Some Pics

click · Jul 7, 2010

Hi Lads,

I know you all like pictures so here's a few. (Norton in touring mode, Krauser pannier rails & topbox)

Once again thanks to everybody on the forum for their advice and words of wisdom :mrgreen:

grandpaul · Jul 7, 2010

Nice '75. I'm not much for flyscreens, but that one is very unobtrusive and understated.

MarshalNorton · Jul 7, 2010

Looks very cool!!
Careful not to overload the lunchbox on the back or you'll be doing wheelies :lol:
Marshal

grandpaul · Jul 7, 2010

MarshalNorton said:
Careful not to overload the lunchbox on the back or you'll be doing wheelies

Silly, that's the whole point!

click · Jul 7, 2010

grandpaul said:
Nice '75. I'm not much for flyscreens, but that one is very unobtrusive and understated.

The Flyscreen is actually off a modern Triumph Bonnie, I sold the Bonnie to get the Norton.

It also looks like the Triumph tank bag & harness off the Bonnie will also fit the Norton.

Does this now mean I have a Triton :mrgreen:

Kevin

MarshalNorton · Jul 7, 2010

Grand Paul you sly devil
Touche!!!!
Marshal

click · Jul 7, 2010

MarshalNorton said:
Looks very cool!!
Careful not to overload the lunchbox on the back or you'll be doing wheelies :lol:
Marshal

I do like a BIG lunch

I have a love hate relationship with top boxes.

I hate them because they mess up the lines of a bike :x

But I love them because they carry all the bits I tend to bring with me, lock, some tools/spares etc.. Also it's very handy for storing bits when you arrive, helmet, gloves, jacket etc.

Kevin

rvich · Jul 7, 2010

I like that screen and the seat both. What can you tell us about the seat?
Thanx
Russ

click · Jul 7, 2010

rvich said:
I like that screen and the seat both. What can you tell us about the seat?
Thanx
Russ

Hi Russ,

The chap who originally built my Norton, sadly, has passed on. The pictures I've seen of 4 other Norton Commando's he built also had the same seats, I think he got them custom made.

Roy sent me a picture of two bikes he built for himself & a mate. They shipped them over to the USA & did a 3 month, 15000 mile trip! I regard myself VERY lucky to have one of the bikes he built.

Here's a pic of the two bikes he built for the USA trip, two 74 850's.

Kevin

Hobot · Jul 7, 2010

Handsome 850 with some usable travel and errand storage.
I have found that enough mass back of axle does indeed assist wheelies.

I'm curious on the rear loop supports.
Looks like the Z plate was extended by a strut for the vertical
support of loop. I assume the Z plate strut is fixed by two bolts
in a row on Z plate.
On my heavy haul jobs I used a single long strut angled
from back of Z plate up to rear part of loop. Solid-rigid
to hold couple hundred lbs against spikes of loads on bumps.

hobot

click · Jul 7, 2010

hobot said:
Handsome 850 with some usable travel and errand storage.
I have found that enough mass back of axle does indeed assist wheelies.

I'm curious on the rear loop supports.
Looks like the Z plate was extended by a strut for the vertical
support of loop. I assume the Z plate strut is fixed by two bolts
in a row on Z plate.
On my heavy haul jobs I used a single long strut angled
from back of Z plate up to rear part of loop. Solid-rigid
to hold couple hundred lbs against spikes of loads on bumps.

hobot

Hi Hotbot,

The strut is part of the Krauser universal fitting kit. It's a flat galvanized bar with a crease down the middle to help with rigidity.

I have the end of this strut bolted to the footrest hangers, only one bolt, not two. I understand two bolts would be better but I'm not drilling a hole in my Z plates :roll:

Kevin

grandpaul · Jul 7, 2010

I had a '74 850 Roadster with that same stepped seat, but it was on the bike when I got it, don't know the origin.

It was better than the standard Interstate seat, and I should have swapped it to my '75, but that bike is totally original and that would be an instant eye-catching no-no.

kommando · Jul 7, 2010

Pure guess but Leighton would be a candidate for the seat maker.

http://www.rk-leighton.co.uk/index.html

Hobot · Jul 7, 2010

Thanks for the detail Kevin. So its not a rear loop enforcer so much
as mounting kit for the big side bags.
Having had rear loop fracture off its a concern of mine with
significant cargo, camping gear for two to beer cases to 50# feed bags.

An 850 friend, now a Victory only rider, gave me his big tank bag
that uses a strap on base for use on non-magnetic tanks.
Very comfy to lay on for long straight hauls.

Nice brain waves lingering to view your joy ride to inspire me to
preservere on finding cute but useful luggage gear.

hobot

click · Jul 7, 2010

hobot said:
Thanks for the detail Kevin. So its not a rear loop enforcer so much
as mounting kit for the big side bags.
Having had rear loop fracture off its a concern of mine with
significant cargo, camping gear for two to beer cases to 50# feed bags.

An 850 friend, now a Victory only rider, gave me his big tank bag
that uses a strap on base for use on non-magnetic tanks.
Very comfy to lay on for long straight hauls.

Nice brain waves lingering to view your joy ride to inspire me to
preservere on finding cute but useful luggage gear.

hobot

Hi Hotbot,

There are three fixing points:

1. pillion footpegs (using the brace)
2. Top rear shock mount
3. Rear grab rail

So in a round about way the rear loop is supported, I think!

Kevin

L.A.B. · Jul 7, 2010

click said:
The chap who originally built my Norton, sadly, has passed on. The pictures I've seen of 4 other Norton Commando's he built also had the same seats, I think he got them custom made.

They're all Norman Hyde "Norton" (Commando) seats, as far as I can tell (and sadly no longer available from Norman Hyde I think, but they are still available for various Triumphs & BSAs http://www.normanhyde.co.uk/search.php?tag=45).

click · Jul 7, 2010

L.A.B. said:
click said:

The chap who originally built my Norton, sadly, has passed on. The pictures I've seen of 4 other Norton Commando's he built also had the same seats, I think he got them custom made.

Click to expand...

They're all Norman Hyde "Norton" (Commando) seats, as far as I can tell (and sadly no longer available from Norman Hyde I think, but they are still available for various Triumphs & BSAs http://www.normanhyde.co.uk/search.php?tag=45).

Hi L.A.B.,

Another amazing rabbit out of a hat!!

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/giant-rabbit1.jpg
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Some Pics

Moderator