Trying to trace FHO45K

peter12 · Feb 18, 2020

Hi there.
I owned a Commando from about 1977 to 1992. The machine was originally a 750 Roadster, Converted to 850 Interstate.
I know the bike has gone through a few owners since sold and would be very keen to talk to the current owner.
Reason, unashamedly sentimental. I currently own a similar machine!
If anyone is able to help that would be great.

gortnipper · Feb 18, 2020

If you have the VIN, check the database.

http://nortoncommando.info/

Time Warp · Feb 18, 2020

I thought being in the UK you could at least check online when it was last registered ? (If the plate is still in use)

FB Commando pages probably has a larger audience and word of mouth.

#

Edit... I googled registration check UK and got this for that plate number.

Vehicle Details
Vehicle make NORTON

Date of first registration April 1972

Year of manufacture 1972

Cylinder capacity 850 cc

Vehicle status Taxed <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Vehicle colour RED

Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 12 April 2012 <<< Does this mean it went back on the road in 2012 ?

#

I guess 'Taxed means it is still on the road and not under a tarp at the bottom of someones garden. ?

peter12 · Feb 19, 2020

Time Warp said:
I thought being in the UK you could at least check online when it was last registered ? (If the plate is still in use)

FB Commando pages probably has a larger audience and word of mouth.

#

Edit... I googled registration check UK and got this for that plate number.

Vehicle Details
Vehicle make NORTON

Date of first registration April 1972

Year of manufacture 1972

Cylinder capacity 850 cc

Vehicle status Taxed <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Vehicle colour RED

Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 12 April 2012 <<< Does this mean it went back on the road in 2012 ?

#

I guess 'Taxed means it is still on the road and not under a tarp at the bottom of someones garden. ?

yes, I did that, also checked another site, found mot history from 2010 to 2017 but doesn’t help with previous owner.
I can apply to DVLA with a form 888. This is for a previous owner with reasonable cause. So I guess it’s up to them! I know it’s been with current owner since 2001 and I believe he’s the second since me!

peter12 · Feb 19, 2020

peter12 said:
yes, I did that, also checked another site, found mot history from 2010 to 2017 but doesn’t help with previous owner.
I can apply to DVLA with a form 888. This is for a previous owner with reasonable cause. So I guess it’s up to them! I know it’s been with current owner since 2001 and I believe he’s the second since me!

Think it was 2002 not 1!

peter12 · Feb 19, 2020

Unfortunately I don’t have a record of the full vin number!

kommando · Feb 19, 2020

Form 888 will not work, reasonable cause needs to be something like the vehicle was in a accident and fled scene or you are a disreputable parking company and need to issue a speculative invoice. Wanting to chat to owner will be rejected.

Time Warp · Feb 19, 2020

peter12 said:
yes, I did that, also checked another site, found mot history from 2010 to 2017 but doesn’t help with previous owner.
I can apply to DVLA with a form 888. This is for a previous owner with reasonable cause. So I guess it’s up to them! I know it’s been with current owner since 2001 and I believe he’s the second since me!

In that case I would try and contact any Norton related club if you know what area the bike might be located in (perhaps the owner is a member) and put a post on the two FaceBook Commando pages.

peter12 · Feb 19, 2020

Time Warp said:
In that case I would try and contact any Norton related club if you know what area the bike might be located in (perhaps the owner is a member) and put a post on the two FaceBook Commando pages.

Yes, think that’s what I’ll do, thanks.

mdt-son · Feb 19, 2020

peter12 said:
Unfortunately I don’t have a record of the full vin number!

Look up your insurance documents, if you have them on file, or contact your insurance company which provided liability insurance back then.

-Knut

Bernhard · Feb 19, 2020

Date of the last V5 means last log book issued. It could have changed hands but SORN. The new log books are red , they replace ALL the previous log books.

baz · Feb 19, 2020

There's quite a few norton owners out there that don't belong to a club or visit this site

SteveA · Feb 19, 2020

My old 750 Fasback is out there somewhere, BTG465J, it shows on the DVLA database, on SORN.....so it could well be at the bottom of someone's garden.....

Database says it is grey, back when I had it it was yellow. But it was originally owned by South Wales Police as a training bike, I can't recall what it said on the log book, might have even been grey.

I bought it from a mechanic at a local dealers who may have changed the colour, who knows.

I often wonder, and since I bought my Rickman frame back in 2009 after selling the original bike I built in 1980...every thing is possible!

L.A.B. · Feb 19, 2020

peter12 said:
Unfortunately I don’t have a record of the full vin number!

mdt-son said:
Look up your insurance documents, if you have them on file, or contact your insurance company which provided liability insurance back then.

UK vehicles are normally insured using the registration number, thus FHO 45K (and make, type, age, cc). I've never known an insurance company to want the vehicle's frame/chassis/VIN number so it's unlikely to be on an old insurance document even if someone did keep insurance documents from more than 20 years ago.

L.A.B. · Feb 19, 2020

Time Warp said:
Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 12 April 2012 <<< Does this mean it went back on the road in 2012 ?

No, it could've been change of 'registered keeper', change of keeper's address or change of vehicle details etc. etc. as the 'registration' doesn't lapse so there's no need to periodically re-register a vehicle.

mdt-son · Feb 19, 2020

L.A.B. said:
UK vehicles are normally insured using the registration number, thus FHO 45K (and make, type, age, cc). I've never known an insurance company to want the vehicle's frame/chassis/VIN number so it's unlikely to be on an old insurance document even if someone did keep insurance documents from more than 20 years ago.

Ohh. This practice is quite different to most countries of western Europe where an exchange of data between the underwriter and the DVLA (or whatever they are called) takes place. Your practice is not bomb proof. Say, I own two identical cars. I could then swap plates between the two, even though one of them may not be roadworthy. That's scary!

-Knut

Bernhard · Feb 19, 2020

mdt-son said:
Ohh. This practice is quite different to most countries of western Europe where an exchange of data between the underwriter and the DVLA (or whatever they are called) takes place. Your practice is not bomb proof. Say, I own two identical cars. I could then swap plates between the two, even though one of them may not be roadworthy. That's scary!

-Knut

But . . . .(( having two identical cars/ bikes and swapping no. plates). if you get caught riding/ driving the wrong vehicle, then you will have no insurance etc and the boys in blue will throw the book at you as well as sending your vehicle to the crusher! Now that's scary!

L.A.B. · Feb 19, 2020

mdt-son said:
Say, I own two identical cars. I could then swap plates between the two, even though one of them may not be roadworthy. That's scary!

No, nobody would ever dream of doing that.

L.A.B. · Feb 19, 2020

Bernhard said:
The new log books are red , they replace ALL the previous log books.

2011-2012 was around the time the red V5C replaced the blue one so it could've been the reason for the 2012 V5C change.

Myford · Feb 19, 2020

Back in the day I got "my" dommie (with a ever so slightly shortened wheel base due to a bump) mot'd by sticking my reg on my mates dommie and mot ing his bike

Trying to trace FHO45K

peter12

gortnipper

Time Warp

.......back to the 70's.

peter12

peter12

peter12

kommando

Time Warp

.......back to the 70's.

peter12

mdt-son

Bernhard

baz

SteveA

L.A.B.

Moderator

L.A.B.

Moderator

mdt-son

Bernhard

L.A.B.

Moderator

L.A.B.

Moderator

Myford

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