1972 NORTON COMMANDO

This is an interesting example of a Norton Commando in that it has had many mods done to it over the years. I bought it after the sad death of its previous owner and set about reverting parts of it to original. ie Oil filter back behind the gearbox. speedometer above the handlebars. not down by the tank etc. It leaked oil profusely so had fitted a new crankshaft oil seal. The generator was toast. so  a new high output 3 phase rotor and stator was fitted. The bike has Boyer electronic ignition and voltage control. The frame has previously  been modified by removing the last 18 inches or so of the large tube spine that comes down under the fuel tank. This has been done professionally and properly. resumably to give the rider a lower seating position. The frame looks recently re-stove enamelled. The fuel tank is sound but some idiot thought they would like a semi matt  black finish. so purists will want to either rub the matt off or respray the tank. The bike has twin Dellorto PHF32 carbs fitted. plus twin front brake disks which I am told were used by the production Norton racing team and are extremely rare. They can be seen on the black and white photo of one in the Norton Andover website. How they came to be on this machine is a mystery. unless it was a racing machine itself. I have replaced the tank cocks. tidied up the battery area by fitting a metal tray etc. New side panels have been fitted. Everything. such as lights. horn. brake light etc  works. There is a good battery. A short illegal trip has shown me the potential of the engine. which shows signs of recent overhaul due to new gaskets seen between all the joints. A friend of the deceased told me that the engine had had" a complete overhaul" including "bottom end". Although this means nothing without documentary proof it feels very good. with a lot of compression. nbsp;usually starting first kick. The headlamp is a new. non standard item. smaller than the original. The back brake is poor although there is plenty of lining. Needless to say. the front brakes are wonderful.  New cush drive rubbers have been fitted in the rear hub. Altogether a very usable bike. ossibly better described as a cafe racer. hich is evidently how the late owner regarded it. The front brakes may be more valuable than the rest of the bike! It currently has no MOT but has only done 72 miles since the last one in July 2013. so there wont be much that could fail. Any questions call 07913 906653.

Also published at eBay.com