Newbie with 750

Hi,
Have recently purchased a 1971 750 Commando and according to the records and dating officer at the NOC it was built as a tangerine 750SS on 10th May 1971 and exported on the 14th May 1971 to either USA or Australia. Is there any way of finding out where it went,are there records that still exist held by the original importers? I would like to fill in the missing years as much as possible. It is not in SS guise at the moment but I am not surprised as I understand most were altered, even at the showroom stage, as they didn't sell well as a desert racer.

I also have a minor problem in as much as, although it has had new pistons and rings and the bores are good, it smokes from the right exhaust but NOT when cold and NOT when hot only after about a half mile up to about 5 or 6 miles into a journey then it stops and is perfect all day! The bike has done about 2500 miles since fitting the pistons and rings but the smoking hasn't changed. It is a blue smoke (oil). Any ideas?



Thanks for any help,

Ross

Welcome Ross,

yellow750 said:

Is there any way of finding out where it went,

Click to expand...

If the NOC hasn't got any record of who it was originally supplied to, then I don't think you will have much luck finding out where or who it was sent to?

Search back about 2 weeks. There was a long one about smoking with a lot of good suggestions on things to look for. Just about all the possibilities were mentioned.

That is a good looking bike, not too tarted up, just right.
Blue smoke caused by burning oil. Start with the easiest, check oil level after a run. Commandos don't like being overfilled, if it is at or over the top fill mark, they tend to chuck it out the breather. The breather is near the right hand carb. Fill oil tank until half way between bottom & top mark.

Hi,
Thanks for suggestions. I will check back a few weeks to a relevent posting as suggested. Re: Oil level it has not been over filled and I keep the level at the midway point as an old Enfield I had used to do exactly the same thing and chuck it all out if you had the level near the top marker!

I thought it might be a bit of a long shot to find out where it went originally! But ........unless you ask you never know!

Ross

Welcome Ross!

I believe most if not all of the SS models came to the US. They were never intended to be a serious off-road bike. More of a poser like the 'S'. As I'm sure you are aware, the model run of SS models was less than 12 months of 1971.

It looks like your seat is in good shape! That is one of the most difficult parts to find for an SS. The tank and headlight were shared with the Hi-Rider. The sprung front fender shows up occasionally, the pipes are available, and I know someone who makes muffler brackets and heat shields should you ever want to return it to its original style. The SS was available in yellow or tangerine, both with black side covers.

Ron L,
Thanks for the information. There might be a time in the future when I want to return it to original spec but right at the moment it suits me coz I think it is gorgeous as it is!

Regards,

Ross

That is a very nice looking Commando

Dave
69 S project

I like that style of seat used for that year.

Travellerjerry,
It's a lovely shaped seat I agree. I've seen it described as Norton's "abbreviated" seat. I didn't know what that meant until I took a passenger for the first time.............................let's just say it was a "close and intimate" experience! Luckily it was a petite female as passenger so the experience wasn't totally unpleasant!!

Regards,
Ross

Lucky seat I'd say. Like the contour. Good thing she didn't slide off.