Zonie
XS650 Enthusiast
All it takes is money! My 70 750 Roadster is for sale.Very nice addition Gary!
Always wanted one, never could afford one haha. Hopefully one day the motorbike gods will bring one my way. Time will tell.
All it takes is money! My 70 750 Roadster is for sale.Very nice addition Gary!
Always wanted one, never could afford one haha. Hopefully one day the motorbike gods will bring one my way. Time will tell.
All it takes is money! My 70 750 Roadster is for sale.
Ain’t that the truth! But that’s kinda boring haha.- - - .
Well then, this should help fulfill that need Raymond.This thread has me thinking my Norton - 1974 Commando 850 Mk IIA - came into my like at the wrong time.
1981, when I was young, penniless and needed a bike that ran. Now I'm a lot older, have a bit more idea how to fix bike up, cheapskate but enough money for parts if that's the only way. Also have a couple of other bikes that run so that removes a lot of pressure.
But I ain't buying another Norton. This looks like a very nice project, will watch with interest and take vicarious pleasure.
Well then, this should help fulfill that need Raymond.
View attachment 202127
it's (almost) embarrassing how easy this is going to clean up.
Bike has been through a violent wreck in it's past. Front end/wheel does not agree with engine transmission #s which would have come with a disk front brake. But evidence says the frame is a factory built replacement, a lot has been replaced chassis working parts all appear straight. Hey it can be a fun "retro classic" bike. Sticking to rivet counting restoration standards not my thing anyways, donchaknow?
Always good to degrease and clean while getting a feel for what I've dragged home and plotting the way forward.
A battery and carb clean, see if it will kick to life, is in the near future. Hopefully no major stumbling blocks are revealed. I always like to hear the motor run before going too far on labor/parts. I MAY have a deal going on a parts stash from a guy that built an awesome custom.
This:
View attachment 202128
Isn't that a beauty!!!!
That would go a long ways toward bringing this back to the street without dropping 3-4K$ at the vendors. They'll get plenty anyways....
You sure, Gary? When I researched it, I had read somewhere that some of the early 72's were still shipped with the drum brake? I also read that the drum brakes were preferred over the disc brakes?Front end/wheel does not agree with engine transmission #s which would have come with a disk front brake
The drums don’t show rust.I also read that the drum brakes were preferred over the disc brakes?
The drums don’t show rust.
Well I ain't no Norton expert So I'm really not sure if Roadster Combat Commandos came with both types of front brakesYou sure, Gary? When I researched it, I had read somewhere that some of the early 72's were still shipped with the drum brake? I also read that the drum brakes were preferred over the disc brakes?
Maybe call that 'kid' on your post 46 to help you........Kicking this thing to life is not going to be trivial.
I picked up a Mk2A about 5 years ago. It had been sitting for at least 16 years and part of that time was in Michigan. It was parked with fuel in the tank and gas attracts moisture so the bottom of the tank was rotted out. Low mileage around 14K on the clock. It's a challenge but I'm bringing it back to life.This thread has me thinking my Norton - 1974 Commando 850 Mk IIA - came into my life at the wrong time.
1981, when I was young, penniless and needed a bike that ran. Now I'm a lot older, have a bit more idea how to fix bike up, cheapskate but enough money for parts if that's the only way. Also have a couple of other bikes that run so that removes a lot of pressure.
But I ain't buying another Norton. This looks like a very nice project, will watch with interest and take vicarious pleasure.
It lives!
Only took a couple kicks and vroom, vroom. Jetting and float valve nowhere close but ran it up and down the road, everything's working. Woot Woot!
yeah it's wearing a VM34 with some seriously messed up jetting, assembly, the needle was sitting on TOP of the retainer plate, basically free to rise and fall separate from the slide, other jets were outside commonly specced tuning ranges a 25 pilot and 250 main are both pretty far out there. LOL..... a pair of extremely low miles 32mm Amals on manifolds with the stock airfilter assembly also came with the bike. Correct is cool, fighting Amals? not so much. A set of FCR Keihin pumpers from the grizzly bear beckons.......Always so exciting to get the engine running!
I note single carb? My Mk IIA had twin Amals coz I can remember learning how to synchronise them.
Evocative noises . . .