Ducati 750 GT & Norton 750 Commando Roadster

[@salvatorerosato5482]

Love this video! Few months ago I bought a 750 GT, with original Italian papers. It’s a first version, in azure color. Can’t wait to enjoy riding it in Spring

[@giannirocco9099]

When I got out of the army I almost bought a 750Ducati but didn't have quite that much money,bought a Commando instead,I'm still riding that bike!

[@frankbutaric3565]

The Ducati is worth more. I had them both and the Ducati is my favorite of the two.

[@garypatrick7817]

Wish I still had my Commando...

[@glenminnick3724]

Cool man, i had a 850 commando and a 99 750 ss Ducati.. they had had similar in a way. Weight, power etc. I thought the air cooled ss 750 was a Norton with no issues! My thought only, let me know!

[@word67]

2 unforgettable classics together. I was lucky enough to run a Commando for many years.

[@jonathanhurley4055]

Lived in Phx in the USAF after 2nd tour in Vietnam. Bought this 1972 750 with 2000 miles on it. Tinkered with it alla time....loved that bike. Usta go downtown Phx on Central Ave where all the cars/motorcycles would race from light to light. I never lost a race. Of course there were lots of vehicles I never saw...but I raced all comers and never lost. I weight 150 pounds, the bike I got down to about 415 pounds, and squeezed a few more HP with different carbs and different exhaust s. Also changed the valves. I took it to a drag strip once and ran a 12.4 . That was a fast bike. Since then, Ive owned an Indian RoadMaster... a big ass bike with enough room to pack my house, every thing known to man...adjustable windscreen etc.But I will never forget that Norton. The best thing was the power shift. The shifter was down for high.....so would do mthe ole crack the throttle for a microsecond, bang down on the shifter and be fully engaged throttle. It took me less than a hundredth of a second to get from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd... just so fast.shifting. I even amazed myself. LOVED that bike. So so so sorry I let it go for being strupid...real stupid

[@jochenwagner5170]

Hey DUDE. Can you imagine one nose on the throttle brake away, hunting a Honda CB750- top speed on the f(l)ight , a small village comes near soon…… Good feeling and best regards!🏴‍☠️

[@jochenwagner5170]

My Norton had an american engine equipment. They are better than most of European. We re- importet the Norton from Sri- Lanka and they had much fun with that bike. An police director was the owner…

[@nickashton3584]

know the feeling up for first and down down down

[@Steve-BAF]

Two beautiful motorcycle's

[@giannirocco7492]

I was trying to buy the 750Ducati but I couldn't quite afford it so I settled for the Commando.All these years later I'm still very happy with my Norton!

[@richardcasey7521]

I was a mechanic at a dealer in Ohio that sold both brands. I eventually owned examples of each brand and currently have a very nice 1975 Norton.

[@hemantv.5409]

My dear the Bikes of 50's,60's & 70 are mostly beautiful as compared today's Bikes.May be they are not technically refined but look wise still beyond compare.Thanks for sharing such video

[@jansolo55]

What great bikes !! With so thin and light lines ... Nothing to do with current monsters, stuffed with electronics .... And the magnificent sounds of the desmodromic VTwin, and the english vertical ! I love Switzerland : nowhere else in the world can you find such a clean underground garage 😁 and such clear mountainous landscapes, with such beautiful curvy roads !!!👍👍

[@soaringvulture]

The Norton Commando is simply the most beautiful bike ever made and a damn good ride. But the 750 Ducati is a brute from another world. I rode one for 20 years and it's a mystical experience. No ride like it before or since.

[@critchley3819]

I came across your message buy pure chance, I know both of these bikes very well, I have a old friend who still had a GT 750 Ducati from new, has not been started for 20 years but I rode others as well as I worked in a used bike company in the 70s.. The Commando was to me the better, It had low down grunt and let it go it was fast, the Ducati sound is music... All motorcycles are fun no matter what it is, the art of ridding is to avoid cars, don't ever think the driver has seen you, when I ride I consider myself a cloud that cant be seen...

[@jochenwagner5170]

I’ve had a Norton and a Laverda by the same time. For 2 years. Sorry- but I sold the Laverda. :-( it’s been a S. The Ducati was easier to handle. You have to know these italian Bikes, then you’ll fall in love with. Best regards! Und Grüezi ⛑️

[@mitchelltaylor7816]

I had a 1972 Norton that I owned for 23 years but I think I worked on for 30 years. But when it was running right there was nothing like it

[@sallhame]

I have a 75 Norton 850 Roadster MkIII. Very unreliable when I bought it. Went over the electrics (just cleaned it all up, every connector and earthing place) and it was super reliable for 10 years. Threw the choke away. Tickles instead, and it always start on first or second kick, (electric starter not connected) even down to freezing water temperatures. Lucas Rita ignition. Fast, good roadholding and it is one of the best sounding motorcycles ever. Curious about an old Ducati though. Absolutely a very nice bike.

[@stancoleshill8925]

Agree one of the best sounding bikes ever cause I have one. Bought it in 1973 and it is insured and licensed to go. Starts second kick like you say. Mikuni is my friend. It just WORKS without complaints but I have "sorted" the Amal issues. Always a plugged idle jet. The rest is just purely idiot proof.

[@gpo6581]

Got my 1 MK3 when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in 75. Later, I got another Mk3 and still ride. Great bike!

[@markmark2080]

Two bikes of roughly a half century ago, perfect in weight, power curve, handling, sound and character...AND, STUNNING to look at...All one really needed to enjoy ripping through twisty mountain roads, something I throughly enjoyed back in the day, until the thrill was gone. Running a proper Norton (or Ducati) through these kind of roads, in it's sweet spot, is as perfect of a motorcycle experience as one can have...

[@girishs1755]

That Ducati simply oozes style and class. A timeless italian beauty.

[@jeromeclements6532]

Yes and no. I bought a new one in '74. Nice machine. Plenty of power, handled great. The problems were usually electrical. Their system was crap. Valve guides were also very short and not especially long lived. For those of you who think these things really don't matter, think again. It doesn't matter how nice the engine is or how well it handles or how rare it is when you 300 miles from home with no headlight. Ask me how I know. lol

[@soaringvulture]

@@jeromeclements6532 Oh yeah. All true. I had a 750 GT for 20 years. I had to replace the Ducati valve guides with longer ones from a Yamaha. And I had to totally rip out the electrical system and replace it with real automotive parts after my fuse box melted in the middle of Nevada. But after that it was good for a long time.

[@jochenwagner5170]

Was für eine schöne Philharmonie. We 🖤 Tiefgaragen.

[@peterwilliamson4296]

Had a second hand black 750 norton in the 70s with a clutch that would slip a lot but it was still a blast to ride even at moderate speeds. One of our mates had a red and black Duke GT as well which compared to the norton was totally bullet proof. Very nostalgic to look at this great clip of both bikes. Thanks for the memories.

[@infidel202]

When you feel the clutch slip the clutch plates need washing with petrol, let them dry and about 1,000 miles later do it again

[@giacomodemartino785]

I never had the pleasure ti ride a Norton Commando but i enjoied 2 Ducati 750 which I thought where the most similar to the Norton... Well they where great Motos lacking the athmosphera....of the Commando...

[@garypatrick7817]

Miss my 71 Norton Commando Combat....

[@bob7230]

What beautiful bikes! And they sound so good, why do you play loud music over that wonderful sound?

[@2Britaly]

thanks ... we're trying to do better in a new film ....

[@howiescott5865]

My first bike... a 1974 Norton 850 Commando Roadster $1,700 USD brand new. Regrettably I had to sell her. I needed the money to buy my 1978 Ducati Desmo 900 SS. $4,400. Back in the day, that was a LOT of money. I've since had Hondas, Suzukis, Yamahas, Triumphs and HDs. Bought em, rode em, sold em. All of them except my beloved Ducati. I've had some ridiculous high offers but I'll never sell her. I wonder how many were produced?

[@op-sz7cx]

Norton is prima, I was him 40 years later on Slovakia.

[@sailingzen9204]

Was für tolle Maschinen!

[@peterwilliamson4296]

Had a 2nd hand 750 commando in the 70s and rode with a guy who had a new GT Ducati. I ended up coming back with the norton on a trailer (my lack of maintenance skill) but the GT appeared bullet proof I thought. They are both handsome and timeless machines. Some of the post GT Ducatis were less aesthetic I thought compared to the GT.

[@pauln1557]

Peter, I have to agree with your comment re aesthetics!! I've got a 1977 GTS 860, nice bike, but the addition of the huge, heavy and inadequate electric starter does nothing for it's good looks.... Cheers Paul in NZ.

[@lubricantrc3244]

My Norton had the same trouble. kick stand always hd to pushed up . never fully retracted on it's own. I also miss not having a finger that smells gasoline on cold starts when tickling the carbs. Great video

[@garypatrick7817]

My Norton kickstand dropped in my first corner one day.....turned me around in the road....close call..!

[@flaviolucarini1990]

2 tra le top leggende del motociclismo di tutti i tempi

[@jochenwagner5170]

Top!!!! Besser geht nicht. Das gab es mal 1998 in Berlin. Mein Kumpel fuhr Ducati, hat er leider verkauft…. Beste Grüße 🍀🇨🇭

[@2Britaly]

Grüße zurück

[@jochenwagner5170]

Das war ‘93. sorry 🏴‍☠️

[@billh4121]

Still have my ‘73 750 combat and a ‘68 T100. I’ll never let those go. Maybe need to look into that Ducati.....hmmm! ✌️

[@peterturnham5134]

True story, 1974, I went to buy my first big bike a Norton 750 Atlas in 1974. The seller was a professional motor mechanic. He had the Atlas, a 750 Commando and a Ducati 750 GT. Why was he selling the Atlas? Well he said the Commando was faster. He did not understand why as it had basically the same motor. I later found out why. They ported the commando head and got five extra horsepower. However, he showed me his Ducati 750 GT. It was a work of art. Probably no faster than the Commando But a work of beuty. If you find a 750 GT BUY IT. They are so rare. Later in my life I rode and owned 900 Ducat(is then went on to other things

[@Acrodream]

To the Gent on the Norton. Do those goggles fit over your glasses and if so what brand? Thanks.

[@erikpreiss1512]

One or better both of these, an air cooled 911, a Speedmaster and you are a happy man. Wife optional 😉

[@op-sz7cx]

I love Norton

[@charliebrown4624]

My 850 Commando used to blow Ducatis into the weeds. I'd listen to their sound rapidly fading behind me.

[@frankbutaric3565]

Until parts started to fall off the Brit bike or the Lucas electrics let you down.

[@garypatrick7817]

@@frankbutaric3565 loctite and safety wiring solved vibration problems. .. no electrical problems with my Commando....

[@alessandrocatena9354]

Ho avuto la fortuna di averle tempo fa... Nel mio garage c'è una bellissima Trident del 73...Le migliori moto sono Britaly, hanno un'anima.

[@malcellison8831]

A very cool video 👍😎

[@drjohn5801]

Brilliant - purely... brilliant!

[@nikolastonic96]

What mufflers are your commando ? Thanks!

[@2Britaly]

1 1/2" big bore exhaust system

[@garyxiong6771]

Man that gt is amazing

[@garyhull5617]

Norton.....Hands Down!

[@howiehamburg1372]

Norton - Thumbs up :-)!

[@geneahart5607]

Great video. I'll take the Norton all day long.

[@sbarrett4826]

Which bike do you prefer?

[@2Britaly]

The Norton has better torque but also greater vibration. The Ducati is more modern, balanced, powerful and offers better driving safety....

[@sbarrett4826]

Which is the quicker? I have a 750 commando and used to have a 900ss bevel and often wondered which of these two 750’s were quickest. I rather suspect they are very similar. Thanks.

[@2Britaly]

the two are similar. the ducati is a bit more "modern" than the norton. the 5 speed transmission of the ducati is certainly better than the 4 speed transmission of the norton. the Norton has the better torque. the ducati the better speed and smoothness ...that is my subjective opinion.

[@robertshepherd3832]

​@@2BritalyReally. I've ridden many motorcycles and nothing is smoother than my Commando with the isolastic motor suspension. Often overlooked, never discussed and nothing smoother.

[@spelare2]

I wonder where to get that stem and seat of the Norton?

[@2Britaly]

Original for Norton Commando 1970 (only for 1 year) - very rare

[@spelare2]

2Britaly Yep, have found that out now and also ordered that exaust system. Is it possible to get in contact with you on messenger for further questions? Peter Szamer is my name. I have a 70 roadster myself, in sweden.

[@2Britaly]

see on: www.britaly.ch / contact

[@splodge57]

Had a 75 Commando and 79 900ss, both wonderful bikes but not the most reliable. Are the oil stains on the lock up floor from the Norton? Great video, thank you.

[@2Britaly]

thanks! ... oil from the Norton ??? No way ... :-)

[@peterwilson3161]

We didn’t need the annoying music overlay. The sound of the bikes would have been enough.

[@MarcS4R]

are the Norton Pea Shooters empty ? sound is very nice and punchy......

[@2Britaly]

... 1 1/2" Norton Commando big bore exhaust system ...

[@bazzamow7031]

May not go like the new bikes but for sure there style was a whole lot better to look at than the plastic fart bikes of today

[@jeromeclements6532]

Never had a Norton, but I had 2 1974 round case Ducatis. A GT and a Sport. Great bikes but I can't say a whole lot abut the build quality or the electrics. Terrible switches, fuse boxes and all the other little things that can be such a pain in the ass. Once those problems were sorted out (replaced), they were more fun than the law allows. lol

[@soaringvulture]

Oh, yeah. The electrics on my Ducati 750 were totally worthless. My fuse box melted in Nevada. The headlight was too dim to let me go over 40 at night. I had to rip everything out and put in real wires, coils and switches. After I did that it was a compete delight.

[@RockAnywayBand]

Nice bikes. Long time ago my brother had a Norton 850 Commando Interstate, and at the same time I had a Ducati 750 GT, also roundcase, but with electric starter (nevermind, it never worked, by the way). The Ducati was way more reliable, Nortons were haunted by their Lucas electronic shit. Beautiful machines, and they sounded the right way.

[@no1shere710]

Why do the British drink warm beer? Because they have Lucas refrigerators.

[@silviofontana3666]

Yes, we all have horror stories of Lucas Electric from the 70's

[@EliteRock]

Lucas - "The Prince of Darkness".

[@randhalljoss6762]

iconiques bikes,love both great video

[@vinoveritas4921]

Real motorcycles.

[@jammaster7614]

Great Bikes both of them. You're a lucky man.

[@rcnelson]

I'll take one of each, please.

[@utebecker1552]

Einfach, toll. Super Moped.

[@2Britaly]

Vielen Dank 👍

[@गोविंदमाधव]

Ducati is best but Norton is heart winner....love Norton.now it's an a south Indian brand which name is TVS motors.

[@Laurenzatto54]

Great ! I'd have just added a Guzzi 750 S and a Triumph Bonneville

[@lanceditty7300]

My first motorcycle is a 750 norton commando S

[@lanceditty7300]

1970

[@madmanmechanic8847]

I am sorry but the Norton hands down better lines and sounds more bad ass than the Ducati .

[@micheloderso]

Die Norton erscheint für mich wesentlich eleganter und kräftiger. Die Ducati dagegen kommt etwas billig/fipsig daher. Aber das ist Geschmackssache......

[@thomasm9522]

❤

[@robertesposito5620]

Elles sont belles ça c'est de la vraie moto

[@diinchjendin9817]

Schüane töff 👌👌👌 Liabs grüassle us vorarlberg, mir heand a 750er und 850er commando ida garage stoh 😊

[@haruok4540]

いいね！i like both of them.

[@2Britaly]

thanks!

[@misterk4580]

Phil Schilling in 1974. "Cycle" magazine. "The Norton vertical twin should have died and gone to legend a generation ago. In a world of perfect logic, engine designs should never maunder on for decades and finally be crushed by onrushing technology. Good ideas deserve better. Good engines should go to harvest in the fullness of their autumn; most mechanical things which struggle on simply die cold and wretched in December. Seasons do not cover England in perfect symmetry. Spring is cold and damp, and so is fall and winter. Onrushing technology there slows; the present walks in cadence with the past. And mechanical things like the Norton twin soldier on and on...through the Fifties...into the Sixties...and reach the mid-Seventies. In other places, someone would have raised the last hurrah at an earlier stage-when the original 500 twin turned to a 600, or 650, or 750, or 850. But somehow, no matter how deep Norton reaches into December, the final cheer never comes. There's only the next hurrah."

[@robertshepherd3832]

Lame. He probably doesn't approve of the Vincent Rapide, Black Shadow, Ariel Square, Brough Superior or other old technologies either. We all know he couldn't afford either of these bikes or maybe even a Commando now.

[@ericbergman9701]

Both terrific motorcycles, but a Laverda 750 will keep up with both of them and keep going long after they're both down for rebuilding.

[@robertshepherd3832]

Another 'Norton Commando expert' that has never owned one. Ha

[@BeniaBenja]

Dalla Svizzera con furore!

[@geraldscott4302]

I love that Norton, but I've just never cared for Ducatis.

[@tamlikhan1670]

Nice bike

[@russellparratt9859]

Keep the bikes. Get rid of the background music. The Norton and the Ducati make their own music.

[@lucypatrick9550]

☝️je connais. Je prends les 2 🤪🤪🙂

[@joseluissedanoescobar4629]

Prefiero la Ducati

[@randhalljoss6762]

love the fancy liecence plate.....ride on cousins et cousinne

[@winonabigbrownbeavereater2218]

Would like to have both , but if I had to choose judt one , it would beeee... ... beee.... the 750 GT 😳

[@eviertelify]

So wait, I'm confused about one thing. You ride one and then walk back and ride the other? You needs a friend!

[@eviertelify]

Interestingly, I have a Duc and want a Norton, so then I'll have the same problem.

[@andrewazur8629]

I like them both...which is cheaper lol

[@alloomis1635]

both good bikes. duke still in business, norton not. i guess that's a good test of basic design.

[@RodFleming-World]

Norton is very much still in business.

[@AuxesisHyperbole666]

@@RodFleming-World er...back in business - whoops gone again...and it's back!

[@robertshepherd3832]

​@@AuxesisHyperbole666Imagine if you started a company in 1902 and it was still around. Whoops- that's not going to happen.

[@michaelbrett3749]

Thank God other manufacturers never copied Ducatis front cylinder configuration. Why would they make such an abomination. Now the Norton thats a beautiful symetrical design.

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Well Suzuki sort of copied it with the SV650 and I can tell you it's a blast to ride

[@soaringvulture]

They made "such an abomination" because it's perfectly balanced and keeps the bike narrow. Now, it does end up forcing you to have a long wheelbase but the bike handles quite well despite this except at very low speed. So all you have to do is avoid low speed. No problem.

[@kevinlane]

Loved my Commando except for that damn awful revcounter drive which constantly spewed oil everywhere

[@gpo6581]

I drilled a horizontal hole on the shaft and that cleared the oil. This was on my Mk3