Total Beginner

Old British bikes are from another era - a time when we had skills. Many of us pulled bikes apart and rebuilt them many times, so a Commando is in no way daunting. If you are starting out, you need to be prepared to get dirty and be extremely patient. There is nothing worse than damaging an expensive component simply by forcing the issue. If you regard your bike as a challenge to be enjoyed rather than an impost to be endured, you will probably do very well. It helps if you know somebody who can show you how to build a motor and gearbox. The beauty of a Commando or a Triumph is they are re-buildable and respond well to TLC.

To htown16:
What a great reply, I appreciate it very much. My life has given me a great many responsibilities and though I'd like to learn many things I doubt wrenching on my old bike will be one of them. I'm very into cars and bikes and have been fortunate enough to now own a set of interesting cars and bikes - so no one of them is terribly taxed (most see at most 500 miles a year). I've tried to become friends with some of the best mechanics in my city (and yes, they are not cheap--but if they like you they make the bills fair and as livable as possible). The one thing I do look for in a car or bike is: if I get you sorted properly will you reliably do your 500 miles a year without leaving me beside the road or killing me?" --- If they can do that they get to stay in the garage. If not I get rid of them. I have a 1976 Sportster that I'm sure would still get me to Dallas and back (several hundred miles each way). I fondly remember my 20 year old friends Commando as a spectacular bike but I also remember he was always fiddling with it. But I also never saw it leave him by the side of the road. You've given me a lot to think about -- again my thanks to all of you for your very very thoughtful responses.

Norton550 said:

Some folks have told me the electric starter is at best an assist, others that it kills the battery. For my part electric start would probably be great but if it doesn't work I'd be ruling bikes out for a feature I can't use. I'll try to get serial numbers from the 1972 for sale locally and some pics to see what you guys think. My sincere thanks to everyone--this is clearly a great forum.

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61 years old here. Just kick it. Its not that hard.
Dont be skeered.

I got into the old bike hobby 15 years ago with my 78 Bonneville. Right now I have 3 old Brit bikes on the road, 70 BSA, 72 Commando and the Bonneville. I put about a 1000 miles a year on each of them plus ride my newer bike. In all that time I've only been stranded on the road 3 times not counting running out of gas and a nail in a tire. Once the oil pickup plugged on the BSA and it wet sumped, once the rocker feed gasket failed on the Commando and once an ignition switch quit working on the Bonneville. Now I have made some roadside repairs and I probably could have even fixed those problems on the side of the road too, but it was easier to put it on the trailer and do it at home.
With that said I've usually got one of them up on the lift at any given time for some repairs or adjustment or routine maintenance. So reliability comes at a cost. As you mentioned your friend with the Commando was never stranded but he also was always fiddling with it.
Even if the bike sits during most of the year that can cause problems, carbs plug up, batteries run down, rubber parts deteriorate ect.

I should have added in my last response that more than half of the cars and bikes I own are what most people would call "high maintenance and highly impractical vehicles" and the other half are just "impractical". And yet each is a unique driving experience with no two being alike and with none of the above being "just transportation". Each is a unique visceral experience from the one that has no power steering to the one that has the control of a race car. From the one that expemplifys the newest version of a famous model to the one that was one of the first of its line. They're all different experiences. So I've long understood the idea of: "she'll make you suffer, but she's worth it. Long ago I owned a 1970 Honda CB450 and never really touched it and she always ran like a champ. I'm sure if I bought a properly sorted 1970 CB450 today she'd be a similar experience. The common thread I've heard in all your responses is a passion for your bikes. And doubtless a part of that passion involves "fiddling" with your Norton. I get the feeling most of you would tell me that if I found one that never needed any "fiddling" I'd miss out on the "Norton experience". I truly understand that concept. Just as I'd tell someone today that to replace that six speed manual gated shifter with a paddle shifter would make you miss out on the "true Ferrari" experience. Kinda like saying "I'd like to experience climbing Everest but I don't want to get cold". So I think I understand the excellent advice you all have provided me. Now I gotta examine carefully do I want to tackle a new "experience". Even when I mentioned how I didn't want a kickstart version, I thought to myself: "so you want the feel of an old British twin, without any of the feel of an old British twin". LOL -- I've obviously got a lot to think over. Thanks again guys.

Sounds like a good plan.
A thoughtful process that evaluates the plus and minus of it will serve you best in the long run.
Plenty of used Commandos out there, and prices for motorcycles go down in the fall.
Good luck - and let us know if you pull the trigger on one.
This thread should help if you decide to buy:
http://www.accessnorton.com/how-much-did-your-commando-cost-t24945.html

htown16 said:

You said you weren't handy with a wrench. That can mean one of two things, you have no experience but you're willing to learn or you have no desire to. Not judging, some find pleasure in working on mechanical things, some would rather pursue other things. If you fall into the no desire category IMHO an old Norton won't be an enjoyable experience. The only way you might make it work is to buy a perfectly restored bike (10K+) done by someone who knew what they were doing and then have somebody close by to regularly service it and fix the odd glitch that knows what they are doing. I don't know anyone in SA, but there are some in Austin, Dallas and Houston that can work on them. At going shop rates that's going to require deep pockets and they will do it on their schedule.
You might get lucky and find someones baby at a reasonable price but in my experience your average Craigslist or Ebay bike is going to require you to spend at least a few months and a fair amount of dollars to get to reliable riding status. Then there's ongoing maintenance. Unlike modern bikes when these bikes were built it was just assumed the average owner would change the fluids, replace the tires, chain, adjust the valves, set the points, set the timing, rebuild the carbs, decoke the head and on and on. Compare one of their owners manuals to one today. They practically told you enough to rebuild the bike, today it's all about how to set the security and adjust the stereo and heated grips.
Not trying to be a downer but just trying to be realistic. If you do want to learn how to turn wrenches this board is a great resource.

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Strongly agree on this, my current bike had been completely restored by the PO but has still required a good bit of tinkering and repairs over the last six years and it is a '73 850, one of the more reliable Commandos...anyway if I'd needed to go to a mechanic every time something was amiss that would have been a royal PITA and very expensive. (X 10 on the '69 750 I owned in my youth ;-))
Though as was said working on a Commando is straightforward and there is a wealth of knowledge and experience here if you need assistance or to do research on a particular job...,

Ditto. There's always some fettling with these bikes. If you can't appreciate that it may not be for you, but you may learn to love it. It's not complicated, it's the Zen.

Ya Know, sometimes you have to pick your poison based on emotion and not science. Of the breed, I think the MK3 (1975) is the most refined. I have one and no, the electric starter has never worked in the 20 years I've owned her. I'm 63 and kick starting the Commando has never been an issue. She has always been a 1-2 kick bike. This winter, I plan to get the e-start working, but mainly because I want it to work, not because I need it. The other advantages to the MK3 is that the isolastics are easier to adjust and you have front and rear disc brakes. Also if you are used to "modern" bikes, the MK3 shifts on the left and brakes on the right. That has never been an issue for me as my other bike is a '74 Trident and I'm just used to switching back and forth.

The one thing I would recommend , regardless of the year/model you choose, is to put electronic ignition on it. Mine was last timed 20 years ago and starts and idles perfectly. Also put modern rubber on it. If you change the oil regularly, adjust the valves occasionally, and adjust the isolastics yearly there is no reason that you can't take off for a long weekend anytime you want.

I think my Commando is far simpler, less finicky, less funky, less needy, easier to ride, and more reliable than my Trident, any day of the week. And, I am the original owner of my Trident and know it very well and it is squared away.

The Commando is truly a joy to ride; light, stable, smooth, predictable, flickable, great manners with unbelievable character.

If you are going to own a classic bike, you have to recognize that you will have to invest a certain amount of time getting to know it. Once you have the bike squared away, you will spend a certain amount of time keeping it that way. If you have an R75/5 you will probably less than 10% of your bike time maintaining it. A Trident would be in the neighborhood of 30%. Those are the two extremes. A Commando that is squared away - 10%, 12% ?? I don't know, what do you guys think?

Cheers,
C

Norton550 said:

Thanks for the prompt replies---Awesome!
Ray actually summarized a lot of what you guys need to know from me--I'm in San Antonio, Texas, don't expect to use it on long trips and am not handy with a wrench. Not that fond of kick starting bike (didn't enjoy it much in my twenties, doubt I'll like it any better now in my sixties. Too old to be riding unsafe bikes so I keep mine in proper running order. Am respectful of the idea that older bikes need more caution than current models (with disks versus drums and other modern conveniences). Please keep your ideas coming since their really great. As an aside a couple of you mentioned and acycronim for I assume a place that sells "highly restored" version -- was it CVsomething?? I've forgotten the initials -- what is this place???

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Norton 550,
The last bike I restored cost me $700 to buy. The PO had passed away and his son just wanted it gone. It was a 70 750 with a glass tank so of course that had to be replaced. The up and down side was that the PO had taken it apart to "restore" it, had the frame powder coated and purchased some new parts which off set the purchase price. It was a jigsaw puzzle because it was taken completely apart which was one of the reasons I got it so cheap.
The quality of parts from CNW are great, just a bit expensive but you do get what you pay for. Jim Comstock (comnoz) can fix a bad day if you need machine work
There used to be a Norton dealer in Midland, Carl Blansky, who passed away 20+ years ago, there might be a few Nortons up in that area if you have time to "kick over a few rocks". You never know until you ask.

John in Texas