Silver Vs. Black

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Anglophile

Anglophile

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I know this has been discussed before but I can't decide which color to paint the cylinder barrel. Does it simply come down to aesthetics? Mine was originally painted silver but I know most British bikes (and some early/late Commandos) have black barrels whenever the barrel is cast-iron. Thoughts?

thanks,
 
Anglophile said:
I know this has been discussed before but I can't decide which color to paint the cylinder barrel. Does it simply come down to aesthetics? Mine was originally painted silver but I know most British bikes (and some early/late Commandos) have black barrels whenever the barrel is cast-iron. Thoughts?

thanks,
Click to expand...
Black ...does it for me
 
I'm voting black as well! I don't like them silver. I guess it's all personal choice unless you are trying to do a 100% correct factory spec restoration.
 
Silver always seems a bit fraudulent to me, after all you are painting it with aluminium paint, to make it look like aluminium? Its cast iron, & I go with honest to goodness black paint.
Terry
 
I believe the 71 would have been silver. Black for the 72 Combat and then back to silver for the early 850s and then back to black. Does that sound right?
 
Black gives the most efficient cooling and I like the contrast between alloy cases and head and a black barrel. As Myford says, silver seems a bit fake but if I had an original spec MkV 750 or Mk1 850 then I think that I would be tempted to keep it silver.
 
I can't decide either. I know mine was silver when I got it, but I liked the black look, so when I had it apart in the 70's I painted it black. Now the rust has come out again, and I have the motor completely broken down and can't decide. It is pretty original shape, so I tend to silver, but for looks, I like the black. I'll have to decide soon.

Dave
69S
 
I agree that black looks much better so unless going for a correct resto on an original silver one that's what I'd do . If I had mine to do over (75 Mk 3) I'd probably spring for the Swain Coatings heat shedding black coating vice black paint .
 
Does powder coating retain engine heat more than traditional paints?
I know silver is reported to be more heat retentative than black.
How about powder coating?
Mine is high temp rattle can black for a 72 combat.
It was black when I got it.
Thanks
Marshal
 
MarshalNorton said:
Does powder coating retain engine heat more than traditional paints?
I know silver is reported to be more heat retentative than black.
How about powder coating?
Mine is high temp rattle can black for a 72 combat.
It was black when I got it.
Thanks
Marshal
Click to expand...

Powdercoat is way too thick to put on a cylinder. And regular powdercoat would probably fail at 400°, not that there isn't hi-temp powdercoat available.
 
SwooshDave,
Thanks I contemplated powder coating when the engine comes apart someday?
I think I'll just stay w/ paint. It can always be touched up.
Marshal
 
Ron Bacon's book (which I don't have in front of me at the minute) has details of what paint is historically correct for what models. My recollection is that for United Kingdom models up to 1970 silver is the go, but that at least in 1970 the barrels were overpainted black for export to the US, and then all went to black for a period before 850s going back to silver. My bike came into NZ in 1986 - I think from the Yukon - at least it had a Yukon plate under the domestic plate - and it was black over silver. I elected to have it redone in silver; I just like it that colour; and with NZ being subject to both US and UK cultural mores I figured I could do what I wanted and still be "correct" (I'm ((and my bike is)) incorrect in may other ways...)
 
I'm at home now and have the book. According to Roy Bacon - Norton Twin Restoration p 222 - silver barrels 1967 - 1971; 1972 combat engine with black barrels; ; 1973 850 models with black barrels; 1975-77 interstate and roadster black barrels; that is not complete information but might be helpful; and I am absolutely confident that I have read the statement that I made in my last post about overpainting silver with black for the North American export market; but I am not sure if that was in the body of this book, or elsewhere. it might also be helpful to look at the various advertisements which show the different paint schemes for different years; I am also sure that I have seen 850s with silver barrels (well i think I am sure...).
 
Chris T said:
it might also be helpful to look at the various advertisements which show the different paint schemes for different years; I am also sure that I have seen 850s with silver barrels (well i think I am sure...).
Click to expand...

Norton Girls

These photos are strictly for "research".
:mrgreen:
 
Those are relatively small images to print out. Larger files are available "upon request"...
 
Well, I just finished sandblasting the barrel and......under the very old and thin silver paint was black paint! Because the bike sat forever and has never been restored I assume both colors were applied by the factory or maybe the dealer painted the barrel silver after warranty repair. It's always fun trying to be a detective during a restoration.
 
1973 850 models with black barrels;
-------------------------
That is not correct, I bought my 1973 Interstate 850 when it was 18 months old and the barrels were silver. I have since painted them black (20 years ago) because I think they look much better that way,
Dave.
 
If Roy Bacon wrote '73 barrels were black as delivered, he would be incorrect for North American models. Both j750 and 850 Commandos were silver barrelled that year. As most Commandos you see have black, my vote is silver if that corresponds to as manufactured spec. Definition of the ubiquitous American Commando is black roadster with black cylinders. It's good to be different - distiguished.
 
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