New Owner of '68 Commando

Hi there, I just acquired a '68 Commando and am quite excited about getting this thing restored to original shape. It's going to be an ongoing process for sure as I learn more about it and source parts. The bike is about 90% complete but the previous owner put clipons, rearsets and an aftermarket fender. other than that it looks great. I was curious about a couple things. Regarding the gas tank, tail section and badges for 1968. Did the tank have insets for the badges or were they flush? Same question for the tail section, was there an inset for the badge? I'm pretty sure that the tail section had and inset but not sure about the tank. The other question was regarding the "widomaker" frame. It look like mine was modified but it looks more like it was bracketed/gusseted in vs another tube welded in. Does anyone have pictures of the frames stock or replaced? Thanks, hope to get some feedback here. Cheers.

Can i suggest you post numbers, frame, engine, g/box and "comp/plate" a few pictures would be handy for the "boffin's" to chew over.... THen sit back and absorb the info that is likely to come... Oh and Hi, where you live in this small world ???

My 68 has badge inserts on the tank and a proud area on the tail.
I have a widowmaker frame.
The footrests for the 68 used satin chrome, not bright chrome like the later ones.
Mine was missing the footrests, so I sources later ones, ans was later informed of this.

The two "production" bikes on the 1967 Motorcycle Show stand didn't have "Norton" badges anywhere. The company had just p***ed away £20,000 on an "image Makeover" which produced the meaningless "green globe" insignia. Those excrescences were on each side of the tank. Someone asked the company rep on the stand "why are the turn signals green?"

I don't think any of the "green blob" bikes made it out into the dealers' world but I'd estimate that maybe the first 100 or so fiberglasss bits had already been made, and decals were used. I think all the first production run were silver metallic color also.

Someone who worked there later than I did might know more accurately. I'd left N-V and emigrated before the Commando really hit the marketplace.

bwolfie said:

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That is how mine looks as well. Is that a repaired, replaced , or untouched widowmaker frame?

I believe a previous owner filled/sanded the insets on both tank and tail. That or it has a tank/tail from a later year.

where are you located ?
I also have a 68 fastback with an original widowmaker

More information:
I'm from the town of Shelton in Washington State USA. Found this little fella when I crashed a yard sale early a couple months ago. My buddy told me that there was some bike at a garage sale like a Norton or Triumph or something. I was pretty exited when I saw it but didn't show it to the owner. A Commando is/was on my bucket list for bikes. I'm always on the lookout for cool project bikes and try to keep a little cash on hand in case I find something of interest. Cash on hand talks. When I asked him how much he said "Five". That was way out of the park from what I would spend on it thinking he meant $5000 and jokingly said "hundred, right?" I still kept a straight face when he said "yup". So I looked it over and pointed out blemishes and the odd piece here or there and offered him $400. Of course he told me it was worth every penny of the 500. I told him I couldn't agree more and shook his hand on the spot. The bike had been stored in his heated garage for the last 25 years. It turn over fine however there isn't any spark right now (no kidding...). Serial number on frame and engine is 126125 putting it about #770 of the production line? I see several parts that aren't stock such as the fender, clipons, rearsets, exhaust. oil cooler, other than that it looks great. I'd love to put it all back stock and original color. Like I mentioned in the earlier post, the badge insets on the tank and tail appear to have been removed or the tank/tail are from a later model. Might be cool to have a separate cafe tank and seat/tail so I could convert it from stock to cafe depending on my mood. This will be an ongoing project as I source parts and $$ for said parts. Out of curiosity, any idea what these are going for restored? Safety aside, is it worth any more or less if I repair the "widowmaker" flaw? I don't plan on selling it but I don't necessarily want to go to far overboard on it (but I probably will anyway...)

$500 .... Well you know nobody will talk to you now!!!........... BARGIN OF A LIFETIME, and a perfect project bike..

SuperDon said:

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That's a 68 Fastback. My opinion is you should not convert the back end to something else. The Fastback is a very unique Commando. Here's some pics of one that I think is restored original:

http://garagecompany.com/bikes/european ... G_3373.JPG

http://garagecompany.com/bikes/european ... G_3361.JPG

http://garagecompany.com/bikes/european ... G_3358.JPG

That ia an amazing garage sale find and in terms of value you could restore and be noney ahead at $500 without any problem. I paid $3500 for my MKIII and expect to have about $8K into it before I am done including purchase price. I am doing all my own work. Given your very low initial investment you should be way ahead of me in the end and have a fabulous motorcycle to show for it. Some Fastback parts are more difficult to find and thus more expensive tho. Amazing deal.

126125 is listed as the 1st PRODUCTION Commando ?????

Rohan said:

126125 is listed as the 1st PRODUCTION Commando ?????

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Are you sure about that? Holy crap! This could be a very valuable bike if that is correct.

I'm sure 126125 is a typo. I believe I read somewhere #1 is sitting in a museum.

I have 126715 sitting here. #590 off the line.

I would be interested in seeing a list of the early ones still in existence.

" Serial number on frame and engine is 126125 " and WHAT about the GEARBOX .

now if it were El Neumero Uno , you might be justifyed lashing out , just a little , on it .

Haveing a bit of a scrape or scratch here & there should show if it were SILVER mostly .

FOR STARTERs . Suposed to be in the U.S. from new , or was it once in N.Z. ?

anyway , the order of the mechanical apparatus is the primary importance , some blokes would go to some trouble to get some rearsets , F'glass guard , clip ons etc .
So dont be in too much of a rush to mess with the configureation .

Any chance of a shot of the instruments , up close ?

If you were caneing the B'jesus out of it , you might modify the frame . for restrained ( there called laws ) road use , you wouldnt stress it to one tength of that .

May just be the tamk recesses are bogged ( filler ) carefull sand & a glare and prod should get to the bottom of that .

If it were silver & orange youd have to put it on your mantlepiece . :lol: :? 8)



this should make sense , http://www.motos-anglaises.com/motos/no ... histo.html .

olChris said:

$500 .... Well you know nobody will talk to you now!!!........... BARGIN OF A LIFETIME, and a perfect project bike..

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nice bike up here in Canada you be looking some where upwards of 3000.00 in that condition I got mine for 800.00 but motor seized needs total rebuild some parts missing [tach drive air filters need a new seat and paint ]

CORRECTION:, grabbed the wrong number from my notes. Number is 126895. #770. Sorry for the confusion.

SuperDon said:

CORRECTION:, grabbed the wrong number from my notes. Number is 126895. #770. Sorry for the confusion.

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close to mine 127073

ww.nwno.org

Andover is now making the satin chrome parts.

http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/News.htm

Can't let this go by without a comment.
That bike is a strange colour ?

If its green it looks much too black.
And if its black, it shouldn't be ??
Other than that, looks good...

dennisgb said:

That's a 68 Fastback. My opinion is you should not convert the back end to something else. The Fastback is a very unique Commando. Here's some pics of one that I think is restored original:

http://garagecompany.com/bikes/european ... G_3373.JPG

http://garagecompany.com/bikes/european ... G_3361.JPG

http://garagecompany.com/bikes/european ... G_3358.JPG
.

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bwolfie said:

I'm sure 126125 is a typo. I believe I read somewhere #1 is sitting in a museum.

I have 126715 sitting here. #590 off the line.

I would be interested in seeing a list of the early ones still in existence.

Click to expand...

I have a lower number , maybe we should get a list together ?!

jimbo said:

bwolfie said:

I'm sure 126125 is a typo. I believe I read somewhere #1 is sitting in a museum.

I have 126715 sitting here. #590 off the line.

I would be interested in seeing a list of the early ones still in existence.

Click to expand...

I have a lower number , maybe we should get a list together ?!

Click to expand...

Let's do it but take your number and add how much you paid for it to that number..... heh. Actually it would be cool to see how many are around and what shape they're in.