Purchase advice

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steussy

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Nov 22, 2014
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New to site. Thanks for the resource. Looking at a 1974 for potential purchase. Any specific advice? I see there were several "trims" Interstate, hi rider etc. Any way to tell what original trim was and does it matter? Appears to be a nice black on gold roadster with under 20k original miles.

Cheers
 
Hi, welcome. Good job asking BEFORE you buy! More info please, pics, etc. Tell us about yourself as well... where are you? What are your skills with bikes? Other bikes? Past bikes? What are your expectations? Just ride? Some maintenance and riding?
There are LOTS of things to look out for.... many bikes fell victim to unknowing owners/mechanics that created serious problems. Improper storage is another pitfall. Serial numbers match on the engine/trans/headstock?
My understanding is there were no records of "trim" kept by the factory, but in '74 just Roadster and Interstate offered. There are real history experts here that will check in with all the answers on that.
 
Thanks. I'm in So Cal, had a 67 Triumph Daytona back in 90s and several older BMWs. Currently have a 64 Austin Healey Sprite as my fun vintage vehicle. Kids older now, 6, 12 and 14, and I find myself hankering for a motorcycle again. Sold Daytona because it really wasn't a fun bike in urban setting. Now I'm a lot closer to country roads and I'm thinking the Norton a bit more refined than 67 Daytona.

Don't see how to easily add pics but google stock 74 roadster and thats what I'm looking at.
 
steussy said:
Thanks. I'm in So Cal, had a 67 Triumph Daytona back in 90s and several older BMWs. Currently have a 64 Austin Healey Sprite as my fun vintage vehicle. Kids older now, 6, 12 and 14, and I find myself hankering for a motorcycle again. Sold Daytona because it really wasn't a fun bike in urban setting. Now I'm a lot closer to country roads and I'm thinking the Norton a bit more refined than 67 Daytona.

Don't see how to easily add pics but google stock 74 roadster and thats what I'm looking at.
Click to expand...

Ok, great. You may get a local Norton owner to go with you to look at it. Sounds like you've been tinkering old stuff. The bike you're looking at have twin Amal's? Single Mikuni? Electronic ignition?
 
Do a compression test. How's the clutch? Grabby? Drag? Slip? Tank rusty inside? Yank the rear wheel side to side while on the mainstand, isolastic mounts and or swing arm pivot may need attention. At a dealer? private sale? enthusiast owned?
Purchase advice
 
Yeah. Thats what I'm looking at. Black though. Private sale. Enthusiast. Had it checked out by local shop with Norton expert and given clean bill of health but I def will check swing arm and clutch. Not sure a compression test is totally cool to do in front of seller but I'll bring my tester. Any feedback on "trim" question?
 
" Not sure a compression test is totally cool to do in front of seller but I'll bring my tester. " I do it frequently when buying, never once experienced any push back. :mrgreen:

Check the exhaust nut threads, the nuts should be tight, ask the owner if the threads have been repaired, ever had any trouble with them, etc... he should have a proper spanner wrench for you.
 
I see subtle knee indents on tank of bike I'm interested in. Was the "slimline" no indent what made an "Interstate"? Seems like such a silly little difference.
 
The Interstate tank is bulbous.

The Roadster tank does have a recess of sorts in the knee area, random picture of some fabulous 1974 Commando.
The one you are looking at has the metal air box.

Purchase advice
 
The Interstate tank is bigger for those that wanted to travel longer distances...i.e., touring.

The differences are pretty minimal when you consider that the basic guts of the bikes are the same...if that's what your trying to say. They are purpose or cosmetic differences.
 
The red 74 Roadster that Time Warp posted above looks to be in total "Stock" trim to me...although I think the grab bar was an option. Everything else on it looks stock.
 
Hey welcome to the site, what part of So Cal are you in? I am behind the curtain in Orange County and would be happy to help you look at it. Sounds like you're off to a good start, I can't stress enough that spending a little bit more money buying a complete good bike Will save you thousands in the future. If you can having someone who knows Nortons and is unbiased to look at it for you is a really good idea. Find out what's been done to it like has the front master cylinder been sleeved so it actually works and will stop the bike as opposed to a stock one which will barely slow it down. Has the lay shaft bearing in the transmission been changed from stock or is it about to lock up the rear wheel wow writing down the freeway? You would be wise to spend a few nights using the search engine here on the forum checking things like upgrades and learning about the bikes. Best of luck. Glenn T.S.
 
The OP may want to ask himself, do I want a Commando to live the experience or just have another 'Brit bike that happens to be a Norton.
If its the experience then the black Roadster mentioned may be a good original bike, close to how it rolled out of a shop long ago, looked after ever since and every time it fires up the clock rolls back 40 years.
I would think a bike like that is not going to cost 1970's prices though, more like US$7 to $9k.

A picture of it would say a lot.
 
gtsun said:
Hey welcome to the site, what part of So Cal are you in? I am behind the curtain in Orange County and would be happy to help you look at it. Sounds like you're off to a good start, I can't stress enough that spending a little bit more money buying a complete good bike Will save you thousands in the future. If you can having someone who knows Nortons and is unbiased to look at it for you is a really good idea. Find out what's been done to it like has the front master cylinder been sleeved so it actually works and will stop the bike as opposed to a stock one which will barely slow it down. Has the lay shaft bearing in the transmission been changed from stock or is it about to lock up the rear wheel wow writing down the freeway? You would be wise to spend a few nights using the search engine here on the forum checking things like upgrades and learning about the bikes. Best of luck. Glenn T.S.
Click to expand...

I'm down in Orange County like Glenn and would be happy to talk with you about it. Don't have much experience with them myself but am in the process of sorting out the '71 I purchased this summer and have been learning as I go so I can share some of the tips that I've picked up so far. Great community of people on here who collectively know just about everything about Nortons so you are in the right place. Best of luck with the purchase, look forward to seeing the first pics of it

Josh
 
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