John Player Norton value?

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quawk

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I've recently posted about a bike listed at an upcoming auction, as being a '73 Combat and asked members if there were any Combats produced in '73. At this same auction, there is a 1975 John Player Special model Norton being sold. It is said to be a "true" JPN and not a reproduction or copy. Can members knowledgeable about these bikes give their opinion about what these bikes might be worth? Listing says it runs and rides good, is titled, and from the pics looks to be in excellent condition.
.
 
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There were no 75 JPN's, its likely its a carry over from 74 which is the only model year for them, as sales were slow, so sold and titled in 75. But worth checking that it is a genuine JPN as there are copies around.
 
kommando said:
There were no 75 JPN's, its likely its a carry over from 74 which is the only model year for them, as sales were slow, so sold and titled in 75. But worth checking that it is a genuine JPN as there are copies around.
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Thanks kommando.
 
kommando said:
There were no 75 JPN's, its likely its a carry over from 74 which is the only model year for them, as sales were slow, so sold and titled in 75. But worth checking that it is a genuine JPN as there are copies around.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing many more copies than real. Much like the Triumph X75 - lots around, few original. Without specific documentation, I have no idea how to tell a real from copy of a JPN. If anyone has real info, I would love to update my Commando ID page as I barely reference them!

Norton Commando Model Identification and Change History - GME

Norton Commando Model Identification and Change History
gregmarsh.com

Personally, I would think a copy JPN and a MK2A would be worth close to the same with only some added for these parts: https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/182/jpn-fairing-petrol-tank-bracketery

As I understand it: In 74 you could buy a real "John Player Norton" that was not a John Player race bike, nor built by John Player - it was a replica from Norton. If real in any way, that is surely what is advertised and you can build from parts AN sells.

A real one would probably be worth much more if it could be proven and if the buyer really wanted it.
 
kommando said:
The red ID plate should not be on the headstock but like the Interpol's with fairing it should be on the main backbone under the seat.
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Yes and with the longer roadster tank , about the red plate hidden by the seat that's why mine was registered when new in France with the frame number 100292 instead of the engine number stamped on the red plate ...!
 
Good video of the start-up.
It's the first time I've seen the extended Roadster tank.
As with most Race replicas from the '70s I'm guessing the next owner would be looking at it rather than riding it.
A famous pundit from the Antipodes once commented 'This 1974 Ducati 750SS is too valuable to actually start up, so here's the sound of a 750 GT instead' :rolleyes:

One thing about all the desirable Commandos, whether 'R', 'S', 'SS', LR Fastback or JPN, you can convert a 'standard' one by just swapping a few parts, and unless there's a factory record available to confirm it's 'authenticity', as long as it looks right I'd say it is right, IMHO.
 
kommando said:
The red ID plate should not be on the headstock but like the Interpol's with fairing it should be on the main backbone under the seat.
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Good to know, but are you talking about a 74 Norton John Player replica built by Norton or a John Player race bike built from a MK2A by John Player?

Any pictures of the Certification Label under the seat?

Any specifics on Interpol like serial ranges or time period when built? I have no info on my Commando ID page about them.
 
I’m stating the obvious here and not trying to be a smart a_ s but the value of anything is what someone is willing to pay for it .
In an auction situation the value of something will increase if there are two or more people that want it.
 
Richard Tool said:
I’m stating the obvious here and not trying to be a smart a_ s but the value of anything is what someone is willing to pay for it .
In an auction situation the value of something will increase if there are two or more people that want it.
Click to expand...
Yes!

There is a common saying, especially in Real Estate: Worth is what a ready, willing, and able seller will accept; and a ready, willing, and able buyer will pay.

Auctions are a moment in time and if concluded with a sale, the saying has been met since all who were interested and knew about the potential sale made their willingness known.
 
L.A.B. said:
I don't think John Player ever built any.
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OK, do you mean that Norton built the John Player race bike(s) to John Player's specs or was John Player actually a part of Norton? I clearly have no idea and want to get it as right as possible before adding to what (I think) I know on the web page. The pictures I've seen of the race bikes have several differences to the 74 brochure showing what the public could buy.
 
The race bikes had JPN livery due to sponsorship, the JPN's for retail were modified MK2a's even if sent to US with modified parts but a standard engine. Hence called 'a sheep in wolf's clothing' as unlike the racers the engine was a bog standard MK2a engine but the fancy bits made it look racier.
 
L.A.B. said:
John Player (cigarette manufacturer) was the sponsor.

en.wikipedia.org

John Player Norton - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
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OK, making much more sense to me now! So, I suppose that the OP's question is not about one of the race bikes, but the Norton "John Player Norton" from the brochure which says that it was available with an 850 engine or a 750 short-stroke engine. In which case knowing real or not without a lot more detail is not possible.

Any info on telling the timeframe, serial range, etc. I currently state that they were a modified MK2A - any further info on that?
 
marshg246 said:
So, I suppose that the OP's question is not about one of the race bikes, but the Norton "John Player Norton" from the brochure which says that it was available with an 850 engine or a 750 short-stroke engine.
Click to expand...

Yes, one of the 'replica' road bikes made from the 850 Mk2A. I'm not sure they ever were available with the short stroke engine.

marshg246 said:
Any info on telling the timeframe, serial range, etc.
Click to expand...

Not known as far as I'm aware, only from the 1974 period.
 
They were on the 75 sales poster and when I brought my old new stock 74 Commando in 76 all the 75 new models were in the front show room and they had a JPN there as well, but still went for the last kick start Norton in stock.
The sales poster still hangs proudly in my shed with my Triumph sales poster.
John Player Norton value?
John Player Norton value?
John Player Norton value?
 
A few JPN Mk3s were built but it isn't known what happened to them.

ZFD

Post in thread 'MK 3 Engine numbers help needed ??'

Not that simple!
The first Mk3s ever were ##s 324903 through 324912, all off track on 6th July 74, which went out to Norton Triumph International and one to Norton Triumph Corporation (USA); most probably pre-production test bikes.

What I believe are production bikes started indeed with 325001 , built 18-11-74, Red, which went out to Berliner. The first ever built, however, was 325005 built 13-11-74, colour white (?), to Berliner.

Interestingly, amongst the early ones are a bunch of "JPN"s. I know the brochure for the Mk3 shows a JPN Mk3, but I thought they were never built...
 

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