I miss my Norton everyday , the sweetest ride ever. I was 18-20 years old ..now I am 64 and she is still with me in my heart even though I sold her 44 years ago ! Amazing Bike !
I hope you are still alive and well, and enjoying your ride. You certainly know how to enjoy this machine and give it some stick, the note sounds devine.
I bought 72 Norton in London in spring 73, drove 2.5k mikes Europe shipped to Chicago, Later blowup trans, at 2nd gear shift, three cases destroyed because of Barnett clutches w/ 21 tooth sprocket, later back to stock clutch which lasted rest of 40 years that I owned it.
I also have a 72 commando and |I am 66, kick starting is a big part of the fun, gives you a sense of pleasure to hear it start, if you have it in perfect tune its not a problem, my eleven year old Grandson can start mine, get one cylinder on compression and use all your body weight , with mine its tickle both carbs when cold after an hour tickle one if warm if it don't start something is wrong..
Love how you whipped the primary cover off like that. I had a second hand norton 750 as a teenager in the 70s which always had a slipping clutch. I imagine you could sort that sort of problem quite easily though my Kiwi bike mechanic back in the day was never able to. I can relate to Gerry below as I traded that norton for the bling of a cb750/4 and now wish I never had. Great video cheers!
Vous m avez fait rêver Magique la Norton commando 1972 Mon année de naissance Un beaux cadeaux d anniversaire a venir Pour fêter mon demi siècle Merci belle vidéo
Nice video. Beautiful bike. Real human being. I could type about the bikes I've owned and never owned but it's not about me so why would I bother. Thanks for sharing
Sounds great 👍 I’ve just bought a Royal Enfield Interceptor and my first mod has been a set of silencers that look and sound just like the Commando ones. Next step is to liberate a few more horsepower to give it the performance to match the Norton legend 😊👍
I had a bright red twin carb Norton 99, 600cc, it looked good, but it was like throwing your leg over a road drill, the vibration made more than my teeth chatter. Was glad to get rid of that bone shaking piece of crap. I eventually got a Triumph TR6, less teeth chattering and a much smoother ride.
@ 64 i'm in hopes to keep my "Knees in the Breeze" as long as you have. Hope as well in the meanwhile to acquire a garage mate Norton, for my 68 Triumph Trophy Sports. "Knees in the Breeze" is an old Paratrooper term... though the exit door jump speed is about 150 mph. Reckon 60 mph more than suffices me now. Former Sgt. 82nd Abn. 71-74
Nice bike I had a couple of fastback s I remember having a 750 commando plate on the front guard and I remember running Siamese pipes on one of those supposed to be worth 10 horse power more
Thanks for the great video. My 1973 750 Hi Rider required a healthy kick but nearly always started on the first kick. The way your Norton fires instantly with an electric start is very impressive. You have a beautiful example with some significant upgrades.
Back in the day I had a 1971 Commando 750, it was a couple of years old when I got it and had it's issues, however, after I did rather a lot of meticulous work on it I had her working very well and I must say that at that time it was a truly amazing machine. I could keep up with or beat any of my friends Japanese 'Superbikes' including big Kawasaki's all at half the fuel consumption of any of them, they were happy days indeed. In a lot of ways I wish I still had that Commando although the modified CCM R30 604 I have now would beat it hands down in every department, (except looks of course)
A guy I once worked with said "a Norton is a kit for a motorcycle - they stack the parts together in the right order as sort of an assembly instruction, but you really have to take it apart and put it together as it should have been". Having owned three Nortons, I agree with him.
Very nice looking Norton you got there. I couldn't afford one in '72 so I settled for Honda. What kind of lubrication for the primary chain ? I have an older Harley that circulates the oil over the primary and returns to the oil tank.
Didn't see you fill the primary, there are a whole lot of attributes to the Norton than your starter, but one day I might need the button, I friend has recently fitted a electric start to his 51 AJS 500, brilliant workman ship, used a starter/ generator from a golf buggy...
Beautiful bike from when style was the name of the game, not jet-ski look alike "permormannce". Two questions for you: 1. Do you have an overide kick-start lever for emergencies? 2. Is that drive belt standard or a modification and will that last having to transmit all the engine power.
Lovely machine ! Nicely done upgrades too. I have a 1972 commando . It does not have electric start. Was that an option in 1972 ? T hat looks like the biger tank. Mine has the bigger petrol tank . Shes a garage queen now. Had to quit riding. Too many close calls with stupid people on smart ass phones. I would still be riding if I had a street like yours. Love my Norton and my Norton and my Triumph ! Thanks for that wonderful sound !
This is a great looking bike. My only concern would be the seat. It looks very comfortable for the pilot, and a nice backstop ... but for the pillion passenger.... It'd better be a female passenger, because with that sloping seat, they are going to be hanging on for dear life :D
Yes, I understand. I always liked sharing the experience. One-up riding is an entirely different experience, and obviously great. But, 'two-up' adds a different dimension, that is also fun. The thing is ... although I owned a 750 Commando, I did once travel pillion on an 850. The guy was, for sure, out to impress. OMG I had to hang on for dear life - it had a rear grab rail. That memory resurfaced the moment that I saw the seat. The immediate thought was 'no way' :)
You are a man of great debating. me an idiot? I know more about Commandos than you know about tugging on it.. Explain to me why goof offs like yourself bother to scan RUclips, could it be you have nothing better to do as you have no friends..
Ps I notice the bike has a combat engine Jim any trouble with mains ? a guy i knew had one new and he was always in the dealers having new mains under warranty , then they brought out the superblend bearings , dealer said "you won't have any trouble now" ....... thousand miles later he's back in there and the Norton dealer promptly banned him from the shop ! Think the problem was he had a Suzuki Invader before and he used to rev it to max most of the time and carried on with the Norton ! he was only 16 so probably can be forgiven .
I think that you are right ... it certainly sounds like too much tappet clearance. ... though it seems to run well. I had a 72 Commando Interstate - a wonderful bike with no problems. However, my brothers 850 had tappet problems, which turned out to be due to a soft camshaft. He learned that there had been a bad batch from the hardening process. With a new camshaft the problem was solved.
You could be right. Though my theory is if you can't hear them they are too tight. This one does seem a little loud, could just be the audio in the post. Something to be looked at in any case.
The '72 Norton Combat had larger tappet clearance settings than other Commandos due to the higher lift cam in the Combat versus other years. Intake clearance was .008" and exhaust was .010" versus .006" intake and .008" exhaust for other years. And yes they were loud and no they did not whisper. Don't know where the microphone was on this recording but those tappets were suppose to 'tap'.
Belt drive is a mistake-did you not go to high school?Chain is the most efficient -shaft second -belt the least efficient.The trans is not built to handle belt, the sleeve bush will wear out prematurely .Belt is for vibration-on a Knuckle Head great, on a Commando, foolish waste of money and time.The motor sounds like it is ready to blow up, way out of tune! Sundquist Norton. You Tube
Doesn't matter how old we get there is still a big kid inside of us that wants to fang a sweet old bike down the road. Nice work mate.
The nice thing about Norton Motorcycles is how upgraded they can be and still look fantastic. They are truly a usable modern classic.
I miss my Norton everyday , the sweetest ride ever. I was 18-20 years old ..now I am 64 and she is still with me in my heart even though I sold her 44 years ago ! Amazing Bike !
I hope you are still alive and well, and enjoying your ride. You certainly know how to enjoy this machine and give it some stick, the note sounds devine.
I bought 72 Norton in London in spring 73, drove 2.5k mikes Europe shipped to Chicago, Later blowup trans, at 2nd gear shift, three cases destroyed because of Barnett clutches w/ 21 tooth sprocket, later back to stock clutch which lasted rest of 40 years that I owned it.
Beautiful machine.
Makes a change to see a natural rider!
the bike looks and sounds amazing, credit to you
Nothing on motorcycle earth will beat the norton sound!
I want jutch a ride so much!
Just beautiful!
I’m a sport bike kind of guy, but there’s something special about these Norton commanders!!
I also have a 72 commando and |I am 66, kick starting is a big part of the fun, gives you a sense of pleasure to hear it start, if you have it in perfect tune its not a problem, my eleven year old Grandson can start mine, get one cylinder on compression and use all your body weight , with mine its tickle both carbs when cold after an hour tickle one if warm if it don't start something is wrong..
Fantastic mister. He started it more in a minute than I could get mine going in 6 weeks.
I miss my 71. Combat Commando
Absolutely awesome! Great job.
Very nice bike. Many, many years ago I owned a 1969 Commando 750. What a bike! Now i drive a 2018 Royal Enfield Classic 500. Thanks for the video.
Glorious!
Love how you whipped the primary cover off like that. I had a second hand norton 750 as a teenager in the 70s which always had a slipping clutch. I imagine you could sort that sort of problem quite easily though my Kiwi bike mechanic back in the day was never able to. I can relate to Gerry below as I traded that norton for the bling of a cb750/4 and now wish I never had. Great video cheers!
That sound is gorgeous
Vous m avez fait rêver
Magique la Norton commando 1972
Mon année de naissance
Un beaux cadeaux d anniversaire a venir
Pour fêter mon demi siècle
Merci belle vidéo
Nice video! Very nice bike! Thanks for the mention :)
Nice video. Beautiful bike. Real human being. I could type about the bikes I've owned and never owned but it's not about me so why would I bother. Thanks for sharing
She’s a beauty!
Nice bike, I also have a 72, Alton e start etc
I'd like to have one like this! Great sound!
Unbelievable, that bike. My Norton is young. 1984.🤗
Your Norton is a credit to your work and dedication, excellent job and tastefully modified. Now get out there and ride.
Sounds great 👍 I’ve just bought a Royal Enfield Interceptor and my first mod has been a set of silencers that look and sound just like the Commando ones. Next step is to liberate a few more horsepower to give it the performance to match the Norton legend 😊👍
I had a bright red twin carb Norton 99, 600cc, it looked good, but it was like throwing your leg over a road drill, the vibration made more than my teeth chatter. Was glad to get rid of that bone shaking piece of crap. I eventually got a Triumph TR6, less teeth chattering and a much smoother ride.
Das wäre mein Moped! 👍
Makes me want to buy a Commando and join a British bike club , good work mate admire your work
Beautiful
Magnificent
@ 64 i'm in hopes to keep my "Knees in the Breeze" as long as you have. Hope as well in the meanwhile to acquire a garage mate Norton, for my 68 Triumph Trophy Sports. "Knees in the Breeze" is an old Paratrooper term... though the exit door jump speed is about 150 mph. Reckon 60 mph more than suffices me now. Former Sgt. 82nd Abn. 71-74
Hi William I just figured out how to reply, sorry, keep those knees in the breeze.
Nice bike I had a couple of fastback s I remember having a 750 commando plate on the front guard and I remember running Siamese pipes on one of those supposed to be worth 10 horse power more
My friend used to race a Norton in the early 70s
Thanks for the great video. My 1973 750 Hi Rider required a healthy kick but nearly always started on the first kick. The way your Norton fires instantly with an electric start is very impressive. You have a beautiful example with some significant upgrades.
Back in the day I had a 1971 Commando 750, it was a couple of years old when I got it and had it's issues, however, after I did rather a lot of meticulous work on it I had her working very well and I must say that at that time it was a truly amazing machine. I could keep up with or beat any of my friends Japanese 'Superbikes' including big Kawasaki's all at half the fuel consumption of any of them, they were happy days indeed.
In a lot of ways I wish I still had that Commando although the modified CCM R30 604 I have now would beat it hands down in every department, (except looks of course)
what absolute tosh,
A guy I once worked with said "a Norton is a kit for a motorcycle - they stack the parts together in the right order as sort of an assembly instruction, but you really have to take it apart and put it together as it should have been". Having owned three Nortons, I agree with him.
I want to be your apprentice. Lovely Norton.
Very nice looking Norton you got there. I couldn't afford one in '72 so I settled for Honda. What kind of lubrication for the primary chain ? I have an older Harley that circulates the oil over the primary and returns to the oil tank.
Tardis Cottage! I like it!
Congrats on your efforts with your Nort !! I’m in WA and that bike is a beauty!!
👍👀Mensch Opa du hast es noch gut drauf .da kann ich nur sagen,Respekt .👀👍
What is the angle on crankshaft ? Sounds odd
your a cool guy !
Very nice I think Royal Infield keep in mind the Norton Comando when designing Interceptor 650 almost all except Engine is maching
Eine Norton, super.
Ich bin damit, gross geworden.
Isle of Man.
Ich würde gerne das
2. MOPED, KAUFEN.
Nice
A '72 with electric start? What's the world coming to !!!!
Perhaps a BSA Bantam 125 with electric start?
Great bike, wish I had your talent and engineering in the US.
Please correct me if I am wrong but I have NEVER seen a 1972 model with an electric start.Is this something that you have fitted later????
Yeah boyyyyyy, like he explained at great length you muppet
Didn't see you fill the primary, there are a whole lot of attributes to the Norton than your starter, but one day I might need the button, I friend has recently fitted a electric start to his 51 AJS 500, brilliant workman ship, used a starter/ generator from a golf buggy...
I would guess that the primary drive having been modified to a belt rather than a chain, there is no need for any oil.
Beautiful bike from when style was the name of the game, not jet-ski look alike "permormannce". Two questions for you: 1. Do you have an overide kick-start lever for emergencies? 2. Is that drive belt standard or a modification and will that last having to transmit all the engine power.
Mine was stolen a long time ago. It broke my heart. If you ever want to sell it then let me know.
72 roadster for sale
Lovely machine ! Nicely done upgrades too. I have a 1972 commando . It does not have electric start. Was that an option in 1972 ? T hat looks like the biger tank. Mine has the bigger petrol tank . Shes a garage queen now. Had to quit riding. Too many close calls with stupid people on smart ass phones. I would still be riding if I had a street like yours. Love my Norton and my Norton and my Triumph ! Thanks for that wonderful sound !
beautiful
It certainly is. Greatest bike ever made.
Why is it that my 73 850 doesn't have blinkers?
Beautiful Norton.
Nice bike
This is a great looking bike.
My only concern would be the seat.
It looks very comfortable for the pilot, and a nice backstop ... but for the pillion passenger....
It'd better be a female passenger, because with that sloping seat, they are going to be hanging on for dear life :D
I solved that problem by not carrying a passenger.
Don't like to.
Yes, I understand.
I always liked sharing the experience.
One-up riding is an entirely different experience, and obviously great.
But, 'two-up' adds a different dimension, that is also fun.
The thing is ... although I owned a 750 Commando, I did once travel pillion on an 850.
The guy was, for sure, out to impress.
OMG I had to hang on for dear life - it had a rear grab rail.
That memory resurfaced the moment that I saw the seat.
The immediate thought was 'no way' :)
@@sjwtard3709 Having a "NorVil" production racer seat (and no rear footpegs) works well, too!
does the button ever kick back against your finger?
I guess not :)
So, etwas, von super
Starter works great, when are you going to totally rebuild the motor?it's ready to blow! 50 yr pro
You are adjusting the wrong end of the front Isolastic, the grub screw end is locked..
you tell him, you idiot
You are a man of great debating. me an idiot? I know more about Commandos than you know about tugging on it.. Explain to me why goof offs like yourself bother to scan RUclips, could it be you have nothing better to do as you have no friends..
I have at least one of every model made, two of some. I really know nothing at all
OK explain to me why I am an Idiot..
Lovely bike and what a sound ! Where is this New Zealand ?
Hi. Sunshine Coast hinterland Australia.
Regards Jim.
Ah ! you don't sound Australian Jim and it almost looks like England where you are :o) Regards Nick
Ps I notice the bike has a combat engine Jim any trouble with mains ? a guy i knew had one new and he was always in the dealers having new mains under warranty , then they brought out the superblend bearings , dealer said "you won't have any trouble now" ....... thousand miles later he's back in there and the Norton dealer promptly banned him from the shop ! Think the problem was he had a Suzuki Invader before and he used to rev it to max most of the time and carried on with the Norton ! he was only 16 so probably can be forgiven .
again I wish you were in Maine, Where did you get the wind screen ?
👍
They always had a lot of internal noise
Anyone who would cut out the Alloy mounting plates has no idea about beauty. Why?...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ;)
I was wondering more, whether it had been overdone - they look quite flimsy now.
I wish you lived next door :)
thats better look'in than m girl friend
cool
WHAT IS THIS.??? VERY VERY NOISY ENGINE, LOOKS LIKE SOME ONE IS HAMMERING. IT SHOULD WHISPER.?? ADJUST TAPPETS CLEARANCE, OR PUT A NEW CAMSHAFT.???
I think that you are right ... it certainly sounds like too much tappet clearance.
... though it seems to run well.
I had a 72 Commando Interstate - a wonderful bike with no problems.
However, my brothers 850 had tappet problems, which turned out to be due to a soft camshaft.
He learned that there had been a bad batch from the hardening process.
With a new camshaft the problem was solved.
You could be right. Though my theory is if you can't hear them they are too tight.
This one does seem a little loud, could just be the audio in the post. Something to be looked at in any case.
The '72 Norton Combat had larger tappet clearance settings than other Commandos due to the higher lift cam in the Combat versus other years. Intake clearance was .008" and exhaust was .010" versus .006" intake and .008" exhaust for other years. And yes they were loud and no they did not whisper. Don't know where the microphone was on this recording but those tappets were suppose to 'tap'.
Belt drive is a mistake-did you not go to high school?Chain is the most efficient -shaft second -belt the least efficient.The trans is not built to handle belt, the sleeve bush will wear out prematurely .Belt is for vibration-on a Knuckle Head great, on a Commando, foolish waste of money and time.The motor sounds like it is ready to blow up, way out of tune! Sundquist Norton. You Tube