I had a Triumph Bonneville at the time (1969) but my friends Nortons. Always liked riding a Norton which felt more nimble and certainly more powerful than the Bonne. Those bikes handled well -- far better then a Honda 750 K0 had later. Remember the Honda CL 77 305 Scrambler -- had one in Japan during an assignment there. It was my first bike and a great learning experience. There were no training schools as I recall. In Japan, the first meter of the road was marked off for bikes, scooters as so forth. This meant you could go to the head of the line in traffic which cut time in getting around through the bad traffic they has in Tokyo. It would take a car close to an hour to drive from Fuchu to Tachikawa AB where a bike could do it in about 25 minutes. Memories!
I graduated high school in 67. In my time, japan had pretty much taken over but if you had the bucks, you bought either a Triumph, BS, or Norton. They were a wonderful bike. The Triumphs were light. The BSA's felt torquie but heavy. The Norton Atlas was a monster. It had the torque of the BSA, handled as well as a Triumph but pulled like a Harley Sportster but was way more fun to ride.
Nice. I disconnected my chokes and removed the slides as I've never needed them. Given the pistons are mildly flooded with fuel using the tickle point anymore can fowl the plugs. Nortons need to be ridden hard now and then keeps everything nice. Beautiful bike!
Nice bike. The tank and fast back tail piece don't appear to be from 1968 as they don't have the dimples for the "Norton Villiers" badges. I have a 1968 Commando and was able to source a steel tank from India that has the dimples for the badges. My Commando has the serial number stamped into the headstock instead of the newer riveted plate. SN: 126982 which should make it about the 820th Commando to come off the line. It has, however, had a disc brake front end and 1972 engine installed at some point before I got it. It has the original widow maker frame that I modified to have the brace tube that the later frames had. For now I am riding a 2022 W800 but I hope to soon have the restoration of the Commando finished enough to ride it. At 70 years young I better get going and get it done. I notice you have the original solid green globe instruments. Mine had later instruments but I was able to source a rebuilt set of instruments that were period correct like the ones on your bike. Thanks for sharing. Regards Bob in Ottawa, Canada
Hi Bob. Thanks for the review. This bike actually had the dimples for NV badges on the tank and tail piece. I ground them off when I failed to find proper NV badges at that time, which are now available.
Beautiful, the only things I can see wrong would be the exhaust nuts, from my fading memory, they were like the ones used on the Atlas, also, these ealy models had the small round badges on each side of the tank and on the tailpiece. Also, the brake pedal was not chromed, rather painted silver. Does it still have the "widowmaker frame"? At any rate, it is still a very good looking example.
you lost me when someone had to help you get fuel.. Sorry bud. You own, you don't beat a britt and run one. Try as you will to glorify it but form still follows function.
![KSI - Thick Of It (feat. Trippie Redd) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/At8v_Yc044Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Beautifully detailed rebuild and nice paint also. Nothing spared, probably an awesome runner too.
A beautiful bike, in top condition, nice colour, well done.
Finally a video with someone starting a brit bike with boots on, not flip flops or running shoes.
Just beautiful. If I buy a second Norton I will paint it the same color.
I had a Triumph Bonneville at the time (1969) but my friends Nortons. Always liked riding a Norton which felt more nimble and certainly more powerful than the Bonne. Those bikes handled well -- far better then a Honda 750 K0 had later. Remember the Honda CL 77 305 Scrambler -- had one in Japan during an assignment there. It was my first bike and a great learning experience. There were no training schools as I recall. In Japan, the first meter of the road was marked off for bikes, scooters as so forth. This meant you could go to the head of the line in traffic which cut time in getting around through the bad traffic they has in Tokyo. It would take a car close to an hour to drive from Fuchu to Tachikawa AB where a bike could do it in about 25 minutes. Memories!
I graduated high school in 67. In my time, japan had pretty much taken over but if you had the bucks, you bought either a Triumph, BS, or Norton. They were a wonderful bike. The Triumphs were light. The BSA's felt torquie but heavy. The Norton Atlas was a monster. It had the torque of the BSA, handled as well as a Triumph but pulled like a Harley Sportster but was way more fun to ride.
Nice. I disconnected my chokes and removed the slides as I've never needed them.
Given the pistons are mildly flooded with fuel using the tickle point anymore can fowl the plugs.
Nortons need to be ridden hard now and then keeps everything nice.
Beautiful bike!
Superb thanks for posting, Great to hear a rebuilt one clearly.
Lovely...well done..
Beautiful 😍
So, nice
I enjoyed riding a friend's Norton years ago when I had a Bonneville. Recall the Norton shifted on the right different from Japanese bikes.
Nice bike. The tank and fast back tail piece don't appear to be from 1968 as they don't have the dimples for the "Norton Villiers" badges. I have a 1968 Commando and was able to source a steel tank from India that has the dimples for the badges. My Commando has the serial number stamped into the headstock instead of the newer riveted plate. SN: 126982 which should make it about the 820th Commando to come off the line. It has, however, had a disc brake front end and 1972 engine installed at some point before I got it. It has the original widow maker frame that I modified to have the brace tube that the later frames had. For now I am riding a 2022 W800 but I hope to soon have the restoration of the Commando finished enough to ride it. At 70 years young I better get going and get it done.
I notice you have the original solid green globe instruments. Mine had later instruments but I was able to source a rebuilt set of instruments that were period correct like the ones on your bike. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Bob in Ottawa, Canada
Hi Bob. Thanks for the review. This bike actually had the dimples for NV badges on the tank and tail piece. I ground them off when I failed to find proper NV badges at that time, which are now available.
@@plamu58 Thanks for clarifying. I have to order badges for mine.
Beautiful, the only things I can see wrong would be the exhaust nuts, from my fading memory, they were like the ones used on the Atlas, also, these ealy models had the small round badges on each side of the tank and on the tailpiece. Also, the brake pedal was not chromed, rather painted silver. Does it still have the "widowmaker frame"? At any rate, it is still a very good looking example.
Very nice. Any idea of the value? Thanks, Paul.
Nice bike, I think you need to reroute a few of those cables, looks awkward.
you lost me when someone had to help you get fuel.. Sorry bud. You own, you don't beat a britt and run one. Try as you will to glorify it but form still follows function.