Opinions on this bike
- Thread starter auldblue
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Depends if you like the stock look or 'rodded' type look. For me, too much original, expensive stuff missing but I like original looking Commandos. I think it's priced a little high for what it is, but that's just my personal opinion. HTH
Cheers, Martin
Cheers, Martin
ashman
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It looks pretty good to me, there are a lot of diffrent things that have been done to it also a lot of things that will need fixing as well, but for what it is it will make someone happy to fix the way they want it as we all have our own ideas on how a Commando should look, a few are saying the price is high but as these bikes get older the prices are going to get even higher, but this bike is a good starting point to make it your own.
Over here in Aussie land the prices for any Nortons are going through the roof, a mate of mine payed $8,500 for a nice looking 850 Commando but by the time he rode it home (about 20 miles) the primary was full of motor oil and spewed all over the floor, this was 3 years ago, he works at a Triumph shop here in Brisbane so he got one of his workshop mate to pull it down and found where the main oil seal on the primary side had a section broken away, so now the motor sits on my workshop bench being rebuilt, the broken piece has been welded ane milled.
My point to this is to expect the unknown unless you know the full history of the bike, we all take risks in life and buying a old motorcycle is the same, but they can be fixed and only the lucky ones seem to pick up the cheap ones but they are harder to fine these days, its all depends on how much you are willing to pay.
Ashley
Over here in Aussie land the prices for any Nortons are going through the roof, a mate of mine payed $8,500 for a nice looking 850 Commando but by the time he rode it home (about 20 miles) the primary was full of motor oil and spewed all over the floor, this was 3 years ago, he works at a Triumph shop here in Brisbane so he got one of his workshop mate to pull it down and found where the main oil seal on the primary side had a section broken away, so now the motor sits on my workshop bench being rebuilt, the broken piece has been welded ane milled.
My point to this is to expect the unknown unless you know the full history of the bike, we all take risks in life and buying a old motorcycle is the same, but they can be fixed and only the lucky ones seem to pick up the cheap ones but they are harder to fine these days, its all depends on how much you are willing to pay.
Ashley
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Not sure about the price due to the exchange rate, but it sounds high to me. No air filters mean it may have been run like that and dirt could have been sucked into the engine causing premature wear. Also, the front fork appears to be off a different machine, which means it could have been in a front-end crash. Lots of unknowns and an apparent premium price would keep me away.
I think you could get a better and more standard bike for the money he is asking. A lot of the modifications are not really improvements, it has the early single leading shoe backing plate and non standard fork - is the length and spring rate correct for a Commando? The loose head nut lying on the barrel base would require investigation and it's quite likely the head will have to come off.
We all know that for any bike this age the asking price is simply an entry fee into spending more, but we can already see from the photos that probably a couple of thousand needs to be spent just to bring the basics back to standard. It's maybe worth about 4 thousand in my opinion.
We all know that for any bike this age the asking price is simply an entry fee into spending more, but we can already see from the photos that probably a couple of thousand needs to be spent just to bring the basics back to standard. It's maybe worth about 4 thousand in my opinion.
I have watched the value of Commandos closely and they have gone through the roof recently.
I have not seen anything tidy and running for £4000.
Total basket cases seem to be going for well over £3000.
6 does seem a little expensive but if there is proof of recent engine work etc it looks tidy enough. Ideal for someone who has a stack of stock parts they can put back on it!
I have not seen anything tidy and running for £4000.
Total basket cases seem to be going for well over £3000.
6 does seem a little expensive but if there is proof of recent engine work etc it looks tidy enough. Ideal for someone who has a stack of stock parts they can put back on it!
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So how much would a good second hand low mileage 650 twin kwacka / Suzuki from a main dealer cost....that would come with some form of guarentee ?? They start on the button...go faster...stop quicker...handle better and are a LOT more reliable enabling one to ride the lump rather than have them in bits on a regular basis ...... NOT my words but a quote often given by a Gentleman in reply to customers asking what Norton should they buy next or older customers who can no longer kick their Nortons into life asking whose starter system they should fit......The Gentleman used to race Commandos, won championships doing so, manufactures bits for Nortons and repairs / rebuilds them for customers.
Personally I would not touch it with a barge pole UNLESS it was in bits and I could give it a good going over first..... a worn crank on -40 to start with aint much use to man or beast and neither are worn barrels /pistons on +60 etc..... Yes I know you can get big ends welded back to std and barrels fitted with decent 'Made in the USA' liners (Los Angeles Sleeve Gear Co) but such things cost money....
Personally I would not touch it with a barge pole UNLESS it was in bits and I could give it a good going over first..... a worn crank on -40 to start with aint much use to man or beast and neither are worn barrels /pistons on +60 etc..... Yes I know you can get big ends welded back to std and barrels fitted with decent 'Made in the USA' liners (Los Angeles Sleeve Gear Co) but such things cost money....
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Probably so on some of the parts but the high pipes and metal roadster tank should do okay. But not so long ago on this forum guys who chopped the mudguard loops were doing a disservice to the bikes. This bike has had the loop loped so the options are open and it has a v5.
Cafed bikes look unfinished if the tail end is not finished properly eg.
Both nice bikes but the back ends look poor.
Much better look on the back but you need to loose the loop. So no commando would be injured in the process .
Cafed bikes look unfinished if the tail end is not finished properly eg.
Both nice bikes but the back ends look poor.
Much better look on the back but you need to loose the loop. So no commando would be injured in the process .
2nd hand pipes are worth nothing, you can buy these new for less than 100 quid. I would advise that you keep looking for the bike you want, it will cost a lot of time and money to turn something else into your preferred machine when there are bikes out there that probably match what you are looking for with a little patience.
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dave M said:
DaveM ,
Thank you very much for the advice it is much appreciated . I will be patient and sit in and either watch tv or look at my bank statements and work out who is going to spend my money when I pop my clogs. You are a star!
Anyway I am going to get my rule out and get ready to do some frame changing.
See ya later Kemosabe.
I don't know whether bikes are a bit cheaper in Winter in the UK, they are in many places where the emotional rush of wanting to get out on a nice road in the sun is completely absent for several dark and dreary months. If you are willing to travel a bit you might get lucky, there might be a dealer or private seller somewhere out in the sticks who hasn't had an enquiry for a month or two and might be amenable to do a deal. Another trick is to look up slightly older adverts in the motoring publications and phone to enquire whether the machine has been sold, if they still have it they might bite your arm off to do a deal after feeling that the advert didn't produce a sale and they have heard nothing for a month or so - you might appear like a savior.
Nortons are still quite a bit cheaper in the US, although with a relatively weak pound currently and shipping, import tax and the sheer bother of doing it from a few thousand miles away might make this rather less enticing.
Good luck with this.
Nortons are still quite a bit cheaper in the US, although with a relatively weak pound currently and shipping, import tax and the sheer bother of doing it from a few thousand miles away might make this rather less enticing.
Good luck with this.
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DaveM,
You are correct in what you say and I do agree . The bike looks to have been ravaged and flung together with any old crap but it is very close to me . I do have a project in mind and that bike could be ideal.
Once again thanks for your input Mike .
Jg
You are correct in what you say and I do agree . The bike looks to have been ravaged and flung together with any old crap but it is very close to me . I do have a project in mind and that bike could be ideal.
Once again thanks for your input Mike .
Jg
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