"new" Commando owner

d-red73 · Jun 20, 2017

Hi all, thought i would introduce myself - just bought a 73 850 Commando and I imagine I will be surfing this site LOTS.

I live in Brisbane Australia and fortunately have expert local mechanics and parts availability. Brisbane means riding all year round is possible. Winter here at the moment, and its gonna be a nice 22C today - good for a ride! Actually summer is often too hot to ride!!

The bike hasn't't run in awhile but is pretty original and in good shape cosmetically - it is going to an expert for a check up. Condition is such I don't need to renovate it but it will get a very good clean and polish. Will post photos at some stage.

Pretty nervous about owning such a bike as I'm not a 'natural' mechanic type of person. Also, never had a kick starting bike!! Big learning curve coming I think after reading a current post on starting these bikes.

Hope people don't mind if I end up asking some 'dumb' questions given my lack of knowledge.

Cheers Dave

1973 Norton Commando Mk1
2016 Ducati Pikes Peak Multistrada

concours · Jun 20, 2017

d-red73 said:
Hi all, thought i would introduce myself - just bought a 73 850 Commando and I imagine I will be surfing this site LOTS.

I live in Brisbane Australia and fortunately have expert local mechanics and parts availability. Brisbane means riding all year round is possible. Winter here at the moment, and its gonna be a nice 22C today - good for a ride! Actually summer is often too hot to ride!!

The bike hasn't't run in awhile but is pretty original and in good shape cosmetically - it is going to an expert for a check up. Condition is such I don't need to renovate it but it will get a very good clean and polish. Will post photos at some stage.

Pretty nervous about owning such a bike as I'm not a 'natural' mechanic type of person. Also, never had a kick starting bike!! Big learning curve coming I think after reading a current post on starting these bikes.

Hope people don't mind if I end up asking some 'dumb' questions given my lack of knowledge.

Cheers Dave

1973 Norton Commando Mk1
2016 Ducati Pikes Peak Multistrada

Hi Dave, welcome. Tell us what you CAN do mechanically... Tighten chains properly? Change battery (no fires)?
Having a good go-to mechanic is great, but.... The more you understand, the more likely you'll be able to keep rollin....

RoadScholar · Jun 20, 2017

Welcome aboard. Congratulations on your implied fortitude for emotional and financial punishment, I mean your purchase of the Norton... I soundly encourage you to start doing your own work, you will find that it enhances your Norton experience. You will also find that the Norton, for all its apparent shortcomings, is still one of the smoothest rides you'll ever haul your butt around on.

Find out if your local experts took the Norton equivalent of the Hippocratic oath, if they did they will teach and help you, if they didn't they will bleed you

The people on this forum, collectively, have "seen it all" and are, in my experience, happy to help.

Good luck.

Mr. Rick · Jun 20, 2017

Yeah, welcome, Dave!
Ten or so years ago, I did the same, bought an 850. The shop manual, parts book, and Tech Digest became valuable resources, and when those were not enough, this forum proved very helpful.
Don't worry about "dumb" questions. As long as I'm on the site, there'll be at least one person with minimal understanding, if even perhaps a little more experience...

d-red73 · Jun 21, 2017

Thanks for the replies and 'encouragement'.

Just got back from meeting the mechanic who will work on the bike. He is a member of the local historic bike club and is quite happy for me to watch and work along side him when he is working on my bike. He was very encouraging as he knows my bike already and the previous owner, who was fastidious in maintaining it prior to his illness.

So I feel quite good about it all and can't wait to go for rides and coffee runs!!

I do have some skills - carpenter/builder - but its not wood!! Could certainly do stuff - at least; adjust chain, change oil, filters and battery without killing it or me! Could do more with some advice and support I think. Getting a workshop manual is very high on the list!

"new" Commando owner

d-red73

concours

RoadScholar

Mr. Rick

d-red73

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