I raced Norton Commando’s in the early 70’s in Northern Calif. I had joined AFM, a local racing club and mainly raced at Sears Point and Laguna Seca raceways. When set up properly, the Norton excelled on tight twisty tracks. The torquey motor gave good grunt exiting turns. It was a fairly light motorcycle and easily flicked side to side. Compared to a more modern race type bike, the skinny tires allowed the rider to drift the motorcycle quite a bit. Even though the bike only had 65 HP, I would routinely spin up the rear tire while accelerating just after cresting the corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Norton’s are finicky and required a lot tinkering to keep them running properly. They provided me so much enjoyment on the track and the street in those early years of my life.
Great presentation on the Commando as well as the history of Norton. One note, I believe the isolastic units now come in adjustable versions, so shiming with these new versions is no longer needed. I believe that's true. Great video of a great bike. I have to agree on the wonderful handling, and the comment on the fantastic Norton sound.
Great videos wheelhouse garage. Love the commandos they really pull strong! Just a comment the OIF triumph 1971 on and BSAs both had thick spined top tubes that held the oil
Great sounding Commando! I've had many British bikes over the years including a 750 and an 850 Commando. I currently have an 850, and by far, it is the most fun Britbike of all to ride.
The Nortons were great handling torque monsters with a good top end. But like most British twins would rattle themselves apart. Modern aids, like Loctite make them easier to maintain. Having owned a number of Brit bikes, I appreciate the modern compounds that make them easier to keep. Every time you heard a metallic ding I'd look in the mirrors to see what just fell off. But sstill bring the true joy of riding a totally mechanical bike that require a bit of mind melding to ride smoothly, just enjoying the sound and feel.
Thanks for posting. Very iconic bike in the UK; won an acclaimed Bike of the Year 5 years running from the late 60s. They need to kept in trim lest the handling goes awol and they can rattle themselves to bits of not properly maintained. The Triumph Bonneville was its greatest Brit’ competitor; some argued it was a superior package. Me? Nice as they look, sound and go I’d take a Laverda SF 750 or Guzzi’s 750 Sport all day long.
K70's !!! I didn't know they were still being produced. Around 1973, my bud let me ride his Commando. Previously I had a BSA & a Triumph, so I was familiar with right foot shifting, but the pattern was reversed (up for first). While accelerating through a sweeper, I forgot that! So planning on shifting 3rd to 4th, I shifted 3rd to 2nd! So happy I kept the rubber side down.
Back in the mid 70's I had a 68 Commando....I once swapped bikes with a buddy....he had a Yamaha XS 650....in under ten minutes I absolutly hated the Yamaha's handling.....and he hated my Norton....for somee strange reason....I guess some like inferior bikes.
British bikes, you cannot beat the Norton top bike for its time, if you every need a part, Try Norton in Andover England, they every part that you will need, Thanks for posting
That front brake? If it's anything like my Brother's new 72 Suzuki 750. It was Duel leading shoes. Several times it was dropped in our gravel driveway by first time riders.
My wife does not like being pillion on my roadster, she is paranoid about the heels of her boots burning on the mufflers and staining the chrome. I have suggested a way of avoiding this, go bare footed ! It is of my opinion that the Commando is one of the best motorcycles ever made..
Great looking bike. I've never had the pleasure of riding a commando, but it's on my list of bikes to someday own. You left the infamous Hi-Rider off the list of Norton Commandos. (Norton's attempt to cash in on the 1970's chopper/Easy Rider thing that was happening in the US market at the time.) There's a RU-vid channel called My Restoration where the guy has been meticulously restoring one of the fastbacks. Worth checking out.
I did forget to mention the Hi-Rider! What an interesting creation that was from Norton. Thanks for mentioning it - I'll definitely check out that video👍
I spent the day on my good friend Maya’s beautiful Interstate many years ago and they are really fun rides. I had to opportunity to compare it side by side to my pristine 73 CB750 and boy, they are very different. The Honda is more refined feeling with its super smooth inline 4, great shifting gearbox, disk brake and so on. That being said, it had nowhere near the character and handling of the mighty Norton. Just a really cool bike.
Love the Commando, the only bike that has had me laughing out loud as I flicked it through our twisty NZ roads, just such good handling...and you only needed 3rd gear everywhere. K70's are still my favourite tyre, and same size front and rear better than knobs on gravel. I've had Nortons, but not a Commando, and watched this wearing a Norton T shirt.
You have to use a special rack mount system on these, if you intend putting some weight on there, otherwise the rear frame can bend! All that alloy is crying out for some attention.
My 750 was a late 1973 bike and had the front disk brake. Do not let the lack of a disk brake hang you up. They were pretty wooden and the drum brake, set up well, will stop you just fine.
I bought a variety of mainly new British bikes from 1965 t0 '72 but it was a Norton Commando 750 Combat Interstate that drove me into the arms of Mr Honda.
Did the Combat engine blow up on you? The engines that came with the 850s were more reliable but a Honda would be more so. Not as good looking or nice sounding as a Commando though.
I was riding with my then wife 'on the back' when the motor seized at approx 90mph. I managed to pull the clutch lever in and keep control. After cooling down I got it started smoking like a 2-stroke. Although slightly out of warranty Norton via a friendly dealer agreed to a repair job. It transpired after it was done that everything above the crankcase mouth + the camshaft was replaced with non-Combat parts fobbing me off with a "Cylinder barrel was bored 'out of square' to the base flange, reason for the failure. @@pdm2201
It's a good thing you probably sold that old Japanese iron because Mr Honda stopped supplying parts not long after their production. Now Honda vintage owners have many hard to get parts and they have to buy them used from salvage dealers, ebay or custom make them. Not so for your old '72 Combat because there are many parts suppliers who have every part for these old Commandos and brand new, shipped worldwide in a week and very reasonably priced. Too bad Mr Honda gave up on you.
