Pictures of your Norton Commandos

Welcome to the forum. How long have you owned the bike?
Thank you for the welcome.

I purchased that bike in 2017 for a semi retirement restoration project. I had to have one more Norton! I stumbled on to Matts CNW website while looking for parts and fell in love with his work. So I decided to send the Commando up to Matt.

My very first British bike was a Triumph at 16 years old. But I had to have a Norton! I settled on a Atlas 750 at first. Than came the the 850 commando. I rebuilt the 850 Engine with the help of my dad, Lenny Gilzo and friends. Some parts came from Marino at M.A.P Cycle as well as Sid's cycles. We put a big bore kit and Norris cams in her and Lenny did his magic on the head. Lenny used to drag race a BSA he called Dino. (Might be some folks on here that may know him) Those were some really good times in my life, we were a tight group. Hoping to add some new memory's soon.
 

Attachments

  • Pictures of your Norton Commandos
    thumbnail_IMG_0702.jpg
    185.2 KB · Views: 230
  • Pictures of your Norton Commandos
    thumbnail_IMG_0705.jpg
    274.7 KB · Views: 209
  • Pictures of your Norton Commandos
    thumbnail_IMG_0699.jpg
    237.7 KB · Views: 201
  • Pictures of your Norton Commandos
    thumbnail_IMG_0700.jpg
    249.9 KB · Views: 206
One of my favorite photos, It shows the skill of launching a Commando. This is YD's first launch as all he did on the one day he rode the little white Commando were a few practices on the old original Laconia track. It's all in the clutch control when a bike has a close ratio 4 speed.. YD's Kawasaki factory rides on the Green Meanies served him well.
 

Attachments

  • Scan#17 Commando.pdf
    601.1 KB · Views: 263
This was Dave Rawlins (a Norton employee and factory sponsored proddy bike drag racer) way of getting off the line..

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Not many photos of him on the internet, but in the day he was quite well known.
 
Wonder who won?
Well this looks like the same sprint taken from another angle and Rawlings is ahead.

 
Interesting launch positions, Never saw those poses before. I don't mind skimming the front wheel as long as you manipulate the clutch or have the rear tire spinning up.
 
I never did much drag racing, but I figured the more I was hooking up, the faster I'd be going; and, if the front wheel was off the ground, it would be less drag!
 
Interesting question, or two.
I've had to think about this. I can make a case for either.
Kind of like kids, they each have their own personality.
The 750 is a freshly built Combat, 20 over, 34mm Mk2's, Tommaselli quick throttle,
L/R iggy, fresh tight gear box with the 19 C/S, standard ratio primary, it just rips.
Will embarrass a lot of modern stuff if they are sleeping.

The 850 is the run of the mill stocker with fresh Premiers, standard throttle ratio, Basic (lazy) Boyer,
21 C/S with standard ratio primary upgraded Master and a Hydro clutch. Gear box needs work.
Not the fastest thing around, but can hold it's own, run 75 + all day.
It also brings me back to my youth as my first Commando was a NEW 73, 850 in Blue.
First new anything.

I have 5 M/C's. I get asked all the time which is my favorite. My stock response is whichever I am riding at the time.
I was thinking about the Norton's when I went to sleep last night thinking I would have the answer in the morning.
When I flipped on the garage light this morning, it was apparent. Of the 5 M/C's I own, one jumped right out and put a big smile on my face.

The Sparkly Blue 850, for no other reason than it makes me smile the most.....
 
Interesting question, or two.
I've had to think about this. I can make a case for either.
Kind of like kids, they each have their own personality.
The 750 is a freshly built Combat, 20 over, 34mm Mk2's, Tommaselli quick throttle,
L/R iggy, fresh tight gear box with the 19 C/S, standard ratio primary, it just rips.
Will embarrass a lot of modern stuff if they are sleeping.

The 850 is the run of the mill stocker with fresh Premiers, standard throttle ratio, Basic (lazy) Boyer,
21 C/S with standard ratio primary upgraded Master and a Hydro clutch. Gear box needs work.
Not the fastest thing around, but can hold it's own, run 75 + all day.
It also brings me back to my youth as my first Commando was a NEW 73, 850 in Blue.
First new anything.

I have 5 M/C's. I get asked all the time which is my favorite. My stock response is whichever I am riding at the time.
I was thinking about the Norton's when I went to sleep last night thinking I would have the answer in the morning.
When I flipped on the garage light this morning, it was apparent. Of the 5 M/C's I own, one jumped right out and put a big smile on my face.

The Sparkly Blue 850, for no other reason than it makes me smile the most.....
The 750 is an early Dreer monoshock? OIF?
 
Strip it back down (I think you can leave the forks on)
I would live to see a thread breaking down how the nonoshock is setup, and ride report impressions of it. Hint, hint. :-D
Here is my 1973 Roadster recent completed restoration after tuning and plug chops. Desirable mechanical / electrical replacements / upgrades in place. Key parts support by RGM Norton, Colorado Norton Works, Classic British Spares. Painting by Brent Budgor. Many hours of my time on polishing ☹️

YD #17 Nixon #9 aftermath of getting tangled with Chris Marshall in Turn 1 , 2002 Daytona, 3 months later YD rode my Commando, Marshall took the worst of it but they all recovered, YD was severely concussed . The BSA Rocket 3 was destroyed
 
Back
Top