1971 Norton Commando Hi - Rider [visit 30 of 31] 

Thanks to Paul for showing us his Hi-Rider! Sounds great BTW! As Mike already knows, I have a friend that has a 1972 Hi-Rider (yellow). He took a picture of his young wife on this bike in '72. He still has the same bike & WIFE! :-)

you can tell this guy is perfectly at ease and confident with his m/c, no dragging or 'peddling' with feet when he takes off, rolls the throttle on positively. Beautiful paint job, nice machine, me likey, i'll even excuse the front fender,

I really love these vintage bikes. I'm 60 yrs old and still working full time so I didn't want a project bike, so I got a 2018 T100 cause I wanted something with the look and feel of a vintage bike without the down time. It was a great decision for me, I'm enjoying every minute I get to spend with this bike.

Respect, 44 years. I was 16 years old that time and I was riding my Yamaha SS 50 ho man. It's a beautiful bike this Norton. Thanks Mike 👍🙏

Had a 1970 Norton commando S. with the upswept pipes on one side it was yellow. Had the fiberglass tank there was no killer fuel in those days. That bike probably weighs right around 400lbs. The only complaint I ever had was that the brakes were just barely adequate.I was riding it to work one day and tried a little experiment on the last block before the work place parking lot . Left it in first gear for the final blast and achieved 50 mph before the hooks were applied . OH to be 22years old and own a Norton commando S.

The Hi-Rider was an attempt by Norton to gain a foothold in the growing US "chopper" market of the late 1960's and early 1970's. This was seen in the styling of the H-Rider, with raised "ape hanger" handlebars, upturned rear seat, high grab rail, small headlight and miniscule fuel tank. The Hi-Rider was originally powered by a 745cc engine, before being upgraded with a 828cc engine in 1973.

Thanks for another great real world, real rider review and including the captions👍 Aw, the Raleigh Chopper. Every schoolboys dream.

That graphic overlay of the original style seat was really well done. : )

Gee I remember the Raleigh Chopper, I had the Raleigh lowline cruiser not as cool but dad didn't like the ape hanger handle bars, so funny looking back. I think the Highrider is great 👍 save as much as you can of it.

I think they made high riders to the end. Mine was a MK3 with steel tank. I changed the headlight and bars and seat. Plus a 1/4 fairing for a cafe look.

Nice proof that the classic bike scene attracts decent, informed, and competent people.

Never heard of this model thx for your hard work i live in st louis and would love to bring my bmw to the cul de sac.

My 73 Hi-Rider was a frankenstein. I stopped going to vintage club rides because the know-it-alls picked it apart. Thank you for celebrating Nortons with personality. BTW, I'm currently switching it over to a cafe racer setup. (I couldn't post an image).

I always loved the Norton Commando Hi-Rider, the only thing that let it down was the seat, it looked like a last minute addendum, but I still would have loved one as choppers are my first love for bike styles. That one is a beautiful colour, so sweet. Not fussy about the front fender, it’s just a bit too deep for my taste......but it’s not my bike, and the owner loves it, so who am I to say. Anyoldwho, I still love this bike and I’d love to be able to afford one. He’s so lucky to have it, and the length of time he’s owned it.....44 freaking years non the less, amazing 🤩. Another great video Mike. 😎👍👍👍🇬🇧

Another great video. Thanks for posting. I love hearing the owners discuss the history of their bikes.

A Tall bloke with long arms on those bars.....roughly in the same position i am, pushing the Briggs & Stratton 😁. Great bike, i wouldn't get rid of it either.!

Great bike and you’ve reminded me of my Mk2 Raleigh Chopper in “Hot Red” colours I had as a boy. 👍

Not sure how I missed this video the first time round but glad I found it. Paul’s obviously a nice guy and his bike is great, it certainly suits him.

An old bike riding mate bought a new hi rider yellow in late 71. I had a triumph 650. Had that terrible seat. Rest was great had some go. Sometimes went pillion. Good thing we were young and thin.

They keep us young, they keep us sane, they keep us happy so we ride again. Great bike Mike, that's all Paul :)

Cool bike. Not so sure about high bars on the Norton.

Another 'riders tale', thanks for sharing Paul. The 'Hi - Rider' has done you proud. It looks & sound so 'sweet' a great testament of good engineering & care. Thanks Mike, just checking the views on this series some 'hi numbers' good for you. atvb t ..

Thanks for another video I’ve enjoyed watching here in the UK on a grey Sunday morning. Keep them coming 👍

Another great video from this addictive series, thanks Mike! Great bike, sounds superb. There was no mention of the longer, non-standard, Kickstarter. Would you know where that’s from? I think I could use one on my 750 roadster.

Great bike, I love the bars and tank, as soon as I got a bike I put high bars on it, that was the 70s. I'm now restoring a 1972 Bonneville with "export" bars and US spec tank. It's a coincidence but I asked my brother in law in Ireland to spray the tank ( which was black with a bit of metalflake) and he used Nissan car paint.

Hi mike. Yet. Again another great video. Great rasp in and out of the grove sorry cul de sac reminiscent of fast Eddies at. Cannommills. Triumph Norton's dealership. The smell. In. Showroom of. Rubber. And. Petroleum also. Gunk. From. Work shop engine cleaner

Wow I really like the looks of this bike, and the sound is fantastic! The red is just great! Like the handle bars to! the Chrome fenders and forks make it look great. I think I bought my BSA Shooting Star in 1960. Later I bought a Triumph TR6 then a Harley Sportster. Still love the Brit bikes though especially the sound of them!

GREEEEAT LOOKING BIKE PAUL!!! Makes me wish I never sold my 74 Commando

I remember the Raleigh Chopper being launched in 1969/70 . My nose stuck to Halfords window in Barnsley ,I stuck there so long pressed up against the plate glass the snot froze. A brief moment in time that this Hi Rider belongs to , over in a year or so .What were they /I thinking. Nice bike but I would take a Fastback as my choice.

Almost makes me want to switch my '74 MK2 back into its original HiRider setup. I've got all the bits to do it. But I just can't stomach the look ;-0

It seems the American Northwest has an endless cache of 60s and 70s British Iron! Thanks for the time and effort you put into Mighty Garage! Cheers! 🇬🇧

Cool guy, Cool bike 😎

If your friend is looking for a hi rider seat, Motoparts in Edmonton has one listed.

Don’t say that no one can keep up with him if there’s a chance the wife’s going to watch. Or not!

These all have fiberglass tanks? Weren't they prone to leak?

Great video, Mike. Back in the day I had a ‘72 Commando that I put a Harley hog wheel on the rear and the handling was still excellent. Wish I could find another Commando up here on Cape Cod, Ma.

That bike is so close to original that it would be very easy to bring it back to to original looking with very little effort. I am sure the parts are available. Anyhow, very interesting bike. My 2 cents. Thanks Mike and Cheers

I sure do enjoy learning about these Nortons. Such a small tank, wonder what the range is. With my old Ironhead Peanut tank, It is around 75 miles.

How awesome! One of my favorites so far. I appreciate his attitude of bucking the tide and going his own way a bit. So cool.

I’m so depressed, because of my divorce I was forced to sell my hi rider;( I loved that bike. I had a steel repro tank on mine, no leaks. There’s a couple of seats available on eBay .

I answered an add ~2012 for someone selling a Commando in need of a good home. When I first saw the bike and because of the small tank I thought maybe an 'S' model or an 'SS' model? I bought it. While inspecting the bike and signing over the registration I noticed the strange serial # 235xxx. Being a little familiar with the Norton serial #'s I asked the seller what history, if he knew, the bike had. He was selling it for his brother who had bought it new. He explained it as "it was one of those with the high handlebars and with a sissy bar behind the banana seat ". The infamous Hi Rider, although the ownership only said Norton Commando. He also said his brother changed the style to the Roadster the very next year after he purchased it. Of course during it's rebuild I did the unforgivable. Yes, I brought it back to it's birthright. It gets a lot of looks, some of those looks are puzzled, but it gets a ton of thumbs up. It's not my only Commando so it only comes out on special occasions and as many as possible....

Wow brilliant! Thanks for sharing don't see many Hi - Riders over here in the UK.

Nice bike✌️

Sometimes you can just tell when a rider looks fully at ease with his machine - this is definitely one of those times ! Salient comments too regarding the dreaded ethanol (ugh), which appears to have a similar flammability rating to a fart in a wind tunnel... Great stuff, thanks again Mike.

Beautiful motorcycle with a really ugly handlebar for its style (my humble opinion)

Hi love your videos just wondering if you have read Norton Villiers Triumph by Brad Jones? Its a well research book full of rare photos and interviews with ex members of staff. It gives the full story of NVT, one of the most interesting things in the book is a little known fact that demand for the Norton 850 was at at it's highest in the year they stopped production, the situation at NVT due to the industrial action at Meriden and the British government going back on their promise of a loan brought NVT to its knees. The books a very informative just like his other two books on BSA/Triumph

My first commando had one of the Hi rider tanks, always running out of fuel, real pain!

That's a groovy looking Norton. You've gotta love that US spec / chopperesque look

Nothing sounds like a British bike. Will keep my BSA Lightning forever.

so good, i love a riders Commando, not these over restored ones the get ridden 100 miles a year. Also loving the Hirider. great video. i can totally recommend getting a new seat, it made a world difference on mine.

Never seen one of those in the flesh amazing what manufacturers did to try and expand their marketing 😆

Beautiful Highrider, & a pleasant owner . Great videos Mike 👍

It's a rare one ! Is there in oregon one in original condition ? I never saw one in germany. Greetings from berlin, germany Andre'

Another cracking episode from the Mighty Garage, cheers Mike

The hi Rider. No just no. So wrong in conception from a company (in its death throes) like Norton. The Vetter triple at least had some class that everyone could appreciate on both sides of the Atlantic.

I had no remembrance of this Norton model. Very interesting and sounds like a proper bike.

Love the looks and the sound of this great Norton. He just needs an open helmet that goes with the bike and it's perfect.

Maybe a little too high, but those Commandos need either clip-ons or something higher than standard.

I've been riding my new to me, 78 Triumph the last month and still enjoying these old "visits to the circle" videos, thanks Mike!

Thanks again Mike.....always such an informative and entertaining video! All the best.

Oh My that sound is thrills and passion on wheels ! Thanks Mike

Beautiful bike, enjoyed the vid Mike.

Hey Mike, I love your Norton videos. I am INOA member, and a member of NENO (New England Norton Owners) the Northeast chapter. I had my first Norton Commando in 1974, but lusted after them since 1969. In the Northeast we have lots of twisty, winding roads perfect for a Norton. Back in the day nothing could touch a Norton Commando down these roads; nothing but another Commando and ALL my friends had them. I knew 18 people that had Commandos. This said, I knew no one who had a Hi Rider; I never even saw one on the road. The Hi Rider was not popular in the US, at least not with Norton enthusiasts in New England. The attitude towards the Hi Rider was like; ape hangers; Really?WTF??! This opinion was exactly like if you put apes and a banana seat on a modern sport bike today... leaving everyone that saw this scratching their head. The Hi Rider was in the same category as the the Triumph X75 Hurricane, another "custom" that didn't sell well at all in NE. This made these bikes rare and both bikes are sought after by collectors today quite ironically. California is where the Chopper craze was the biggest, maybe they liked the Hi Rider better. ...I just though I'd clear that up. Thanks for the great videos. Jim

Perfect & subtle improv on the seat/backpack bar comparison Mike; 1:36 & 7:26 that was.

Very nice bike and owner. I wonder how many of these are now “roadsters”?

When I was 12 in 1972 the girl who lived opposite had a boyfriend who bought a new one of these in yellow. Wow, I loved it, so cool. But he always had trouble starting it when he left late at night. 6 months later he bought a new cb750, nice machine, started on the button and sounded great. But it lacked something that the Norton had, real charisma. I knew even then that the days of the British motorcycle were numbered.

I really enjoyed watching this video. Thanks Mike

I bet it looked cool though with that fat rear.

Where did that Kickstart arm come from?

Lovely. I can can remember as a teenager being turned on the bike - and of course the Norton girls...

As you say "interesting" indeed.

Beauty. A proper bike.

Sounds lovely.

Cool bike

the Norton Hi-Rider was the first bike i fell in love with , specifically the yellow one in that ad you showed . i've never even ridden a Norton , who knows , maybe one of these days ...

Paul seems like a happy chap, good bike too. Oh the Raleigh chopper, spent many happy hours on mine, it had 5 speeds and was fast was limited by the pedal power I could put in 😂 we thought we were the bees knees 😀 Have a good one Mike, all the best 👍

I could never understand why the Americans liked the dreadful looking high rise swept back bars, till I rode one!!!