Reviving a Norton

[Sleeping Dog]

This has found its way into my garage.




1975 Norton Commando 850 Mark III. It hasn't been on the road in over 20 years and it needs lots of care and attention.

http://revivinganorton.blogspot.com/

Jim

 

[sandalscout]

Very cool! I'd love to restore something like that, but with the somewhat justified stigma around 1970s bike (I grew up around old Triumphs), and the fact that I don't have the ability or tools to do a full on restoration with a nice bike like this, I think I've decided to do a resto-modded 1970s Japanese bike.

Anyway, good luck, can't wait to see the final product!

 

[mhiscox]

Good luck with your project, Jim. I had a '70 Commando 750 Roadster, though in retrospect, I'm not sure why, as neither my mechanical nor riding skills at the time were sufficient for the job at hand.

Sure was a pretty thing, though. I've had sixty or seventy bikes and it was, I think, the best looking of them all . . . even without a Norton Girl draped on it. :sombrero:

Image Credit: Marco Gander/Vintage Bikes UK

 

[Scott Brady]

congrats on the Norton. Beautiful motorcycles

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Nice garage. Complete with a factory Motorrad tool board and a couple of OEM bike cranes. This should be a nice build.

 

[1911]

Nice Norton! I was working on those when you could still buy them new.

 

[cnynrat]

Nice, looking forward to seeing this take shape.

My college roommate spent a summer working in the UK and came home with a beautiful red 850 Commando.

 

[Stumpalump]

There is a shop in Colorado that builds old Nortons. Look them up for ideas because that's just plain cool!

 

[Project510]

SWEET! Cant wait to see the final product! Good luck.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Cool bike. I suspect a modified frame.
Looks like it has some Atlas aspects to it.
That bike would make a really neat flat-tracker.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

24 hours....:"Nice garage. Complete with a factory Motorrad tool board and a couple of OEM bike cranes. This should be a nice build."

It should be, since it is the shop of a BMW dealer, Max BMW in North Hampton, NH - good people if you are in the area.

Stumpalump: "There is a shop in Colorado that builds old Nortons. Look them up for ideas because that's just plain cool! "

I suspect that would be Colorado Norton Works. It seems that they do very nice work.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Yes, the frame has been braced. That work was done by the original owner, along with adding an oil cooler, switching to a single Amal carb from twin and a high lift cam.

Haven't settled in my mind what the finished bike will be, beyond a rider and it won't be a restoration.

Thank you all for your comments.

Jim

 

[1911]

Haven't settled in my mind what the finished bike will be, beyond a rider and it won't be a restoration.

Good for you; these old bikes deserve to be ridden. I ride/use my old stuff too.

 

[phxtoad]

May I suggest... http://www.dotheton.com/

Todd

 

[mazafaka]