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This one of a kind, numbers matching 1974 850 Norton Commando is up for sale. It has been fully rebuilt, and includes many hand made custom parts and work, including work by Herb Becker.

 

This is a well loved bike, and while it is an excellent and well executed example of the modifications that have been developed by the community of riders loyal to the Norton brand, it is a reliable rider, not a concourse quality restoration.

 

Its a beautiful machine that must be seen in person to be appreciated. I’ve tried to include the relevant details of the work and modifications that have been made here in text and photos, but it doesn’t do it justice.

 

Approximately 7000 km on the clock.

Asking Price: $12,900 CAD

Serious inquiries only please, reasonable offers considered. Located in Goderich, Ontario.

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Suspension
Front
  • 1985-1987 Suzuki GSXR 750 forks with adjustable preload and damping and triple clamp from the same. Conversion done by Herb Becker

 

Rear
  • Twin Hagon 360mm Black body Type A shocks with black springs and adjustable preload, new in 2014

 

Frame
  • Stock duplex cradle frame with the addition of some custom tabs and bracket

  • A third isolastic mount has been added under the gearbox for added rigidity

  • Herb Becker built box section rear swingarm with adjustable shock mounts

  • Steering damper

 

Engine
  • +0.40 bore over stock

  • Extensive top end in work done in the winter of 2015/2016, New valves, recut seats, lightened and polished rockers

  • Head shaved .20 to bring compression up to 9:1, and pushrods shortened to maintain valve geometry

  • PCV reed valve from a yamaha XS650

  • Exhaust threads repaired in 2015

  • Stainless steel rocker oil feed lines

  • Remote oil filter above gearbox

  • Oil tight

  • I haven’t personally opened up the bottom end, but the previous owner did the rebuild. I can't speak to what mods if any have been done there

Carburation
  • Twin 32mm amals, rebuilt with new slides, float needles and gaskets, stainless steel float bowl plugs and hardware, done in 2015

  • K&N Air Filter

 

Exhaust
  • 750 Commando head pipes (no balance pipe), stock diameter

  • Replica Dunstall decibel silencers by Brituro, repacked in 2016

  • Custom aluminum exhaust hangers

  • Exhaust nuts new in 2015, lockwired to prevent loosening

 

Ignition
  • Boyer electronic ignition

  • Honda CB750 coil

 

Body
  • GSXR front fender

  • Norvil aluminum production racer tank, painted British Racing Green with exposed aluminum knee dents, done in the winter of 2016

  • Custom fiberglass seat and tail section, also in British Racing Green

  • Hand built aluminum oil tank

  • All decals under 3 layers of clearcoat

  • Tomaselli headlight brackets

  • One small chip on top of tank 

 

Wheels
Front
  • 18" Akront aluminum rim, laced to a polished hub from a 73-77 Suzuki GT750 with stainless steel spokes

  • 110/80 - 18 Bridgestone Battlax tire new in 2016

Rear
  • 18" Akront aluminum rim, laced to a polished Barnes type dirt track quick change hub with stainless steel spokes

  • 130/80 - 18 Bridgestone Battlax tire new in 2016

Brakes
Front
  • Dual Disks from 1985-1987 Suzuki GSXR 750

  • Performance Machine Narrow Classic four piston callipers left and right on custom aluminum brackets

  • Stainless steel braided brake lines

  • 1985-1987 Suzuki GSXR 750 master cylinder with an adjustable brake lever

 

Rear
  • Honda RS125 / NSR250R 186mm single disk

  • 2001 Yamaha YZ 426F two piston calliper

  • 2002 Yamaha YZ 250 rear master cylinder with integrated reservoir

  • Mix of hard and braided stainless steel brake lines

  • Custom lever

 

Drivetrain
  • Stock gearbox internals

  • 20 tooth front sprocket

  • 42 tooth rear sprocket (unused 43 tooth spare included)

  • 520 o-ring chain

  • Shimmed clutch stack for light clutch pull

  • Clutch rod seal installed

  • Belt primary drive in ventilated case

  • New clutch hub in 2014

  • Custom aluminum chain guard

Controls
  • 1985-1987 Suzuki GSXR 750 clip on handlebars

  • Herb Becker built aluminum Z plates and folding rear set foot pegs

  • JPS pattern reverse gear shift lever

 

Instruments
  • Smiths tachometer and speedometer in custom aluminum bracket

  • Additional electronic speedometer, odometer

  • Note: Smiths speedo has been disconnected, previous owner mounted the drive on the  front axle, and the varying length of the cable caused by fork compression resulted in it only working intermittently. I had planned to replace it with the new electronic versions of the smiths speedo that uses the original drive with an adapter, but I have not done so yet. Hence the second digital speedo

 

Electrical
  • Custom wiring harness

  • Pod Tronics regulator

  • LED headlight and tail light

  • Gammatronix 12v LED Battery charge / alternator level light (instead of ammeter)

  • 3 phase alternator

  • Yuasa sealed battery

  • Battery and all electronics located under the seat hump or inside headlight shell

 

Other Notes
  • Matching frame and engine numbers

  • Lock wired fasteners throughout for reliability

  • Some spares included

  • Comes with a 3” binder that includes manuals (including portions of manuals that cover the maintenance of the parts that are from other bikes), parts books, Stage 1, 2 and 3 performance modification service sheets from Norton Motors, receipts for parts and work completed, past appraisals and a modification and service log maintained since 2014.

  • Custom machining and work throughout that must be seen to be appreciated

Details

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