The TRUTH Behind the Boxed 1975 Norton
2023 ж. 8 Мам.
463 378 Рет қаралды
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As a Brit 🇬🇧 and an 850 Commando Roadster (75’) owner, I salute you guys 🫡 . Thank you for rescuing it, that thing was built to be ridden, not stuck rotting in a box 👌🏻😎 and shame on all those people posting negative comments .
What mechanics are concerned about is the lack of respect for a Commando. There is a difference between using a bike and ruining a bike. After 50 years in a crate a machine needs extra special care to bring it back to life. A person who is knowledgeable about Commandos, would do many things to ensure you gave it all the care in prep a 1975 Commando needs and requires. Running a bike that needs to be broken in , has to be tuned well and oiled up so you don't start it dry. It is kind of like giving some one a nice gift and they go out and destroy in a few days. And by the way I am a very well known Commando mechanic.
@Carl Hokanson sweet as mate, but maybe behind the scenes he spent an hour kicking it through to oil her up, we all appreciate some lubrication before a great ride 😊 he doesn't sound like a cowboy, run in time is very important but a Norton loves a good hammering otherwise they carbon up
@@infidel202 I seen other videos he has done, They have a lot to learn about the care and feeding of motorcycles like a Commando. Most people would do research and get a shop manual to read . Even the owner's booklet that comes with the bike has good info in it. Running a bike with a choke on is NO way to break in a bike. I can already hear that the motor is very noisy and there is a good chance the cam and lifters that are known to fail in MK3s are on the way out. Also there is a transmission bearing that need to be replaced as they also are defective. And tork specs on the parts they installed need to be used. It needs a couple of days or more work by a Commando mechanic. Well, he certainly did hammer it, but in the wrong way.
@@carlhokanson9160 how about letting him know what was defective from the factory, unless you know what is wrong you can't fix it,especially if the cam's weren't hardened properly or the pushrods were originally soft, just as the previous owner of my bike put the wrong oil pump on it when he rebuild it, I found out after pulling the Head and barrels off to fix the cross threaded exhaust nut and noticed the rocker arms were bluish from just getting enough oil and the cam had a 60 thou lip at one end, good way to find out the bike you just bought that came with receipts for parts used in a rebuild was put together by a chimpanzee using half a brick and a cold chisel, I didn't hear the cross threaded exhaust until after I had put 500 miles on it and was checking the speedo against a mates gsxr on the highway at night, the monkey had used locktight to cover it up, that was my introduction to the bike I had wanted for years, if you have knowledge about factory faults then instead of criticism offer information as there are a lot of so called experts out there who know F all, I met one in particular who knew everything according to him, I asked a mate about his experiences with the said expert and the truth was he was a total F Witt, unfortunately there are lots of these clowns out there, I could take two weeks to tell you stories about two brothers who are according to them experts in vw beetles but in reality are the most useless pair of monkeys to ever hold a spanner, the older one even pretended to know motorcycles
@@carlhokanson9160 it a motorcycle, pretty much like every other bike of its time! Never understood the special mechanic BS when it comes to British bikes. Is this particular bike so exceptionally crappy that it needs a voodoo priestess 😂😂😂😂😂
Let Them Hate You. You Own The Bike They Don'T
Yep. They are just jealous AF.
Just because you have the legal right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I'm a 64 year old recently retired vintage car mechanic. Motorcycles are one of my hobbies, along with vintage vehicles of all kinds. I have never owned a motorcycle, car, or truck that wasn't carbureted, and I never will. The stuff they call motorcycles and cars these days is nothing but computerized TRASH. If you want to destroy something, destroy that. It has no value, and never will. I have seen so many old vehicles totally ruined by owners who didn't care anything about them other than as a toy to chop up. They had the money to buy it, and the legal right to destroy it. That's one less of whatever it was in existence. I own some really nice old bikes and cars that are treated with great care. I have a 1991 truck that WAS computerized, but isn't anymore. I removed all the computerized garbage, and put a carbureted engine from 1967 in it. Its year means it will never be a collectors item, yet it no longer has any computer trash on it. It's my daily driver.
@@geraldscott4302 okay boomer
@@geraldscott4302dear Gerald, what is your problem?!! I'm a 52yr old Welshman who has a gilbern invader, a 1936 Austin 10 and two motorcycle's and I have no issues with the guys who now own this Norton whatsoever, I very much doubt that they will harm,alter or even chop up the bike and will be good custodians of it. I encourage you to try and find out why you are so negative about this situation as it's extremely childish behaviour from a man of your age, maybe go and sit in the corner for a while ok.
@@geraldscott4302 imagine living that long and still getting that twisted up about life. Take a few deep breaths bro and relax.
Well done. I’m English, a Norton owner and in the The Norton Owners Club. I’m very happy you bought the Commando and brought it back to life. Again, well done, thanks.
Shawn, the problem you are having with the front brake is the on previous 850s and 750s the brake was on the right side and the bleeder was in the correct position to let the air out. Take the caliper off and position the bleeder to get air out. I had a 75 Mk3 and now I have a 73 MK1. Just a few other points, the clutch should be easy to put with a lubricant added, same with throttle. My clutch is feather light because of a additional steel disc added to the clutch plate stack this can be gotten from Colorado Norton Works. Replace the small gauge ground and power cable to the starter and it will work perfectly. I live in NJ and would love to ride with you. I belong to a great local Norton club, Delaware Norton Riders.
Actually having a front brake caliper mounted on the bike over the disc would be a great start…
I'm in NZ and a mate had a 850 Interstate 30 years ago.. Do you know what the difference is?
@@darrylgenet7213 Tank capacity. Interstate is huge, Roadster is normal. Not sure about 75 but earlier Interstates had different side covers.
Great upgrades
I have a hunch that front caliper is locked solid.
As a Brit (well, a Scot), I apologise on behalf of those who are badmouthing you (they're obviously British). Norton Commandos are very respected and popular in the UK, and those writing the negative comments obviously don't understand there is a completely different bike culture across the pond. I'm glad you've managed to get it running properly, they're lovely bikes that are very sought after.
Nope, it is that we respect what the bikes are and hate seeing them maltreated by people that don't have the inclination to learn & understand what they are before mucking them up. This very video shows several example of poor treatment. leaning against bike on the very weak sidestand, kick starting while on sidestand...expect the frame to bend/break in near future if that continues. Riding on public roads/highways without front brakes is madness, no respect for others safety on the road. Take the time to figure out how to fix it before taking it out. Why no license plate on bike?
I have gone to the “British in the Blue Ridge” rally in Georgia and there were a great many beautiful Commandos in perfect condition. Lots of innovations which improved the breed came from North America.
@Alex you're so right, they'll be plenty of negative twats who can't wait to tell everyone how superior they are based on their flawed belief that they know the best way to do anything, it's made to be ridden by everyone however they want to, including those same self righteous insignificant little losers.
@@TornadoCAN99 bro, do you need some midol?
@@TornadoCAN99 while you are correct about the weak kick stand , you should be polite and impart knowledge in a friendly manner . you probably don't even own one of these fine motorcycles.
Shawn's love of motorcycles is what go me into them this last year. Motorcycling needs more Shawns in the world, people who make it fun and enjoyable. These bike things need to be enjoyed and ridden. No one seems to say the same thing with Jay Leno when he rides and drives all his classics. Thank you Shawn for putting me on 2 wheels.
Jay is a national treasure
And Jay's info is often a bit off, but no one seems to mind!
@@glenbreaks5448 he's just like most old timers...he's forgotten more than most people will ever know about cars and motorcycles. A few inaccuracies aren't a big deal in my opinion.
I agree. So we should extend at least the same level of tolerance to someone new to these bikes.
20+ year Norton owner here. I'm very happy you resurrected this bike. You are worthy! Great story too
Quite a lot of people built Norimps during the 60's. It isn't I.M.P. it is Imp, the motors came from a little, rear engined car built in Glasgow called a Hillman Imp. The engine was a Coventry Climax 850cc unit that had enjoyed success in motor racing, but was originally designed as the power unit for the Coventry Climax/Godiva Pumps (same firm) Light Portable Pump for the Fire Brigade. Speaking from experience, they are portable, but not very light. Imp power plants were often used in racing sidecars too. If you think it sounds nice with the annular discharge silencers, then fit it with a set of Norton "Peashooter" exhausts, they sound fantastic, and will liberate some more power.
Had to laugh at that I M P
Not just any old motor racing, but top flight F1 racing. The Imp unit was, of course, a rather simplified and much less tuned unit. However, by at a time when competitor cars were cast iron ohv units, the Imp's all aluminium sohc engine was very advanced. There were quite a few custom bike builds using Imp engines.
I had a Hillman Imp Californian coupé as my first car (same body shape as the Singer Stiletto). Have a feeling that the capacity was 875cc, but otherwise as you say based on a Coventry Climax engine and you can see the resemblance to the CC racing engines. It was a a car where I learned a bit about maintenance. I always thought that that they looked a bit like a shrunken Corvair, with the engine at the back as well. Never outshone the Mini. I still have a fondness for the SOHC all alloy Imp engine. It was light and revved well and I've seen a few in bikes and 3 wheel racing outfits.
I put a Hillman imp engine in a Royal Enfield meteor frame. Made a subframe for the engine to mount in and that picked up the original Enfield mounts. Still had the Hillman flywheel and starter motor. Kept the Enfield clutch and connected it to a Norton 4 speed box. It was a right old Heinz 57 contraption but I did get it working and rode it on private land. In the end I dismantled it and sold the frame to an Enfield enthusiast.
He can't put peashooters on that. Well, he can, but it's's probably the most cherry example in the world. Well worth keeping it stock
Glad you unboxed the Norton it needs to be on the road. There's always a person in every forum that bloody murder. They are just Jealous you have it .👍
I'm not jealous I own many Commandos, I just did not see anything to impress me with the way they did the work on the bike and how little they know about bikes. When your breaking in new machines there are many thing to know to do it right. You need a skilled Commando mechanic to do it right.
@@carlhokanson9160 Totally agree. I would never allow those guys anywhere near any bike of mine, nor would I want any bike they worked on. They’re not to be trusted in my opinion. For one thing, they suffer from the ridiculous ‘Will it run?’ disease. Ludicrous dangerous god bothering amateurs. Darwin has a plan for them. Peace
@@carlhokanson9160 How do you know they were talking about you? Me thinks he doth protest too much!
I applaud you for getting it on the road, its what it was meant to do. I would how ever get quite a few high res pictures in decent lighting as its 100% original so would make a nice reference bike for someone who is restoring one.
As a Californian, heck yes Sonny Angel motorcycles is a MASSIVE deal. Thanks for bringing that to light, bruh
That he was!
As the British owner, back in the day, of a Norton Commando 750 which I used well and treated it to the same care and attention of any bike Ive owned I think people forget that while Americans maybe a little different they were the ones who kept the British motorcycle industry going for as long as it did! I applaud you getting the bike on the road and using it, no machine deserves to linger on in a crate, they need action! BTW, plenty of brain deads on this side of the Atlantic who would rather argue about paint codes on a 1962 BSA Bantam than actually ride anywhere on anything!
around the time your bike was made I had a 73 Norton. I rode it from Springfield Ohio to LA and back in the spring. Was a epic adventure and the bike was flawless .I've always regretted selling that bike. I've had hundreds of bikes since then but that will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for saving this piece of history and riding it as it was meant to be riden
“Hundreds of bikes…” No you haven’t.
@@vincedibona4687 yes in my 66 years I sure have. Bought,sold,traded just about anything you could think of in old school bikes. Not much in present modern ones.
I had a 67 Norton Atlas. I would not wish that bike on anyone. On the ride home from the dealership it broke down, an early omen for what was to come. It would always stop running in commuter traffic with me in the middle lane😮. Damn near impossible to start without dismounting, putting it on the center stand, putting my full weight on the kickstarter and lunging down! It took many years later for my knee to recover (seriously). The few times I tried wringing it out to it’s full 110 mph potential, I had to back off as the gauges were a vibrating blur and I was fearful of the frame cracking. It required a rebore at about 12,000 miles and it was then that the shop discovered that the original bores were not parallel! Due to it’s unreliability and spine tingling vibration it never got past 30,000 miles in my 30 years of ownership (I know, a slow learner). To it’s credit, it looked great, sounded great and was a joy to ride through the twisty’s . After I sold it, it sadly turned up again, several times over the years, in parts, at swap meets. Bits and pieces filtering out in different directions for different purposes. A love/hate relationship, with the former being the lesser.
@@vincedibona4687 blud does not know the concept of making money and putting it into bikes
My father had a Norton 850 back in 1975, he loved that thing. He was military and we got shipped to Germany in 1979. I remember watching him watch the guy who bought it from him going down the driveway on it... was a sad day indeed for the old man lol.
Unless the plan was to send it to a museum, that bike would have floated from place to place and continue to deteriorate. You gave it a second chance, and an even better story.
So glad you unboxed this bike. It was built to be ridden! My father in law sold his MK111 Norton Interstate 850 a few years ago and he miss's it so much. If you choose to keep one of your bikes forever, make sure it's this one. 😉
"Not worthy to own a Norton" - too funny. Keyboard courage from mom's basement in an Internet thang.
Sean, man I envy you. An extraordinary bike and find. What a great back story. Cheers and hello from Australia ! Love ya channel ! 😎👍
Yeah we love our Nortons in Australia 🇦🇺
Back in the day Sonny Angle was one of the guys for getting Brit parts in San Diego. He had a lot of classic bikes in his collection and more than once I went to his shop to get parts for my Norton, 68 Atlas. PS still got the Atlas!!
I'm 74yo and my first British twin was when I was 17 - it was a 56 Norton. I fell in love with British twins. Subsequently bought a 66 BSA Lightning then a 67' Bonneville, which I only recently sold. Love that old iron.
That is a beautiful example of the golden days of the British motorcycle industry! I love the simplicity of the air cooled verticle twin!
Sean. Glad you have that classic running. The Police service in my country contracted the Suzuki dealer around 1974/1975 to supply them with the Norton Commando 850. They got them, but as police motorcycles go in my country, they lasted as a snowball in hell ! As a small island, we have to import everything mechanical, and police bikes are real casualties. A bike would be down for some reason, then the company contracted to repair would cannibalize it to repair others. Eventually all would be incapacitated. They have had Triumph Tiger 500s, Suzuki GSX 750s. Yamaha FJR 850s, BMW R1150RTPs & Funduros, among others..........and they disappeared one by one in little time. Later, there would be a Police Auction, for the useless remains. Right now, our police service use a Chinese-made 4-cyl bike. I do not even know the brand name ! I heard you mention the Hillman Imp 850. This was a car made by the British Rootes Group under two of of their brands, Hillman and Singer. The Imp carried a rear mounted RWD 850cc 4-cyl engine. It was intended to be a competitor to the Austin Mini 850 in its day. It was used a lot as a rally car. But the consumer version suffered reliability problems. Many, many years ago, I saw in a magazine, a British guy using that engine in a motorcycle. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
Didn’t they have a Coventry Climax engine?
@@mickvonbornemann3824 not all, only some.
You guys deserve all the good that comes your way! Your life-perspective is contagious
I knew Sonny. He kept a Vincent Black Shadow in the middle of his showroom floor. He was also one of the early Yamaha two-stroke road-racers, and he loved Ducati's very much. He was down in National City in San Diego near the dry doc's for shipbuilding. Great guy and extremely creative with a superb imagination and spirit for life. G.
It was actually a "shadowized" Rapide. Vincent expert Max Lambky helped him build it. They were life-long friends.
Your experience with the idiots on the Norton forums is why I never join car make clubs. The sort of people, who are "clubbies" are far too precious about their vehicles. They are always right and everybody else is wrong - closed minds. However I don't think I would ride a motorcycle without a working front brake on a public road. Imagine if a kid stepped out in front of you and you could not stop.
There are adventurers in this world and those with every good reason not to be. The only tragedy is when some people reach the end of their lives and then say “I wish I had”…..
Without these idiots and their clubs providing support for owners, spare parts and advice on preserving these old machines they would all have gone to the scrapyard. Let’s hope no one calls you an idiot for caring about something.
@@lornemower1531 Yes the clubs can be useful for parts and information, although for the latter, forums now serve for this purpose. My objection is how precious, over-protective and boring the members often are about the particular car their club is for. A few years ago, when I had a Jaguar V12 Sovereign (a singularly poorly made and unreliable car with lots of design flaws) I was persuaded by a friend to go to a Jaguar Drivers Club dinner in London. I was bored out of my skull by the other members pontificating about Jaguars.
@@wilsonlaidlaw Of course they are cliquey and obsessive, that’s why the form clubs so they can bore each other to death. You bought a notoriously unreliable and quirky car and are not an idiot but all those in the club who did the same are, although I can just imagine the kind of people who attend a Jaguar Drivers Club dinner. You clearly are not sufficiently obsessive for the JDC or you would still be telling everyone that you once owned a V12 Jag and everything that was wrong with it, hang on a mo!
I agree with you about some club guys, but that’s not the issue here. They simply don’t bother to do basic research. That choke issue is the perfect example. MANY British bikes have chokes that operate in the same way. A simple check, or posting a question - on the very forums that you and they are criticising, would not only have solved their confusion, they would also have introduced themselves to the Norton community, and stood a decent chance of being accepted. Instead they did their usual arrogant thing and ploughed on with zero information. I own 17 bikes by several manufacturers from Bultaco, BMW, CCM and Honda to Velocette, plus Ford and SAAB cars. I regularly read and ask questions on multiple forums. I study previously asked questions for hours. It’s a great way to learn - by tapping into the issues reported by other owners, and of course the decades of collective knowledge from owners. I simply don’t respect anyone who lacks the integrity and intellectual curiosity to ask simple questions. My personal experience over decades in various fields, including the military and aircraft engineering, is that they are dangerous.
Sonny was a great guy. High energy and straight up. I purchased a '69 Triumph 500 and later a Moto Guzzi from him in the '70's. His shop was in National City, CA. He always had a lot of interesting bikes for sale. He was a good guy and sold a lot of bikes to young sailors stationed at 32nd Street Naval Station. He was also an accomplished racer. You got a special bike there.
Great post, Dennis. Cheers - Mark Brush
It’s great to see the Norton on the road! I bought my first Norton in 1963 While stationed in Asmara Eritrea! The bike was bought through the Post Exchange system and delivered to Massawa on the Red Sea. The bike was incredible and one ride from Massawa to Asmara made it perfectly clear why English bikes and especially Norton were the masters of motorcycling. The road starts at sea level and ends at 7,600ft in less than 65 miles. Hare pin turns and animals, traffic all make for memorable riding! The bike went with me to Germany where it may still be running! Norton was the king of affordable English bikes in the early 60’s. I went from the Atlas 750 and in 1972 bought a Commando and upgraded it to a Dunstall 810cc (A true English classic Cafe’ Racer.) Thanks for bringing back great memories and history back on the road!
I daily ride my '71 commando 750 roadster. It is a right hand shift with one up, three down shift pattern. This bike has soul that modern bikes will never have. Saving all the old parts, if you add electronic ignition and primary belt drive with associated clutch kit, you will have an excellent machine. I'm glad you put it on the road. When you tire of it, give it to me for safe keeping!
In the 1980s I was working as a tech (mechanic) at a Midwest BMW/Triumph and former Norton dealer. My boss saved a number of bikes in the crates. He sold a new MKIII and I got to service it out and take it for its first ride. It was wonderful, tight, smooth and had the original flat wide handlebars.
I think opening the crate and riding the bike is the right move. It's a 75 Commando, not some 1910 one-off Harley prototype. Throttle should snap right back. You may want to lube the cable and make sure the slide isn't sticking. I haven't ridden an old Norton but I've got a 64 Triumph 650 as my daily rider. I accidentally left my choke on the other day... took me a couple miles to realize why she was running so bad. A lot of people take the choke mechanism out of the carb. They don't really need it, but they're helpful.
After owning a new 1969 BSA 500 in Germany, in 1975 I bought a brand new 1975 Norton 850 Commando in Livery Black and Gold pinstripe from a dealer in Orange County, CA. I loved that bike! Had it for years. It was a kick start, comfortable and I always carried extra clutch cables. They never seemed to last. Times got hard and in a bad money pinch, I sold it to a buddy who stiffed me out of the last 3-month payments. I still ride at 74 y.o. and getting ready for another Iron Butt Assoc. ride. Of all the bikes I've owned, the 850 was the tops. Watching this is bittersweet.
I am so jelly. Im glad you got it together and on the road. Truly awesome piece of history with an equally awesome story.
I owned two Commandos in the 70s. First off was a Fastback I bought in 1971 after leaving university. Then I sold it on and bought an Interstate. The rubber mounted engine and gearbox assembly made cruising very comfortable, there being no vibration at all ! However round about 1975, I had heard Norton were bringing out an electric-start version and with lots of improvements to what was, really, quite dire reliability. However, Triumph got to me first with their T160 triple. I was out riding with some mates and we stopped in Atherstone to visit the toilets. A small motorcycle dealer called Bennets had their ship opposite the car park, so we walked over, and in the window was a brand-new T160 in the maroon colour. Well ! I remember walking in and saying, "I'll take the Triumph in the window", only to be told it was already sold ! However, they soon got me one from the factory, and that was the end of my Norton phase.
Once you ride a Norton, you understand why their owners love them. O er the years I had the pleasure of owning a 68 P11 Ranger (my all time fav), 68 750 Commando and a 70 Commando. I had Triumphs and BSAs but the Nortons were my favorite
I remember Sonny Angel motorcycle shop. Used to check out all the interesting stuff that wasn't in the Japanese shops.
I miss it too. If able to go back 12 years, I'd do things very differently.
@@sonnyangelarchives2052 I used to drool over the older Ducatis there. San Diego isn’t the same without that iconic shop!
@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures it's a very long story. In 2011, I still had another 13 years to go in the Navy. Sonny didn't have any sons or grandsons, so I would have been the only one to keep it going. Was TOTALLY overwhelmed by what I saw behind the walls in that shop. So much that people couldn't see. Sonny had no money for retirement care, so the only way to care for him was to sell the shop and bikes. At the time, it made sense. All these years later, it's something I'll regret for the rest of my life.
@@sonnyangelarchives2052 The motorcycle industry is difficult in the best of times. I did my time in the Navy, thank you for your service.
I bought my Norton 750 Commander from Sunny’s shop in National City in 1972. I wanted a motorcycle waiting for me when I got back from Vietnam, so I wrote letters to a number of dealers in San Diego. Sunny was the only one who wrote back. I loved the bike.
I knew Sonny and Mark when I was in San Diego. Both were always top tier guys. I'd run my 851 over and have coffee at the shop just to see what creation Sonny would show me then tell me the story behind it. Fond memories of Sonny, Don, Walt, and Mark. Thanks for sharing the story.
Appreciate that, Troy. Cheers - Mark
Hi Bro, The Norton was (and in this case still is) a beautiful bike at that time. I had such a bike so please don’t ask for my age😀. Mine was a Norton Commando 850 Roadster 1975 but I’m not sure if your bike is the same as mine was because in your video the bike has other exhausts. The exhausts in the video have a flat end and mine had funnel-shaped ends. Send you love from the Netherlands
Factory exhaust in 1975 was with the flat ends.
I recall that opening / un-crating video ! Nice to see you got her smoothed out, good job! Sounds like you will really appreciate that bike...sure miss mine.
Great video. I got to see this bike in person at Daytona, and it looked amazing for its age. Keep dialing it in, you guys have given this new life a chance.
You need to find a local Norton club and get someone to go over the whole bike and tune everything in, check everything has been recommissioned, lubed and adjusted. It will be a keeper with a little love!
Absolutely. Commando's need to be 'fine-tuned' to really give their best, and they do need that done regularly and frequently.
Sonny Angel m/c inlet-manifolds turn-up in NZ from time-to-time for sale , He even made-it down here ! Dave NZ
Glad you fixed the choke and cleaned the carbs.
Beautiful bike. Love the old bikes. Thanks for rescuing it.
Great job Shawn..the rest of us can see what these old bikes were truly like to ride. Those Brit Bike Snobs who are dismayed can go pound sand!
Maybe it is just English humour , after all we allowed a English citizen by the name of George Washington to Change a flag and call the country whatever he liked . The money people of course stayed the same . Joe Biden thinks it was a war for freedom ,by Irish freedom fighters. Now there's a real.comedian ..
Yep, I agree= Phuck'em
Amazing who has the right to say who is worthy or not. You brought these beautiful nortons more sunlight than those old snobs ever will !
What an amazing story!!! Thanks so freaking much for sharing this with us. I really wish that I could have met Sonny. He definitely sounds like a man that I could have called a friend. You're pretty awesome too and I love Bikes and Beards!! Looking forward to the evolution of the channel. 🤘🤘🤘
Congratulations for having found this bike. A pal here in Wales has the Interstate version mk 3, with the larger fuel tank, but I much prefer the look of the Roadster that you have. I'm pretty sure they made 58 BHP at the wheel, which is about the same as the 1970's Triumph Trident 750 T150 V , one of which I owned as a 17 year old. I'm all but 66 now and have ridden a Suzuki SV1000 for the last 18 years.
The Mk lll is more likely max 40 bhp at the wheel. It never made 58 bhp in standard form. It was dog slow and any Norton 750 would leave it for dead.
Hello from Bridgend mid Glamorgan 😊
@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 40 bhp? Erm.... no. Ps.... Isn't bhp measured at the engine, not the wheel?
@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 Not every 750 could beat the 850, but the better tuned versions could. Norton dropped the compression after the "Combat" main bearing fiasco and changed some other things as they realized the design was as over-stressed as could be gotten away with.
@@oldbatwit5102 The truth is close to 40 than 60. Everybody overtestimated HP on bikes back then.
The ‘Hillman I.M.P.’ engine you mentioned Sonny fitting to an Atlas chassis is from a small British car from the 1960s, the Hillman Imp (‘Imp’ being one word). It was based on a Coventry Climax all-aluminium engine used in many racing/performance cars, (Lotus Elite being one), so a good ‘lightweight’ choice!
yep imp, one word.
@@mej6519 I had two Imps as my first cars after learning to drive in one, so remember them with both fondness and frustration, as they weren’t the most reliable!
@@missogyny4921 a mates dad used to have a full race preped one, remarkabley rapid wee beasty, but yeah engines wernt thier strong suit.
@@mej6519 Warped heads, blown gaskets - ah yes!
I always wanted a commando my friend had a combat 750 fastback and sounded amazing. I had a bonneville 750 that I bought new in 1975 meridan bike which I loved.
Great stuff here! Go Bikes and Beards and keep moving forward!
850cc was in fact a big motor for the time. Most guys in HS through college rode a 500cc or smaller. We did a Texas to CA in ‘75 on a CB 750 with no issues. Beautiful bike. Thanks for the history lesson.
As someone who grew up in the UK during the70s , the Commando was a BIG bike. An 850 twin was something we were in awe of at the time when most of us aspired to a BSA 500 single pot!
Heaven forbid motorcycling be fun and have some humor involved. Worth it if only for all the pearl clutching over on the Norton forums. Great video and thanks for some funny positive content. It is needed more than you can ever know.
What a cool story. Amazing that the old owner found you and was willing to share. Thats awesome.
Those people who are complaining and bitching at a yank owning a Norton are only jealous that it’s not theirs. Get out a ride it and enjoy it to the fullest. I had one years ago given by my father only to have it stolen when we were burying him. I used to love riding to church every weekend and even my mother loved being on the back. My biggest regret was loosing mainly because it came from my father and haven’t been able to afford another one. Bless you brother from Australia 🇦🇺🙏🙏🙏👊👍💪👌
These bikes deserve to be ridden so keep it going, great story
I have a recollection of the 850 Commando being 92 horsepower. HP was really the thing with those since IOM was the focus of the marque to sell their brand. There are some different models one of which is a Special manx model with race fairings, there was very few of them made and less sold. There is so much to know about Norton but for me it's a long time ago.
92?! 😂😂😂😂
More like 50hp
@@Spargowombat can't debate the matter. They'll do 120 mph tho.
Sorry Jack, but there's no way they had that much HP. Somewhere in the 50-60 range would be more accurate. Plenty of torque though and the gearing would let them do about 120 MPH.
My brother had one, literally identical to this. We drove down to Englandshire (Brum) in a Commer PB van to pick it up. Needless to say, the prop shaft fell off the van 5 miles from home. At night, in the rain. Personally, managed to fall asleep repeatedly on the back of this Commando when he took me on trips in Scotland. Have always missed it, since he sold it. He bought a Vincent Shadow v-twin in boxes, never got around to building it. But his "work" gave him a Kawasaki Z1 to use as a daily ride. A lot easier to sleep on than the Norton. And yes, he regrets selling the boxes of Vincent bits.
I was once commissioned to fix one of thos old British bikes, it was a early Triumph Bonneville and like all brits if it has oil it leaks. Well this customer had seen one of my friends Bonnie that he made all the seals and changed rope seals for modern oil seals. The customer hated it leaking, and asked me to do the same for his bike so we changed every seal and rope to modern oil seals and teflon rings. It cost a lot but he was so happy that he brought his other triumph to get leak free too. Great old bikes but very prone to leaking. They are ment to be driven and not left rotting!
Haters will be haters. Nice story, you got an icon of a bike there in good hands 🙏🏼
They are just jealous because he got the bike they always dreamed of. A Commando in the CRATE for F sakes!
I think the reason for the hate is that so many of these old twins ended up as choppers, and as you know a chopper has no afterlife and is effectively lost to the world. This is a problem when the spares availability from your long dead manufacturer is minimal to say the least. This unboxed beauty is far away from the threat of choppering, and since it's appeared at the peak of the retro boom I'm sure it will live a long and happy life wherever it ends up showing Enfields how it was really done.
Now I've heard the idea of putting a Hillman Imp engine in a bike chassis, it cannot be unheard.
If you want details, let me know.
@@YamahaR1R7 Aww, thank you, but I'm not Alan Millyard! Your Father in Law sounds like exactly the kind of man after my own heart. Thanks so much for writing in and keeping his story going. Cheers from the land of Burt Munro.
The Imp engine was a common power unit for custom specials and trikes at the time. Glad you said it was an imp (pixie, fairy, sprite, etc), not an I.M.P. as stated in the video. Not to be confused with J.A.P. (J.A. Prestwich) bike engines, often confused with Jap(anese) motorcycles.
I believe the Hillman Imp engine was used by some sidecar racers in the UK before the Japanese fours became popular.
@@borderlands6606 there's some insider knowledge right there.
When I was in the Navy I was stationed in Rota, Spain in 1974. I had an opportunity to purchase a new crated Norton 850 Commando for $850. Many guys in the squadron did. I unfortunately didn’t. I’ve kicked myself ever since.
Great vid. Had a 750 Roadster back in '76 - Happy days - but preferred my previous 650 Bonnie!👍🇬🇧
It’s a good thing that you uncreated it because rust was beginning to damage the chrome.
I can think of no one that less deserves the privilege of owning a Norton than you.
good to know lol
Booo!
Love the way it sounds. I’m glad y’all are taking the time to fix it right
Shawn, I am glad you have come to enjoy your 75 Commando. It is a beast! I have wanted a Commando since I was in high school in the early 1970s. This year, I was finally able to fulfil my dream and I have bought not 1, not 2, but 3 Commandos (a 71, 73 and a 75). In fat, I got my burgundy 75 from the same guy in Livonia that sold you your black 75. :-) (If I had known Adam had a 75 in the box before you bought it, I would have given you a run for your money in buying it). :) My Commando is now registered and street legal in Texas. My goal is the restore it to (mostly) stock condition. I anticipate that I will leave the Mikuni carb on the bike because (1) Amal carbs are tricky, and (2) Amal carbs are expensive. So, welcome to the Norton Commando world and keep up the great videos. Lee
2:49 - Hillmam Imp is an old British car. Imp is a word, like gimp with no g 👍
Glad to see you walk past the haters. As a Christian, you probably have a lot of experience with that journey. Anyone who works with their hands to bring lost history to life,no matter how experienced, should be praised. Good job.
I am now 74 yrs old and the original owner of my 1973 Roadster 850. Because of age I can no longer enjoy much of my previous pastimes but tinkering, maintaining and polishing my Norton remains a joy.
I’m British, and a biker. Dad had a Norton decades ago. How lovely to see this beautiful bike doing what it’s built to do! Cheers guys!
The commando was the best motorcycle of it's time. It handled better than any of the rubber framed Japanese bikes. I used to race and beat Honda 750-4s all the time. I had several I cafe'd out. Dunstall 2-1-2 exhaust, clip ons, (When they really were clip ons) Rear sets and some custom fiberglass. A little work on the clutch and 2 fingers was all it took. I can't tell you how many times people would walk into Tillman sport center to tell us the white Norton was out of oil because it wasn't leaking. Seeing or hearing an old Norton always puts a smile on my face. A lot of people would change out the Amal carbs for Mikunis. I kept the amals. Someone stole the bike hot wired it and still could not get it started. (Kick start not electric start) I found it at the bottom of the hill. The didn't know about tickling the carbs. In the early 90's I started riding Gixxers but I always stop to check out Nortons.
Vincent Rap-tide? Fool!
Perfectly in line with his previous video when he kept calling the Commando a Commander..... no clue what he has.
You should do more videos with this bike, just to rub it in. Be sure to brag.
I love that you opened the crate, put the bike together and you're riding it and enjoying it. Bikes were not made to sit in a crate, they were made to be ridden and enjoyed.
Hi guys, love the channel 👍 Your comment about the chokes made me grin and struck a chord with me You guys obviously had never had any previous experience with Amal Concentric carburettors.. Neither had I until I bought a 64 Triumph Bonneville that had been fitted with those carbs in place of the original Monoblocs I found out the hard way about the choke slides being sprung loaded to come down like a guillotine left to their own devices when my choke cable snapped whilst I was riding along at about 70mph.... At the time I can remember thinking as you did what crazy twonk spring loads chokes to come ON if not held up by a spindly cable? I just removed both choke slides altogether- tickling the carbs was enough to start every time even from cold in England Never really needed the stupid things.. PS if you're not too bothered about pure originality, ditch those "Black Cap" mufflers and retro fit the earlier "Peashooter" type - they look and sound way better
I *hate* collectors. Greedy, selfish troglodytes that are willing to hide away something beautiful just so no one else can experience it. Thank you for letting it breathe and for riding it like God intended and sharing the experience.
I literally give away some of my old cameras to people who are getting into it. If I don't use it, it has to go. Isn't always easy though.
The "Imp" (as in elf/little scamp) engine was an 875cc, 4 cylinder, water cooled engine based on a Coventery Climax (Formular 1 engine makers) fire pump engine. I passed my car test (1967) driving a Hillman Imp.
Always a pleasure watching a Classic Running smooth after being stored for soooooo long
A friend of mine bought one back in the 1980's, used. He loves it so much that he still has it to this day.
Awesome bike and story, thanks shawn for your channel, i am a big fan.👍👍👍
I have never ridden on a Norton,but wouldn’t pass up the chance to do so. Good job rescuing that bike! I believe old bikes and cars are meant to admire. Restore and enjoy is what I always say.
As a frenchman, I bought the exact same model in june 77; it was one of the latest produced by Norton. Fantastic memories !.
In 1976, while working in Labrador City, Newfoundland (about as far away from anywhere as you can get), I read that Norton had gone bankrupt. I immediately called my old Norton dealer in Ottawa and bought the same bike you have. … in the crate! I had owned a Combat Commando 750 (‘72) and later, a Commando Interstate model. I put a lot of miles on those bikes. In their day, they were among the best built, most reliable and best performing bikes you could get. I kept the new ‘76 Commando until 1998, before finally selling it, unused. I made a bit of money on it. I always preferred the earlier Norton’s - essentially the same, but with right side shift (better!) and lighter weight. But you are absolutely right when you talk about how good they feel. Smooth, solid running with good torque and performance. Thanks for the video, and thanks for the respect you showed for a truly great motorcycle of its time. In the 90’s
I can relate! I’m a photographer and use vintage film cameras. I had the opportunity to purchase a 1982 Hasselblad still new in the sealed box. It was discovered unsold in the Hasselblad warehouse in Sweden. I was called every name in the book when I opened the box and used the camera. The Hassy is arguably the best film camera ever made and I’m a photographer. Not a chance Im going to let it sit in the box. It needs to do what it was made to do. Just like you did with the Norton! Well done!! 👍
In 1979 I was going to buy a black Norton Commando EXACTLY like this one for $1000. . The guy brought it to work - started showing off and wrecked it in the parking lot. I found a very nice 1972 Triumph Bonneville for $800. Gold / white. Loved that bike.
This video is very special to me for two reasons. One, my first motorcycle was a 1972 Norton commando 750 which I owned for 23 years. Two, My second and present bike is a 2001 Honda Valkyrie, the same as your chase bike in the video, which I bought new in Daytona in 2001. My Valkyrie is the Interstate model. The Norton suited my lifestyle when I was younger and the Valkyrie fits my nearly 70 year old life now. Thanks for the video!
A classic revived. Love it what an awesome find.
l owned a 1977 Triumph Bonneville in the 80s . A 750 air cooled twin ! A similair bike to this !! Used to shake itself to bits on a road trip !! one had to keep their eye on the nuts and bolts and tightened them up frequently. It leaked oil badly . A poor casting on the left hand chaincase used make sure my left boot / shoe was well soaked in oil .That and other leaks from other places . Frequent stops to top up the oil level in the in-frame oil tank were required ! Apart from that a lovely bike with a lovely exhaust sound ! I whish l had kept it ! It looked like the one Richard Gere rode in the film " An Officer and a Gentleman " for it was a US export model , but not exported and was sold in the UK !!! lovely bike !
Beautiful bike, nice background story (and you are just adding to it) and I'm surprised it was only a 4 speed. My 1976 KZ-400 is a 5 speed, as was every bike I ever had. Great video btw
Keep the bike! It is very inspiring to watch and see everything in action. Please keep up the excellent vids!
well done guys, glad to see it run, I met Sonny in his shop in 2013 , in National City CA, he was a legend and will always be, here in So Cal, lets make him proud!
You must have met him in the very final days that he went there. He stopped going there late 2013, Walt and Donny continued going.
@@YamahaR1R7 yes i probably did, i was lucky enough for him to sing me a spanish love song. a true legend!
I bought that same Norton 850 electric start, but it was red, brand new off the showroom floor in Tustin Ca. when in the Marine Corps in Sept of 1976 with 2 miles on it and put about 20,000 miles on it. Super fun and amazing motorcycle. When it was running, you could just feel it come alive with the oil pumping through its vines. That was a motorcycle, not a sewing machine. Sold it and got married. Should have kept the Norton Superbike of its day. The electric start and It never worked. I saw later that the wiring was not as big of a wire to get the job done.
I am a New Englander and my father has a 68 Atlas that he got in pieces (not all were original) over 40 years ago and fully restored over a 5 year period by ordering parts from england over the phone (no internet in the early 80s) and some other shops across the country. Hes been in the n.a.n.o.a. i think its called for over 30 years. He loved your video. Rock on
I have the article on the Norton Four, with Hillman Imp engine (the Imp was a small rear engine car). I have the scan, but cannot upload- happy to share
Fun facts about the Nor*Imp* The 4 cylinder overhead cam engine was designed in WW2 as a high performance water pump motor and was designated the Coventry Climax. It was single OHC water cooled all alloy available in low compression and sports versions. No man ever fitted one to a Commando frame but used the Dominator duplex frame instead. The conversion involved making custom Al castings to fit over the clutch bell housing and transmission would be a separate unit quafe gearbox. And imp is one word being the car model . 10:06
My dad and I have a 75 Commando, and I’m so happy this one found a home with you, and that you are sharing the experience with all of us! Don’t listen to those who are just jealous 😂.
I’ve owned a Norton Commando 850 interstate 1973 since 1977 best mod I ever did was a Dave Comau clutch rod seal . It prevents oil from primary chain drive getting down the clutch rod onto the plates. Prevents clutch slip under load. Great bike that I still ride today.
Mate, that is your bike, and what a bike. Enjoy from UK!
Owned a 1974 black850 commando or many years in early 80's my only transportation winter / summer and there wasn't anything i couldn't ride in or through or on. Handled impeccably. Curious to know how the rubber isolastic suspension bushings made out after sitting in that crate all those years. I know mine eventually needed replacement and when I did the job it imprved handling immensely. Good luck finding replacement rear brakedrum sprocket combination, sure made changing rear tire easy but they must be like looking for hens teeth now. Thanks for the memories!
That Norton engin is such a beautiful engin. Timeless design. It never gets old
Quite beautiful! (That’s why I love what Royal Enfield are doing with their new retros) sometimes it’s hard to tell if your looking at a new bike or a well kept 60s Classic…Great video, thanks for sharing!🙏👍