I want to buy a Commando. What should I know and look for?

HOLEY CRAP.... you DID hit the Mother Lode...
UNBUILT as in 'in the crate' from that factory??

Where in FLORIDA??? could we hold the son for ransom???

oh my GOSH! Dude, I'm dying down here.....

DON"T TELL ANYONE ABOOT THIS OK ??? )

Seriously, a whole John Player BIKE or just the body work?? and RACER?? oh my gosh All these things are VERY rare and HIGHLY
Collectable... Does he have a daughter???
I'm flying up, meet me at the airport...

I'm not sure where he goes when he heads down to Florida. I just officially met him for the first time yesterday and I touched the all original, factory production Racer and the Interpol.

The JP bike was unbuilt but the frame and body work were there, just not put together. Nothing was in crates, probably taken apart to restore perhaps. I didn't ask any more questions about it, but all of the body work was new, still in factory wrapped plastic. I assumed it was all new old stock which most of his stuff is. I was amazed.

I couldn't believe it either since the only thing cool in the city of 200,000 that I live in is, well......................................NOTHING!


He outright refused to sell anything a said "I'll build these bikes at somepoint beofre I die."

He's only 60, so he has a ton of time left. Maybe I'll wear him down and get him to sell me a rolling chassis for a 75 so I can tweak it. Since he doesn't want to build me a complete one.

He had at least 10 (that I could see) cyllinder head assemblies sitting on a shelf and boxes of parts. Brand new Amal carb bodies, ect. Evry frame nd motor he owns, has a matching serial number.

He told me there are only 4 all original and complete Interpols around and he has one of them. He may be off on the stats, but thet are very rare for sure.

You know, sometimes you just step in it, and then come up roses.

What a great read. Now I'm envious.

MichaelB said:

What a great read. Now I'm envious.

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Me too. I basically just decided I wanted a Commando last Sunday. I was bummed out because all my friends are riding right now and I have wanted a V-twin custom thingy a la Exile Cycles for the tune of $30,000 CDN so I figured screw it. I was thumbing thorugh a vintage bike magazine and came accross a pic of a Commando and it was like a bell went of in my head. I immediately wanted one and discovered they were in my price range and I could still customize it and not have to take out a bank loan to do it.

I luckily stumbled upon this fellow with all of the Norton goodies. He is a really nice guy and very interested and willing in helping me out, he's just not interested in selling me any of his bikes, unfortunately.

You sound sharp.. Give it time and develop the relationship, pickup one on your own to show your serious and maybe he'll come around.. If your inclined, maybe put this whole story together and send it to Dave Edwards at CycleWorld.. He's a BIG time NORTON fan.. If your inclined..

Good luck and don't forget to call Skip.. regards Chris

Thanks Chris. Regardless, this cat is eager and willing to help me out so I can appreciate his kindness and take advantage of his knowledge regarding Commandos. Maybe he'll take a shine to me after a while and sell me one or he will just get sick of me pestering him and he'll sell me a semi built project instead of a complete machine. It can't hurt to hope right? I will definitely get ahold of your friend Skip when I have some cash in my hot little hands.

DucsandNortons said:

Colin, try John Oland at Motoparts. He's a first rate individual and stands behind what he sells. He's in Edmonton, AB so he's not too far away. You can reach him at (780) 988-8198, or email motoparts@motopartsinc.com. He's a wealth of information and if he doesn't have what you're after he can find it or set you in the right direction.

Cheers and happy hunting!

Simon.

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I contacted John and he seems like a real super guy to deal with. There is a Mk III available pretty much right now, but it is too soon and cash is tight so I have to wait for another to pop up hopefully in late winter. The nice thing is Edmonton is only about 8 hours away.

I've been doing some more research and am gravitating towards a MkIIa and of course sticking to my original desire of a Mk III. I am not too worried about right side shifing any more and figure I will just get used to it after a short while, as it will be my only cycle since I don't own one at the moment.

Any left-side shift bike I have ridden has had 1 up and the rst down. Am I correct in my understanding that the left-side mkIII shifting is 1 down and the rest up?

The Mk111 is one down and the rest up because there are two pinions in the chaincase which "reverse" the pattern. It is like a modern day motorcycle.

Pre Mk111 was one up and the rest down, on the right-hand side, conventional Norton practice (different pattern from Triumph) In many ways, this feels more logical because you are tapping down to go faster.

I believe that reverse camplates are available, if not, you can grind one to reverse the pattern if you want (bet you don't get it right first time though !)

A Mk111 can be converted to right hand shift using a few earlier parts and making up a left-foot brake system but making an earlier model left hand shift is not really on using Mk111 parts so you would have to make up your own cross linkage. Probably not a good idea.

You will get used to a different system but emergency stops can be interesting in the meantime .

Thanks 79x100.

Coco said:

I will definitely get the best one I can afford. I am budgeting for $6000 Canadian, but that might be wishful thinking. I planned on doing some light motor work, electric start mod or upgrade, fork rebuild, new rear shocks, Vernier Isolastics, belt drive conversion, front disc upgrade to a Brembo, new seat, ect. so I am not too afraid to put in some cash. I plan on doing a complete tear down at some point and do a cafe style build. I figure I'll be in about $12000 CDN when I am done and that will be doing a lot of the work myself.

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For 12 grand you should be able to buy a ready made bike or if you are going to upgrade it that much then it doesn't really matter what you buy .
Don't discount the Combats ,they are fast motors and I would imagine all of the existing ones will have had the superblend main bearing conversion by now .Believe me that snarl and the kick in the arse when she hits 5,000 rpm is a joy !

nortonnuts said:

Don't discount the Combats ,they are fast motors and I would imagine all of the existing ones will have had the superblend main bearing conversion by now .Believe me that snarl and the kick in the arse when she hits 5,000 rpm is a joy !

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So it is just the bearing upgrade that is done to improve the combat motor? I read somewhere there was engine case problems as well or is that just a reprocussion from not having the super blend upgrade? I don't know anything about the combat motor, I was just told by a few to stay away from them.

The superblend main bearing modification will deal with the main reliability problem on the Combats .The cylinder head was shaved 40 thou to "up" the compression ratio .I have taken 40 thou off my pushrods to compensate for this and this takes the angle of the rockers back to what it should be .
Combat motors were prone to over revving due to a 19 tooth gearbox sprocket ,change it to a 20 or 21 tooth - or keep the revs down .
Those are the main areas for concern with the Combat engine .
I am not aware of crankcase problems specifically with the Combat for road use ,although I have heard that some racers prefer the early cases for racing as they flex a little more under high revs and don't crack .

Someone found me a 1975 MkIII.

Well folks, I recieved a phone call yesterday that I wanted, although I really wanted that call to come in March when the cash is flowing.

A dealer in Canada has found me a 1975 MkIII Commando, that is pretty much good to go and had had a complete servicing last summer (leak free baby!) and maybe ridden twice since then. Black 850 with an Interstate tank and Dunstall pipes ( I am only familiar with the pea shooters). I just have to find a way of coming up with $6500 in the next week. Why oh why could that call have come in March instead of yesterday!!!!

I just called my bank at break time. :wink: