Where to look when buying a P11

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Jan 25, 2015
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I've been looking to buy a P11 for a while now but they seem to almost never come up for sale, is there anywhere in particular I should be looking?
 
Branch,
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/the-p11-thread.13102/
As BillT stated in his opening thread he started in 2012 for the p11 which then became a dedicated P11 section. Only around 2500 units were made in the three series. P11, P11A and P11 Ranger, through time this number has dwindled as bikes become barn finds, wrecks or get parted and so on. Built for the North American market. Some are getting repatriated back to Britain or elsewhere.
Cheers,
Thomas
 
I started looking for a P11 around 1980 when I met a fellow with two running P11's and several "rolling baskets". Since then, we have collaborated and picked up several more, but they are increasingly harder to find. When you do find them, they are usually in pretty poor condition, with no paperwork, and the seller expects to be able to buy a Mercedes from the proceeds of the sale. It often takes parts from three to make one.
 
I don't mean to be a tease, BUT, I expect to sell this one after I've had enough fun with it. It's currently starting and running well enough to take out on local rides. It's an original high pipe model, serial number 121555. Lots of good stuff on this bike with plenty of room for improvement. As an original owner of a 1968 P11A bought new in May of 1968, I've told many an interested onlooker that for every 22 Commandos made there was only one P11, making them quite rare today. I expect I'll put it on the market in 2019 or 2020? Please stand by.
Where to look when buying a P11
 
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Here's how it looked last month when my daughter and I took it out on a photo shoot for some friends.

H
Where to look when buying a P11
Where to look when buying a P11
 
Hi.
I would post some pictures of P11 for sale but i am not able to do it.
Could you explain me the way?.
Thanks.
Piero
 
Jerry,

Where did you find the handlebars with the lower crossbar that you have laying in front of the bike? Do they have the correct width and pullback?
 
Ron,

I've had them forever in my stash of spare parts. They are correct, they even have a Norton part number stamped on them. Can't remember exactly where or when I got them. There's a good chance they're from Mike Patrick's racer (P11 121013)? He gave me most of the take off parts from that bike with lots of other nuts & bolts that he had when he was in business in Corona, CA.

C-ya, Jer

Jerry,

Where did you find the handlebars with the lower crossbar that you have laying in front of the bike? Do they have the correct width and pullback?
 
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I don't mean to be a tease, BUT, I expect to sell this one after I've had enough fun with it. It's currently starting and running well enough to take out on local rides. It's an original high pipe model, serial number 121555. Lots of good stuff on this bike with plenty of room for improvement. As an original owner of a 1968 P11A bought new in May of 1968, I've told many an interested onlooker that for every 22 Commandos made there was only one P11, making them quite rare today. I expect I'll put it on the market in 2019 or 2020? Please stand by. View attachment 4077

Keep teasing
 
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You just have to keep your eyes open. I've never went looking for them, just came across them. They come up on Ebay every so often, but don't go cheap. Where are you located, might help us point you in the right direction.

B
 
Yep this seller is real hungry. They both come from Baxter.

Not being an expert of P11 restoration, what isn't that good for you?


The cheapest:

Where to look when buying a P11

Where to look when buying a P11
Where to look when buying a P11

Where to look when buying a P11
Where to look when buying a P11
 
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The first listing is a P11A masquerading as a high pipe P11. Has a magneto rather than coil and points, short seat (but passenger pegs!), high pipes, alloy fenders (maybe a pass on these), early P11 paint scheme, the wrong speedo, no skid plate, and if the rear fender support has been added to the frame it is too far forward and under the seat.

The second listing has an incorrect paint scheme on the tank and a seat that appears to be a Ranger 750 seat with a P11A style cover. It is about two inches too long for a P11A. The zener diode and heat sink are missing.

I normally don't like to nitpick, but when concours pricing is asked, I would expect concours condition.
 
Wasn't able to put more than 5 photos. Here are the others


The other one

Where to look when buying a P11


Where to look when buying a P11

Where to look when buying a P11
 
I know nothing about this bike other than I found the link in the things i've seen in ebay/craiglist thread in the classifieds
Removed broken link
 
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