Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Dwight..I need your expertise..and quick

What year is this? I want it and I won't be able to see it until Tuesday. Owner says its all original. And the price is right. Would you buy/ride this?

Ooooooh yeeeeaaahhhh! What a beautiful motorcycle, Doug!!!

It looks to me to be a 1971 or '72 Commando 750 Fastback MKII("MKII"= Disc-brake)

I think 1972 was the last year Norton made the Fastback model...and the Fastbacks have always been my favorite Norton Commando model. Heck, for THAT matter, the Fastbacks have always been one my favorite motorcycles PERIOD!!!

And THIS one looks about as clean and "proper" as any one you'll see nowadays!!!

(...can you tell I'm in love here?!...WHAT A BEAUTY!!!!)

Sooooo, when was this baby restored?
How many miles on it since its restoration?
And,
How much does the guy want for it, if you don't mind me askin'?

I know you asked Dwight but I think its a 1968 Norton 750 Commando Fastback. Very desirable. Looks like its in good condition too. Don't know about all original though as I am pretty sure they had drum brakes on the front and I spy a single disc there. Also bar end mirrors is not original. The front mudguard supports are not there and the rear shocks are minus the chrome sleeves.

Probally all done intentionally and in good taste, with the brakes being disc would definetely be an improvement. I would buy it at a reasonable price for sure.

Oops looks like I am incorrect and Dwight beat me to it.

Yep, sorry Steve, but it can't be a '68 Fastback. The '68s and '69s still had a twin-leading-shoe drum front brake. I'm pretty sure Norton's first year with the Lockheed disc brakes was 1970.

Oh, and the '68 and '69 Fastbacks also didn't have the "reverse-cone" mufflers like this one has, either. Those had more flat-sided and kinda "oblong"(in cross-section) mufflers on 'em.

I stand corrected but I was close.

Nice find Doug. Hope the deal turns out right for you. Nothing like owning an older classic and a newer Hinkley machine.

Beautiful bike. 72's were the first years with disc brakes. Here is a good site with some info: http://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/norton-commando.html. Also, a quick look araound on the net showed these bikes going for around $8-9K and not as nice as the one in this thread. Good find. Had a 71, my buddy had a 73 850. Neither were the fastback. Very nice back then. Went into the service and gave mine up. Shame.

Kinda strange, I would put it in the 70s too because of the brakes but the 70s fastbacks were solid color. The striping isn't right IMHO> That would be on a standard Commando not the fastback.

It is very easy to put the cafe seat and tail on any of them. They interchanged if my diminished capacity as an old fart serves me right. That (goodwood)green is common from the late 60s up. Then of course Triumph was the last one standing.

Good website for Norton info there, Marlin!

And yeah, you're right...it was '72 for the first disc brakes.

And Doug, here's another site I found for ya....

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/bikes/Norton.htm

Yeah Ron, I'm not sure either, but I too don't recall the pin-striping being on the Fastback tanks...though I think it looks good on it here.

And yeah, the bodywork is interchangeable. Good point. In fact, my buddy Phil with all the classic bikes in CA has a '75 Commando Interstate(larger tank) with the Fastback seat/tail section on it, and which he's told me the guys who have done that to their Commandos call their bikes an "Inter-Fast".

Yep, that is exactly right. Regardless its a pretty bike. If it is interchanged around especially the tank that drops its value a lot.

Yup, I was gonna say '72 with a pinstriped tank but I'm a bit late to the dance. That is a beautiful Norton. I've been thinking about selling mine since it just sits around. Let us know what you paid when the deal is sealed. I'm testing the waters.

Thanks for all of your responses. It has not been restored but taken care of. It is owned by a friend of a friend. Price:$6500. And I am told it runs just like new. I don't mind some of the add-on which makes it not totally original. Its probably why the price is set as it is. But when I heard about it..then received some photos..it was it for me. I'll let you know how the deal pans out.

For $6500 you have to buy it!

Absolutely stunning, Paul!

That is a good price. I agree, If you like them you should by that one. Very powerful motor, more than Triumph and BSA. The downside may be if it has the roller cams in it. I think that was later years. Be careful please when you ride it if you ride it hard.

They had a tendency to get real sloppy on hard curves fishtailing out. At the down tubes at the swing arm they get sloppy where the motor isolation was done. Internal rust on the shims had an effect on rigidity when torqued hard. I forget the years though, may not be that one.

Before they were bought by the government they had an isolated frame that really didn't work out to well for them when it aged a bit. A lot of folks fell off before they figured that one out. Everybody thought is was just low siding and rider error. Then folks following started to see the wobble under stress.

But oh boy! were they fast and smooth! I would venture to say that bike will run about even with a new Bonneville.

tis a 73 you have there ... or later 72 ... the disc front brake .. special machine . nice.. go for it !

It's pouring rain...sideways rain. In SoCal. And its driving me crazy. Because the bike is only 17 miles from my house. I want to go see it now. There are some scrapes and scratches. Again..I want to to thank you for all your input. It is a '72. The selling of the bike is a bit of a sad story but the owner wants it to go to me. And the funds would be left behind to his spouse. So I am not going to act all giddy considering the circumstances when I go see it. But I really appreciate all your guys input...and for John who put it in the right place on the web page. Just hope it works out. Thanks guys.
Doug
P.S. wait till you see what I am doing with that other bike I have. Back is giving me some trouble(amongst other ailments;stupid heart)so I am going to fabricate moving a center foot control system. Sitting with my arms and legs forward is hurting me. Especially with 1" of suspension travel. Sure looks cool though.
Another PS
My first love is good ole American muscle. Dwight..I sold the SRT Magnum and built a stroked 340 '69 Dart. First run down the 1/4 was 11.98@116. What a rush. Heading to Vegas for the big Mopars at the Strip meet. Lots of club foot old timers there. Damn clutches in the 60's and early 70's would let go and...well..it wasn't pretty.

Sure hope the Norton deal works out for ya, Doug! It sounds like it will, especially considering you appear to have the blessing of that beauty's present owner.

And, that Dart sounds like a blast!!! Have fun in Vegas with it!

(...btw, how about posting some pics of it here?!)

From Norton Owners Club

Although the first Commando appeared in late 1967, it was not called the Fastback until other Commando models appeared. The early Commandos proved to have weak frames and the design was soon modified with an extra bracing tube to the headstock which solved the problem. A restyling exercise in 1970 saw the Fastback Mk.ll with upswept exhausts, reverse cone pipes replacing the Atlas type ones used up to that point. Only four months later, the Mk.lll arrived on the scene, with several changes including modified centre and side stands and a wider section front tyre. The Mk.lV in January 1972 brought a front disc brake and direction indicators. Production ceased in early 1973. The Fastback was never offered for sale with the 828cc engine.

1970 Model


So it's probably a 1970 with a 1972 or later disc brake

I didn't think they striped them.

Looks like they eliminated the front struts on the front fender. That example has the tail only. There should be a fender under there IMHO.

Here is a Roadster to show the mixing and matching they did. Its a 73 signals removed tail and seat added to an 850.



In short, you are getting a bike that folks just simply loved! They mixed matched and altered all forms of Norton to get that look.

You are pretty lucky guy.

OK. I went and looked at the bike and took pictures(on my cell phone and haven't learned how to use the camera download contraption yet). It is very original. The paint on the tank and rear fastback are a bit faded, gas stained and a few scratches. The original picture make the bike look flawless. But I wouldn't change a thing. They are only original once. It was recently serviced. I turned on the ignition, set it in neutral, turned up the choke, slowly cycled the kick start twice and it fired up on the third hard jump. No smoke. Idled fine. No leaks. 14,200 original miles.But it has that dreaded Lucas ignition sytem. And it had the Lockheed front discs. I had my bro in law ride it because of an injury(don't ask) and he practically popped a wheelie(he rides a Nightster so he wasn't used to the power). Said it reminded him of the power of the 2 stroke 71 Bultaco back in the day. So with any luck I should pick it up in a week or so. All in all not bad for a 40 year old motorcycle.

Yep Doug, I like your idea here that they're "only original once". I think I'd refrain from restoring its minor cosmetic flaws too, especially considering your description of its present way above average condition for its age.

This is soooooooooo cool!

Betcha can't wait to get that baby in your garage, huh?!

I wish it was going in my garage. Looks like you got a great bike Doug!