1973-75 Norton 850

Excellent choice. I love my '75 Commando Mk III.

I believe the Mk III's were made in 1975 (they have the shifter on the left side, rear brake pedal on the right, electric starter, front & rear disk brakes, etc.).
The 1973 and 1974 Nortons still had the British shifter on the right (brake pedal on the left).

Good luck on your search.
Here is a picture of my bike.
Mods include no-cross-over exhaust headers, '74 style tailpipes, air cleaner box replaced with K&N filter - otherwise stock.
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This is what a completely stock 1975 looks like.
Note the longer tailpipes, cross-over pipe between the headers, and the plastic air cleaner box behind the carbs.

Like my bike, it is a "Roadster".
Norton also made an Interstate model and a Hi-Rider model (different gas tanks, seats)
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I had a 74 commando in college.
Metal flake blue
The sound the smell the rubberized vibration
Loved it
I even remember the handgrips
Cushy oval with horizontal ribs
So primitive, so british

 

Yes, the electric starter on these bikes is pretty weak. It will work okay if you are restarting the motor after a short stop, such as getting gas or having lunch, but it does not work well for starting the bike when it is cold and has been sitting for a while. The kick starter is often needed to get the bike going at first.

The bike has both a center stand and a sidekick stand. So, if you roll the bike back on the center stand, then kicking down on the kick starter is no big deal and can be done repeatedly until the bike starts.

The are some nice modifications for these bikes. For example, there is a conversion kit to a much stronger Japanese starter, along with thicker electrical cables that connect it to the battery. I'm thinking of doing this upgrade for my bike. The link for these mods is here.
Atlantic Green Parts Counter - Norton - BSA - British Motorcycle Parts

I've owned a 75 Norton Commando since 1979. My current bike is actually my 2nd identical black & gold Norton. I sold my first one in the late 1990's - I thought I was done with it. But a few years later, I missed it and found one just like it for sale on the internet. So, I have a bike just like my old one again.
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Yoric,

Did you know that they just started importing the new Nortons into the USA?
The "Norton Commando 961 Sport" model looks pretty interesting.

Norton Motorcycles (UK) Ltd: Norton Commando 961 Sport

Their going to be somewhat pricey - maybe $18k or so.
But it is an attempt to fully modernize the Commando.

Very few dealers though in the U.S.
http://nortonmotorcycles.com/dealers/#.UpFg9OLZimQ

Here is a picture of one.
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Did you '74 Norton look like this one? Beautiful color.

Notice that the 1974 bike had the shifter pedal on the right side of the engine, brake pedal on the left.
Also, 74 and earlier bikes had a drum brake on the rear wheel. 75 was the first year for the rear disk brake.
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Resto finished last year on my '74. Every bearing new, rebuilt transmission, all hardware Stainless, Seat recovered, new paint, RGM belt drive, Oil cooler, Taylor head steady, MK3 isolastics, One piece rear axle mod, Jim comstock breather, Jim Comstock hydraulic cam chain adjuster, Colorado Norton rebuilt oil tank, Landsdown Dampers, Ikon shocks, Akront rims, New exhaust, Oil pressure gauge, stailess oil lines, Sureflex clutch, Kehin FCR carbs, '75 cam chain cover, Shorei battery, Pazon Altair ignition, LED signals and stop light, air horn, and converted to negative ground. Currently installing a Brembo front caliper and a Gafler "wave" front disc. Saving the pennies for an Alton E-starter...... 7,700 original miles.
JD
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Beautiful bike! Congrats.
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Yoric....

Keep an eye on this web site (if you haven't already):
Access Norton - Norton Commando Motorcycle Forum
btw.... here's a pic of what I started with
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OMG... Thats it
I cant believe I remembered the handgrip shape
I m sure mine was a 74
Year i grad high school
I think Norton toughted some type of isostatic engine mount on frame
To reduce vibration!

 

Thanks Yoric, Actually, 6 months from start to finish. No heart aches at all, a few unexpected challanges, but nothing soul sucking. This is the 5th Commando I've owned since I learned how to ride on one back in '74 as my 1st motorcycle, so I'm intimately fmiliar with them. The bike is amazingly simple to work on and the peeps on the Norton forum have centuries of knowledge and advice from all over the world, at their fingertips if you get into anything that may seem over your head at the time. A truely invaluable resource.
The last owner had painted the tins a horrible orange for some reason and I couln't determine the original color. I painted the bike myself and believe it ot not, it's succses came from meticulouse prep and spray cans. I've pained many tanks and if you know what you're doing, you can have very good proffesional results. Din't save a bunch of money because quality materials are not that cheap, and considering if I had to pay myself for the time I still came out a little ahead...and everyone likes a little head now and then
Total cost was not crazy. You just have to find a good base to work from...Just don't pay full pop for Norton and then shovel money at it ove it's finished value. They are fun bikes / projects and you can take your time putting it back together. I just wanted to finish it while I still had the vision in my minds eye of the end of the tunnel. I have a few other projects that are near a decade old.
If you need any help or advice feel free to P.M. me.
Best of luck!.. btw.. now would be a good time to find a base to work from as in the Spring, prices always tend to rise.

JD

 

Yoric, this guy is close to you. Check out his exceptional work! CNW can sell you bits, do machine work and even build up a Norton to your spec...(at a price) BUT There is no finer builder i.m.o.
If nothing else, check it out for inspiration!
JD


Colorado Norton Works | Custom Norton Motorcycles
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Commandos are wonderful bikes! I like them so much I ended up with three of them

750 Commando.

850 MKIII, not so stock.

and my favorite, Kenny Dreer 880 Sprint Special, really not stock!
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They are addicting!
I bought #2, then came across #3 and just had to have it. 2 & 3 fill a similar niche, so I could easily be talked out of #2. PM me if you're interested.

 

Seriously pretty bikes. My brother had one growing up in England. I remember it was 828cc and cost 828 pounds (sterling). The CNW bikes are works of art - and priced accordingly. Should be able to do most of the work yourself - he fell off it, bought a new frame etc and put it back together.

I remember the timing chain used to stretch unevenly. Assume better quality available now.
Philip

 

Improper maintenance is the culprit for the timing chain strectch. Some stretch is normal for any chain.

Should be adjusted at regular intervals which most owners neglect because the primary cover needs to come off to check, which is a bit of a hassle for some DIY'ers.

In the '75+ E-start, there is a window w/removable plug that stretch can be measured to determine if adjustment needed. Cover still needs to come off however if adjustment is nessesary.

There is an aftermarket kit for a hydraulic self adjuster with a heavy duty cam chain that should allieviate most if not all worries. Almost an install and forget item.

On my '74, I've put on a '75 primary cover and the hydraulic adjuster kit.

JD

 

220719.
Think it was a 71. Wild living and a divorce caused us to part company in the late 70's...so why do I still remember the serial #?

And you guys are too young to remember the Norton print ads. The britbabes were OUTSTANDING.

 

BSA had the best ads in the 1970's magazines, IMHO.

Here are a few of the old Norton ads. (yellow bike is the rare "Hi Rider" model).
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No THAT young!
I bought my first motorcyle in 1974. I was 19. It was my first Norton. I taught myself how to ride on it.
I'm now 58 and on my 5th 850 Roadster since the day.
I remember those ads quite well!

JD