Mecum Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas

[MichaelB]

Either way, that's a nice bike and looks like the buyer got a good value.
My quess, it's a fairly original 1970 Roadster, repainted. Looks like original downpipes and early Black tail piece.
Which, just in my never to be Humble opinion has the sexiest add of them all.

 

[marshg246]

One of the guys who showed up at our last club meeting picked up this Commando at the auction. I didn't think it was a horrible price, there's a $500 auction fee and then shipping. Apparently it takes a while for them to ship all the bikes out.

1970 Norton Commando For Sale At Auction - Mecum Auctions

View the 1970 Norton Commando for sale at Las Vegas Motorcycles 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada as F271.

www.mecum.com

Winning bid was $6,050. A little high but it's an S.

May have originally been an "S" but not built as one now. Has wrong exhaust, taillight fairing, seat, paint job and more. Once delivered I guess it's about $7200 which is about $1500 higher than I would consider the high-point delivered for this bike.

 

[swooshdave]

There were two very similar bikes sold. I was assuming it was that one because of the price. But it may have actually been this one. New owner didn't show me pics and it was a relatively brief conversation.

1970 Norton Commando 750 S for Sale at Auction - Mecum Auctions

View the 1970 Norton Commando 750 S for sale at Las Vegas Motorcycles 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada as T328.1.

www.mecum.com

 

[marshg246]

There were two very similar bikes sold. I was assuming it was that one because of the price. But it may have actually been this one. New owner didn't show me pics and it was a relatively brief conversation.

1970 Norton Commando 750 S for Sale at Auction - Mecum Auctions

View the 1970 Norton Commando 750 S for sale at Las Vegas Motorcycles 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada as T328.1.

www.mecum.com

That makes more sense - this is an "S". Still looks like the wrong seat, tank, air cleaner, barrel color, and AFAIK, there was never a black "S". There certainly are none shown in the 70 Brochure. Also, AFAIK, the "D" lining started in 72 with the Black Combats (maybe all black 72 Roadsters).

Happy to hear anything authoritative I've got wrong about any of this!

 

[L.A.B.]

That makes more sense - this is an "S". Still looks like the wrong seat, tank, air cleaner, barrel color, and AFAIK, there was never a black "S". There certainly are none shown in the 70 Brochure. Also, AFAIK, the "D" lining started in 72 with the Black Combats (maybe all black 72 Roadsters).

Black with the 'D' stripe from '71. The tank appears to be steel so from a later 750 Roadster.

https://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/1971Commando.pdf

Nothing wrong with the seat that I can see except there's no strap.

https://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/70Norton.pdf

Wrong revcounter and fitted on the wrong side of the forks.

 

[marshg246]

Black with the 'D' stripe from '71. The tank appears to be steel so from a later 750 Roadster.

https://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/1971Commando.pdf

Nothing wrong with the seat that I can see except there's no strap.

https://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/70Norton.pdf

Wrong revcounter and fitted on the wrong side of the forks.

Thanks, not sure why I never download that brochure - have the rest. I guess I already knew that I just went to update my colors page and it already agrees wiht you.

The earlier seats had a large slot cut in them to go over the central frame tube. I assume to make them align better with the rear of the glass tanks. That seat appears to not have that and is even high on the rear of the steel tank and appears bent in the middle.

Also, AFAIK, the "S" was terminated in about June 71 and the "S" was never black. Also, I think all tanks were glass though 71. With a glass tank the front of the seat would be really high.

 

[L.A.B.]

Also, AFAIK, the "S" was terminated in about June 71

June 1970 according to Bacon (135088).

and the "S" was never black.

I didn't say the 'S' was black.

Also, I think all tanks were glass though 71.

Yes.

 

[marshg246]

June 1970 according to Bacon (135088).



I didn't say the 'S' was black.


Yes.

Yes, typo on June 71.

I know you didn't say the "S" was black - the auction picture showed it black.

 

[L.A.B.]

The earlier seats had a large slot cut in them to go over the central frame tube. I assume to make them align better with the rear of the glass tanks. That seat appears to not have that and is even high on the rear of the steel tank and appears bent in the middle.

It looks like the replacement pans don't have the cutout.

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.

andover-norton.co.uk

I know you didn't say the "S" was black - the auction picture showed it black.

Yes, I can see that.

 

[B+Bogus]

Either way, that's a nice bike and looks like the buyer got a good value.
My quess, it's a fairly original 1970 Roadster, repainted. Looks like original downpipes and early Black tail piece.
Which, just in my never to be Humble opinion has the sexiest add of them all.
View attachment 112517

I think you'd be right on all counts

I've tried and failed to source original shape downpipes. I have an original pair but they're in need of new chrome.
There's an assumption that all Roadster pipes are the same, but it isn't the case.



I wonder if these cleared the kickstarter?

The new A-N 'S' Type seat repros are the only ones available, and as LAB has pointed out, are different to the originals - in this and other details.
There were none available when I built my '70 Roadster; the rear profile is all wrong, but I remedied that after this photo was taken.



The 'S' Type had a wide top, slab sides and thinner padding, and followed the profile of the frame to mudguard transition, banana seat style, while the early Roadster seat used the same base, but with thicker padding tapering towards the much narrower top.
The seat on the Mecum bike above just looks to be badly fitted, thrown on for the photos, or possibly bent, as they were prone to fracturing (see below). It has the correct side profile, which was unique to the R, 'S' Type and early Roadster.
The beautiful studio shot posted by MichaelB shows the curves very nicely, I think

Comparison between a NOS 'S' Type and very shabby early Roadster seats - so both are 'original Norton' - there's a U shaped strap welded across the nose of the seat base, visible in the photos. In reality these bases are pretty flimsy and broke easily - see the Roadster seat pan behind the mounting lugs.

 

[swooshdave]

After 50 years I assume nothing is original.

Hopefully he'll have the bike by the next meeting.

He's a Triumph guy and loves his 68 Bonnie. I told him after riding the Norton that the Triumph will get pushed to the corner.

 

[swooshdave]

That makes more sense - this is an "S". Still looks like the wrong seat, tank, air cleaner, barrel color, and AFAIK, there was never a black "S". There certainly are none shown in the 70 Brochure. Also, AFAIK, the "D" lining started in 72 with the Black Combats (maybe all black 72 Roadsters).

Happy to hear anything authoritative I've got wrong about any of this!

I'd be more worried about the state of the front wheel bearing grease...

 

[B+Bogus]

Thanks, not sure why I never download that brochure - have the rest. I guess I already knew that I just went to update my colors page and it already agrees wiht you.

The earlier seats had a large slot cut in them to go over the central frame tube. I assume to make them align better with the rear of the glass tanks. That seat appears to not have that and is even high on the rear of the steel tank and appears bent in the middle.

Also, AFAIK, the "S" was terminated in about June 71 and the "S" was never black. Also, I think all tanks were glass though 71. With a glass tank the front of the seat would be really high.

Fibreglass tanks were used up to and including '72 - Combat Interstates had fibreglass tanks, side covers and seat bases. 'D' pinstriped Roadsters were the same.
These bikes are riders, not concours candidates - including the wrong grease in the wheel bearings
The roadster above also has 32mm manifolds...

 

[marshg246]

Fibreglass tanks were used up to and including '72 - Combat Interstates had fibreglass tanks, side covers and seat bases. 'D' pinstriped Roadsters were the same.
These bikes are riders, not concours candidates - including the wrong grease in the wheel bearings
The roadster above also has 32mm manifolds...

No, according to Parts book 063402 and the 72 brochure, in 72 most Roadster colors where available in glass or steel. Black w/lines, and Blue w/lines Interstate tanks were available in glass or steel.

 

[L.A.B.]

No, according to Parts book 063402 and the 72 brochure, in 72 most Roadster colors where available in glass or steel. Black w/lines, and Blue w/lines Interstate tanks were available in glass or steel.

Steel Roadster tanks in black only were supposed to have been introduced from 203200 and remaining colours from 205959.
Although the parts book list steel Interstate tanks for '1972' I'm not sure there were any.

 

[marshg246]

Steel Roadster tanks in black only were supposed to have been introduced from 203200 and remaining colours from 205959.
Although the parts book list steel Interstate tanks for '1972' I'm not sure there were any.

Please state where that info came from so, I can update my Commando ID and Commando Colors pages.

Also, parts book 063402 copy I have has no publish date - do you know if any copies of it do?

 

[B+Bogus]

It looks like the replacement pans don't have the cutout.

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.

andover-norton.co.uk

Interesting.
The seats I recently received from Andover Norton had the original style 'sheet metal' base complete with cut-out, but without the welded on hoop at the front.
I wonder if the website image is generic?
I have a couple of bases on order (and another 'S' seat), so it'll be interesting to see what arrives

My last Combat Interstate had a fibreglass tank, VIN 2095XX
The black and dark blue were gelcoat finish, and not painted as far as I can tell, just pinstripes painted onto the fibreglass together with self-adhesive graphics.
They must have looked great for at least 6 months

 

[concours]

The minibikes are selling for big money. This steaming pile was a huge sales flop for good reason.

Lots of 45 year old big bikes barely cracking $1000.

 

[robs ss]

This steaming pile was a huge sales flop for good reason.View attachment 123549

So.... what'd you pay for it?

 

[Madnorton]

There could well have been Black S types, a relative has one and they obtained it as a NOVA import with 6,000 miles on it. There are no other colours evident on the side cover or tank to say it has been resprayed. Also, the factory records has the colour left blank.
Be careful with auctions as the 'provenance' on top priced bikes rarely matches the records when we check, some auction houses are worse than others. An S type went through Stafford a few years back and the only thing that could have been S type was the VIN plate, the rest did not match up at all. A recent Norton F1, never used on the road but refurbished in 2013, a MK3 ES Unregistered and sold by in 1975 that did not leave number 2 works until February 1976.