for it, but they say "there's a butt fr every seat"...

Help me ID this... thing.


I guess the guy ran out of stainless pipe after making the left side header, so he used plain muffler pipe on the right side.
 
In all your discussions, guys, you've overlooked the obvious.

That critter is the plug ugliest thing I've ever seen.

Buy it.
 
ludwig said:
brianh said:
.. What exactly is it about the cylinder block that tells you it is an 850?
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No offence , but the fact that you have to ask this question shows that your knowledge of Nortons is limited .
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Ludwig in this particular case you are probably right but it could as well be an 750 short stroke cilinder or an aftermarket 750 bolt-through barrel.
 
It's already broke. The guy told me, "It ran when I parked it a couple of years ago".

I'm considering a "phoenix rising from the ashes" sort of scenario. Buy it low, scatter it, fix what needs fixing, replace what needs to be replaced, create a cafe racer.

Yeah, I'm nutz. Don't waste your breath. I already know that.
 
I think I remember seeing this bike before, it was being ridden in a parade in a Dr Seuss story...

Horton hears a Norton?
 
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