Cult bike Norton Commando 750 Roadster
1967 a real superbike
Norton rose to its former size one last time and in 1967 created the Norton Commando 750 Roadster, a real superbike. Oh, had the English known back then how many dreams were about this motorcycle.
Pampered by the glory days of the British Commonwealth, when comfortably produced goods made big cash in an isolated market, England’s motorcycle builders were not really fit for the US scene of the 1960s. Not so with the Berliner brothers, New York motorcycle dealers with importer agreements for Zundapp, Matchless, Ducati and Norton. You pointed your finger at them NOTOrton Atlas and called them old-fashioned. Which was true. And in comparison with the chic Triumph Bonneville, even with the BSA A 65, it was at a disadvantage. Above all, to Berliner’s disadvantage, because Norton’s reputation still had a strong ring to it that the brothers could have sold en masse. They wanted a new, stylish Norton top model.
Cult bike Norton Commando 750 Roadster
1967 a real superbike
1967 at the Ear’s Court Show in London
Wait
The brushless roadster,
The buffers allow strong fidgeting up and down, but only 0.25 millimeters to the side. There are true legends about how to properly distance these rubbers; if you look at it soberly, everything – as with most legends – is only half as bad. The principle, however, is quite convincing: while idling, the fork pumps up and down, the twin trembles in the frame structure, but the vibrations remain manageable and the stability is always sufficient.
In contrast to the Atlas, the engine was tilted slightly forward so that the desired flat line could be achieved. In 1967 the Commando was on the Earl’s Court Show in London. With a playful tail and in colors that matched the Californian “Summer of Love” – the Berliners had done a great job of convincing them.
And in the first year they received almost all of these later so-called Fastback Commandos. Shortly afterwards even a scrambler variant with a raised exhaust. Europeans, on the other hand, favored the classically rounded roadsters, which were produced from 1970, as interstates with a 24-liter tank suitable for touring. But no matter what dress this Norton comes in, its engine always determines every rendezvous, no matter how short.
The parallel twin pulls away with the ruthlessness of a gunslinger, converting the slightest movement on the throttle into irresistible acceleration and powerful noise. In each of its four superbly shiftable gears, preferably from 2500 to 3000 turns. A really big show, and unique even among great peers. It works just as wonderfully the other way round when the long-stroke helps with braking and angrily roars down the speed ladder. An engine from the machine age, fortunately, it is taken that way today. And not wasted on the autobahn or getting bread rolls.
Data and additional information
archive
A real fine specimen, the Fastback.
750 roadster
Engine: two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine
Displacement: 745 cm³
Output: 41 kW (56 hp) at 6600 rpm, 66 Nm at 5300 rpm
Four-speed gearbox, double loop frame made of tubular steel with an elastically suspended assembly of subframe, engine, transmission and swing arm, weight with a full tank of 203 kg, front tires 3.00 H 19, rear 3.50 H 19, tank capacity 11 liters, top speed approx. h in 5.4 sec.
literature
Unfortunately there is no German monograph on Norton Commando. But at least English are available, for example by Matthew Vale “Norton Commando. The complete Story "(ISBN 978-1-84797-238-5) for 26.90 euros and by Mick Duckworth" Norton Commando (978-1-84425-021-9) for 31.10 euros.
Specialists
Thanks to the tireless work of Joe Seiffert from Norton Motors GmbH in Gilching, Bavaria, the spare parts situation is very relaxed not only for Commando, but also for a number of Norton. A list of renowned specialists can also be found on his website www.nortonmotors.de.
Market situation
If you don’t buy a Commando from a trustworthy specialist, you should take a knowledgeable advisor with you to view it. A usable base must not cost more than 4000 euros, whereas well-preserved and fully serviceable pieces quickly devour more than double that amount. Show Condition costs extra, and the Fastbacks, which were often ridiculed at the beginning, are now particularly popular.
Related articles
-
Norton Commando 750 Roadster print
Norton Commando 750 Roadster print Superbike for a summer In a brief moment of non-simultaneity, the slim and excitingly styled Norton Commando was able…
-
Cult bike Yamaha XJ 650 Foundation of a large family Even 35 years ago, people hoped that one motorcycle would be able to do everything. The Yamaha XJ…
-
Norton V4 RR: the Superb bike passes the second ! Three months after unveiling a magnificent and exclusive Norton Superbike on the Internet, the English…
-
Cult bike Yamaha RD 350 LC Yamaha RD 350 LC The two-stroke theme was through forever. Exhaust gas, noise, yes, yes, it’s okay, must be. Then at the end…
-
Cult bike Laverda 1000 And size does matter Size matters, Massimo Laverda knew that before any other European, and so he began developing a 1000 cc…
-
News – Norton sketches his future 1200 cc V4 sports bike – NORTON second-hand
Norton sketches his future 1200 cc V4 sports bike Norton is about to leave his niche! Without saying “ Goodbye ” to the neo-retro carrier segment, the…
-
Motorcycles – New Norton Commando 961 California 2018 – Used NORTON
Fun bike comparison test: KTM versus Triumph The fun tourers KTM 990 SM T and Triumph Tiger 1050 SE Anyone who cares for Rabatz this early in the year…
-
Cult bike Kawasaki Z 1300 Six-cylinder dinosaur Bitterly angry letters to the editor, editorials under the motto “Seeds of violence”, expert panels on…
-
Cult bike Kawasaki ZXR 750 from 1989 Superbike for the masses Don’t stand on the hose any longer, sit behind it. For example on the first affordable…
-
Cult bike Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider
Cult bike Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider Factory Custom Motorcycle “Factory Custom Motorcycle” – the (supposedly) individual motorcycle ex works may be a…
Related articles
-
MotoGP – German GP – Qualifying: Marquez’s 6th pole at the Sachsenring –
Cult bike Yamaha RD 350 LC Yamaha RD 350 LC The two-stroke theme was through forever. Exhaust gas, noise, yes, yes, it’s okay, must be. Then at the end…
-
MotoGP – German GP – Qualifying: Marquez passes the seven –
Cult bike Yamaha SR 500 The air-cooled single cylinder from Yamaha Persistent myths have grown up around the simple but beautiful cult Yamaha. For…
-
MotoGP – German GP – FP3: Marquez in front, Lorenzo in the repechage! –
Cult bike Suzuki VS 1400 Intrude So clean, so strong, so persistent Usually the Japanese prefer consensus. The Suzuki VS 1400 Intruder, however, went…
-
MotoGP – GP of Aragon – Warm-up: Marquez holds its rank –
Cult bike Yamaha XJ 650 Foundation of a large family Even 35 years ago, people hoped that one motorcycle would be able to do everything. The Yamaha XJ…
-
MotoGP – German GP, MotoGP: Marquez dries up the Yamaha –
Brief review of the Honda FMX 650 The alarm clock According to Honda Europe North, it is the most important motorcycle of the year. In the 34 hp version,…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP race in Brno: Marquez bends his rivals –
Kawasaki Ninja H2 in the top test 218 hp put to the test The Kawasaki Ninja H2 has a 1000cc four-cylinder with supercharger, and this hurricane inside…
-
MotoGP – Moto 2 race in Sepang: Vinales winner, Rabat world champion –
Intermot: trade fair innovations That was the Intermot Cool! Hot! Intermot! After all, with this triad, the motorcycle industry and Cologne Fair…
-
MotoGP – Italian GP – Moto 3 race: brilliant first for Oliveira –
Milan News Late harvest Only now, after the Milan trade fair, which took place in mid-November, is the 2007 motorcycle vintage wrapped up. This Italian…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP Indy FP3 testing: Marquez ramps up –
Test: Norton 6pm Racing motorcycle from the 1920s Content of In the 1920s, the Norton 18 H was one of the most successful half-liter machines – and…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP Assen Practice 2: Marquez is strong … Lorenzo forfeits … –
Motorcycles that fall out of the ordinary, part 2 Outstanding bikes from Kawasaki, Honda, Triumph and Harley-Davidson It is not easy in life when you are…