New member/possible Norton Owner

Greetings to all from sunny Arizona. I have an opportunity to pick up a 1975 Norton 850 and could really use some advice. The bike has been an ongoing project for its current owner for quite some time. It was wrecked when he bought it. He has replaced the frame and various other parts on the front end (I believe the fender and fork tubes). It has 17,000 miles. Seat needs recovering. Needs paint. Has compression. Gauge bezels beat to hell and glass broke in tach. Motor looks beautiful and clean. I dont think it is missing any parts. I think I can get the bike for 750 dollars. I am trying to decide whether to pick it up, and if I do, whether to get it running or part it out. I have been wrenching on jap bikes for years, and quite often buy and part them out on ebay as well. The frame number does not match, is this a big issue, as far as the value if restored? Also, the bike has no title but he claims to have a receipt for the frame which would suggest that I can get a title.....Any suggestions from the members here? Thanks for reading this and double thanks for your thoughts. Tom

If it were me----first take any paperwork to your DMV and find out what it would cost to get a title issued in your name and make sure they are aware of the non title issue--get names of people you talk to---dates--times--etc-----in other words protect youself---document-document-document.
These great bargain deals can sometimes be a nightmare if you intend on keeping the bike. I wouldn't invest a cent into it until you have the title in hand---make the seller go with you when you go to the DMV---if he hesitates---"Caviet Emptor"----let the buyer beware.

For $750, buy it now, deal with the title later and if you can't get it part it out. You will not loose money on that deal.

Don't touch it. You'll either become addicted and begin to regret all your previous motorcycling preferences or you'll become disillusioned and sell it on at a vast profit to a poor desperate Norton enthusiast. Neither course of action will ever allow you to again sleep easily at night. :evil:

Is it worth bringing back to life with a frame and engine Serial # mismatch? Does that affect its value greatly? I think I may have to drive back there in the morning and have a little chat with the owner. He also mentioned a few boxes of parts.....Is 17K miles considered high on a brit bike like this?

Numbers matching means nothing to the general Norton owner. There were so many made they are not rare. And many examples are kept in museams. 17K is not too bad, but since it's been sitting and in a wreck a teardown would be in order. It sounds like an excellent canidate for a full rebuild. a great starting point.

First you have to realize this forum is for Norton enthusiasts. People who buy bikes and part them out for profit are seen in the same light as people who break up marriages for the fun of a one night stand. In a recent thread on this topic it was more or less decided that most of us are like people who like to eat sausage in that we don't really want to know where the parts come from.

For 750 bucks I would buy it without seeing it. I agree with the previous post that said if the title becomes a problem, then part it out. Numbers matching is desirable in any bike, but most enthusiast/riders care more about how the bike was put together and maintained than whether or not it is factory original. A "bitsa" bike actually kinda frees the owner up to do whatever they want with it, which most people do anyway.

17,000 can be a lot of miles if the bike has never been cared for during that time. If somebody did regular maintenance on it and kept the oil changed then not so much. It wouldn't surprise me if it were due for some rings soon, I don't really know how many miles you can get from the rod bearings before you need to worry about it.

Go buy it, or give us the guys number and one of us will. If your only goal is to make money from the proposition then parting it out will give you the best bang for the buck.

Russ

This forum's concensus would, I think, be that matching numbers don't count for anything if you want a Commando to have fun on. Most parts can be mixed with most others. Build what you like the look of and feel comfortable with. The 'collectors' market for Commandos is pretty small when compared with the 'riders' market. I'd suspect that's true of most of the 1970s British bikes.

17,000 miles is a lot for a Mk3 camshaft and quite a lot for a Mk3 layshaft bearing but the crankcases are the strongest of the lot and if the cylinder head isn't porous by now then it probably won't become so. The joy of these things is that they're almost infinitly rebuildable, parts availability is better than it was in the 1970s and is likely to remain so. If you're used to waiting for parts to arrive from Hamamatsu or Tokyo then you're in for a pleasant surprise.

If you decide to keep it, there will be no shortage of friendly advice. Despite what Soichiro's advertising team said, you meet the nicest people on a Norton (and they're always recognisable by the oil under their fingernails )

I am going to get it in the am. Will post an update. I am leaning toward keeping it but the title issue may be the deciding factor. Thanks guys for the input.....

tomshell said:

I am going to get it in the am. Will post an update. I am leaning toward keeping it but the title issue may be the deciding factor. Thanks guys for the input.....

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The title will a non-issue... if the frame wasn't stolen. DMV only cares about chassis VIN. Engine serial numbers are not at all of any interest to DMV. Just don't go in telling them the long story. The frame IS the bike. The engine and trans may have been replaced with used parts over it's lifetime.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in the last years some of the frames were made in Italy & matched with engines in England & therefore would have different nembers anyway?

As a Norton was entirely made by Hand , and would outcorner any Jap bike of the Era , youll come to realise mass produced consumer items are as far from the ideal as the Commando.However , a few minor updates and improvemts to the Commando will enable i to outperform any standard Jap bike of the same year . Nevertheless it will call for all youre skills and competance, as a Fitter and rigger is more appropriate to its correct operation than a mere mechanic.
Also skill and discipline is required to opperate it to its optimum level, tuned , it can be cantankerous demanding and exhilerating in a way no machine of inferior breeding can come near to emulateing.
:lol: 8) :mrgreen:
Therefore , if you take nothing for granted , you may well get out of it what you put into it , monetary considerations aside .
The machine being the sum of its parts , or if correctly assembled more , rather than less , in the manner of roadholding like
the wobblers and weavers from the orient .
Sensible updates to the m usable by the average inattentive rider and comply with accoustic perabulations favouring multi cylindered contraptions .

Youd be better to part it out than run it into the ground .

by 79x100 » Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:09 pm

Don't touch it. You'll either become addicted and begin to regret all your previous motorcycling preferences or you'll become disillusioned and sell it on at a vast profit to a poor desperate Norton enthusiast. Neither course of action will ever allow you to again sleep easily at night.

Click to expand...

He is right. We have taken up a collection and will go in your place. We have your back. Send address of bike, then forget all about it. No need for thanks, what are friends for?

BUY IT.

Definately buy it, get it running, ride it, then pull it all apart and check or replace the cam, check the rods and bearings, and the gearbox layshaft bearing, rebuild the carbs with the stay up floats and anodized slides or take them to alternative motorcycle repair out there in AZ. Don't worry about the title, you can get the paperwork on the bike it can be done. At 750 you can't go wrong. Cj

Got it!

Here she is in all her glory.....






Got her for $800 bucks. Here is what i know.
Frame,pipes,forks,front fender,and bars were replaced after a wreck about 15 years ago. Bike has changed owners twice in that time and has not run in probably 10 years. From my cursory inspection I need:
Brake lines, gas cap, gas tank mounts,exhaust shock mounts,carb cables,front brake lever,tach glass,etc.....
I am going to clean the carbs and flush the motor. Check compression and try to start her. After it runs I will deal with title. If I can get that done I will finish up the details (brakes etc) and then ride her. Then it will be decision time...........but I think I have been looking for this bike to restore for a long time. In other words, I may be hooked.

Wow that's a great deal, and an awesome starting point. Once you start in you will be hooked. It's a desiese. The meetings are Wednesday nights, bring your own chair :lol:

If it were me, I'd take it down to the DMV and find out about getting it registered first, then decide what to do. If you can get it registered you can decide if you want to flip it for $2500 or fix it up. If you can't register it then part it out. If you just try to get it running without going over the calipers, primary, and maybe the engine; and about a dozen other things, then you might be asking for trouble. Unlike a lot of Japanese bikes, British bikes of this vintage to not age well in the cellar.

If you sell that car , it should pay for the first installment of parts , :lol: and the gas youll save walking should pay for all the oil & grease .

Actually looks a fair sort of order , chances are all the bits are pretty spot on. Unfortunately , stripping it all and putting it under the microscope will ensure its at its most dependable .Whicxh is why the professional restorations go for a bob or two.

The Olde ' Inspect flush fuel & oil tanks , and new lube for a spin around the block , BUT the CRANKSHAFT is a resivoir for
' SLUDGE '
Best proceedure for prolonged service is Aircraft Style Approah.A full inspection means its " Zero Timed " and ready for use .

With No Question as to ANY of its idiosyncracies .Flushing forks is wise also .Therefore a wee bit or componentry cleaning ,
gaskets & Lube COULD be the main expenses .

If you Consider it as in the manner of a Pre War Bently , The Results Justify the Effort .

There are some states (or should be) where getting a Norton like yours for $800 is a felony (grand theft).