New member / Help identify my Commando?

Hi, I'm a life long motorcycle (of all kinds) enthusiast but am quite new to Nortons. I have 2 Commando projects, a complete and original '73 750 needing resto and an incomplete '69. I'm unsure what model the '69 is. It has the large fastback style oil tank and side cover with a fiberglass roadster style fuel tank and chrome fastback style headlight ears & a roadster style rear fender. It didn't come with a seat or a tail section.
Is it possable to tell which it is model by the serial nos.? Are there any distinguishing features between frames of the same years that would be specific to the different Commando models? Any info would be great!

The '69 bike sounds as if it could be an "R" type. Produced only for a short period prior to the "S" type and the later Roadster. It was basically the Fastback of the time (including Dommie style silencers, Fastback oil tank, forks etc. and with an "S" type fuel tank and mudguard / rear light. Is yours red ?

As far as I am aware, it is the only Commando brochure that I don't have a copy of so I can't show you a colour picture. I chased one on ebay once but it went silly.

There is a b/w picture in Steve Wilson's Norton book.

Just realised that I saved the ebay brochure picture. Sorry that it doesn't show much.

Projectile said:

Is it possable to tell which it is model by the serial nos.?

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You could try contacting the 'machine dating and records officer' of the Norton owners Club http://www.nortonownersclub.org/records ... etail.html as the NOC http://www.nortonownersclub.org/ has all the available factory records which are certainly more complete for the 750cc models. There is a £25 charge for this service to non-NOC members.

Are there any distinguishing features between frames of the same years that would be specific to the different Commando models?

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There's no frame difference but apparently the '69 Fastback (and 'R' models) didn't initially get the camshaft driven points setup until Sept. '69 at engine number (20M3S?) 133688 and would probably still carry a 20M3 prefix (the R model had been discontinued before that September date anyway)?

So if yours has an engine number below 133688 with cam driven points it could be an 'S' model made March '69 from engine number (20M3S) 131257 ? Otherwise it is most likely an R or Fastback?

http://www.nortonownersclub.org/models/ ... etail.html
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Some 'R' and 'S' info, which says the same thing: http://www.jba.bc.ca/NortonS.htm

Thanks for the info. It seems by the early numbers and this combination of bodywork that this could be an R type. I can't be 100% sure whether this combination is original to this bike but I do know that it has had this combo for at least 20 years as one of the previous owners is a good friend. (very surprised th see it turn up in my shop)

From the little info I have, these may be pretty rare? I know rare doesn't always mean desirable, Any thaughts? Other than this being more unusual, I think I may prefer the look of the standard Roadster?

Would it be worth the exrta time and money (it needs a ''lot'') to restore this bike instead of my nicer and more complete `73 Roadster?

Projectile said:

From the little info I have, these may be pretty rare? I know rare doesn't always mean desirable,

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There probably aren't so many 'R's about, although there must have been a few hundred made I would guess, and I'm not sure that makes the R much more desirable or sought-after (not like an 'SS' model possibly?) and I would think the S is generally the more sought-after model, even though there were probably more of them made?

Other than this being more unusual, I think I may prefer the look of the standard Roadster?

Would it be worth the exrta time and money (it needs a ''lot'') to restore this bike instead of my nicer and more complete `73 Roadster?

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I think maybe you have answered your own questions there? But of course it's your choice, and others could have different opinions, but I think I'd go for the Roadster option myself.

Hi Folks-
Yep, the "R" had the roadster/S type tank & seat, fastback side cover& oil tank and Fastback headlight ears with Atlas style silencers. Most (all?) were in red tank. Mine has the distributor off of the back of the timing side with a drive chain for it. The "S" had it's distinctive "halo" headlight bracket that it shared with the early Roadsters and a central oil tank.

HTH

Mike
Kansas, America