Through a series of unusual circumstances, I was given this 1970 Norton Commando 750 scrambler. The bike was a gift from a friend who purchused it new back in 1970, It only has 11,000 original miles on it. If the Arizona heat had not dry rotted the wiring and rubber bushings, I am sure I could gas it up and ride it. My intentions was to transform the bike into a black, simister looking cafe racer with modern disc brakes and other updated parts to make it ride better. However after doing some research and pondering I realized This rust free, all original (except pipes) Scrambler could be brought back to mint condition without a ton of work. I know the yellow scrambler was only produced in 1970. Would I be a fool to modify a rare piece of Norton history? The Scrambler look really is not my taste but maybe I should restore this one, sell it, and pick up a more common Norton to trick out.
New member with a new project with a question
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Through a series of unusual circumstances, I was given this 1970 Norton Commando 750 scrambler. The bike was a gift from a friend who purchused it new back in 1970, It only has 11,000 original miles on it. If the Arizona heat had not dry rotted the wiring and rubber bushings, I am sure I could gas it up and ride it. My intentions was to transform the bike into a black, simister looking cafe racer with modern disc brakes and other updated parts to make it ride better. However after doing some research and pondering I realized This rust free, all original (except pipes) Scrambler could be brought back to mint condition without a ton of work. I know the yellow scrambler was only produced in 1970. Would I be a fool to modify a rare piece of Norton history? The Scrambler look really is not my taste but maybe I should restore this one, sell it, and pick up a more common Norton to trick out.
This looks like a nice bike for a sympathetic restoration. However if you don't like this particular style of Commando you would be better off getting it running and selling it as is, since the cost of a proper restoration is likely to be in excess of the purchase price of almost any other model in serviceable condition.
While its quite a mostly original bike, and I'm sure someone can fill in the details better, its a little optimistic to call this a 'Scrambler' - Nortons never really made such a beast in the Commando lineup. ??
NortonMatchless a couple of years earlier had previously made something along those lines though - the P11 and N15CS and various other 'hybrids' were intended as such - although many saw street use.
Nice cycle, would restore well. Those alloy brackets for the mufflers look purposeful, someone intended something with them ?? Cheers.
NortonMatchless a couple of years earlier had previously made something along those lines though - the P11 and N15CS and various other 'hybrids' were intended as such - although many saw street use.
Nice cycle, would restore well. Those alloy brackets for the mufflers look purposeful, someone intended something with them ?? Cheers.
[quote="dave M" since the cost of a proper restoration is likely to be in excess of the purchase price of almost any other model in serviceable condition.[/quote]
Why is this particular bike going to cost so much to restore, we might ask ??
Looks like a good clean and a mechanical inspection and rebuild could have it on the road - all the essentials are there except an original exhaust ??
Although we all know where such assumptions can lead.....
Why is this particular bike going to cost so much to restore, we might ask ??
Looks like a good clean and a mechanical inspection and rebuild could have it on the road - all the essentials are there except an original exhaust ??
Although we all know where such assumptions can lead.....
Rohan, I didn't mean that this specific bike would cost more to restore than any other Commando restoration project, but that typically the cost to restore ANY Commando project to a good standard would frequently be more than the price of a decent runner. Therefore if it's not the model he wants he should sell this, unrestored although running if possible and get the one he really wants.
concours
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Yes, resist the cafe FAD and restore it to it's original glory. Just like the cafe fad came and went decades ago, it will again, and values will plummet. The drum brake you have is a great performer, don't ditch it, polish it and use it. If for nothing else, as a tribute to the original owner (obviously a friend of yours), keep it in it's unchopped, unmolested condition as he did for 42 years.
kempoyner said:
That is not a scrambler but either a standard 1970 Roadster or a standard 1970 750S, as far as I can see the only deviations from standard are the exhaust system which looks like Dunstall stuff and the Proddie-racer lookalile Aluminium plate which replaced the original Z-plates.
The 1970 stuff is relatively rare in Commando terms, to be precise that is mainly the Halo (ring around the lamp), the seat and the oil tank where these models differ from the 1971-and-later ones.
If you want a cafe racer and build a bike to your taste I'd trade it in for a later model in similar condition if I were you. This particular bike is a very nice starting point for an original restoration of a relatively rare model but it is not better than a later one in terms of doing a cafe-racer - and some spares for the later ones are easier to get generally speaking.
Best regards,
Tim
DogT
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Looks to me like a standard issue 69/70 Roadster or possibly it could have been an 'S' model. Some people called the S a scrambler, but I don't think the name caught on much. Look on the left side iso 1/2" nut and see if it has a flat spot in it. Sometimes the original S exhaust would get loose and beat a flat spot on that bolt. Black tail lamp is correct for yellow color, but the decals are gone on the panel, don't know about the other side. The front fender looks like it may be the larger 70 or newer version. And like others have said the z plates have been replaced. The seat is correct for a 69/70.
I don't look at this bike as such a rarity, just an early version that has a few mods done to it.
Dave
69S
I don't look at this bike as such a rarity, just an early version that has a few mods done to it.
Dave
69S
What's the reddish looking stuff I see on the handlebars, front brake actuator arm, gear shift lever, triple trees, barrels, rims and exhaust pipes? Patina, no doubt.
You're probably looking at somewhere north of ten grand to get this thing into nice shape. Especially if you start hanging upgrades on it.
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I'd give it a good, thorough cleaning before trying to decide. If you are as lucky as most of us, you'll realize that there will be a lot of little things that would need to be fixed/replaced if you want to turn it into a "mint condition" bike. These things can get very expensive.
If it indeed is a cleaning away from "mint", I'd either sell it, or make sure that you don't do anything to it the you can't reverse. Personally, I'd ride it as is.
In the end, it's your bike, do what you want with it. You may hear people complain about molesting it, but it's not up to them unless they are willing to pony up the cash to "save" it.
If it indeed is a cleaning away from "mint", I'd either sell it, or make sure that you don't do anything to it the you can't reverse. Personally, I'd ride it as is.
In the end, it's your bike, do what you want with it. You may hear people complain about molesting it, but it's not up to them unless they are willing to pony up the cash to "save" it.
DogT
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It's already been molested with the incorrect front fender, exhaust, panels and the z plates. Of course that can be replaced, but it's not 'original'. It can be made to be original looking like I did with mine. That bike looks to be in about the same shape as when I started and I have somewhere around $9K in mine and I did nearly all the work, less the head work.
Do what you want with it, it's not like the recent find that was all totally original. What ever you do to it will most likely be an improvement.
Dave
69S
Do what you want with it, it's not like the recent find that was all totally original. What ever you do to it will most likely be an improvement.
Dave
69S
Its a 42 yr old bike.
It does not look like any attempt has been made to preserve originality, the down pipes look aftermarket along the lines of touring, as do the silencers/mufflers. Low, interstate like, so panniers can be put on, not a suggestion of swept back downpipes with the silencers/mufflers higher and splayed. Even Fastback downpipes swept close to the engine before connecting to low silencer/mufflers.
The footrest plate should be a beautifully shaped billet aluminium lump, not something cut out of a piece of metal. The main scrambler style Commando was like a roadster with two high level exhausts on one side and a heat shield over them.
The engine seals really need replacing. If the one in the timing cover has not been replaced your oil pressure will be suffering because the oil pump will have a leak between it and the big end shells. The oil will just run into the sump to be scavenged. Rubber that is immersed in oil for 42 years isn't quite what it used to be.
Alot of time and money needed. It has the potential to be a brilliant bike, depends if you want to do it with help from people on the forum or sell it as is for someone else to do. Your choice.
This is the only other type of Commando Scrambler.
It does not look like any attempt has been made to preserve originality, the down pipes look aftermarket along the lines of touring, as do the silencers/mufflers. Low, interstate like, so panniers can be put on, not a suggestion of swept back downpipes with the silencers/mufflers higher and splayed. Even Fastback downpipes swept close to the engine before connecting to low silencer/mufflers.
The footrest plate should be a beautifully shaped billet aluminium lump, not something cut out of a piece of metal. The main scrambler style Commando was like a roadster with two high level exhausts on one side and a heat shield over them.
The engine seals really need replacing. If the one in the timing cover has not been replaced your oil pressure will be suffering because the oil pump will have a leak between it and the big end shells. The oil will just run into the sump to be scavenged. Rubber that is immersed in oil for 42 years isn't quite what it used to be.
Alot of time and money needed. It has the potential to be a brilliant bike, depends if you want to do it with help from people on the forum or sell it as is for someone else to do. Your choice.
This is the only other type of Commando Scrambler.
It is a Scrambler. My friend said the upswept "dirt bike" pipes started splitting near the front very early. Also the threads in the head started getting chewed up from the poor design of soft mounted engine cradle opposing the pipes mounted to a location of a differant harmonic. He replaced the pipes with the ugly ones seen in picture. The rear plates were custom made so the ugly pipes could be attached. The original rear plates will be put back on of coarse. He put the differant front fender on planning to run a larger tire. I have the original fender.
I wouldn't call the bike "molested" .....but there was some greasy hand prints on the jugs! We need to stop these perverts from molesting our bikes.
I wouldn't call the bike "molested" .....but there was some greasy hand prints on the jugs! We need to stop these perverts from molesting our bikes.
DogT
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You can find the sales brochure here http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... chures.htm look under S
Parts book here http://www.eurooldtimers.com/eng/manual ... 1970-.html
This is what it should look like, less the paint of course.
There is at least one yellow one owned by a forum member.
Dave
69S
Parts book here http://www.eurooldtimers.com/eng/manual ... 1970-.html
This is what it should look like, less the paint of course.
There is at least one yellow one owned by a forum member.
Dave
69S
Here's what an "SS" should look like:
IIRC, they came in two colors, solid yellow or solid orange, as pictured. Also, the tank was smaller and a different shape than the "S". Neither the "S" nor the "SS" were intended for dirt riding. Both were strictly model choices for the road or street.
Correction: Tangerine, rather than orange
IIRC, they came in two colors, solid yellow or solid orange, as pictured. Also, the tank was smaller and a different shape than the "S". Neither the "S" nor the "SS" were intended for dirt riding. Both were strictly model choices for the road or street.
Correction: Tangerine, rather than orange
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kempoyner said:
If it had the twin high-level exhausts on the left side originally, then your Commando would have been the 750 "S" type.
As far as I'm aware, the factory did not consider the S to be a "scrambler", in fact, the 1970 brochure describes the S as a; "super sport" model.
The 1971 750 "SS" model (with one pipe either side) I believe was sometimes referred to as "street scrambler" and this seems to be causing our members some confusion.
http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... Norton.pdf
since I new to this...so a 750 s model is not a scrambler even though it had the upswept pipes, ribbed seat, high handlebars and headlight ring? What was the differance between a 750 s and a true scrambler? Im not questioning the fact the bike my not be a scrambler, just wondering what other changes were made to a commando to qualify.
Also, the bike has not been started up in over 20 years. The tank had no gas in it and I see that ethonal will destroy a fiberglass tank, I probably should get a metal tank? I will keep the original tank and any other parts I take off.
I did polish the front brake drum and WOW! It is a beautiful work of art. Answered my question about getting latter year forks with disc brake, Im sticking with the drum. The big issue now is how the heck do you get the spokes shiney? I have tried several types of buffer styles and polishes but spokes shred buffer wheels, buffer balls and pads. I know I can sent the hubs in and have new spokes and rims made. But if there is a magic technique for getting spokes looking good....don,t keep it a secret!
Also, the bike has not been started up in over 20 years. The tank had no gas in it and I see that ethonal will destroy a fiberglass tank, I probably should get a metal tank? I will keep the original tank and any other parts I take off.
I did polish the front brake drum and WOW! It is a beautiful work of art. Answered my question about getting latter year forks with disc brake, Im sticking with the drum. The big issue now is how the heck do you get the spokes shiney? I have tried several types of buffer styles and polishes but spokes shred buffer wheels, buffer balls and pads. I know I can sent the hubs in and have new spokes and rims made. But if there is a magic technique for getting spokes looking good....don,t keep it a secret!
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