Neophyte Restorer

jestme13 · Jul 2, 2009

Hello all, I need your advice on a project that is new to me. A total frame up. I've found, or stumbled onto a 1974 850 Commando Basket case. I wish I could figure out how to post some pics I have of it. I'm certain you guys could tell me the difficulty level and cost probability of such an undertaking. The bike seems complete, but the trans is apart and in a box, the case is still in the frame. Is such a bike worth $400. with no title.
Thanks for any help you can provide me.

Cookie · Jul 2, 2009

Wow,

If that was a pile of rust I'd still be happy to get it for that money. Since we can't see it that does make it a bit tougher but the cheapest Norton I've seen here in a while was $1300. It would also help to know where you are.
Restoring one is an undertaking of course and can be very expensive, but in general it would be hard to go wrong at that price.

swooshdave · Jul 2, 2009

jestme13 said:
Hello all, I need your advice on a project that is new to me. A total frame up. I've found, or stumbled onto a 1974 850 Commando Basket case. I wish I could figure out how to post some pics I have of it. I'm certain you guys could tell me the difficulty level and cost probability of such an undertaking. The bike seems complete, but the trans is apart and in a box, the case is still in the frame. Is such a bike worth $400. with no title.
Thanks for any help you can provide me.

How to post photos.

Yes, it's worth well more than that if any of the parts are salvageable. If you haven't bought it yet, do so.

Degree of difficulty is directly related to your previous experience and depth of pocketbook. Otherwise this forum can help you out with the rest.

Now post pics!

JimC · Jul 2, 2009

It's pretty difficult to restore and upgrade a Norton Commando for less than $10,000, that's with you providing most of the labor. If you are prepared to spend that kind of money, as well as a considerable amount of time, then by all means $400 is a bargain.

swooshdave · Jul 2, 2009

JimC said:
It's pretty difficult to restore and upgrade a Norton Commando for less than $10,000, that's with you providing most of the labor. If you are prepared to spend that kind of money, as well as a considerable amount of time, then by all means $400 is a bargain.

That depends on the level of restoration or upgrades and the condition of the original bike.

Here's Fred's estimate, YMMV. Sure it's a few years old but it's still useful as a guide.

71basketcase · Jul 3, 2009

here's a pic of my starting 150.00 rolling basketcase.

I estimate that I spent around $4000.00 to date to get it to this state, which I guess Fred Eaton would call a restoration....

It involved lots of ebay and craigslist searches, boyer /podtronics/dyno coil upgrade etc. I did everything except the valve job myself including painting....... I could easily see dropping another 3,000-4,000 bucks for stuff like electronic speedos/mikuni /belt drive brake upgrades etc....... (and might) . I planned from the start to build a rider and not a show bike.

so... plan accordingly. It's still a heck of a lot cheaper than a lot of hobbies.

karl

Jeandr · Jul 3, 2009

Considering ANY new bike is close to or over $10,000, having a restored classic for that price is a bargain and it will not be just another custom harley ar Honkayamazuki. It is an exclusive and fairly rare ride, keep in mind it will not beat all the other bikes, even smaller ones in a drag race but it will draw crowds and stares on looks alone.

Jean

jestme13 · Jul 3, 2009

Karl, you have done exactly what I want to do, make a respectably clean and original rider. Let the next guy who gets it ( after I'm dead) do the concours restoration.

I'm still trying to post the pics, Grrrrrrrrr !

swooshdave · Jul 3, 2009

jestme13 said:
I have them now in the bucket site.

Sooooo close!

jestme13 · Jul 3, 2009

Ah Haaa, got it. Sorry about the size. I have 3 more I will post later, have to cut grass now before it rains again. Compared to Karls bike, this should be a breeze :roll:

grandpaul · Jul 3, 2009

Jestme - I'll give you $500 for it, easiest $100 you'll ever make!

hee hee

You got a heckuva deal.

Cookie · Jul 3, 2009

I think I see some stuff that may be hard to find there. I'd echo GP and say it looks like a deal to me. Why pay lots extra for stuff you have to replace anyway? I hope you got the tranny bits, I seem to recall gears were expensive, but I have seen a whole tranny go for a couple hundred bucks recently.

jestme13 · Jul 3, 2009

I have not purchased this bike yet, I am researching the possability of putting her back on the road. The biggest problem i see is the title issue, there is no title! PA is a bummer state for getting new titles. The guy who has it states he has had it for over 10 yrs, it was left in his rental property by a tenant that went to jail for awhile. He contacted him and his girlfriend and never got any response. Soooooooooooo, here she be. I have 5 other bikes all american and european breeds. I would also like to ad an older Guzzi to the stable, this one fell into my lap.

I have not seen this scoot in person yet , these pics were sent to me. I meet this guy sitting around a campfire at an RV rally in Ohio, what luck!

BillT · Jul 3, 2009

My bike came with a Tennessee title and a stack of bills of sale. Each of the previous six owners had not bothered to have the title transferred because the bike was a non-runner. In Florida, I could use the Tennessee title if I had an affidavit from the owner on the title stating he had filled out the purchaser's name in error. The back had been filled out in 1985, and the seller apparently died in 1990.

I used a title service out of Nevada, its-titles.com, and had a title in two weeks.

If you have a bill of sale and an affidavit, and the vehicle is over a certain age, they can get a title for about $85.

Cookie · Jul 3, 2009

I've had a couple of other friends use ITS lately. It seems to work fairly well.

jestme13 · Jul 6, 2009

I'm trying to contact ITS, so far just an answering machine. Their instructions state they need proof of insurance on the vehicle to be titled. How do you get insurance on an old dead bike without it being registered. Seems like a catch 22 to me. Anyone else use this service?

Cookie · Jul 6, 2009

I imagine that is a tiny office, perhaps just one person. If they are standing in line at a DMV they aren't there.
I easily insured my bike with Gieco without a title or reg yet. In Maine as well as a few other states you can't process a reg without insurance in place.

BillT · Jul 6, 2009

jestme13 said:
I'm trying to contact ITS, so far just an answering machine. Their instructions state they need proof of insurance on the vehicle to be titled. How do you get insurance on an old dead bike without it being registered. Seems like a catch 22 to me. Anyone else use this service?

This wasn't asked in my case, I suppose because motorcycle insurance isn't required in Florida (only medical if you ride without a helmet)

I never spoke to anybody at ITS, only downloaded the necessary forms and mailed them off.

Cookie · Jul 6, 2009

I just emailed a friend and he said he also just mailed them.

grandpaul · Jul 6, 2009

I've used ITS almost a dozen times here in Texas, but PA DMVs are reputed to be unreasonable militants, and not prone to do due dilligence to ascertain the validity of State of Maine registration papers as the sole valid document issued on vintage bikes in that state; it seems they DEMAND to see an ACTUAL TITLE. The PA DMV is second only to NC on the horse's patootie scale.

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