1973 Norton Commando 850 Interstate Survivor Original Paint No Reserve

This is a no reserve auction. High bidder at the end will own the bike. If you have zero. a low number. or negative feedback. contact me prior to bidding or your bid will be cancelled. Also. if you have no recent activity. please do the same. Its nothing personal. but it takes time and money to list a vehicle on ebay. I want to make sure all buyers are legitimate and plan to follow through with the auction. Foreign bidders please contact prior to bidding . Payment due within 3 days via cash in hand. bank wire. or cashiers check unless other arrangements are made prior to the end of auction. $500 deposit due within 12 hours. Payment in full within 3 days of auctions end. Bike must be picked up within 3 weeks of auctions end. ThanksThis is a mostly original 1973 Norton 850 Commando Interstate.  It is a matching numbers bike with a clear Tn title in my name. The bike is what today is called a survivor. Its made it all these years mostly intact and original. Look at the reserve sticker on the tank and the fuel sticker on the gas cap. Most things like that dont make it 40 years. The bike starts. runs and rides great. Ive only owned it a short time. but have been very pleased with the bike. I really have no complaints about it. The bike spent most of its life from 1980-2006 in a heated basement with a bay window. Thus the reason for the faded red paint. The story goes and some partial receipts show. that in the late 70s the motor was rebuilt at around 20k miles. The doctor that owned it had his first child. and the wife said no more motorcycle. It sat there until 2006 where the person I bought it from got it from his doctor. The previous owner before me owned it from 2006 until recently and put less that 3500 miles on the bike. he did however add the Hagon shocks and Avon Roadrider tires you see in the pictures. He also added Mark 3 isolastics that you cant see . He just didnt ride it and decided to sell it to me. I was planning on it being my rider for a while . but have my heart set on a pre unit triumph.  If it doesnt sell I will not be heartbroken as its a truly great bike and has tons of patina and cool factor. I will ride it and enjoy it as Im really on the fence about letting it go. You dont come across these very often. Im just not really a Norton guy it seems. I like my triumphs too much and with 3 that could use some attention . the Norton probably needs to go. As with any old almost original bike it does have flaws. The paint is obviously faded and has some chips. There is a small ding on the right side under the O of the Norton sticker. The front and rear fender have a few rivets drilled at the base of each where mud flaps were added at some point. The front fender does show a few dings on the back side. The mufflers were changed sometime in the 70s but sound good and dont look out of place. The chrome on them matches everything else. The wheel rims do have pits and some light scratches. The front chrome is peeling and does have some surface rust issues. All of these things add to the character of the bike. Do I wish it was perfect. of course. but it sure does stand out like it is as well. The bike is still running points and all the original wiring seems to be intact. The cloth covering is long gone and electrical tape took its place. but most all the lucas wires and connectors are there. The bike normally starts the first or second kick from cold. Pulls hard and shifts fine. After my last ride on it it was puffing a bit of white smoke from the left cylinder. I suspect a valve guide seal. I did perform a leakdown test on both cylinders and got results of 9% on the left side and 6% on the right.  That makes me almost sure its a torn or loose valve guide seal. I will try to replace the seal prior to the end of the auction . but can make no guarantees I will have time. Worst case scenario it may need new guides. but a new seal will hopefully solve the issue. The bike  does leak some . but nothing too major. It also wet sumps as most commandos do if not ridden regularly.  I recently serviced the bike with all new fluids and changed all the oil lines. I also changed the felt seal in the primary for the output shaft and installed the later 74 model felt seal holders with the cup to keep fluid from dousing the output shaft. The clutch was cleaned and the bronze clutch plates looked good. All the lights work as they should and the gauges as well.  The gas tank is rust free but has been caswell lined as there was a small spot seeping at the top / front of the tank. I did not want to damage the paint by welding it . Caswell solved the problem perfectly. The only thing thats not currently working is the horn. All in all its a very nice rider quality bike thats very original. I would hate to see the bike restored as it has so much character as it currently is.  I have taken a ton of pictures and tried to describe everything to the best of my ability. I am in no way a norton or vinatge bike expert . From what I know of it . it seems to need very little if anything to be enjoyed as is. It really is a nice riding bike. The large tank and interstate gearing make it cruise at 70 no problem. I have a clear Tn title in my name so overseas shipping will not be a problem. The bike is nice but not perfect . The bike has been ridden but may require some dialing in to get it perfect. These old bikes require tinkering and maintenance. if you dont want to work on a bike. dont buy an old one. I have tried to take plenty of pictures of the bike to show all aspects of it. I dont want there to be any surprises . So please look at all the pictures closely.  Please ask any and all questions before you bid. I will not be responsible for something that I may have overlooked and you didnt ask about. A local inspection before you bid is welcomed and recommended.  Also. please have the funds available to complete the transaction.  I am listing this with everything I know about the bike up front and I am not trying to hide anything. I am selling it no reserve. High bidder at the end of the auction wins it. Shipping is the buyers responsibility. but I will work with the shipper of your choice in any way possible. Payment due by cash in person or cashiers check only. Full payment due within 5 days and $500 deposit due within 12 hours of auctions end. No exceptions. Also. please contact me within 12 hours of winning bid to make arrangements for remainder payment.  Failure to do so will result in a nonpaying bidder case started and the bike will be sold to the next highest bidder. All funds must clear the bank prior to bike and title being released. The title leaves when the bike does. it can be mailed the day the bike is picked up or sent with the shipper. thats your choice. The bike must be picked up within 3 weeks of auctions end or storage fees will apply. Please have an idea of the shipping cost and who youre going to use before you bid if you plan on having the bike shipped.  

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