How Many Hi-Riders for 75

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nznorton

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I have just purchased a 1975 MK III electric start Hi-Rider :D , I won't have it here for about another six weeks and will post pics then ..
I am wondering if anyone can give me production numbers for the Hi-Rider in 75,, sounds as though not many would have made it to the show room floor ?
Cheers Paul ..
 
They made like 11,000 Cdo a year by '75 L.A.B. reported and I see a bunch of '71 Ex-HyRyders, including my buddies and a at least one or two examples show up at big rallys so I'd guess maybe 1/3 'rd of that year production here the funny ones. Its got the smallest cutest tank sold and the sissy bar is handy for luggage strapping after the seat replaced. I've a decent set of ape hangers off a '71 if needed.
 
hobot said:
They made like 11,000 Cdo a year by '75 L.A.B. reported and I see a bunch of '71 Ex-HyRyders, including my buddies and a at least one or two examples show up at big rallys so I'd guess maybe 1/3 'rd of that year production here the funny ones.
Click to expand...

I think we would see significantly more surviving 850 Mk III Hi-Riders if it was as much as 1/3? A few hundred maybe? I doubt it could have been any more than that.
 
I could probably find out, but got better things to do than to go through the original lists for several hours and count the Hi-Riders. Mike Jackson once said there were only very few, because they did not sell. He then suggested a very low number.
But that is quite obviously wrong. The Hi-Rider stayed in the programme for several variants of Commandos, so had it flopped straight away they would not have bothered to list it again.
 
Thanks guys for your input, the 75 high-rider will be joining my 74 Roadster in the garage so I will most likely be able to keep it as a high-rider,, I didn't realise these hi-riders where so unpopular with this forum, I do have to admit I am not a great fan of the 75 long seat and I am wondering if the earlier short seat would swap over ? ..
The bike presently has a std roadster seat fitted and does look good, but again a high-rider is a piece of Norton’s history and if everyone changes their parts out for std then we could end up loosing an unusual part of Norton’s history .. Just a thought .. Again if anyone knows the production figures I would be grateful. Cheers Paul :D
 
I sure don't know but still am regularly surprised by the numbers of owners mentioning their '71 as EX HyRyders and going by the above reports, makes me still *think* that maybe a 3rd of production that year were *sent out by factory* as the funny ones but wise vendors converted to sell-able state. We all ride potential HyRyders ya know. If ya know Norton like I've come to know Norton, then just make plain traditional sense they used up every last HyRyder bit before placing new orders for normal parts so distributors had to eat the cost to correct a poor sense of style and function.
Hm, i get bored easy so may go down me long and worn vender list and pop this question to them.
" Hey Ho" Its hobot", " OH Hi Easy Money" What can I get for you this time...
 
Matthew Vale's book on the Commando mentions one un-named source who claims 20-25 Mk 3 Hi-Riders were made in '75. All presumably painted black as the '75 parts book lists H-R tanks only in black with gold pinstripes.
 
i don't believe for a minute only two dozen sold as HyRyders. Certainly not all were basic back either as my buddy Wes definitely is an Ex-HyHyder that came as a HyHyder that still uses its sissy bar to lash luggage too and still in factory Burnt Orange gel coat tiny tank.

How Many Hi-Riders for 75
 
hobot said:
Certainly not all were basic back either as my buddy Wes definitely is an Ex-HyHyder that came as a HyHyder that still uses its sissy bar to lash luggage too and still in factory Burnt Orange gel coat tiny tank.
Click to expand...

I think you missed komet's point, as it was the 850 MkIII Hi-Riders that were "All presumably painted black as the '75 parts book lists H-R tanks only in black with gold pinstripes."

Again, I can't see it being anywhere near one third of the total production as an 850 MkIII Hi-Rider appears to be a relatively rare beast, and why "a 3rd"? Don't forget a significant number of MkIIIs were built as Interpol models.
How Many Hi-Riders for 75

http://blackcountryhistory.org/collecti ... 49_P_3803/
 
Paul,

I think it is cool to keep the Hi Rider going, as you already have a Roadster. I bought my 74 as a Hi Rider, but swapped out parts to make a Roadster. But this is my only Commando. I removed the Hi Rider portion of the rear of the seat, all Norton did was spot weld the Banana seat part on the rear of a Roadster seat. I do have a sissy bar left and also steel SS /Hi Rider tank and side panels if you need any bits when you get it.

Cheers Richard
 
Say What! I missed the '75 850 part, ugh, ok then I'm surprised even 2 dozen sold - 4 yrs after the original craze wore off.
Thanx for setting me straighter up on HyRyder factoids.

How Many Hi-Riders for 75
 
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