Which sub model is this 1973 Commando

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Daytonachuff

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Hi all, brand new to this forum. I recently came across this 1973 Norton Commando with S pipes and am trying to figure out which Commando model it is. Barrel and tag number 212352 . Not clear on how to add photo.​
 
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It is an early 1973 going by the serial number. The S exhaust is therefore unlikely to be the original.

You need to either become a VIP member to upload images directly or you must use an image hosting website.
 
Got it, thanks,
 

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If the tank is original then its a Roadster, if then front disc is original then it has the Combat engine. But a lot can happen in 53 years.
 
Don’t think the front disc is original. Someone moved the right side electric switch cluster over to the left side , next to the left side cluster. The right side cluster has a brake lever backside so I assume it was originally drum in front. The master cylinder is off a Honda.
 
As said earlier, a lot can happen in 50+ years. The front disk is original, changing the master cylinder to a smaller diameter, or sleaving the original, is a common improvement. Keeping the right side switch cluster and moving it beside the left is kinda’ strange.
 
Your serial number is about 80 numbers less than my Roadster which was built in Oct. 1972 according to the head badge. My bike has always been licensed as a 1973 model.
Due to the smaller distance between the head and cylinder fins, it looks as though you probably have a Combat head.
Like others have noted, a lot of changes could have occurred over the years, not to mention that also that build period was sometimes a mishmash of mixed parts after the early Combat engine fiascos.
 
Thanks for that info. My plate has October 73 stamped as the manufacture date. Didn’t realize there were so many variables here. I’ll have to look up the combat fiascos, 😁
 
LPCityNorton said:
Due to the smaller distance between the head and cylinder fins, it looks as though you probably have a Combat head.
Click to expand...

All Commandos even the 850s tend to have less gap there. From those pictures I wouldn't like to say if it had a Combat head or not.
By rights it should have an RH5 or RH6 head as should yours. The RH6 head would also have less gap.
Which sub model is this 1973 Commando
Which sub model is this 1973 Commando
 
Daytonachuff said:
Is there any other way to tell which head I have?
Click to expand...
If a Commando head and no indicator on top, then original 750. If there is a "C" on top, sometimes covered by the head steady, sometimes not, then Combat. All other heads form Norton should have RHx or RHxS on top near the timing-side rocker cover.

This is (I hope) complete info:

Which sub model is this 1973 Commando
 
L.A.B. said:
All Commandos even the 850s tend to have less gap there. From those pictures I wouldn't like to say if it had a Combat head or not.
By rights it should have an RH5 or RH6 head as should yours. The RH6 head would also have less gap.
Which sub model is this 1973 Commando
Which sub model is this 1973 Commando
Click to expand...
Thanks to L.A.B. and to Greg,

That was a "best guess" as to whether Daytona's bike in question has a Combat head.

As for my bike, it definitely has a Combat head; "C" stamped under the head steady, no other markings. Standard cam in it though, as was discovered during a 1990 rebuild. When I first joined this forum a few years back, I raised these same questions about the origins of my bike as it "might" have left the factory since I was the second owner. I definitely learned a few things about all the possible scenarios about 750cc Roadsters built during that time period.
 
MichaelB said:
212xxx seems to be a strange number for an Oct 73 build….
Click to expand...
Yes

In my survey there are two 212xxx one Oct 72 and one Nov 72. There are others, but I don't have the Month/Year. In theory Oct 73 should be higher than 220000 and likely in the 230xxx number set or possibly the 235xxx number set. I don't have enough survey data to say for sure.

The "73" bikes got pretty confusing due to the 230xxx and especially 235xxx numbers which could be 750, 850, or special.

This kind of thing causes confusion:

Which sub model is this 1973 Commando


So, as was usual the "year" numbers were not always built in the marketing year.

The survey: https://gregmarsh.com/MC/Norton/Info/CommandoSurvey.aspx

Right now, I have info on less than 700 Commandos. The more people provide info the easier it is to answer questions. I do not include or even keep info on who provided the info unless it's a public source and I do not say anything close to an actual location, so your info is safe. Also, if the info is wrong/changed, or just needs to be update, I'm very happy to do it.
 

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