What do you think about purchase

G'day Everyone,

Introduced myself a while ago, but to recap I'm a newbie to Norton's.

I've spotted a bike for sale that has got my interest, so thought I would throw some details up and see what people think about it. Would put photos up but they aren't really worth it, they are far enough away to not show detail but close enough that it looks good. I've asked for some new photos but in any case its only 15 minutes drive away so shouldn't be hard to see in person when the time comes. Was really looking for an original bike so the mods are concerning but then again could make it better if it still has the parts. At $16000 AU its a healthy price so would really like input on how good the mods are, how hard to revert back to original not too mention the cost of original parts to at least collect and keep on the shelf?

Add extract below:
1973 850 MKIIA ODO:20618

Great condition 40 year old classic with all numbers matching. I purchased this bike three years ago and have enjoyed every minute on the road but unfortunately I don't get any time to ride it now. It has had lots of modern improvements that make it a reliable. The Brembo's stop it like a new bike and the Mikuni carb and the power arc electronic ignition makes sure it will start when you want it too. Very regretful sale.

Some but not all improvements include

Colorado Norton Works Brembo Front brake
Colorado Norton Works chain guard
Colorado Norton Works oil tank modification
Corbin Gunfighter seat
Barnett 5 Plate dry clutch fitted
Norvil belt drive primary kit fitted
Anodised Alloy rims and stainless spokes
MkIII Commando Isotactic conversion kit
Old Britts Brushed aluminium Oil Pressure gauge
Old Britts Power arc electronic ignition
Majority of fittings converted to stainless
23 Tooth primary sprocket fitted
Single Mikuni Carb
Custom Tail light housing
Custom Fuel tank paint and liner

Cheers

Ben

Hi, welcome! Sounds like a great bike. VERIFY everything with receipts. Can you get us some pics?

Addik said:

G'day Everyone,

Introduced myself a while ago, but to recap I'm a newbie to Norton's.

I've spotted a bike for sale that has got my interest, so thought I would throw some details up and see what people think about it. Would put photos up but they aren't really worth it, they are far enough away to not show detail but close enough that it looks good. I've asked for some new photos but in any case its only 15 minutes drive away so shouldn't be hard to see in person when the time comes. Was really looking for an original bike so the mods are concerning but then again could make it better if it still has the parts. At $16000 AU its a healthy price so would really like input on how good the mods are, how hard to revert back to original not too mention the cost of original parts to at least collect and keep on the shelf?


Cheers
Ben

Click to expand...

Hi Ben,

here's a photo. Took it from his Gumtree ad.

Tim

I have no idea how prices in general for old Commandos run in OZ so can't comment on that. IMO, some of those mods are useful, others are just "changes." Whether they are worth any money is up to the buyer. The pic looks good but, as you say it doesn't really show any detail.

The following is totally MY OPINION. In the heading you specifically asked "What do you think..." Here's what I think:

IMO, the USEFUL mods - MODS that I would PAY for - are:

Colorado Norton Works Brembo Front brake
Colorado Norton Works oil tank modification (NOTE - this is a good mod but you can do this yourself at nearly no cost
MkIII Commando Isotactic conversion kit
Old Britts Power arc electronic ignition (as opposed to a Boyer)

Nothing else listed is of any value to ME and a couple of them are value reducers - again, TO ME.

If the bike and it's current equipment are in line with what you want, and the final negotiated price is reasonable by OZ standards, then heck, I'd go for it. On the other hand, if it was me looking for a bike, I would see that one as forcing me to pay for a bunch of mods I didn't want, some of which I would be removing and then trying to find some original pieces. If the seller has all the original parts, that would be a big plus.

Again, this is MY opinion. Others here will have a drastically different one.

Ben,


Looks great...A set of lansdownes will prevent that huge brake from bottoming the forks out. :roll:
www.lansdowne-engineering.com

Hi Ben

Fantastic bike. My friend has that front end on his bike,m it is outstanding. If you are looking to ride, look no further.

Chris

so, 16,000 Australian is about 14,500 US dollars, for those of us currency challenged

I have no idea of what really good Commando goes for in Australia but from what I have been reading it
is considerably more than the same bike here in the States


regardless, it looks to me like a cosmetically beautiful bike with great paint and some very worthwhile
modifications like the front brake, wheels, belt primary, etc

it is decidedly not a CNW bike, in that no hydraulic clutch, rod linkage head steady, and most importantly
the entire motor stripped down and carefully gone through and rebuilt with new components as needed

so it seems that it would be worthwhile to ask about the motor and its history, being some 40 years old
it may need new valves and guides, bore hone and new pistons, rings, timing gears inspected and new cam chain and tensioned properly...all with parts and labor a couple thousand dollars

great find, I hope you can work out the purchase, and at some future point you may wish to convert it back to a twin carb set up for the extra rip above 4500rpm or so

congratulations!

Have a talk to Greg Lawn at Central Motorcycles in Huntingdale, Melbourne. He has some good unmodified stuff which might interest you.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, keep it coming.

Feedback on prices is a hard one, but would welcome any from Australians on prices. Its all very well to see the advertised prices but with out seeing bikes in person and knowing what they sell for its a hard one. As hinted my feeling is the bike is priced a bit high. As mentioned some of the mods are only worth what the buy wants to pay and I'm not a buy looking for a lot of mods.

Addik said:

Thanks for the feedback everyone, keep it coming.

Feedback on prices is a hard one, but would welcome any from Australians on prices. Its all very well to see the advertised prices but with out seeing bikes in person and knowing what they sell for its a hard one. As hinted my feeling is the bike is priced a bit high. As mentioned some of the mods are only worth what the buy wants to pay and I'm not a buy looking for a lot of mods.

Click to expand...

fleabay search, then click "completed auctions" to see what some stuff is selling for

Where abouts in Oz are you?
I know where there's a really nice fast back for the same money. Maybe less with a bit of hagling.

There you go, buy THAT one!

Mechanicals anyone can bolt trinkets on

Heres whats on offer across the Tasman..
NZ $ is about 82 cents US and 90 AU.


http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 479961.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 535579.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 802691.htm

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver ... 855561.jpg

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 926183.htm

If someone has gone to the trouble to make this bike look good and spend the money on the good mods, I say they would have spent money on the motor as well, it looks like the whole bike has been done but hard to say with the pics, but if you are going to spend that much money it would be good to know everything that has been done to it, the prices for Nortons in Aus has sky rocketed over the last 3 or 4 years, I have seen some advertiesed for even more, whether they get it is another thing, I wouldn't pay that much myself as i only payed $1999 for my Norton brand new in 76, but I still live in the past :lol:

Ashley

This has to be it , specially if its just for rideing to Church on Sundays . :wink:

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver ... 683893.jpg

As its Half the Price , Whingeing , the Orange P.R. Doesnt have the less scrapeable P.R. headers .
This sucker needs a primary case & exhaust system , to L :shock: K standardish . So , for your money . . . . . ?

MILAGE is a prime consideration . As Is Crankshaft Undersize , .020 shells means its not new , .010 more acceptable . so CHECK reciepts .on any .

Tank Liner ? ? ? Fibreglass tanks can be a liability . And they dont give steel tanks away these days still . indian ones bear a vauge resemblance .
Still , for a grand you could likely have one made . 23 T gearings good for out of town , o.k. in , but like takeing of in 2nd , like a 3 speed R/T Valiant .

Plenty of tourque , but requires your attention . If only ridden in town , 20 T would be more like it .

ANYWAY , a test ride , 10 miles to get to temperature , then give it a bit of a workout . No good finding out its sh*t after youve bougt it .

Prime consideration on any bike is intended use - if its for pottering about , a early 750s o.k. , tuneds faster . If you wont suffer Hondas Lightly ,
its gotta go . The Blue one looks like it might - and stay together . A grand of parts on top would have it looking standardish . Most Headers dont
tuck up under the primary like the production race ones . If its getting track time , youll wear the bottoms of standard fit pipes .

anything done over 10.000 miles has likely had engine work . So finding a factory build engine / bike - for a project - takes patiance .
Any Norton youre going to be looking at doing your own maintanance . Fastidiously . The flash bits make that easyer , but you still have to
be capeable of setting everything spot on , if you dont want to wreck it .

ashman said:

I wouldn't pay that much myself as i only payed $1999 for my Norton brand new in 76, but I still live in the past :lol:

Ashley

Click to expand...

It would be no different to paying $30000 for a 961 now. (compared to the same house then and now)
Funny that considering a 961 will have a RRP of around $30k.



The bike in question looks to be in fine condition (who knows what the con rod shells look like)
At the end of the day if you take a $10000 bike and add $6000 worth of accessories it does not mean the value just went to $16000.
The highest price I have seen is a 'Commando Garden 75 Mk3 sold for some $19500 and was original immaculate and gone through top to bottom as all his bikes seem to be given the prices people are prepared to pay.

There is no shortage of Commando's for sale,the trick is determining which are the pigs with lip stick.
I am willing to bet the average punter would spring for a fancy paint job and polished side covers before they pulled the engine or transmission down to check the actual condition.
My own Fastback ran fine with a quiet engine but a hunch revealed crank shells and mains that needed replacement.

That's better,you can go with the other spammers too.

This Norton looks to be in good condition,has engine work completed apparently and the price is under $10000 ($8500) at this stage.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Norton-Comma ... 27db16d67a

G'day Folks

Well things lined up so I could see it today.

Pictures look better then in real life.....kind of a shame given the effort put into upgrades that the final presentation didn't look better close up. The big down points where no real documentation on the engine other then to say the previous owner did work and mentioned no more then gaskets was done because everything was good! It started about 4th kick and sounded ok and didn't smoke but with my small amount of Norton experience its hard to say. Lots of pitting on the bright work and some chips on the fuel tank. Maybe its just me but if I was selling a bike it would be polished to the max, but I kind of got the feeling it was loved more by the previous owner then the latest. Little details like the bone dry front forks in need of a good clean/polish/oil just gave me a bad feeling, guess I'm looking for that Norton owned by an enthusiast. Doesn't have to be perfect as some character is ok, just needs to have been loved

May still be an ok bike, just on price point its not looking good.


Keep the leads coming