Pictures of your Norton Commandos

Here's a photo of my 850 in its current configuration. The tank is an Indian, came painted in _almost_ the same shade as the other bits :cool:
I'm not satisfied with the way that the tank, side covers and seat do not sit correctly (should be a nice straight line there), but perhaps a bit of adjustment over winter can help.
Looking at the bike, it's remarkable how little is left of what I bought originally (a more or less MkIIA Interstate). Frame, crankcases & barrel, front & rear hub, headlight, fork yokes & instruments is about it for the visible bits. Oh, and the rear mudguard and the seat alloy nuts.
For the internals, I'm using the pushrods, crankshaft, timing sprockets, oil pump, primary drive castings and not lot more, but it's been fun!

Norton 850 October 2023jpeg.jpeg
 
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SteveBorland said:
Here's a photo of my 850 in its current configuration. The tank is an Indian, came painted in _almost_ the same shade as the other bits :cool:
I'm not satisfied with the way that the tank, side covers and seat do not sit correctly (should be a nice straight line there), but perhaps a bit of adjustment over winter can help.
Looking at the bike, it's remarkable how little is left of what I bought originally (a more or less MkIIA Interstate). Frame, crankcases & barrel, front & rear hub, headlight, fork yokes & instruments is about it for the visible bits. Oh, and the rear mudguard and the seat alloy nuts.
For the internals, I'm using the pushrods, crankshaft, timing sprockets, oil pump, primary drive castings and not lot more, but it's been fun!

View attachment 110564
Click to expand...
Do you have a bit of seat loop droop going on there?
 
baz said:
Do you have a bit of seat loop droop going on there?
Click to expand...
No, not that I have noticed. I think it’s a combination of how the seat is mounted (using the normal “eye” mounts rather than the PR front and Duez (sp?)
fastener), the bottom edge of the seat has been trimmed by a DPO and something strange with the Indian tank mounting.
 
SteveBorland said:
No, not that I have noticed. I think it’s a combination of how the seat is mounted (using the normal “eye” mounts rather than the PR front and Duez (sp?)
fastener), the bottom edge of the seat has been trimmed by a DPO and something strange with the Indian tank mounting.
Click to expand...
Yes, it seems like the PRs have that effect more often than not... (some more than others)

Pictures of your Norton Commandos
 
grandpaul said:
Heavy rubber pad glued to the tail at the rear loop.
Click to expand...
I did try this, gets a better line but leaves a large gap under the rear of the tail fairing. Do you have any photos of the final setup on your bike Paul?

Perhaps it's still a better solution? I painted the lower edge of the seat black to try to improve the looks, which helped a bit.
I also tried lifting the front of the tank, but it requires more than 5cm to get it vaguely correct.
Must try again this winter, but suggestions are welcome.

Norton seat test fit.jpg
 
It had been around 46 years since I last rode and sold my first Norton. I have a number of bikes but lately I've been trying to acquire and restore the bikes I had, or wanted to have, when I was young. I bought this MK3 last summer from the second owner with 13K miles. I did a complete restoration with the help of Greg Marsh who rebuilt the motor and gearbox and guided me through the electrical changes and other minor challenges unique to Norton. Runs perfect so far with just under 500 miles. Best viewed in HD ...



There are a number of ride videos on my YT channel of this bike and my MG Lemans for those who are interested. I do them mostly for myself so I can relive the experience once I can't ride anymore... hopefully that's a number of years off at this point.
 
2WheelsUp said:
It had been around 46 years since I last rode and sold my first Norton. I have a number of bikes but lately I've been trying to acquire and restore the bikes I had, or wanted to have, when I was young. I bought this MK3 last summer from the second owner with 13K miles. I did a complete restoration with the help of Greg Marsh who rebuilt the motor and gearbox and guided me through the electrical changes and other minor challenges unique to Norton. Runs perfect so far with just under 500 miles. Best viewed in HD ...



There are a number of ride videos on my YT channel of this bike and my MG Lemans for those who are interested. I do them mostly for myself so I can relive the experience once I can't ride anymore... hopefully that's a number of years off at this point.
Click to expand...

big credit to you and Greg!!
 
ntst8 said:
Ying asked for a couple of pics in another thread so here we go. :)
Excuse the untidy background, a bit of gear drying out.

View attachment 111300View attachment 111301
Click to expand...
nt,
Thanks for the pictures.
Questions; Are those CNW mounts for those saddlebags?If so,did you have those bags custom made?

Is your motor running a standard cam with a RH10 head?Reason I am asking do you like the carbs you have installed? I love the paint work and how you shortened the front fender along with the flap.Very nice m/c and love to see them used for traveling.
Thanks,Mike
 
20220605_114523.jpg

20220605_114523.jpg

  • Media owner Big_Jim59
  • Date added
Debby's Norton build when I first brought it home.
This is before the change to a more flat super bike handlebar and of course the change to a single Mikuni. I have been making other improvements to rideabilty but I really like it. I am going to have to paint it. The side covers are scratched and the tank has developed a bubble in the paint on the left and right side just on top of the knee indention. It might be Bondo or it might be a pin hole. Only a full strip will tell.
 
YING said:
nt,
Thanks for the pictures.
Questions; Are those CNW mounts for those saddlebags?If so,did you have those bags custom made?

Is your motor running a standard cam with a RH10 head?Reason I am asking do you like the carbs you have installed? I love the paint work and how you shortened the front fender along with the flap.Very nice m/c and love to see them used for traveling.
Thanks,Mike
Click to expand...
Yes CNW bag mounts, i also have the small teardrop bags they used to do. Bought both years ago, it may have been from Doug Macadam just after he and Matt parted ways. They are very small, good for carrying wet weather gear and not much else, so day trips only.
The leather throwover bags in the original photo - someone found those under a house and passed them on to me, they have Norton tooled into the cover, they just get strapped to the mounts.
Motor has a Australian made Fullauto head, and a PW3 cam otherwise stock. If the PW3 ever had to come out i would likely go back to stock, i don't ride at high revs.
Front fender also CNW, i added the mudflap as the short guard resulted in a lot of muck being caked under the tank and around the wiring loom. That and the 90/90 tire made the front end a bit flighty so i added the steering damper.
Carbs, also ex CNW, bought before Amal released their premiers and before madass was doing his carb gantry. I got sick of worn out, out of sych Amals. Pricey but always in synch and on a par with a single Mikuni for fuel economy. A bit scary starting on the frosty morning though - no choke/enrichener so need to hold above 3000rpm from cold until there is some heat in the engine.
Paint - inspired by BMW R90S silver smoke, thought it would make the interstate tank look a bit less bulbous, which has worked well to my eye at least.
Other than that, Alton starter, from before CNW were doing their one. I think CNW is the better mechanical design but Alton is less intrusive visually. Not sure which way i would go if buying now. And hidden but a Motogadget MoUnit blue looks after the electrics, trispark ei and trispark mosfet reg/rect.
One final detail, i prefer the roadster sidecovers but the dzus fastener over the battery box didn't play well with the big tank so that is gone and a quicklatch does the duty instead.
Nearly forgot - hydraulic clutch conversion FANTASTIC, matching Brembo brake master and CNW switchgear - again from before someone smart worked out how to mount old switches onto Brembos.
And that's how to spend 40 years worth of pocket money : )
 
ntst8 said:
Yes CNW bag mounts, i also have the small teardrop bags they used to do. Bought both years ago, it may have been from Doug Macadam just after he and Matt parted ways. They are very small, good for carrying wet weather gear and not much else, so day trips only.
The leather throwover bags in the original photo - someone found those under a house and passed them on to me, they have Norton tooled into the cover, they just get strapped to the mounts.
Motor has a Australian made Fullauto head, and a PW3 cam otherwise stock. If the PW3 ever had to come out i would likely go back to stock, i don't ride at high revs.
Front fender also CNW, i added the mudflap as the short guard resulted in a lot of muck being caked under the tank and around the wiring loom. That and the 90/90 tire made the front end a bit flighty so i added the steering damper.
Carbs, also ex CNW, bought before Amal released their premiers and before madass was doing his carb gantry. I got sick of worn out, out of sych Amals. Pricey but always in synch and on a par with a single Mikuni for fuel economy. A bit scary starting on the frosty morning though - no choke/enrichener so need to hold above 3000rpm from cold until there is some heat in the engine.
Paint - inspired by BMW R90S silver smoke, thought it would make the interstate tank look a bit less bulbous, which has worked well to my eye at least.
Other than that, Alton starter, from before CNW were doing their one. I think CNW is the better mechanical design but Alton is less intrusive visually. Not sure which way i would go if buying now. And hidden but a Motogadget MoUnit blue looks after the electrics, trispark ei and trispark mosfet reg/rect.
One final detail, i prefer the roadster sidecovers but the dzus fastener over the battery box didn't play well with the big tank so that is gone and a quicklatch does the duty instead.
Nearly forgot - hydraulic clutch conversion FANTASTIC, matching Brembo brake master and CNW switchgear - again from before someone smart worked out how to mount old switches onto Brembos.
And that's how to spend 40 years worth of pocket money : )
Click to expand...
Iain,
Thanks for your reply. I have the CNW bags that work for me but would like something a bit larger. I really like the way they mount without a lot of extra support.You made a great find with the bags you found!My bike has a Comstock built RH10 along with the factory cam along with Amal Premiers. I use one of Don Penders gantry and haven’t had to touch the carbs for quite some time. I have always liked the looks of the shortened front fender but don’t like the debris flying up on the engine.These are great bikes once sorted out for what you are after and love to see them ready for extended trips. I still think the best money I have spent is on the electric starter as I am a small man and not getting any stronger.Thank you again for your feedback.
Mike
 

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