I had a 67 Atlas, what a nightmare! I went to the dealership to buy a Bonneville, but the dealer talked me out of it saying the Norton was a much better bike, plus he’d knock $150 off the price! Little did I know that Norton was making a major model change to the Commando, thus he didn’t want old stock hanging around. About 75 miles into my 150 mile journey home, the engine quit for know discernible reason. I was now a bus rider after chaining the bike to a tree for the dealer to come and get it. For some stupid reason I kept that bike for some 30 years before selling it. It was fun to ride on the fast twisties, but so terribly unreliable. As the saying goes: “the best thing about a Norton is that you’re never very far from home when it breaks down”.
The 500cc Dominator motor was smooth as silk, but when it was stretched to 750cc the horrific vibration would induce double vision and loosen one's fillings. Hence the Commando and its isolastic suspension.
I had a ‘62 Atlas when I lived in Guam. Bought it new. Loved that scoot. It shook but I was 16 and just didn’t care. Speed limit then was 45 so I sure didn’t get much use out of what it could do.
In '77 I bought what was advertised as a '67 Dunstall Atlas. I expected it to look like a Dunstall Comando but it was one of the ugliest bikes i have ever seem. But for $600 it did have potential. It had a nickel plated frame, Accront alloy rims, big Amal carbs, electronic ignition (Boyer or something that sounded similar) and it looked like the heads had been ported and polished. The compression ratio was higher than stock and it was titled as a Dunstall. The ugly part was that a previous owner had semi chopped it by putting longer fork tubes, pull back handlebars and a sissy bar. I was riding a Honda CB 350 at the time. It was punched out to 4!0 with powerol kit and set up to look like a drag bike and it was fast enuf for an entry level bike but i experienced a nasty tank slapper doing 90 plus and i never trusted that Honda again. The Norton despite its extended forks handled well and the power was amazing. It could bark the tires in all four gears and i ended up doing unintentional wheelies with passengers that i tried to play off as just me being cool. I couldn't start it with the kickstarter for the life of me but luckily lived on a hill. Met the love of my life one afternoon when i forgot to turn the gas petcock on and ran out of hill. While wondering what i was going to do now she walked up and asked if she could help. I sheepishly replied she could help with a little push. When i got it started i waited for her to thank her. Asked her out to lunch and she hopped on. She was an excellent passenger once i convinced her to tell me before standing on passenger pegs.
I purchased a 750" Comando" with a fiberglass Dunstall tank, fitted with Dunstall mufflers ,which wasn't a Commando at ,all but a dressed up Atlas to make it look modern was still a fun bike to ride.Big vibrations ,alot of tightening and tinkering to keep it running smooth.Commando cylinders slant foward!
Very beautiful bike sounds great . I know it looks cool with the goggles 🥽 on your for head but they should be protection for your eyes not your forehead .
In the UK, the 67 Atlas came in touring trim, Brand new they were a cow to start, they were so tight. A nice bike to ride, the gear ratios were very well spaced. The engine was rubber mounted and so were smooth compared with the twins of the day. This one looks like a Dunstall Atlas?
