Pictures of your Norton Commandos

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Here's my old '74 streetfighter, I bought it new in 1974, and will be getting it running this winter. This is my 'Before' picture then.
 
Here is my daily ride. In a room full of Nortons, there is nothing very special about this bike, except that it is MINE! I have put over a thousand miles on this bike this summer, mostly riding it to work. Not a lot of mileage, but considering where I live and that a year ago you couldn't ride it anywhere reliably, I am happy about it. Mostly it just makes me smile to ride it.



Below is the bike that seems to call out with lots of potential. I am thinking about starting a thread on this bike. Not a thread about what I plan to do with it, but a thread on what would you do with it. Sort of a pre-build brainstorming. I might wait until I am inside it and can see what condition the internals are in as it will probably influence what direction a build goes. I won't be tearing it down until the weather gets too cold to ride. We are getting close.
 

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rvich:

The possibilities are virtually endless.

Since you already have a touring bike, maybe you want a sport bike?

If cafe racer ergonomics are not for you, maybe something with nominally low bars and a quarter fairing?

(God forbid) Bobber? Chopper?

Maybe a vintage roadracer! You have plenty of time before the AHRMA season opener at Bloomington, GA in late February...
 
Here's a couple of photos of my 850, taken at this weekend's Colorado English Motoring Conclave. The Conclave is an annual all-British car and bike meet. I decided on a whim to enter my bike in the show and came home with a second place ribbon! I didn't even bother to take off the panniers or even the sweatshirt that was bungied on top. This bike is a rider, not a trailer queen! :D

In the lineup:

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Awards! The Interstate in the background won first place in the Norton class. The owner is one of our club members also. Norton Colorado swept the event (well, in the Norton category anyway).

Pictures of your Norton Commandos
 
It is a Triumph car colour, Delft Blue.
Couldn't decide what colour to do it, but had enough paint left from a Triumph Sprint I sprayed once, so on it went.
 
I love that blue color too. I have a Arai helmet that color & am thinking of painting the bike to match. Congrads again Debby. I took my 72 Volvo 1800 ES to a show after a new motor and engine compartment detailing was done. I had no intensions of entering it but they insisted and I too took 2nd place in class! Now it's a daily driver with about 300,000 miles from new.
 
Debby,
What was it about the Interstate that brought it a blue ribbon? Certainly not the sissy/grab bar thing on the back!

Russ
 
rvich said:
Debby,
What was it about the Interstate that brought it a blue ribbon? Certainly not the sissy/grab bar thing on the back!

Russ
Click to expand...

Well, for one thing he got there at 8 am when the show started, not 11 am like I did! :oops: It was a Peoples' Choice deal, the voting ended at 12:30, and most of the people who were going to vote did so before I showed up. You know what they say: "early bird gets the blue ribbon" (or something like that) :wink:

Debby
 
debby said:
Well, for one thing he got there at 8 am when the show started, not 11 am like I did! :oops: It was a Peoples' Choice deal, the voting ended at 12:30, and most of the people who were going to vote did so before I showed up. You know what they say: "early bird gets the blue ribbon" (or something like that)
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, worms are highly over-rated.
 
Here's a pic of my reasonably standard looking Commando.

It has Lansdowne front fork internals, a Steve Maney big valve head, PW3 cam, 34mm Mk2 Amals, Podtronics regulator, 180w single phase alternator, Dave Comeau starter, Norvil floating front disc, I have drilled the rear disc myself to a pattern similar to the one on Old Britts, a 13mm sleeved master cylinder done by RGM, Dave Taylor head steady, Trispark electronic "in the points cover" electronic ignition and a few lesser additions.

I really enjoy riding this bike, and being a mere 5'6", I also find it very comfortable to ride.

Since my original post I have added in 2011 some Steve Maney 920 barrels with 9.8:1 cr pistons and also put a "Viking" 2-1-2 exhaust on. It is a very nice ride now with a broad spread of power 8) 8) 8)


Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Pictures of your Norton Commandos
 
Last edited by a moderator:
pelican wrote;
What don't you like about the rear disc to change it back to stock?
Click to expand...

It keeps wearing the carrier where it locates on the bobbins. This is the second one I've had. Can't bear the hassle factor dealing with the proprietor again or the removing of more cash from my pocket. A shame really as I think it looks nice. They have both worn out in less than 2,000 miles.
 
GrandPaul,
Re that horrid chopper. Unfortunately, I understand 90% of the "goings on" on that thing (and think? I've seen worse) but what in the harry is that thing attached to the down tube with the high tension lead(s) comming from it? Automotive, farm tractor ? EH GAD!

On the other hand, that front end would do well on some clapped out Sportster trike.

Tom
 
I finally found that old picture album from the 70's and have started digitizing them.

Here is a picture of my first Norton in about 75. I still have it.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Here is a picture in the late 70's of that bike as my first fuel injection project. What a horrible bundle of wires that was.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


And here is a shot of my present Commando as it was first assembled in 1981

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


There are some more pictures of the N15 and a few other posted here. Jim

http://s658.photobucket.com/albums/uu31 ... ke%20Pics/
 
And here are a couple pictures of my first perimeter framed Norton racer.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Here are some pictures of the modified Norton motor that was in it. It made 85 to 90 horse at around 9000 and the engine cases would last
about 6 weekends of racing even with the center support. Then they would get a spiderweb of cracks.

Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Pictures of your Norton Commandos


Pictures of your Norton Commandos
 

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