Ride along on this 1972 Norton Commando 'fastback' down the twisting A5004 'Long Hill' road in the peak district on a glorious summers day. #Norton #NortonCommando #ClassicMotorcycle
My heart was in my mouth when I saw this video. Bought a brand new Norton commando roadster in 1973 for $1800. Hit a telephone pole when it had 400 miles on it. Almost got killed. Broke the forks, bent the frame, ruined the tank, bent the front wheel. After my stitches were removed I spent $1200 and about four months to put that motorcycle back together after which I rode it for years. During this period I think I was bringing home about $130 a week. Long time ago! Most athletic motorcycle I ever owned, and I have owned many now. I am 68. I was 22 then. God bless you guys!
Hi Jerry, I liked your story a lot. I'm 4 years south of you but brought a 2nd hand 750 norton at age about 17. Crashed into a car about 100 meters from the shop after stalling her a dozen times or so. Too much power for youngsters buying a first bike which isnt legal now. Unlike you, me and the bike were fine. Left it in the shed for a few days then rode it again. Later I traded it on a new 750/4 which was a mistake looking back even though the Honda was a nice bike. Thanks again and cheers.
Love Norton's! Bought mine brand new in 1974, 850 Commando Roadster. Black, of course. Paid in the $1800 range also. Had to sell it in 1978. Wife and I were putting together down payment for our first house. Got $1200 for it with less than 3,000 miles on it. That really hurt to type that last sentence!
The Nortons, Triunphs, BSAs of the early 70s....damn. What an age of motorcycling genius. Design, sound, prestige...and fun. But being a decent mechanic was also very helpful.
Thanks eekamoose. I still watch it every once in a while to remind myself as to how good that bike sounded. I wonder if any of my future video's will come anywhere close to sounding as nice?
I'm so glad you lugged the motor some. Most of these videos are on the pipe all the time. The ability to ride out of corners without downshifting is a real testament to me for how comfortable and easy the bike is to ride. It's sounded great and appears to have plenty of lugging torque.
Great comment - sitting still sounding sweet tells you nothing. Same as my 1967 Triumph Daytona, you have to ride it to appreciate how agile it is, and how much pull it has - it loves the throttle, especially on hills.
I just love the old school black Nortons with the black and gold leafing they are so bad ass. I want to find one unrestored and just polish the old paint and chrome and leave the patina I want one more than ever now
Does my soul good to hear a Commando at full throat. I haven’t ridden mine in many years as age and electric start have taken over. I still have my two 68 Fastbacks, a 72 Combat and a 74&5 Roadsters along with my 63 65 SS.
You’ve certainly picked up the sound with no wind noise, good job. I remember going to the Earls Court motorcycle show in I think it was 1968 when the Commando was first introduced. Everyone was amazed by the price of £450 and thought it wouldn’t sell because it was too expensive! It was certainly a big change from the Featherbed Nortons. I owned a Norton 650SS at the time, got a Kawasaki Z900RS now.
I love Norton's 650ss. Such a clean and iconic design. I also own Kawasaki's, I've got two ZX7R's which are slowly becoming classics in their own right.
Ah, a Commando! Not just music, a symphony of sound. I have a '72 750 with the Combat motor and he's stone stock except for an electronic ignition. I've had him for 45 years and since then, have had other notable machines, but this one will be with me until the end. Thanks for the great work!
Thanks John. I don't blame you. I wouldn't be letting go either. Not many of these bikes still on the road and it was a real privilege to ride this on and capture it all on camera.
I bought my 1970 purple Commando with no key for $400 back in 1973. I was 21 and had to have one of these bikes after hearing and seeing one at my high school. I still own and ride it today. Best bike I ever owned.
It was divinity in that category as one of the best. I still have plenty more to try and film though so who knows, there might be another that could sound just as good?
@@thilo7546 Nathan, I've had two boxers and they don't compare in sound. Imho. R65Ls and R1200s. And the 1200 I had fitted a full Staintune kit on. The only thing which matches a Commando is a Guzzi. Again, imho.
I had a 1970 Norton Commando 750 with the fiberglass tank and side panels. I rode it for about 20 years before I sold it. I could still kick my ass for doing that, but I live in Florida and that type terrain and climate just isn't conducive to old Brit bikes.
Back in 75, I bought a MK3 Interstate when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath. Rode the bike all over UK and Belgium. Sold it when I came back to the US. Later in my life I found a basket case MK3 roadster (got it for $350). Needed a lot of work, installed reverse cone pipe, repaired the engine, painted the tank etc. Now I'm 69 and still have it. Love the look and sound. Enjoyed this video!!
Well done for correctly referring to reverse cones. Most you tube comments refer to pea shooters which are nothing to do with commandos at all. I also fitted them to my 76 MKIII, bought it in '77 & still own it.
Lovely sound. It’s amazing how senses evoke memories. Just watching this takes me back about 25 years to my first ride of the Commando, which I still own, but haven’t ridden for a while. Thank you for sharing!
What a sweet sound of a near Superbike in the 60s & 70s..had street respect then & still got cred today..Man that sounds nice! (Triumph Bonneville rider)
I wanted one when I was younger but fell for the Triumph TR6R single carb sound...The Norton was a magnificent beast that did well on the Isle of Man if I remember correctly.
It was a Superbike. The 1970 Commando had the fastest ET in the " Superbike Seven Shootout" March 1970 Cycle magazine. The slower bikes were - Kawi H1 Honda 750 four Triumph Trident triple Bsa Rocket 3 Harley XLCH Sportster 900 Suzuki Titan I still have the Magazine & 2 Commandos
I owned a Triumph T140E and an 850 MK III at the same time back in the day . Very different motorcycles . The Bonneville was perfect for shorter journeys and B roads , how ever the Commando was better on long sweeping sweeping A roads and motorways . Much longer legs so to speak . Incidentally I tried copying the stunt that all the Americans in Easy Rider magazine were doing , motorcycle surfing , when you stand on the seat whilst do 50 - 60 mph ! Accomplished easily with the Norton , but got a major speed wobble with the Triumph . I still can't believe I managed to get back on the saddle . Defo used one of my nine lives that day .
@@aquilinogomez6037 I'd have to agree with that statement . The sound of the T160 was pretty amazing , but they didn't offer enough of a performance gain over the T140 and their fuel consumption was awful . If I could buy a mint condition one it would have to be the 850 Mk III . Such a shame that the new versions didn't have the same success as John Bloor's new Triumphs
Oh my God , this is a professional video since 1:30. IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE MY 1970 COMMANDO. BY 6:00 I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SO MANY MEMORIES OF WHAT MY BIKE SOUNDS LIKE AND HAS GIVEN ME FOR 50 YEARS AND LOTS MORE UNTIL I CAN'T RIDE IT ANT LONGER. Bought mine in 1973 when I was 20 years old. Will be 70 in July 23. Still can start it and drive it no problem.
Same as you, bought mine in '73 when I was 30. This is a video of me riding it in June 2023 ... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3p3W-DH89ZA.htmlsi=aB67jaiwRmBwZMjh
There could be no finer experience than this. I have a history with these that is too long to mention, but I always loved my Mark 11A - even though it was stolen so long ago.
I was 19 when I traded a 1949 panhead for a 1969 Norton Commando. A lot of people thought I was nuts but I didn't think so. The Hog had been nothing but a money pit and the Norton was a little more within my budget plus it handled, had rear suspension (the pan was rigid) and had real brakes. I traded it in for a brand new 1971 Commando. The purchase price was $1495.00 CDN. A year later I traded it for a New Norton Combat with a few more ponies and a front disc brake. They were great bikes for their era and I wish there was something around today to replace them other than the W800 Kawasaki which is a gussied up Triumph. I preferred the Norton over the Triumph and BSA because it was unit construction. When I bought the 69 it had a set of megaphones on it that I never saw another set of. When I sold it part of the deal was to keep those and put them on the 71 and the stock pipes on the 69. I did the same thing again on the 72. There was something about the sound of those particular pipes that always appealed to me. The only street bike that rivaled a Norton in those days was the original Honda 750 fours. The Honda's were a little faster than the Norton's but the Norton's would handily beat them in the turns due to the suspension in the curves and the torque acceleration pulling out of the turns onto the straights. It was a great time to be a rider............
Thank you for writing this Scooter Tramp. It was wonderful to hear you story of trading in the Pan Head for the Norton and how you got on with it. Thank you for sharing it 👍
Walked into a bike shop in 1969 and saw a new candy apple red Norton Commando which I remember was selling for $1000 CDN. Thought it was the most beautiful Bike I've ever seen. It's still at the top of my list 50 plus years later. Was just out of high school looking for a job and dead broke so I couldn't even swing the thousand. I was sick about it. Ended up saving a thousand and needed transportation year round so I bought a black used Volkswagen with red leather interior. In 1975 I bought a 1973 Honda 750 four. A nice bike but not a Commando with its distinctive throaty growl, ability to take the curves and torque acceleration.
Great sounding bike. Never owned one but I always remember my neighbor had one when I was 12 - 13. Every morning I heard him start that thing up and rip down the street. Great bike. Always wanted one.
That was a great ride. Thanks for sharing it. Nice trip down memory lane. I had three Nortons when I was younger, '71 and '72 750's and a '74 850. I loved them all. They were great bikes to ride. Had lots of bikes since, but the Nortons were always my favorite. Last bike I had was a Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan which I hated. Giant stupid pig of a thing.
Great journey -- thank you! I owned my 71 Roadster for 32 years and that sound brings back deep feelings of joy. I'm looking forward to the new technology in the 961.
I bought a brand new 1972 British Racing Green 750 Fastback. The out the door price was $1503.50. Bought it in Tulsa and then rode it to Jacksonville, Fla. I wonder if that is my bike?
Love the bike, the ride, the countryside, the video composition! I've started restoring a Mk3... had a couple Norton's in my 20's, watching your video is encouraging, hopefully I'll be riding mine in the Spring. A few years ago I started recording rides on my bikes... mostly for me to watch when I'm too tired and broken to ride. Here's a video on my restored Le Mans from a couple months ago in North Georgia: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JnQ7mTOBSKw.html . Vintage bikes are awesome.
Excellent video excellent sound too, i remember the cops in Bedfordshire used these bikes, And my fathers friends called in one day at home ,there were three Norton Commandoes on the drive, For a 14 year old that was so special,
A friend of my father's had a Norton Commando. A beautiful bike. A 4-speed transmission with a lot of torque. Definitely hotter than the BSA or the Triumph. The motors were designed by the same guy. In a way kind of refined and still kind of brutal. Great bike.
I am 62 years old now and when I was in my 18 I had a 1974 850 Mk 2a Roadster Commando. Then in my mid 20s I had another mk2a Roadster that I turned into a cafe racer. Now I have seen and heard your video I have to have another one to relive those glory days! I am now searching for an "affordable" 750 Commando with the non disc brakes! Help!!
It's amazing to think that my video has inspired you to want to buy another Norton Commando. Hopefully I caught the sound and feel of it just right and did such a beautiful bike justice?
If you do find one with drum brakes do yourself a favour and never remove the cooling block offs unless racing it. On the street the slightest rainfall rendered the fronts nonexistent until it quit raining. One of my buddies said it was a safety feature since you could never wash out the front end when riding in the rain........LOL
I have had my 1970 since 1973. Just put the original Amals back on. My God that sounds so good, just like mine. Great video ! ! One of the best I've seen and heard ! Right on ! So glad I am a millwright mechanic (however) You really need good skills to keep these things running well, but it sure does !
Hi Stan. Some bikes you just can't let go. The owner of this one is exactly the same. He's loved and maintained this bike for over 30 years. He done some minor improvements aswell, including hardened valve seats so it can run on unleaded and a roller bearing conversion on the swing arm pivot.
I rode pillion as a "youf" on a blue 850 Commando from Cromer to Norwich in the late 70s, and I still remember it well. What an incredible sound, and such a smooth ride
I was lucky enough to be able to replace the rotting straight through seamless peashooters on my 1971 Roadster with replacement brand new ones of the same spec, now they are pure sound and they positively snarl when you roll the throttle off.
As a former owner of a '75 I thoroughly enjoyed this! That was the last year when they came out with the electric start which was really an electric assist.
I am getting emotional! I bought this bike, a red one, in 1972, and I must say it was one of the most fun bikes I have ever driven! Still today I miss having one, just to take out on a sunny day sometimes!! At full speed the noise was enormous!! Also, that bike was the only British bike I have had that did not leak oil!! LOL!
I bought my Norton Commando in 1968. $1,600.00 I took it to the drag races at Vargo, PA and Atco, NJ. They put me in the D-SS class with the big BSA Lightnings. The announcers at the tracks were anti-Norton till I took the trophy. Great bike. There's a YT video under Perrine's Racing.
This is the first time I've heard that sound in 55 years. I rebuilt one of these (a friends) in 1969. It sounded just like this one. I tore it apart looking for a rod knock or a slapping piston or at a minimum loose rockers. Everything was well within spec. But it still had those strange high pitched clinking noises. Unlike any 4 stroke bike I've seen or owned before or since. (BSA, Triumph, Yamaha, Honda and others) I guess it's just some kind of harmonics at idle. Great ride though.
A very enjoyable video. I used to lust after Norton Commandos when I was young (and couldn't afford one), but I wouldn't think of getting one now because modern bikes are so much better in every way. But this is great nostalgia.
Yeah, I think you are right. It would be easy to get an old vintage bike and underestimate the amount of maintenance it will require, plus a hole new tool kit in imperial sizes.
@@classicmoto1535 I mean TVS bought Norton and they will be producing bikes again soon, so sooner or later we will be seeing a retro looking modern Norton on the street again
Thanks very much for sharing a great ride out in gorgeous weather on an iconic Brit’ twin. Would be great if you could arrange a comparison video with some other classic 750’s of the same era - thinking Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, Triumph Bonneville, Laverda SF750, BMW R75 etc.....can always dream!
Thanks Nigel. That's the plan. We are hoping to cover as many vintage and classic bikes as we can get our hands on. We have just uploaded a video of a 1981 Moto Guzzi v50 and hopefully filming a BSA A10 next.
Nice clip, time to get mine out. Rivet counter's comment - at 3:50 you say 'Borg & Beck diaphragm clutch' - really - diaphragm yes, but I think the B&B type was only used on Rocket 3s, Tridents? Correct me if I am wrong....
These bikes sound absolutely wicked with Drag TT straights. And at night, like the BSA Lightning, shoots blue flame out about 4 inches going down the highway @ speed. Man do I miss the 60s.
I had a 68 Matchless G15 that sounded similar but with a deeper rumble than the Commando Pea Shooter exhaust. The first Commando in Canada was the 69 Fastback which had the same pipes as my Matchless.
Are the silencers by any chance the straight through type Classic Bike Spares in Redditch sell? If so I have them on my RE 650 Interceptor in large part because I love the Commando look and sound 👍😊
I've asked the owner and he said that they are Norton reproduction reverse cone silencers from Fair Spares. I totally agree, I really enjoyed the sound of this bike when I was riding.
Vibration is also coming from the exceptionally under square bore and stroke configuration. Which most bikes these days do not have. Both of the Kawasaki W models 650 and 800 are quite under square engines producing good torque like a Norton 750. It is strange to think the atlas had the same engine specs with out needing to be lent forward in the frame.
Cant beat the Norton sound! I have a 72 750 Roadster which I now keep in France. Wish I could get out there.......... Have some vids of her on RU-vid if you click my icon on the left. Safe riding Nick
That sound is so soothing to me having owned one back in the day. I owned a new one that was black with gold pin stripping and emblems, and Dunstall pipes! It was an 850 Commando, from 1973 I believe. I especially liked how the front wheel would shake about 1 inch back and forth while sitting at a stop when idling. Then it would smooth out like glass as I took off. Those bikes were fast, don't let the 60hp fool you. They were light and nimble, and fast to 100mph+.
Nice story. I'm sure a 65 hp Combat could keep up with a 39hp Rebel if it wanted to unless all that blue smoke coming out of your exhaust was choking him.
Gorgeous ! Magnificent!! I got Nortons deep in my heart,because my first real bike I ever rode was my dad´s Norton ES - 2 (owned 49 years,by the way)...Many thanks for this video!!
