Commando For Hire, Cheap
Commando For Hire, Cheap
"Notrun" no more
WHEN TWO VINTAGE-BIKE NUTS in a row tell you a certain barn-fresh black Norton Commando you just told them about isn’t such a good deal-then ask nonchalantly where you saw it— proceed directly to the bank and with-draw cash.
Which is exactly what I did when I heard about this 9000-mile all-original ’74850 Roadster that had been on blocks and undercover for some 10 years. Before actually seeing the Commando, I had visions of a quick wax job, airing up the tires and Let’s Ride. Return of the Rocker, and so forth. Not quite.
Turns out the bike was covered in a decade of “put away wet” festering scum-sort of an oily dirt curd had formed over most parts and there was lots of rust on the chrome. While the elegantlooking 828cc parallel-Twin did run, it was firing on approximately 1.4 cylinders, wouldn’t idle and even with engine output at its severely diminished level, the clutch just couldn’t hang on-it felt more like a viscous coupling than an actual clutch.
'74 NortonCommando$3750
So, naturally, the rescue gene turned on full-power after I’d beheld the grubby glory and misfired my way down the road for the first time. Even in its crusty condition, the Commando was still a solid old bike with virtually every stock part intact. A good deal, in other words, mine for $3K.
Ah, the joys of resurrection. There is something wonderful and satisfying about bringing a machine back from the brink, zeroing in on all that has come unzeroed, putting your hands on longdormant parts that haven’t had the heat of combustion in them for a decade or more. Particularly when you’ve got a parts house and advice depot five minutes from your office! Restorer/fettler John Yorke’s Thoroughbred Motorcycles (949/722-0834) is a Norton lover’s haven-he had every part I needed (grips and other rubber, fork seals and bushings, filters, gaskets, Whitworth sockets, you name it) in stock and ready to go. Plus, if you overtighten the primary chain so much it makes a banjo string look limp, well, he’s there to tell you so... Anyway, gaskets were certainly a priority after having sorted out the ignition (bad plug wire, out-ofwhack timing/points) and carb troubles (shellac-plugged idle circuits, warped bodies). British oil management being what it is, everything leaked-the valvegear feed lines, transmission, primary case and oil tank. The fact that there is an automatic chain-oiler tube aimed at the drivechain links was most amusing-talk about redundant systems!
After a month of frantic fettling (more than 100 hours of labor in the first 14 days!), it came around beautifully. That scum and rust that covered the bike actually helped preserve it. The aluminum engine and primary covers polished up wonderfully, and the paint took a polish, too, even if the gold pinstriping was wearing thin in a few spots. The bike was easy and fun to work on, and has that familiar British machine smell I’ve grown to love after years of working on countless English cars. The old Twin turned out to be a sweet-running (usually starts first kick), sweet-shifting bike, and the handling is surprisingly good, aided no doubt by the new Avon Super Venom tires.
After getting the Commando sorted, it became the classic resurrected vintage rider, a nice old bike that’s pretty to look at, makes all the right sounds and has a wonderfully torquey engine. All for well under $5000, unless you count my labor, in which case it probably cost me $10,000. In fact, if you really want a good deal, just wait to buy a project from me! -Mark Hoyer
