New Guy

rx7171 · May 4, 2010

Since the rear frame loop as been chopped of you may want to look at this 850 frame on e-bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AHRMA-No ... ccessories

JimC · May 4, 2010

Welcome.

Nortons are a passion and a money drain. You can easily get rid of $10,000 restoring and upgrading one. That's doing a lot of it yourself. I do see an area of concern. The frame looks odd, maybe raked and both downtubes appear to be dented, as well as the already mention rear loop being cut off. You may want to replace the frame. Anything can be repaired, but bear in mind, Norton frames were designed to be just robust enough to do the job.

Although the cost of restoring any bike is expensive, most who have done so consider it money well spent.

hankmarx · May 5, 2010

Alright, so the frame has been cut, the forks are too long, and I need a bunch of cash.

I am still pretty stoked :mrgreen:

Thank you for the link to the frame.

norbsa48503 · May 5, 2010

Now just sell the front fender to a Older Sportster owner and the rear fender to a Honda owner and you can get some dosh to buy a new set of fork legs. UPS will ship the frame if the sharp ends are wraped in card board. It looks as though it would save you 300 of work as a start.

pete.v · May 5, 2010

You must concider this a hobby. Get it runnung and on the road. At least just to drive to the liquor store on Tuesday and Fridays to buy lotto numbers. Then with your accumulated winnings you can fund your new hobby.
All kidding aside, many of us will never be satisfied with our machines. As perfect as mine seems to be, their will alway be something on it to fix or make better. Many say that if it ain't broke don't fix it. Although this will not apply to you for quite some time, when all is said and done with your machine, you will feel the need to tinker. You will have a sick feeling of hoping something will break just so you can fix it. be patient, it will happen. Just like the mother's son, he will alway be her little baby boy.
This is only one aspect of being a Norton owner.

grandpaul · May 5, 2010

Welcome!

You snatched a deal just in time. The New Ulm rallye is in a couple of weeks, you might find a good frame at the swap meet.

Sorry I won't be there for the first time in 11 years, other commitments.

www.bmoaonline.com

TravNorton · May 5, 2010

Hank,
Nice score! If you see what some of the Norton stuff is going for lately, you did not get hurt for $1500. Couple of weeks ago a VERY rough, engine locked up, turdbox of a Commando went for close to $1700 on Ebay. Yours in in alot better shape. Congrats and remember, diligence and perseverance is the key. You will have the old girl back on the road in no time!

swooshdave · May 5, 2010

rx7171 said:
Since the rear frame loop as been chopped of you may want to look at this 850 frame on e-bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AHRMA-No ... ccessories

Before I'd spend the money on a new frame I'd think of something like this seat.

It's especially designed to be used on a cut frame. I'll let you decide if it looks good or not.

You can get them from http://unionmotorcycle.com/bikes_customs.html who will direct you to Glass from the Past.

DonOR · May 5, 2010

"I'll let you decide if it looks good or not"

Ha! decisions, decisions, decisions... Dave, sometimes sarcasm can be ruthless.

Beautiful bike, and many thanks for all the other AHRMA shots.

Spaulding · May 5, 2010

Totally agree with swooshdave about the cut frame and the alternative seat/rear bike option. Unless you are set on getting it back to stock. That racer looks very cool...

kommando · May 6, 2010

Unless the frame has been racked then a repair is also possible, there is enough of the old one left for 2 short lengths of tight fitting tube to be inserted and welded in the old stumps. Then you press the new loop over the new inserts and weld.

hankmarx · May 10, 2010

Hey Ya'll. I have been doing some research on getting a title for the bike. The bike is definatly a 75 MkIII. I have done a title search, and came up empty. The DPS says they do not believe the bike is stolen. Now i need to get 2 letters of appraisals from dealers. I then have to apply for a title, get a letter of rejection, and then i can apply for a ''bonded'' title. A brown title form that says I have an additional bond placed on the bike for three years. At that point, I get a blue title. I can supposedly sell the bike with a bonded title. I wanted to do all this before i spent any money at all on the bike. I do have a Haynes manual on the way, and have been looking at whitworth tools on the net.

If i am wrong about any of this, please give me a shout. Thanks

swooshdave · May 10, 2010

You may want to look at ITS. Costs a bit more but you'll get a title quicker. Paul might have better insights on titling in Texas.

rgrigutis · May 10, 2010

Second the its suggestion. I titled my '74 thru them and it was in pieces, still is.

Get it running then do the safety stuff; brakes,tires,layshaft bearing. Then as finances allow do what's important to you. Bikebiz.com has all the manuals on line. Go over the wiring! Don't get angry. It's just an old motorcycle and it'll be there tommorrow so walk away from it for awhile if it gets too intense. This is fun which I have to remind myself every now and then. Good luck!

Anglophile · May 11, 2010

swooshdave said:
You may want to look at ITS. Costs a bit more but you'll get a title quicker. Paul might have better insights on titling in Texas.

or Broadway title. I have noticed that those services are A LOT more expensive than back in the '90s. I paid $75 for a title back then, now it's something like 3 or $400!! -glad my latest project came with a title. But don't give up!!

hankmarx · Jun 24, 2010

Just a bit of progress. I built a shed to store and work on the bike {10 by 14}, I have a bonded title for the bike, I did buy that frame off of ebay, and I have started to strip the machine. It looks like an electrical fire brought the beast down.

I now need to make a lot of money to pay for all these new parts.
One of the first things i would like to do is send the engine off for a rebuild.
Thanks, Ya'll, for this ite and the info.

JimC · Jun 24, 2010

Where are you located? Knowing your location is beneficial when suggesting parts and services for your project.

hankmarx · Jun 24, 2010

I am in Austin, Texas. It turns out the fuel tank is steel, not fibreglass. The headers are dented, the rear rim is cracked, all the foot controls are bent, and I can't stop looking at it. I am truly thankful for this site or for me this project would approach impossible.

hobot · Jun 24, 2010

Yes I am so addicted to the Commando and its cocky engine.
They look so long in tooth obsolete when dirty and dinged
but boy howdy to they clean up into art deco eye deserts.

Good luck getting over the impending brain and body inflaming
infection with wallet wounds permanently leaking.

hobot
ex Texan with plenty of speeding tickets in Hill country delights.

dave M · Jun 25, 2010

Hank, I think you have a good bike at a good price, many of the things that need replacing are things that you would necessarily have to do anyway, things such as; fork tubes, exhausts, mudguards etc. I actually think the frame is probably useable as it looks like, apart from the missing rear loop (which a number of people remove in order to build something with a smaller seat or a racing seat) the bike simply has longer fork tubes and short struts on the rear. You can always offer the frame on E-bay once you decide that you no longer need it. I would suggest that you have a trawl through various photos of other Commandos to decide what model you would ultimately like to build, although you have what appears to be a High rider/SS type tank there is no reason that you can't build it into anything you fancy from an Interstate to a Cafe Racer special. All of the parts are readily available. Good luck and keep us posted.