1972 750 Hi-Rider

[o0norton0o]

Sorry, I may have misunderstood, but isn't that nonsense? Whether it touches the same link of the chain on each rotation will also depend on the number of chain links. But, I can't see how "each tooth makes contact only half as many times". It makes contact every revolution. A 41 tooth will make contact 1/42 times more often than a 42 tooth.

In one chain rotation with a front sprocket that is half the size of the rear sprocket, the front sprocket turns twice for every one time the rear sprocket turns, so twice the amount of sprocket tooth/chain contact per chain rotation. I don't think it means double the wear on the front sprocket because the chain usually takes most of the wear, but in theory it should wear twice as fast if both sprockets were the same material and hardness. (which they are not on a stock commando)

The Gear Commander website has a same tooth calculator near the bottom of this page which can take a bike's # of links, front sprocket, and rear sprocket sizes and calculate how much the chain links and teeth interchange. I suppose it could help you get the most out of a pair of sprockets and chain if you want to calculate that. I judge more by stretch and visual tooth inspection. Maybe I don't ride enough miles in a given year to worry about maximizing my sprocket and chain life...

Gearing Commander - Motorcycle Speed and Drive Train Calculator v7

Motorcycle speed and sprocket calculator with bike database for gearing, sprockets, tires and chains of over 1750 bikes. Request yours to be added as well.

www.gearingcommander.com

 

[quawk]

Been a while since I started this thread, but I've just jumped off the bridge and went ahead and purchased the Hi-Rider I've been posting about. Negotiated the price down a bit and he accepted the offer. As others I would suspect feel, once the seller accepts your offer you immediately wish you'd have offered even less. Oh well, the deal is done. Now the journey begins.

 

[mean gene]

Congrats! Pictures please

 

[ashman]

Well about time lol, now when you get it just pull it down and go through it, replace parts that you think needs replacing, and do a few upgrades to make it even better, once sorted Commando's can be very reliable if you keep with the maintenance, gear box are easy to work on same as the motors if you go that far, are you going to keep it Hi-Rider, or change it to a Roadster/Interstate.
Anyway good luck with it and enjoy, whichever way you go with it have fun as saving another old classic from the grave is always good.

Ashley

 

[Jdub]

Great news!

 

[quawk]

Well about time lol, now when you get it just pull it down and go through it, replace parts that you think needs replacing, and do a few upgrades to make it even better, once sorted Commando's can be very reliable if you keep with the maintenance, gear box are easy to work on same as the motors if you go that far, are you going to keep it Hi-Rider, or change it to a Roadster/Interstate.
Anyway good luck with it and enjoy, whichever way you go with it have fun as saving another old classic from the grave is always good.

Ashley

As with any "project" bike I've ever had, the first order of business is just to get the engine to start and run. May at least change the oil before I start tinkering, but I would never immediately run out and buy a bunch of parts until I see if I can get it running as is. As I mentioned in my original post, I don't care for the apehanger handlebars, the goofy seat, and the extended fork legs and turnout exhaust pipes he had installed on it. He, of course, hadn't kept the original parts. Nearly everybody trashed the original parts when they changed them out back then, because these bikes were just another bike and nearly nobody would have guessed that they may one day be collectable/valuable/ sought after. I think that's kind of the state of all bikes that are around 50 or more years old. When they sold new they were relatively inexpensive fun machines and to a degree considered disposable. Some owners couldn't wait for next year's models to come out and would go trade in/up, or they may just cast the old one into the corner of the garage/shed/barn etc. And of course because they were, to a degree disposable, a fair share of them got scrapped or parted out. The commonly used term today "survivor" is fitting for many of these old bikes, because just them still being around for all these years has given them value.

 

[L.A.B.]

I would never immediately run out and buy a bunch of parts until I see if I can get it running as is.

As it's a 1972 Hi-Rider then it should have a standard tune engine and not be a Combat.

 

[quawk]

As it's a 1972 Hi-Rider then it should have a standard tune engine and not be a Combat.

From my research, both on this forum and other sources, that is my understanding.

 

[quawk]

Just to clarify, not that it makes any difference to me, this bike turned out to be a 1973 rather than a '72. When I originally went to look at this bike and spoke to the owner, even he remembered it as being a '72. It wasn't until he went and got the title from his safety deposit box that he then realized it is a '73. It has been, after all, over 50 years ago.

 

[marshg246]

Just to clarify, not that it makes any difference to me, this bike turned out to be a 1973 rather than a '72. When I originally went to look at this bike and spoke to the owner, even he remembered it as being a '72. It wasn't until he went and got the title from his safety deposit box that he then realized it is a '73. It has been, after all, over 50 years ago.

Just because the title says 73 doesn't mean it is. When imported and the dealer got the original title, the year was whatever the dealer said. I don't remember if you ever said the serial number and there are too many post to go through.

 

[quawk]

Just because the title says 73 doesn't mean it is. When imported and the dealer got the original title, the year was whatever the dealer said. I don't remember if you ever said the serial number and there are too many post to go through.

I did not get the serial number from this bike until I puschased it two days ago. Is there a database here on the forum, or anywhere, that I can check the serial number against to verify it's year, or is the year actually in the vin/serial number? It's curious that, if as you say, the dealer got to say what year it was. Was this done so a dealer could sell a previous year leftover bike as a current/new year bike?

 

[L.A.B.]

Is there a database here on the forum, or anywhere, that I can check the serial number against to verify it's year, or is the year actually in the vin/serial number?

Commandos don't actually have a model year which is why the model year is whatever is on the title although there is normally a date stamp on the frame certification plate and approximate build can generally be ascertained from the serial number.
It doesn't happen to be 235xxx (if 1973) by any chance.

 

[quawk]

Commandos don't actually have a model year which is why the model year is whatever is on the title although there is normally a date stamp on the frame certification plate and approximate build can generally be ascertained from the serial number.
It doesn't happen to be 235xxx (if 1973) by any chance.

Is there something special about bikes starting with those numbers?

 

[L.A.B.]

Is there something special about bikes starting with those numbers?

No, only that's what it might be if it's from early '73 and a Hi-Rider as there's no official information about this 235 series although many are known to exist.

 

[marshg246]

I did not get the serial number from this bike until I puschased it two days ago. Is there a database here on the forum, or anywhere, that I can check the serial number against to verify it's year, or is the year actually in the vin/serial number? It's curious that, if as you say, the dealer got to say what year it was. Was this done so a dealer could sell a previous year leftover bike as a current/new year bike?

It's not that they were left over, it's just a matter of when received and when titled. Even Triump which has a very clear model year often had the wrong year on the titile - I have three of them all wrong.

GME - Norton Commando ID

Norton Commando Model Identification

www.gregmarsh.com

 

[quawk]

Commandos don't actually have a model year which is why the model year is whatever is on the title although there is normally a date stamp on the frame certification plate and approximate build can generally be ascertained from the serial number.
It doesn't happen to be 235xxx (if 1973) by any chance.

Have just went out to my shop and checked the serial number. It is #235187 and has what I assume is the date stamp on that same riveted on tag of 1/73.

 

[L.A.B.]

It is #235187 and has what I assume is the date stamp on that same riveted on tag of 1/73.

Yes, so (an approximate) build date of January 1973.

 

[quawk]

Congrats! Pictures please

Can I post pics here, or do I need to post in the pictures section?

 

[L.A.B.]

Can I post pics here, or do I need to post in the pictures section?

Only VIP members can upload pictures directly. Non-VIP members must use a picture hosting website.

 

[Jdub]

Warning - OT: The control of pictures by third- party hosters and your loss of ownership and recompense is well documented by Photobucket and others. The addition of photos clarifies and speeds your work which is satisfying.

If you have seen the threads only to be disappointed at pictures of cartoon cameras sad for lack of Benjamins you know how to do right by the gathered and for those to come.

Set your camera to pre-name and numerically sequence for example Norton_0001 and fire away. This and Excel have saved my forgetful brain many times.