Long Range Fastback??? (2012)

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The LR fast back was a Atlas tanked fast back, with a differant seat that's all.
Some riders complained about the short range the commando's had..so Norton produced the ATLAS tank version, dropped when the interstate was produced.
Not sure it is that rare, i have one , and i consider them good looking .the one on the ebay as the rear GF tail missing. plus other bits :!:
 
I've got a set of parts for an LR that I've been meaning to put back on. The first use of this tank was on the Interpol police models as the police customers insisted on a steel tank and at that time, all Commandos were glass fibre. Presumably having modified the base to fit the Commando frame, it seemed worthwhile marketing it. It does give a comfortable riding position with a reasonable range but isn't the most stylish Commando.

The tanks turn up now and again in the UK but are not as common as the Interpol variants which had radio pommels or cutouts. LRs were catalogued in Racing Green or Signal red but I did see an NOS in black which may have been for a radio-less Police order, maybe overseas as I have a feeling that UK forces were all using white by then.

Although the tank was still available into the era of the double coil bracket, it really needs to be fitted with the earlier single bracket set-up or it will clash. I once spoke with a first owner who had run his with a piece of rubber wedged between since he'd first had it. The poor fit suggests perhaps that at the end, the LR was a bit of a special order thing rather than a full production model.
 
calbigbird said:
There is bike on ebay listed as a "1971 Long Range Fastback Commando." I have never heard of one of those, is that a real model?
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Here's a pic of a Fastback LR:

Long Range Fastback??? (2012)
 
Nick Hopkins, Managing Director of Andover Norton, owns/rides a Fastback Longrange. So probably no surprise we stock the seat for this rare model. I managed to get an original one as a sample to reproduce a couple of years ago. Part#06-2233, see http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/SI%20seats.htm
The Fastback Longrange was, in my opinion, a model that was produced as a stop-gap measure for markets where Norton expected problems for glass fibre tanks. Then again, I may be wrong- it could also have been a measure to unload the pressings.
The petrol tank came into being when Neale Shilton, late of Triumph, started as sales man for Police bikes for Norton. He found many police forces would not accept glass fibre tanks on their bikes. At the time ALL Commando tanks were glass fibre, but the pressings for the slimline tank were still available. These were then fitted with a new bottom and the "Interpol" petrol tank was born. The Fastback Longrange petrol tank is just that, without the trough for radio equipment.
 
Piyt that the sidepanels have been cut down :cry:
The earlier Fastback oil tank shape was replicated for the sidecover over the later type oil tank and must be as rare as the LR tank?
I'm guessing they're the same as the InterPlod ones?

Would be a 'fun' project though.
 
B+Bogus said:
Piyt that the sidepanels have been cut down :cry:
The earlier Fastback oil tank shape was replicated for the sidecover over the later type oil tank and must be as rare as the LR tank?
I'm guessing they're the same as the InterPlod ones?

Would be a 'fun' project though.
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They are indeed the same as the Interpol panels but they don't give such a nice line as the exposed oil tank, especially when it was silver. Mine are not a particularly nice piece of glass fibre work and both are bowed. A bit of a lash-up really.
 
Saber13 said:
So many variants and so little time, oh and money
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Ain't that the truth! I recently ended up with another mongrel at my door that needed a home, so I now have a '71 sitting in boxes waiting for me to get busy. It has no tank or side panels so I was thinking about getting Ross Thompson to make me one of his Comatlas tanks and was toying with the idea of putting a fastback tail on it. Turns out somebody already did it. About 40 years ago! Nice to know I can buy the seat from Andover instead of having to invent one.

Russ
 
79x100 said:
There's a tank and tail on eBay UK at the moment. I believe that seats are available. In order to convert a non-Fastback though, there are quite a lot of rear mudguard parts needed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Comman ... 1e6ed44990
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I wish that item was a little closer to home, the price is reasonable. I am afraid that shipping it to Alaska might raise the bar a bit! Anybody travelling from the UK to the US that would be willing to bring it as baggage? I am sure it would fit beneath the seat in front of you.

Russ
 
I purchased my 1971 LR fastback from Elite Motorcycles, Tooting Broadway, London in 1972. I haven't restored it but still enjoy riding it.
 
Interesting.

I had read somewhere that the LR tank was mostly for export to Australia. From the information above that is clearly incorrect.

Or is there yet another LR version ? Other than the LR Fastback I mean.
 
johnm said:
Interesting.

I had read somewhere that the LR tank was mostly for export to Australia. From the information above that is clearly incorrect.

Or is there yet another LR version ? Other than the LR Fastback I mean.
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Hi John
It may well be likely that the "majority" of LR fastback went to OZ but certain not exclusive...
In our club in NE, we only have one LR that I am aware of, out of over 100 norton owners, which covers maybe 200 or more machines... mostly commando of course. It seems they were a short term fill-in before the regular Interstate. Plus, maybe a way to get rid of excess atlas/featherbed tanks.

Long Range Fastback??? (2012)

You might note the pix at the top of the thread shows a disc brake and 200,000 series engine and roadster side covers. It is very likely an enthusiasts custom build and not a authentic LR.
 
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