Newbi looking for advice on purchasing a Norton Commando

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Highlander

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Dec 9, 2011
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Hi folks,

My name is Rob (Highlander), I'm originally from Scotland, but living in Oklahoma now. I'm currently looking to purchase a Norton 850 Commando with a couple 1974's models advertised on eBay (USA) as I write. I have to say that I know nothing about Nortons. I'm looking to buy a good usable day to day runner that I don't have to start working on before I even rolll it off of where ever I just bought it, albeit it doesn't have to be a museum piece. At the end of the day the Norton will not be my main two wheeler as I have a BMW K1300s for everyday riding. Is there any particular year or model that stands out as being a better bike to own? Other than eBay, can anyone suggest anyone who is looking to sell a good usable bike, or even reputable dealer that has one for sale. Thanks.....I'll look forward to joining in and asking a bunch of questions once I've bought my bike :)
 
There is a nice looking 850 on Ebay now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Norton-C ... 500wt_1025


Whenever you do end up owning a Commando, first you will need a Workshop Manual, Clymer makes a good one

But most important, you are buying a 40 year old British motorcycle, and this IS a VERY hands on, have to know it all, experience

You will need to buy a clutch spring puller, and a front sprocket puller, amongst a few others

Probably best to do some searching for a really knowledgable Commando owner somewhere in your area now, before buying one so you can get some good guidance on condition, and future repair expense expectations.
 
74's MKIIa are a no brainer. Many will offer the same recommendation I am sure. I had one once. If a Norton was going to be a daily rider, this is the one to choose. If your old and brittle you could go with an electric start model but you will usually be kicking it anyway.

Although you do not have Norton knowledge, you are not without motorcycle knowledge/common sense. This will go far. Nortons are simple. They are an assembly of assemblies. Although most things are, Norton's simplicity exemplifies this. Every off season I address an assembly or two or three to modernize and upgrade as i see fit. These old bike can become extremely reliable. Do the front wheel, do the back wheel, do the gearbox, replace the Iso's, upgrade the primary.........see what I mean? People over complicate most of these item. Mechanically speaking, almost everything is straight forward and almost everything has a little quirk. That is what we are here for.

Go for the limit of your budget. Buy with confidence knowing that everything is easily (somewhat) available for these bike. Cases, heads, electrics, I mean everything. You could virtually build a bike from scratch and this is being done to order by Norvil. You could get a good core and send it to Colorado Norton Works with a list of your personal specs. Pricey!

We'll all be here to help you with any needs and understandings that you may require.

Welcome.
Peter
 
1up3down said:
There is a nice looking 850 on Ebay now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Norton-C ... 500wt_1025


Whenever you do end up owning a Commando, first you will need a Workshop Manual, Clymer makes a good one

But most important, you are buying a 40 year old British motorcycle, and this IS a VERY hands on, have to know it all, experience

You will need to buy a clutch spring puller, and a front sprocket puller, amongst a few others

Probably best to do some searching for a really knowledgable Commando owner somewhere in your area now, before buying one so you can get some good guidance on condition, and future repair expense expectations.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply and information, the Commando you attached is the one I was mainly looking at bidding on.
 
pvisseriii said:
74's MKIIa are a no brainer. Many will offer the same recommendation I am sure. I had one once. If a Norton was going to be a daily rider, this is the one to choose. If your old and brittle you could go with an electric start model but you will usually be kicking it anyway.

Although you do not have Norton knowledge, you are not without motorcycle knowledge/common sense. This will go far. Nortons are simple. They are an assembly of assemblies. Although most things are, Norton's simplicity exemplifies this. Every off season I address an assembly or two or three to modernize and upgrade as i see fit. These old bike can become extremely reliable. Do the front wheel, do the back wheel, do the gearbox, replace the Iso's, upgrade the primary.........see what I mean? People over complicate most of these item. Mechanically speaking, almost everything is straight forward and almost everything has a little quirk. That is what we are here for.

Go for the limit of your budget. Buy with confidence knowing that everything is easily (somewhat) available for these bike. Cases, heads, electrics, I mean everything. You could virtually build a bike from scratch and this is being done to order by Norvil. You could get a good core and send it to Colorado Norton Works with a list of your personal specs. Pricey!

We'll all be here to help you with any needs and understandings that you may require.

Welcome.
Peter
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Peter, all good information.
 
1up3down said:
There is a nice looking 850 on Ebay now http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Norton-C ... 500wt_1025


Whenever you do end up owning a Commando, first you will need a Workshop Manual, Clymer makes a good one

But most important, you are buying a 40 year old British motorcycle, and this IS a VERY hands on, have to know it all, experience

You will need to buy a clutch spring puller, and a front sprocket puller, amongst a few others

Probably best to do some searching for a really knowledgable Commando owner somewhere in your area now, before buying one so you can get some good guidance on condition, and future repair expense expectations.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply and information.
 
Your the second person to suggest the same bike that I'm already looking at! I'm thinking that bike may attract a lot of bidding.........
Click to expand...

Low miles original bikes usually bring big $$, so be prepared to bid big or be disappointed. ?
Probably why many here do their own restoration, and start with something less pretty.
AND, it will still have something that will need doing...
 
Rohan said:
Your the second person to suggest the same bike that I'm already looking at! I'm thinking that bike may attract a lot of bidding.........
Click to expand...

Low miles original bikes usually bring big $$, so be prepared to bid big or be disappointed. ?
Probably why many here do their own restoration, and start with something less pretty.
Click to expand...

Ya, but we sure don't save any money. It's a sickness like love. You will spend the dough ra mi.
 
as to the tank coating ALL slosh in coatings WILL fail and unless it was a rusty pin hole filled tank why was it done to what SHOULD be a steel tank?? it is not a good thing when they fail either as it can do damage to the carbs and engine if it starts to dissolve into the fuel.

Highlander said:
bill said:
another warning on this one is the EPOXY COATED TANK. why was it done???
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Norton-C ... 500wt_1025
Click to expand...

I had been looking at venders and refinishers (painting), it would appear that a lot of them offer re-sealing of tanks which I would have thought would be a plus to avoid rust? But maybe I'm missing something in the picture. Thanks for your reply.
Click to expand...
 
If you're looking for a working bike without major issues you'd probably be better off avoiding Ebay unless you can inspect, ride and reject if necessary. If you can't see it in person before buying it in my opinion you'd best not buy it. I've got almost 1000 transactions on Ebay and while most of my transactions have been seamless, some have been disasters and with a Commando so much can be hidden with a bit of chrome polish and enthusiasm. I'm a cynic but when I bought a car on Ebay it was only because I could sit in it and drive it before I bought it (also I knew his mother).
 
powerdoc said:
If you're looking for a working bike without major issues you'd probably be better off avoiding Ebay unless you can inspect, ride and reject if necessary. If you can't see it in person before buying it in my opinion you'd best not buy it. I've got almost 1000 transactions on Ebay and while most of my transactions have been seamless, some have been disasters and with a Commando so much can be hidden with a bit of chrome polish and enthusiasm. I'm a cynic but when I bought a car on Ebay it was only because I could sit in it and drive it before I bought it (also I knew his mother).
Click to expand...


+1

buyer beware on ebay. You have been warned!

Both of my Nortons came from ebay and both needed complete, frame-up rebuilds. Ebay sellers are masters at taking crappy old bikes and making them look really nice. The beauty is frequently only skin deep. You'll also pay more than pretty much any other source available, except perhaps the annual Las Vegas auction.

You might go to inoanorton.com, see if there is a chapter somewhere near where you live, and hook up with them. Someone in the club may have a bike for sale or know of a bike for sale that will probably be a much better purchase than anything you'll find on ebay.

good luck and happy hunting,
Debby
 
debby said:
powerdoc said:
If you're looking for a working bike without major issues you'd probably be better off avoiding Ebay unless you can inspect, ride and reject if necessary. If you can't see it in person before buying it in my opinion you'd best not buy it. I've got almost 1000 transactions on Ebay and while most of my transactions have been seamless, some have been disasters and with a Commando so much can be hidden with a bit of chrome polish and enthusiasm. I'm a cynic but when I bought a car on Ebay it was only because I could sit in it and drive it before I bought it (also I knew his mother).
Click to expand...


+1

buyer beware on ebay. You have been warned!

Both of my Nortons came from ebay and both needed complete, frame-up rebuilds. Ebay sellers are masters at taking crappy old bikes and making them look really nice. The beauty is frequently only skin deep. You'll also pay more than pretty much any other source available, except perhaps the annual Las Vegas auction.

You might go to inoanorton.com, see if there is a chapter somewhere near where you live, and hook up with them. Someone in the club may have a bike for sale or know of a bike for sale that will probably be a much better purchase than anything you'll find on ebay.

good luck and happy hunting,
Debby
Click to expand...

Thanks Powerdoc and Debby for your advice. It's a hard one, I know exactly what your saying with respect to eBay. I've bought six motorcyles over the last 10 years or so off of eBay, two of them were way off of what was described! I'll do more research and see if there is anyone locally that has a Norton 850 for sale, however I'm not holding out too much hope! Unfortunately I just don't have time to travel to other States to see a bike, so ultimately I very well may just have to take a chance on eBay and hope for the best. I'll certainly take a look at the site that you suggested also.
 
Rob

If you have the $$$ you can't do much better than a CNW Commando or contract with one of the Guys on this forum to build you up a proper one. Buying a used Commando is more or less a crap shoot unless you know and trust the owner and Evilbay is a sure way to get burned. The other option is the project bike, but from your first post it doesn't sound like you have the time or inclination for that. Good luck,

Scooter
 
I know of one on here I would not hire to build me a tricycle much less a commando!!!! here is a hint he is approaching 5,000 post's

Scooter62 said:
Rob

contract with one of the Guys on this forum to build you up a proper one.

Scooter
Click to expand...
 
If you spend 6000 dollars on a bike and it turns out to need rebuilt, will you be:

A.) challenged to follow through without swearing a lot
B.) unable to buy any parts for it for a while
C.) financially crushed and unable to pay the rent

If you picked C, then do not buy a bike off Ebay and consider not buying one at all. The only sure thing is that even a perfect bike might not be perfect. If I had a decent budget I would look for a bike that was cosmetically as nice as possible and then systematically start through the different systems until I felt that any faults where my own.

That or get one that needs everything and then give it everything it needs. Otherwise you will never know for sure.

Russ

PS-the members here keep a running post in the classifieds of things they have seen in Craigslist. Check it often and be ready to pounce if you see one that fits.
 
I'll agree with everything that's been said so far. If you have the means, CNW is the way to go, but it will set you back at least $25K from what I've seen. A used bike with no verifiable history is a crap shoot. You can easily spend another $10K or more getting it into reliable condition, and that's doing most of your own work, you just don't know what's in it. Only other option is a bike with verifiable repair history from a reputable shop/builder and that may be very hard to find, but they are out there. That will probably be in the $15K range or more.

It's your choice, but you better think about it. I'd be very leery of the ebay sales, even if it runs good. Norton is not a cheap man's hobby unless you want a ratter. Rich has it about right, it depends on your budget.

Good thing is you will enjoy it when it's running, next best thing to sex.

Dave
69S
 
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