Talk to me about Norton Commando 850's...

[Nope.]

Hi All,

Going to see a 1974 Mk2a Norton Commando 850 Interstate on Saturday morning. I know a little bit about them, and it's always been a bucket list bike, but in reality I don't know a huge amount and could do with some advice!

It was last MOT'ed in 2010, meaning it's been out of use for around 5 years. It apparently runs but I don't know much else. The seller is apparently quite unwell and isn't really able to ride it.

From the photos it looks in pretty reasonable unrestored condition, with the usual age related marks.

I'm thinking the Isoelastics probably haven't been maintained for a while, and I understand Norvil sell an improved item anyway. As I understand it these aren't difficult to fit, just a bit of a pain?

I'm told it has High Compression Pistons fitted, which I should think makes it a little more interesting to kick start. Anybody able to shed any light on what these could be? Common modification or not?

I've read that the Main Bearings are also almost a service item?!

Any advice would be appreciated, and also a good idea of price from those in the know (please don't tell me ebay prices! I can look myself and they're usually over inflated).

This bike isn't advertised anywhere, and is a friend of a friend sort of situation.

Cheers!
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[almostthere]

I think the 1874 ones are stream powered
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Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk

[raesewell]

Did they have streaming in 1874?
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[Alpineandy]

I'm jealous.
The Commando is one of my all time wants (I'm not a fan of Brit Bikes!)..

It's british, so there's some people out there that know every single detail about them and some engineers that have fixed every problem that the factory didn't have the time or money to sort out.
However some of these engineers do like to charge serious money for their 'fixes'.
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[Triton Thrasher]

Talk to these guys.

https://www.accessnorton.com
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Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[mentalboy]

The old man had one, a mk3 complete with the Polish built electric start, that never did!

He used it to commute to work and I remember many a cold, wet, morning pushing the bloody thing down the hill outside our house because it wouldn't start.
It had standard pistons and was a bugger to start at the best of times, if you didn't get it first kick it was a bump job, assuming you could still stand on your foot if it added insult to injury and had kicked back.
Brakes worked in a laid back fashion, if you get my drift!
Otherwise it was bloody reliable for a pre-millenial British bike. I'd have one in a shot if I could find one cheap.
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Make mine a Corona.

[Dr. DaveJPS]

Avoid Norvil like the plague! for spares I'd recommend RGM. Don't know much about the commando as I've got a Dommie.

HC pistons means its going to kick back like a absolute bugger, afaik not a common modification. I'd recommend talking to the experts at the Norton Owners Club
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[Shinigami]

I live basically opposite norvil,

doesn't really aid this thread in anyway but i rarely see any bikes there, the grounds are filled with suspiciously low priced cars instead (mercs & lexus etc)
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Dr. DaveJPS]

The only reason i don't like Norvil is I've had parts the main example being clutch nuts off them that were made out of cheese, they were so bad I refitted the originals!
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[MATTT]

I had a 750,scary thing to kick start ,had to get my dad show me after it nearly broke my ankle!
Bit wierd with the gears on the wrong foot and changing up a gear was also the opposite way
I did like it when i was riding it but i tended to jump on something else and it mainly sat in the garage ,hence the sale
I stripped and replaced the layshaft bearing as apparently they can let go and lock,up the rear wheel
Fibreglass tanks disolve with the modern fuels,i managed to get a steel one

[Polarbear]

Price is the all............

Get the owner to say a price first and the fall down laughing, take it from there!

Right, the Norton 850 Commando.........

Electric start makes a nice clicking sound, Use your boot.

TBH it is a bike with more reputation than substance. The Triumph Tridents and BSA Rocket 3's were so far advance in comparison.

If you get it cheap, brilliant, but your cheap and his aint going to match.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Nope.]

Thanks for the advice guys, I went to see it on Saturday and it seems better condition in person then it did in the photos. The wiring needs a bit of tidying up but mostly it's pretty clean. Unfortunately the electronic ignition had developed a fault and as such we weren't able to start it, but he's going to sort this and get it MOT'ed so I can go and test ride it.