Talk Me Down....

Buy the Combat if it's still available. I've always had much more regret over the bikes that I didn't buy. I've purchased some bikes that I just didn't click with and was always able to resell them for what I had paid. Never try to overthink emotion.

eskasteve said:

Buy the Combat if it's still available. I've always had much more regret over the bikes that I didn't buy. I've purchased some bikes that I just didn't click with and was always able to resell them for what I had paid. Never try to overthink emotion.

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Well said sir !

Stillreel said:

Maarstom?

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Sent you a PM on this...kinda off topic for the thread, but yes, my boat is a Marstrom...good guess!

eskasteve said:

Buy the Combat if it's still available. I've always had much more regret over the bikes that I didn't buy. I've purchased some bikes that I just didn't click with and was always able to resell them for what I had paid. Never try to overthink emotion.

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YUP.......

So saw/sat a '72 Combat just now. Very impressed with the immediate look/feel/ride position. This bike Corbin seat, so perhaps not as much clearance to the foot pegs? Bars gave very nice relaxed position for arms. Bonne tends to have my arms more stretched/elbows locked.
Owner didn’t have much knowledge of bike mods...just had a huge stack of docs from previous owner (4 yrs ago). Current guy just rode it <10x per yr....had mechanic do all the tuning etc. So no way to know if all the needed mods done without spending a few hrs in the paperwork. No matter, he wants 13k for it with 22k on the clock, old tires etc.
Seems I'm at a decision point and need to raise the issue with the ball and chain....

Yes I can go look at it for you. Unless you want to come to Toronto then I have a place for you to crash. Heading off to the Annual X-mas Mayfair Plating party now so more later...

A Combat converted to a single Mikuni? That should be worth 2000 bucks off the price - consider it as a fine for doing that to a Combat Commando!

OK, seriously, the list sounds pretty good to me. The price seems a bit high but I haven't been looking recently so maybe it's not bad. Honestly, although I would immediately put the OEM manifold/dual Concentrics back on it, and I'm totally NOT a Boyer fan (either Trispark or OEM points/AAU), it sounds like a pretty decent bike.

Good Luck!

Stop fu#king around and go get it already!

Torontonian said:

Yes I can go look at it for you. Unless you want to come to Toronto then I have a place for you to crash. Heading off to the Annual X-mas Mayfair Plating party now so more later...

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I plan to be in Ottawa 12/18-12/28. Maybe I can arrange a jaunt over to TO to check it out. Be great if you'd lend your opinions in person....

P.S. What the heck is "Mayfair Plating"? Sounds dirty ;-)

MexicoMike said:

A Combat converted to a single Mikuni? That should be worth 2000 bucks off the price - consider it as a fine for doing that to a Combat Commando!
.......
Good Luck!

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Now, that’s funny.........

For $13K, it should have solid provenance that can be backed up with a phone call and/or visit to the builder's shop.

MexicoMike said:

A Combat converted to a single Mikuni? That should be worth 2000 bucks off the price - consider it as a fine for doing that to a Combat Commando!

OK, seriously, the list sounds pretty good to me. The price seems a bit high but I haven't been looking recently so maybe it's not bad. Honestly, although I would immediately put the OEM manifold/dual Concentrics back on it, and I'm totally NOT a Boyer fan (either Trispark or OEM points/AAU), it sounds like a pretty decent bike.

Good Luck!

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+1. The Combat motor comes on cam just as the single Mik runs out of breath!

Worst of both worlds?

Does the seller have all of the take off parts? Otherwise figure about $450-500 USD to convert back to the twin Amals. Not too bad looking at the big picture. I'm surprised that the bike is still available as even halfway nice Combats seem to sell fast. Two years ago I sold a complete 73 Combat basket case for $4000 USD. The only thing that didn't need attention was the tank and side covers which I'd just had painted. Frozen engine, ratty wiring harness, rust, corrosion, etc. but it sold on the third day that I had it posted. The frame was straight and the seat was also in good shape. The gentleman that bought it got it up and running this September. He had almost $7800 additional dollars into it and had no regrets. He did say that the transmission was good but he replaced all of the bushings, bearings and seals as a precaution. I look forward to seeing it at the INOA rally in Washington State this coming summer.

So we all know that the Combat as delivered had a very problematic engine which cost Norton a lot of money.
Norton's fix was the 850, moderate compression, ss cam as the earlier non Combat 750 had, strengthened cases ( further strengthened for 1975 MK3 850) ,strengthened crank( further strengthened MK3 850) , strengthened barrel and head attachment.

Over the years fixes have been found for all of the main weaknesses of the Combat. The main fix seems to be to detune back to earlier 750 Commando performance level.
The Combat head had big inlet ports and a porting job that would today be considered a butcher job. A lot more is known about porting today ( thank you Jim i) We now know that bigger is not necessarily better.

The Combat cam made more power up top but lost some in the middle. If you detune the Combat to stock 750 spec then replacement of the Combat cam with a regular SS grind would give more power for regular road riding even with twin carbs, but especially with Single carb fitted.
So I don't understand why anyone would pay more for a Combat model, unless they really like the name.

To my thinking the very best Combat to buy today would be one that has had all of the Combat parts replaced with standard 750 parts, including the head and cam. At that point it is a Combat in name only.

Glen

Owning a Combat ihe s kinda like being married to a porn star. Lots of baggage but also great rewards. I've owned 3 Combats and they were without a doubt my favorites regardless of the issues. So I've owned Combats but have never married a porn star. At 65yo the marriage thing is off of the table but I will own another Combat.

I had the pleasure to ride one fresh from the factory. As many did ,the engine ate itself at about 1500 miles. So my memories of the Combat are not so great.
Detuned and fortified I'm sure they are ok, but where's the advantage over a standard 750?

Glen

Horses for courses again isn’t it Glen?

With the ‘fortification’ options available today, and assuming one has access to good petrol, I see no need to detune a Combat personally.

But I would say that wouldn’t I? I am effectively building a 920 Combat currently !

Note you are not using stock 850 cases or crank for your build .
Imagine building a hotrod with cases and crank that are weaker than standard pre MK3 850 stuff. That's a stock Combat.

I'm sure it's possible to have a Combat level 750 that could be reliably run hard if enough $ is used, however standard Combat cases and crank were pretty fragile items to try to run at the high tune.
That's why Norton made the later fortifications.
Are Superblend bearings alone enough to allow the rest of the Combat items to be safely run hard without fear of future catastrophic failure?
I wouldn't want to try it. Gentle running only might keep it alive, but where is the fun in that?
Most seem to prefer dropping a few peak horses to obtain an engine that isn't about to grenade if used as intended.
At the same time some midrange grunt can be gained, if dyno charts showing both engine types are correct ( standard 750 vs Combat)

Glen

If it’s a low mileage bike, and I only wanted to use it for weekend fun on the road, I would definitely be happy to risk it.

But, to each his own.

I had Combat in the early 1980s, the only bike I regret selling.I bought it off my mate (the original owner) it had had the engine rebuilt by John Hudson who used to turn up at your house and rebuild motors as warranty claims when/if they expired too quickly. I can honestly say apart from a slipping clutch (just used to wash the plates) I had no problems with the bike, and it was hammered by me all the time as I was young and stupid. If I could find another at the right price , I'd jump at it.
I paid £250 for that bike ----- those were the days !
sam