I fancy a 70's Commando

Me too. I have fond memories of going from Leeds to Blackpool and back in the late 60's on a pals 850 Commando Interstate. What an awesome machine that was.

 

You'll be lucky to get anything for a couple of grand.
The Commandos are very collectible and fetching good money. £5k -£10k+

 

Better years ? All of them. A minter for a couple of grand ? Likely to get killed in the stampede !

 

I know you're trick Bonzo!
You're hoping for a retired biker who has had his Commando from new reading your post and saying:
"Here lad, I've just been waiting for someone like you to give this beautiful mint condition Commando to,
Now I want you to look after it lad, it's never been out in't rain, just give us £50, it owes me nowt now"
Dream on mate, it ain't gonna happen!

 

From researching potential purchase myself it's reckoned that many (not all though) of the ills were sorted out by the time of the launch of the MKIII in 1975. If I could afford it I'd buy one of the Colorado Norton Works bikes. Classic bike all modernised. True, aficionados would scoff, but riding an icon with decent electrics, brakes etc that looks 'proper' would suit me nicely.
http://coloradonortonworks.com/

 

I used to have a 1976 850 electric start roadster.
The electric start was a none entity, it was a slog to start it anytime, and it was fantastic, I loved every journey on it.
Once went to Portmadoc and onto Black Rock Sands drifting it around in the sand, great fun, it was a super bike, looked and sounded fantastic with the pea shooter exhausts.
Get one, you'll love it!

Curly

 

I was just wondering, are the commando's you fancy are 70 years old or just dressed in an army uniform from circa 1973!!!!

 

There must still be a fraternity of bikers that meet up at Black Rock Sands and in the surrounding area to race their bikes in the early hours of the morning.
Anybody who doesn't like or appreciate bikes would have hated the noise and disruption to their sleep and holiday, I loved it and was trying to guess the bike types and gauge the speeds.

 

I didn't now that!
We went to Portmadoc for years and years for our annual 1 week holiday as kids but never made it to the beach until afternoons.
It was just a laugh when I did it, don't think I'll be doing it on my Newchurch though, just the smell of the salt air will have it corroding in front of my very eyes, won't it?

Curly

 

Pity you couldn't have got hold of one of these
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/black-side-down-new-nortons-found-in-belgium
Scroll to the update at the bottom, sadly, your couple of grand wouldn't have been enough.

 

Bloody hell, that's a nice inheritance for somebody and good for the Norton enthusiasts, it would be interesting to see any updates on the other bikes and gear he had squirreled away.

 

You've got to know where the 'quicksands' are as well, I've seen a few vehicles get stuck and have to be towed out. I think it's £2.50 to take your car onto the beach, wouldn't like to guess what it cost to have it towed off plus the cost of a soiled pair of undies.

 

Here is a fixa uppa. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/norton-co...810468?hash=item1a2a7a5724:g:0C4AAOSwHHFY~S7O

 

go for the 750..I had several commando's,the first was a 71 combat then a new 73 interstate,once the 750s had gone past 10000 mls the main bearings would have already been changed to superblends..problem solved..if you get one change the exhaust ring nuts to those from a MK2A that will stop the threads from chattering out the only other problem to watch for is the bearing in the gearbox,easily spotted cos the kickstart will run downwards when revved ..I used to run the Norton owners club west sussex

 

And........make sure your knees are upto kick starting, mine couldn't handle it on a Commando now!

Curly