Rivet counter question about the Candy Apple colour scheme

[johnm]

I have read that the strap was a legal requirement in some areas. Possibly the USA???

 

[maylar]

It's a glove strap. My 74 Roadster came with one.

 

[joe czech]

It's a glove strap. My 74 Roadster came with one.

"glove" strap - sorry, didn't know the correct terminology. my 74 roadster doesn't have one and no signs of ever having one. wonder if it could be a early/late production thing - ??? my 74 is a late production - august 74 - #319523.

 

[maylar]

AN doesn't show it as a separate item, though seat covers can be had with or without. I wonder if it was an optional accessory that could be ordered with the bike. My 74 is also an August bike 319532.

 

[kommando]

My 74 MK2A Interstate had one and now has a replacement.

 

[MichaelB]

It is a passenger grab strap.
The 'Grab' rail was introduced in 73 and the strap eventually went away.

 

[joe czech]

AN doesn't show it as a separate item, though seat covers can be had with or without. I wonder if it was an optional accessory that could be ordered with the bike. My 74 is also an August bike 319532.

interesting - two 74 roadsters, nine sequence numbers apart and two different configurations. fair chance they were built on the same day. maylar - another question - the lettering on the outer crankcase cover - natural or painted black "Norton" logo? sorry if i'm going off topic.

 

[maylar]

interesting - two 74 roadsters, nine sequence numbers apart and two different configurations. fair chance they were built on the same day. maylar - another question - the lettering on the outer crankcase cover - natural or painted black "Norton" logo? sorry if i'm going off topic.

No paint on mine. The only (factory) painted ones I've seen were MKIII's.

 

[maylar]

It is a passenger grab strap.
The 'Grab' rail was introduced in 73 and the strap eventually went away.

I can't see how that would be, since the strap would be under the rider's butt. The 73 poster on my wall shows both the strap and grab rail, on both the Roadster and Interstate.

 

[joe czech]

No paint on mine. The only (factory) painted ones I've seen were MKIII's.

mine was painted when I got the bike, however it looked like it was done by a little kid with no artistic ability. I was fairly sure it wasn't factory. cleaned it out and left it natural, and did a light polish on the cases.

 

[joe czech]

one thing I just noticed - I have a 74 sales brochure or catalog (assuming it's a 74 brochure), and in all the pics, roadsters do not have the seat strap, but interstates do. hi-riders, no, and of course, JPN's no. roadsters and interstates - they all have grab bars. seems like the model might be the driving factor, however that doesn't agree with maylar's configuration.

 

[maylar]

Yeah, mine has a light polish too...

 

[NPeteN]

How does one polish a coil??

 

[EstuaryBoy]

How does one polish a coil??

In a roundabout sort of way???

 

[maylar]

How does one polish a coil??

Loosen it and polish with a rag and Autosol. Or remove it and take it to the buffer -

The chromed bracket polishes easily.

 

[joe czech]

Yeah, mine has a light polish too...

almost twins, and built literally hours apart....

 

[possm]

If my memory serves me correctly the first of the 850 Roadster seats came with [to New Zealand] a basket weave top with strap possibly Mk1 then followed by a square pattern top [no strap], I had a candy red Roadster in the mid 70's to which I still have the remains of its left hand side cover[after it left the bike and slid down the road] Candy Red and Silver I will be able to use it as a paint match when I get round to painting my latest Mk3 project.

 

[MichaelB]

If my memory serves me correctly the first of the 850 Roadster seats came with [to New Zealand] a basket weave top with strap possibly Mk1 then followed by a square pattern top [no strap], I had a candy red Roadster in the mid 70's to which I still have the remains of its left hand side cover[after it left the bike and slid down the road] Candy Red and Silver I will be able to use it as a paint match when I get round to painting my latest Mk3 project.

Yes, the Mk 1 had both, grab rail and strap.
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/sho...-roadster-bsk-weave-chrome-bead-pillion-strap
Note the 'Pillion' strap.

 

[joe czech]

pillion = passenger, thus "pillion" strap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillion. if you get into AN's catalog pages, the seat [square pattern] w/ strap is listed as 850 INTERSTATE, seat w/o strap, ROADSTER. that agrees with the 74 sales brochure. so, it could be, Mk1 and Mk1A basketweave, both roadsters and interstates, came with the strap, and starting with the Mk2's, and square pattern, roadsters no, interstates yes. still doesn't explain maylar's 74.

 

[maylar]

starting with the Mk2's, and square pattern, roadsters no, interstates yes. still doesn't explain maylar's 74.

Well, TBH I have recovered the seat once since new. I probably got it from Old Britts and might have chosen one with a strap even if mine didn't come with one. Been too long and I don't remember. But typically I like to stick with originality when I choose things like that, so I'm gonna say I'm 80% sure my original seat came with a strap. Maybe I'll look for some old photos in my "way back" picture albums to be sure.

My pillions (passengers) have always held on to either me or the grab rail, so that's why I consider it as being a glove strap. On a Roadster you'd need to be way up close to the tank to allow a passenger to have access to it. Mine has a Norton baseball cap tucked under it at all times.