what year is this bike?

The VIN is 150649 The numbers all match. Plate (I can only read the stamping. The printing on it is history.) engine and trans are all the same stamping. I was told it was built between April and October of '71
It is titled as a 72 I dont think this is right.
It appears to have an internal filter screen in the bottom of the case.
My friend has owned it since '79 and parked it in '94. He has had to give it up due to family matters (long story) and is not certain what year. I am resurrecting it. Its complete but needs some TLC.
Im just not sure what I have.
My first Norton and I am quickly learning.
Help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Thanks MikeM

Yes, it was most likely built between May and October of 71. They were usually titled a year after the production date so that's not unusual. That's about all I can tell you other than it was made after the last SS model.

Looks nice, enjoy it and report your findings once in a while. I see you have the drum front brake, test it out and get used to it before speeding up behind a car.

Dave
69S

DogT said:

Yes, it was most likely built between April and May of 71. They were usually titled a year after the production date so that's not unusual. That's about all I can tell you other than it was made after the last SS model.

Looks nice, enjoy it and report your findings once in a while.

Dave
69S

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Thanks for the quick response. I guess my next question is what year to order parts for. '71 or 72?
Thanks MikeM

It most likely doesn't matter, nearly all parts fit, sort of.

Look at the Old Britts or Andover site they have blowups of all the 71 and up parts and you can compare what you have. There are many other vendors too, you need to get a parts manual with the part numbers. They're available.

Dave
69S

MikeM said:

DogT said:

Yes, it was most likely built between April and May of 71. They were usually titled a year after the production date so that's not unusual. That's about all I can tell you other than it was made after the last SS model.

Looks nice, enjoy it and report your findings once in a while.

Dave
69S

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Thanks for the quick response. I guess my next question is what year to order parts for. '71 or 72?
Thanks MikeM

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Definitely 71.

Hey Dave, is that the correct Tank. I have only owned Fast backs before my current Roadster,
so not quite familiar with the early ones. It looks like a Hi rider tank ? or not ?

Mike, is the tank Fibreglass or steel.?
AC.

Notice I edited the dates for your bike.

Yes, 71 would be the deal. I see you have the timed breather, you may want to look into that with a search too. Does it leak a lot? Wouldn't be surprised, but don't let those things deter you, you have a nice bike. It can all be sorted, depending on how deep your wallet is.

I have no clue if the tank is correct. Could it be the Long Range or Interstate? Yes, if the tank is F/G don't be putting corn syrup (modern gas with ethanol) in it, you'll find the f/g in your carbs.

Dave
69S

Again,
thanks for the help. It hasnt run since '94, so I dont know if it leaks. It is a fiberglass tank. Currently I have the oil tank off to flush it out and also the carbs.
My plan is to flush everything and then give it a go. The engine turns free and makes all the right sounds. Whats the deal with the fuel. The only thing I have available here is 10% ethanol.
MikeM

MikeM said:

Again,
thanks for the help. It hasnt run since '94, so I dont know if it leaks. It is a fiberglass tank. Currently I have the oil tank off to flush it out and also the carbs.
My plan is to flush everything and then give it a go. The engine turns free and makes all the right sounds. Whats the deal with the fuel. The only thing I have available here is 10% ethanol.
MikeM

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Don't put it in your fiberglass tank.

Well, if you want to start the bike up put some in but drain it immediately. Don't let it sit in there.

Don't put the ethanol gas in the f/g tank. You'll be finding gel in the carbs and the engine. If you don't have access to non-ethanol gas, get a 5 gallon plastic gas container and go to your local airport and get some avgas. 110LL. Don't tell them why you need it, no road tax. High octane, low lead, but completely ethanol free and a nice blue colour and it smells good and runs strong. You may, if lucky, have some stations locally that you can get not-ethanol gas, but don't count on it. Some people have successfully sealed their tanks with snake oil, but that's another story with many opinions.

This may be the most expensive part of owning a Norton, figuring out how to get fuel into the carbs. Personally, I buy avgas in 2 - 5 gallon cans for around $50. My Roadster style tank only holds 2.5 gallons anyhow. Works for me and I don't go on long trips that require filling at a station.

Dave
69S

Was mosat likely a Hi-Rider.with the 5 yard high handlebars.

If the seat and front bar cables are non-stock , or it has 5 yards
of spare wire to the switch blocks, it would validate that .

Were built in drum & disc ,people tried to give the hi back seat
away once, embarrassing to refuse !

were glas & steel Hi Rider tanks .Which yours is .
Theres a earlyer scrambler the tanks a dead ringer for.
cant recall what.

Hi Riders had roadster pipes.
May have been a 850 with L & R high pipes with same tank
Blue bike in 74 odd catalouge .

So its a moto-X tank . youll have to fit knobblies
well, desert raceing , anyway . :idea:

MikeM said:

The VIN is 150649Plate (I can only read the stamping. The printing on it is history.) engine and trans are all the same stamping. I was told it was built between April and October of '71

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"Year" model is a term which has to be applied somewhat loosely to Commandos-as the factory seemed to upgrade the model range whenever it suited them, and did not appear to do this at any particular time of the calendar year.
Officially, (according to the NOC) "1971" Commando production was supposed to have ended at serial number 150500 and "1972" production commenced from 200000 but I don't think yours is the first '71 model we've heard about with a serial number higher than 150500, (the NOC number could be wrong, as I think 153500 is probably correct) however it does at least appear to be built to 1971 specification with the timed camshaft breather etc..

MikeM said:

It is titled as a 72 I dont think this is right.

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You must take into account that it could have taken several weeks (or months-depending who was on strike at the time?) for any Commando to get from the factory in the UK to a dealer in the US, and a late calendar year machine may have stood unsold for weeks or months over the winter period, so the title year may not always match the actual production year.

Thanks for the quick response. I guess my next question is what year to order parts for. '71 or 72?
Thanks MikeM

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Hi Mike

My Bike No. 1534## was built November '71 so yes your bike should be early '71. Order '71 parts some parts are that year specific. Dodgy side stand if it is still fitted. Looks like all the parts are there, have fun.

McVic

mcvic750 said:

My Bike No. 1534## was built November '71 so yes your bike should be early '71.

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I don't see how it could be "early" 1971, as 1971 production was supposed to have started at 141000?

150649 is from around October 1971 production.

I have a yellow 72 and yours is definitely earlier . As stated it is a 1971 calendar year production.
When sold and titled as stated previously, it could have been in the following calendar year.
These creatures were shippied by boat to the west coast or east coast ie....Berlinner's in New Jersey.
Then they were distributed as per orders or stocking dealers. Mine was orig. sold through a Simplicity
lawn mower dealer who also sold Nortons as well. I have the orig. sales flyer with his shop address
stamped on the back. Been meaning to ride the old girl by that location some day and take a pic.
Shops probably long gone. :cry:
Anyway the tank looks like a parts clean up from somewhere?
It reminds me of the P-11 Matchless/Norton Hybrid tanks in red fiberglass.
If health permits ask the owner if he ever had to replace the tank?
The yellow is the Norton factory racing production color and is correct for 1971.
Yellow Peril was the name of the machines and several great books are out about the rich racing
history of Norton. Those bikes are big $$$$$$$.
1971 parts are avail through Old Britts take your time and remove and clean things up slowly.
Do not take all apart as most likely it will never get back together. A Norton fate all to familar. :roll:
If you clean it up and get it running you will be amazed with the bike.
Consult this forum regularily as I had much help with mine when I started.
If you get a clean used serviceable part and they are still out there as all to many Nortons were cafe'd
and chopper'd. I'd go that route as some not all but some pattern parts have been problematic in fitting.
Keep us posted :mrgreen:
Thee Marshal

MarshalNorton said:

Anyway the tank looks like a parts clean up from somewhere?
It reminds me of the P-11 Matchless/Norton Hybrid tanks in red fiberglass.

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The tank appears to be the standard Hi-Rider/SS type.[Edit]
The headlamp also seems to be the smaller 6" unit as fitted to the Hi-Rider & SS models.

DogT said:

Yes, it was most likely built between May and October of 71. They were usually titled a year after the production date so that's not unusual. That's about all I can tell you other than it was made after the last SS model.

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Apparently the last 750SS was 150723, so 150649 could have been a 750SS.

Yes . Take Your Time . Dont waste money on shoddy parts .

Mustve been a 850 SS I saw in NZ around 77 , Blue with high pipe Ea. Side .
A friend had a cattle dog with a Pic. of the very same machine.

Somewhat rare and unique in NZ. Perhaps you dont quite appreciate just what ypu have there? Yet . !

No Rough Handling , please . As said , if it were a Hi Rider , the wireing to switchblocks would be excessively long ,
therefore looped and tucked away at under the tank. If lengths suit bars , its the SS , rarer than the H R ,
and a good deal more usefull to boot .

1972 MANUFACTURED production should have several updates . Mainly for durability for Stop light Cowboys .

Take your time to get to know it before ' laying on hands ' . its a hand built thoroughbred . :|

Matt Spencer said:

Mustve been a 850 SS I saw in NZ around 77 , Blue with high pipe Ea. Side .
A friend had a cattle dog with a Pic. of the very same machine.

Somewhat rare and unique in NZ.

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An 850SS would be extremely rare, as the factory never listed any 850SS model.

Matt Spencer said:

As said , if it were a Hi Rider , the wireing to switchblocks would be excessively long ,
therefore looped and tucked away at under the tank. If lengths suit bars , its the SS , rarer than the H R ,
and a good deal more usefull to boot .

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Switch unit wiring is a length that "fits all" as far as I know? Longer control cables were listed-but there doesn't appear to be any specific switch units for the Hi-Rider, and generally the switch wiring is over-long.

As I was riding Nortons in NZ in the 70s, i would sugest that a lot of the riders of the day were very good mechanics, check out how many Kiwis were mechanics in both car and bike race teams USA and World Wide. In the 70s most bikes were modified, it was not until the late 80s or *90s that we started to see the importation of British bikes fom the USA-i brought a 750 Ranger in 86-87 { a fresh import] so a modified bike may explain the "850SS".