With the introduction
of the Commando Norton sought to address one
of the problems associated with large capacity
parallel twins, vibration. By isolating the
engine, gearbox, primary drive and swinging
arm from the main frame with adjustable rubber
mounts vibrations were not passed to the rider.
The "isolastic" system proved successful,
although in its early form it required careful
adjustment and regular maintaince to work effectively.
The engine was derived from the Atlas unit canted
forwards at a slight angle which required modifications
to the oil pick up. The initial version was
equipped with a twin leading shoe front brake
and a seat unit with a fastback tail section.
By the early seventies the range had expanded
to include a "Street Scrambler", Roadster
and a "chopperesque" variant with
high ape hanger handlebars and a saddle incorporating
a back rest. The Roadster was easily the most
popular with good looks and performance to match.
The Commando,
a fast and refined version of Norton's parallel
twin, was introduced in the late 1960s. Early
models were of 750cc capacity and were good
for 120mph. 1973 saw an improved 828cc version
with rubber-mounted engine to combat vibration.
Aimed at the US market and intended to take
on the Japanese competition, the 1975-launched
Mk3 had an electric starter and discs brakes
front and rear. By 1977, however, the NVT Wolverhampton
factory was in Official Receiver hands and Commando
production finally ended.
| Bike |
Image |
Description |
Norton Commando |
 |
One of the first great British 750 twins.....maybe
the best
Engine - air-cooled 745cc OHV vertical
twin
Horsepower - 58bhp @ 7000rpm
Top Speed - 110-120 mph
Brakes - drum/drum (later disc/disc)
Frame - tubular steel cradle, Isolastic
engine mounts
Transmission - 4 speed
Launched - 1967-1976
Picture kindly provided by www.vintagebike.co.uk
Norton
Commando Mk1 |
| Norton Commando 750 SS |
 |
|
| Norton Commando 850 |
 |
|
| Norton 850 Commando |
 |
|
| Norton 850cc Commando |
 |
Classic Racer 1960 Feather Bed frame confirmed
as built in 1960 by the Norton Owners club |
1968 Norton Commando Fastback |
 |
Launched in 1967 the Commando was quite
a sensation; at last a big British twin
that did not trouble the rider with uncomfortable
vibration.
More Norton
Commando Fastback info.. |
1969 Norton Commando S, 750cc |
 |
|
1969 Norton Commando S, 750cc |
 |
The 'S' Type was introduced at the same
time as the 'R' and made its debut in March
1969. The styling is of a type more to American
tastes than traditional British with the fitting
of high bars, not a very large petrol tank,
ungaitered forks, and a high exhaust system
with both pipes on the left hand side of the
machine. A shield was a necessary fitment
over the pipes for the protection of riders.
The exhaust line being a little shorter than
that of the Fastback, gave the 'S' Type slightly
different power characteristics. Other distinguishing
features are a quilted finish to the dual
seat and a chromed 'crash bar' around a smaller
styled headlamp. The 'S' Type was also the
first Commando to have the points driven directly
from the end of the camshaft and hence the
rev counter drive, which used to be in that
position on the twins, moved around towards
the front of the engine. The 'S' Type was
the basis for the Roadster model which was
virtually identical except for a low level
exhaust. The INOA Tech Digest states that
the 'S' Types fell within the range of Engine
Nos. from 131257 to 135088. Some sources cite
a factory release suggesting that dealers
replace the 'S' Type exhausts with the more
commonly found Atlas ones used on the early
Commandos. |
| 1969 Norton Commando Fastback |
 |
|
| 1969 Norton Commando Dunstall |
 |
Purposful racerm everything lightened.
810 dunstall barrel and reworked dunstall
head, oil cooler , mk4 3029 dunstall street
cams, larger oil pump |
| 1970 Norton Commando 750 S |
 |
|
1971 Norton Commando Racers |
 |
|
1971 Norton Commando
|
 |
This particular machine was built during
1971 and exported to Italy. It was subsequently
purchased Norvil Motorcycles Ltd as a
basket case and rebuilt by Les Emery at
Norvil between 2004 and 2005.
Image provided by www.classic-auctions.com.
|
| 1972 Norton Commando 750 Roadster |
 |
The Roadster was introduced for the 1970
season and followed the 'S' Type of the
previous year and the Fastback before that.
It took its styling from the 'S' Type but
with a conventional exhaust system and together
with the Fastback became the mainstay of
the range. In 1971, a Mk.ll was announced,
this having larger section tyres and a cush
drive in the rear hub. In 1972, modified
crankcase castings were used, and a disc
front brake was fitted. This was the same
year in which the ill fated Combat engine
made its appearance. The short working life
of this engine, usually resulting in the
total destruction of the main bearings,
and the solution to the problem are well
documented in the literature and the problem
was overcome by the time the 1974 machines
came along. The 1973 Roadsters were fitted
with the newly introduced 828cc engine and
in 1975, there were major changes including
electric start, vernier isolastic adjustment,
left side gearchange, and a rear disc brake. |
| 1972 Gus Kuhn Norton Commando |
 |
|
1972 Norton Commando 750 Combat |
 |
|
| 1972 Norton Commando Combat |
 |
750cc. |
| 1972 Norton Egli Commando 750 |
 |
Beautiful 1972 Norton Egli Commando
in stunning condition. This exceptional
bike is mounted on an Egli Racing chassis
(which was initially destined to accommodate
a Vincent 1000cc engine).
This bike comes equipped with a dry clutch,
4 cam Ceriani front brakes, Ceriani GP
fork, and 2 exhausts. |
1972 Norton Commando 750cc Roadster |
 |
|
| 1973 Norton Commando 850 Roadster |
 |
Norton
Commando road test |
| 1973 Norton 750 Commando |
 |
|
| 1973 Norton Commando Roadster 850 |
 |
Picture provided courtesey of www.drclassic.co.uk.
|
1973 Norton Commando 850cc MkII Roadster |
 |
More
Norton Commando Roadster info..
|
| 1974 Norton Commando 850 |
 |
Norton
Commando 850 road test |
| 1974 Norton 850 Commando |
 |
Bike was a special construction using
a 1974 850 Comando. Pretty much all brackets
and non-engine bits have been chrome plated.
The frame is silver powder coated. BMW R90S
fairing. |
1974 Norton Commando 850 Roadster MkIIA |
 |
|
| Norton Commando John
Player Race Copy - 1975 |
 |
850cc in white with twin headlight faring
registered 1975. |
| 1975 Norton Commando Mk2A |
 |
850 Interstate. |
| 1975 Norton Commando Mk3 |
 |
|
| 1976 Norton Commando |
 |
|
| 1977 850 Mk111 Norton Commando Interstate
|
 |
The Commando was MCN “Bike of
the Year” for several years in the
seventies and was one of the last great
British Marques to stand against the Japanese
invasion! The amazing 850 (actually 828cc)
engine had, by this time, had most of
it’s earlier problems resolved and
the bike came with updated disc braking,
bearings, charging system etc. as well
as the infamous electric starter and with
the gearchange/foot-brake swopped to follow
the American/Japanese standard of a left-sided
gearchange.
Image provided kindly by www.memorykeeperphotography.co.uk.
|
| 1977 Norton Commando 850 Interstate |
 |
MkIII - Fully Functioning Electric
Start.
The Interstate has the larger, more rounded
petrol tank and side panels and a broader
seat and was described as the “Tourer”.
|
| 1979 Norton Commando Production Racer
|
 |
All the new parts are genuine and have
been supplied in the main by Norvil.
- The frame, engine plates and swing
arm are nickel plated, Most of the rest
is polished alloy or stainless.
- New forks
- AP Racing Front disc and Caliper
- New Full Exhaust System
- Flanged Alloy wheels and stainless
spokes
- New Bearings throughout
- Belt drive primary with vented cover
- Larger tank
- Boyer electronic ingnition
- Boyer powerbox
- New, adjustable isolastics
- Twin Amal 32mm concentric carbs on
rubber manifolds
|
| Norton Commando 750 Production Racer |
 |
The original Production Racer of the early
1970s quickly became known as ‘The
Yellow Peril’ on account of its yellow
fairing, petrol tank and seat. It was assembled
in the performance shop at Thruxton, just
a short way from the Andover factory. Fully
kitted out for production class racing,
the special parts used on the machine were
sold under the Norvil brand name. The tuned
up engine led to the hot Combat unit being
used on the regular road bikes in 1972 with
often unfortunate results. The Production
Racer was not produced in great numbers
and genuine examples are quite rare. Replica
versions of these machines are still being
manufactured and are available for purchase.
|
