Norton Commando Fastback LR

I have only just discovered this forum, & 'stumbled across' a now-locked discussion about the Fastback LR, in particular, whether or not the Fastback LR was available with the ‘Combat’ engine.
I can assure sceptics that it was indeed possible to buy such a bike, as I did just that in July 1972, from an old established dealer, still trading, Fowlers of Bristol (UK) .
I was riding a BSA Rocket III at that time, & with the casual insouciance of youth I decided I wanted to try something different, & they were indeed very different machines.
My LR came in British Racing Green, & it was fitted with indicators, a front disc brake, & the “Combat” motor.
What 20 year old would not want to have the latest & most powerful engine?
What I cannot recall, more than 50 years on, was whether or not the disc was an option, or it had become the standard fit.
With hindsight totally predictably, the engine needed a rebuild before the 10,000 miles mark, although to the dealers credit it was dealt with expeditiously under warranty.
It was explained to me at the time that the engine was now fitted with the Superblend bearings, & I have seen it suggested in recent years that the dealers rebuild included an unadvertised lowered CR,
either with new pistons, or possibly a compression plate under the barrel.
That may or may not have been the case, but it would seem to be a sensible course to follow.
I ran the bike for another 18 months or so, then the itch to change yet again overcame me & it went to make way for a Triumph T150V.
4 Imperial gallons, & the LR was four gallons.
All in all, happy memories.
Martyn, Cheltenham UK.

The Combat and disc options were linked, order one and you got the other automatically.

kommando said:

The Combat and disc options were linked, order one and you got the other automatically.

Click to expand...

I bought it from the showroom stock, so I didn't actually order it, but the point being made by some in the original post, now locked, was scepticism that a Commando LR was ever factory produced with the Combat engine.
I can affirm that it was indeed possible, certainly in the UK, to buy such a beast !

Martyn520 said:

I can affirm that it was indeed possible, certainly in the UK, to buy such a beast !

Click to expand...

Regardless of a customer order or dealer order the 2 options were linked. What you also can't discount is someone seeing an LR with non combat engine and no disc in the showroom next to a combat interstate and asking for the interstate tank and panels to be swapped off the combat with disc onto the LR. Dealers would do such stuff to make a sale and the Commando seat and side panels made it an easy swap.

So, in hindsight, was it the Commando or the triple that you ultimately preferred?

Alan L said:

So, in hindsight, was it the Commando or the triple that you ultimately preferred?

Click to expand...

A fair question, & 50 years later I'm still unsure !
The triples were more frenetic, & the Commando seemed to have 'longer legs".
I enjoyed owning all three, but my ultimate preference was the BMW /5 range onwards, culminating 16 bikes later with an R9T !!

kommando said:

Regardless of a customer order or dealer order the 2 options were linked. What you also can't discount is someone seeing an LR with non combat engine and no disc in the showroom next to a combat interstate and asking for the interstate tank and panels to be swapped off the combat with disc onto the LR. Dealers would do such stuff to make a sale and the Commando seat and side panels made it an easy swap.

Click to expand...

I can discount that. It came out of the crate whilst I was there.

My current project is a Fastback LR, but I am considering just making it into a Roadster as the tanks and seats seem easier to come by. The tank for the LR is quite different from the Interstate, and even if I could get the fibreglass tail, the seat looks quite different from a Roadster or Interstate.

You can modify an Interstate seat to fit the LR tank, the ears need moving approx 2" backwards so the seat comes forward. I had the seat already stripped and could mock it up before relocating the ears.

This is the ears from RGM in stainless bolted to their fibreglass racing seat to also fit the LR (well the Interpol tank as its the same but with a radio cutout).



and fitted to the bike.




and with the modified Interstate

I wonder if there's a dedicated '72 FB tailpiece, since the frame has a wider seat loop than previous years.
The parts book shows the same part number, but it must have needed some persuasion to fit.