New Member with a 1971 Roadster

Hello All,

New member here with my first post and a recent purchase of numbers matching Commando basket case.

I’ve wanted a Norton for the better part of 20 years, but could not not originally find one. Instead, I settled on and built a 1979 XS650.

Before:



After:




I never lost the itch for a Commando and finally pulled the trigger on one this month, just before it was to be put on Craigslist.

The bike is titled as a 1972, but has a late 1971 build date (Sept. 71) - VIN 152***

This will be a long term project with the goal to restore back to a stock rider (with sensible upgrades).

I inquired with the Norton Owners Club about further documentation, but unfortunately the dispatch records for this VIN range are lost.

This said, I did receive some info with the sale regarding previous ownership. It looks like the the bike spent late 1970s/ early 1980s in Montreal, prior to be brought out to British Columbia.




The fibreglass tank is in good shape, but I think I will eventually opt for a steel Emgo unit.

The colour is growing on me. Am I correct to assume that this is Signal Orange and not Tangerine?

Currently going through the parts and bagging and tagging everything to see what is missing. It looks like 90-95% of everything is there.

My immediate focus while the frame is stripped is to make sure everything is straight. I would also like to convert to later style side stand and gusset the swing arm.

Your thoughts and input on improvements is much appreciated.

Nice looking bike , I wish you all the best in your long term project , it will be a stunner !

Looks like a great bike even as is. Best of luck with the project. Everyone loves pictures and questions make the forum work.

Seems you've something nice and clean to begin work with which
should make for a superb machine when finished.

Your S2/71 solid canary yellow tank is AFAIK the same as the first norton use of yellow on a S1 roadster, as my first bike pictured in my current avatar. This is a representation of my first commando roadster bought new in august of 1970.
DO NOT USE the tank.
E-10 spark ignition fuel (here in the USA) is no longer legally called gasoline. Ethanol destroys/disolves polyester resin which in turn may kill the engine. Real pure 100% gasoline is OK to use...

SEd27 said:

Hello All,

New member here with my first post and a recent purchase of numbers matching Commando basket case.

I’ve wanted a Norton for the better part of 20 years,

Click to expand...

What's the story? Ever ride one?

cheers

SEd27 said:

The colour is growing on me. Am I correct to assume that this is Signal Orange and not Tangerine?

Click to expand...

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/factory-yellow-orange.22535/

84ok said:

What's the story? Ever ride one?

cheers

Click to expand...

I’ve never ridden a Commando, but can still remember the day I caught the bug. It was the early 2000s. I was 20 or 21 and was out for dinner with some friends.

My buddy pulled up on his dad’s black and gold 1971. The machine was old, kickstart only, and had that classic British rumble.

I was hooked. From that day forward I vowed I would own one.

L.A.B. said:

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/factory-yellow-orange.22535/

Click to expand...

Thanks for the link L.A.B. That is the exact colour.

+1 on fixing the side stand mount. The upper shock mounts reinforcement is good as you have it down to the frame anyway. Really only necessary if rider, passenger or luggage weight is a concern. Most of us ride solo these days, so a Corbin seat is a nice addition.

Thinking back on all that my '71 benefited from, here's the summary:
The headsteady is junk, either upgrade to a 850 or even better, aftermarket like Dave Taylor, etc
The center stand should also be upgraded to 850 if not already.
As Dave says, just go to a metal gas tank.
MKIII kick start lever will clear your muffler better.
Unless you want the vintage look, a front disk brake and m/c upgrade is a real good upgrade. Commandos were quick, but the brakes weren't up to the task of stopping them, especially on repeated stops on hot days with passenger.
Easy engine mods would be checking your pistons to see if the are the preferred 750 063348/ 063349's. I milled my head to obtain the Combat 10:1 cr and kept stock cam and added 32mm Amals. A nice combination. Don't port the intakes for the 32mm carbs, find '74 850 intake manifolds that mount 32mm carbs to 30mm intakes. Flows better. After milling head, shorter pushrods are in order to accommodate the change or you'll be backing off the adjusters quite a bit.
Maybe not the best advice, but I was in my 20's and felt the need for speed............. Still don't regret it You may find it fast enough already.

Beware that engine oil sump drain plug. The skinny clip that holds the washer and bronze screen can free itself and make a mess inside engine. Better still, add a breather from NYC Norton to eliminate it and benefit from better sump breathing.
Upgrading seals on the tac drive and trans kick start and shifter
Upgrade the ISO's to Vernier adjustment, adding the swing arm spindle Kegler clamps

I may have left something out, but that's probably enough to get you started on recommended things to think about/ fund!

Check the trans layshaft bearing. Plenty info here. Looks like a good clean start. Have fun, spend money.

I would add electronic ignition if you don’t want points, and I like LED head and tail light bulbs.

SEd27 said:

I’ve never ridden a Commando, but can still remember the day I caught the bug. It was the early 2000s. I was 20 or 21 and was out for dinner with some friends.

My buddy pulled up on his dad’s black and gold 1971. The machine was old, kickstart only, and had that classic British rumble.

I was hooked. From that day forward I vowed I would own one.

Click to expand...

Sounds like you haven't experienced the isolastic ride yet. Particularly after your yam650, you will likely be totally blown away by it, not to mention handling in another league.

Diff strokes for diff folks tho, lotsa old school Hardley (they like that here lol) dudes have no use for engine vibration control.

I'm also still blown away not only by that level of support here but also by the highest level of parts support, bar none.

Looks like your first call for the frame will be paint or powder coat, tonnnnns of views on that one alone but i'd go paint for regular use. Bare frame is also the time to go over straightness, tonnnnnns on that here too.

cheers

That bike is identical to mine. Mine was dated July 71. I had to repair and repaint my glass tank in about 1974 and the Dulux!! [ long time ago ] colour was called "Vitamin C" . Mine is my garage queen and has clocked over about 14,000 miles. Great bike. Great sound. Bit of a rocket around town with the 19 tooth sprocket. All those with american muscle cars in the 70's thought they could drag me of at the lights. I used to play with them, let them get ahead then leave them for dead. Great days. Got married and the bike was left in my garage. Used to take it for a run once a year or so up in the hills of Miramar. Got it up and running again about 15 years ago then decided to get an 850 and restore the old girl. The guys in the NZ club only ever saw it once at the Tutukaka rally some 5-6 or was it 7 years ago.

Dereck

Many Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

The engine is completely apart right now, so bearings, seals, gaskets will all get a refresh. Same goes for the gearbox.

It also appears the the barrels are still on the standard bore, so bonus there as well.

As far as the frame goes, I will likely lean towards powder coating.

One of my good friends has a commercial powder coating shop, so all my chassis parts get typically get forwarded his way.

He did just about every part on the XS650 that could be coated (including the lower engine covers an tank and side panels).

This Said, there a few parts that will need to be tracked down.

The centre stand has seen better days and is cracked in half.

As well, the left side lower fork is cracked at the axle. Still debating on sticking with the TLS drum or going down the rabbit hole of a disc upgrade.

I am currently in the process of a brembo caliper and modern wave rotor conversion on the XS, so it should not be that difficult on the Norton.

SEd27 said:

As far as the frame goes, I will likely lean towards powder coating.

Click to expand...

Needs to be properly prepped then or else a ton of pia afterwork

For powder, look at the Old Brits site for masking of the frame. You don't want to be putting powder over areas where the engine/cradle/swingarm/rear brakes mount. When I did mine they let me work with someone with their circles to mask off what I wanted. I still missed a few.

The TLS can be made to work good enough for casual riding.

The bike will handle orders of magnitude better than the old Japanese bikes. I had a CB450 and it was like getting off a bumper cart. But of course there's a lot better stuff out there today, faster too.

You do have the ownership document? So many of these are sold with “bill of sale” only. I vowed not to buy another one of these then did it again last October.

SEd27 said:

As well, the left side lower fork is cracked at the axle. Still debating on sticking with the TLS drum or going down the rabbit hole of a disc upgrade.

I am currently in the process of a brembo caliper and modern wave rotor conversion on the XS, so it should not be that difficult on the Norton.

Click to expand...

Easy front end swap actually, grandpaul did one.