Hi-Rider question - New to forum

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jcwalsh

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Apr 1, 2009
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Well I might be in the minority, but I have been interested in purchasing a Hi-Rider for quite some time. I recently found one in my price range but had some questions if it was an original hi-rider. On almost all of the pictures I have seen the handlebars are higher than the rear most part of the seat. The handlebars on this bike are just about the same height. It also does not have blinkers mounted on the side of the headlight. Is there a list of VINs so I can determine if this is a hi-rider? I have attached a picture.

Thanks,

Jeff
Hi-Rider question - New to forum
 
A VIN will not normally tell which model Commando was original. You might submit the VIN to the Norton Owners Club to search the original factory records, but I'm not sure they are in enough detail to describe the model.

As far as turn signals, they often were considered a "dealer option". My '73 Roadster did not have them, but the Interstates on the dealer's floor did!
 
Welcome to the mix-and-match enthusiast's forum.

Weren't the 850 bars a little less extreme than the earlier ones ?

If it's got the seat, the tank, a small headlamp and bars you're comfortable with then it's a Hi-Rider !

I think there's a lot of evidence to suggest that regardless of how the bikes were shipped, dealers and importers fitted the trim version that a customer wanted and I don't think that I've detected a single person here who wouldn't swap some more to arrive at the desired machine. :)
 
Articles I've read have indicated that the High Rider was a tough sell when it was new. Since the frame was all the same I bet they just fitted High rider parts on the line to ones they had the orders for. Somebody has said they did a lot of frames up all ready to go.

Many High Riders were converted to Roadsters way back when. Now that they are a rare model I would not be surprised to see folks converting them back. I doubt there is any real way to tell if it came through as a High Rider.
 
The reason I say I'm not sure you can trust that stuff 100% is experience from other companies. Pontiac Historical still listed the 65 GTO I used to have with the wrong color and options. They weren't too worried about it as they say that happened sometimes.
We sometimes get buses delivered on the wrong chassis and with the wrong engines. The wrong chassis number happens now and then too, this is a bear with Califoria DMV.
If you did find that your production date was within the range of High Riders it would make you feel better at least.
 
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