The TRUTH Behind the Boxed 1975 Norton

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[@martiniv8924]

As a Brit 🇬🇧 and an 850 Commando Roadster (75’) owner, I salute you guys 🫡 . Thank you for rescuing it, that thing was built to be ridden, not stuck rotting in a box 👌🏻😎 and shame on all those people posting negative comments .

[@CHRnorton]

What mechanics are concerned about is the lack of respect for a Commando. There is a difference between using a bike and ruining a bike. After 50 years in a crate a machine needs extra special care to bring it back to life. A person who is knowledgeable about Commandos, would do many things to ensure you gave it all the care in prep a 1975 Commando needs and requires. Running a bike that needs to be broken in , has to be tuned well and oiled up so you don't start it dry. It is kind of like giving some one a nice gift and they go out and destroy in a few days. And by the way I am a very well known Commando mechanic.

[@infidel202]

​@Carl Hokanson sweet as mate, but maybe behind the scenes he spent an hour kicking it through to oil her up, we all appreciate some lubrication before a great ride 😊 he doesn't sound like a cowboy, run in time is very important but a Norton loves a good hammering otherwise they carbon up

[@CHRnorton]

@@infidel202 I seen other videos he has done, They have a lot to learn about the care and feeding of motorcycles like a Commando. Most people would do research and get a shop manual to read . Even the owner's booklet that comes with the bike has good info in it. Running a bike with a choke on is NO way to break in a bike. I can already hear that the motor is very noisy and there is a good chance the cam and lifters that are known to fail in MK3s are on the way out. Also there is a transmission bearing that need to be replaced as they also are defective. And tork specs on the parts they installed need to be used. It needs a couple of days or more work by a Commando mechanic. Well, he certainly did hammer it, but in the wrong way.

[@infidel202]

@@CHRnorton how about letting him know what was defective from the factory, unless you know what is wrong you can't fix it,especially if the cam's weren't hardened properly or the pushrods were originally soft, just as the previous owner of my bike put the wrong oil pump on it when he rebuild it, I found out after pulling the Head and barrels off to fix the cross threaded exhaust nut and noticed the rocker arms were bluish from just getting enough oil and the cam had a 60 thou lip at one end, good way to find out the bike you just bought that came with receipts for parts used in a rebuild was put together by a chimpanzee using half a brick and a cold chisel, I didn't hear the cross threaded exhaust until after I had put 500 miles on it and was checking the speedo against a mates gsxr on the highway at night, the monkey had used locktight to cover it up, that was my introduction to the bike I had wanted for years, if you have knowledge about factory faults then instead of criticism offer information as there are a lot of so called experts out there who know F all, I met one in particular who knew everything according to him, I asked a mate about his experiences with the said expert and the truth was he was a total F Witt, unfortunately there are lots of these clowns out there, I could take two weeks to tell you stories about two brothers who are according to them experts in vw beetles but in reality are the most useless pair of monkeys to ever hold a spanner, the older one even pretended to know motorcycles

[@charlesprice7608]

@@CHRnorton it a motorcycle, pretty much like every other bike of its time! Never understood the special mechanic BS when it comes to British bikes. Is this particular bike so exceptionally crappy that it needs a voodoo priestess 😂😂😂😂😂

[@hopper9751]

Well done. I’m English, a Norton owner and in the The Norton Owners Club. I’m very happy you bought the Commando and brought it back to life. Again, well done, thanks.

[@stephenbaron5681]

Shawn, the problem you are having with the front brake is the on previous 850s and 750s the brake was on the right side and the bleeder was in the correct position to let the air out. Take the caliper off and position the bleeder to get air out. I had a 75 Mk3 and now I have a 73 MK1. Just a few other points, the clutch should be easy to put with a lubricant added, same with throttle. My clutch is feather light because of a additional steel disc added to the clutch plate stack this can be gotten from Colorado Norton Works. Replace the small gauge ground and power cable to the starter and it will work perfectly. I live in NJ and would love to ride with you. I belong to a great local Norton club, Delaware Norton Riders.

[@paultinwell5557]

Actually having a front brake caliper mounted on the bike over the disc would be a great start…

[@Buslife57]

I'm in NZ and a mate had a 850 Interstate 30 years ago.. Do you know what the difference is?

[@P_RO_]

@@Buslife57 Tank capacity. Interstate is huge, Roadster is normal. Not sure about 75 but earlier Interstates had different side covers.

[@tombryan1]

Great upgrades

[@simoncaddick9085]

I have a hunch that front caliper is locked solid.

[@ragtowne]

In 1974 I purchased a brand new 1974 Norton 850 Commando Roadster from (of all places) Pop Kenyon's Honda in Sunnyvale California - made a few minor modifications (single MKII Amal carb, Lucas Rita ignition, Avon GP tires, Honda tach drive fix, adjustable isolastics, etc.) - it started with 1 kick - I rode that bike all over California it was very fast for the time - finally in 1999 sold it and purchased a 1999 Triumph Speed Triple - while the Triumph was heads above a superior machine in every way, I still wish I never sold the Norton - it had character - even Harley folks liked it.

[@ducatobeing]

Quite a lot of people built Norimps during the 60's. It isn't I.M.P. it is Imp, the motors came from a little, rear engined car built in Glasgow called a Hillman Imp. The engine was a Coventry Climax 850cc unit that had enjoyed success in motor racing, but was originally designed as the power unit for the Coventry Climax/Godiva Pumps (same firm) Light Portable Pump for the Fire Brigade. Speaking from experience, they are portable, but not very light. Imp power plants were often used in racing sidecars too. If you think it sounds nice with the annular discharge silencers, then fit it with a set of Norton "Peashooter" exhausts, they sound fantastic, and will liberate some more power.

[@rustywreck3351]

Had to laugh at that I M P

[@TheEulerID]

Not just any old motor racing, but top flight F1 racing. The Imp unit was, of course, a rather simplified and much less tuned unit. However, by at a time when competitor cars were cast iron ohv units, the Imp's all aluminium sohc engine was very advanced. There were quite a few custom bike builds using Imp engines.

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

I had a Hillman Imp Californian coupé as my first car (same body shape as the Singer Stiletto). Have a feeling that the capacity was 875cc, but otherwise as you say based on a Coventry Climax engine and you can see the resemblance to the CC racing engines. It was a a car where I learned a bit about maintenance. I always thought that that they looked a bit like a shrunken Corvair, with the engine at the back as well. Never outshone the Mini. I still have a fondness for the SOHC all alloy Imp engine. It was light and revved well and I've seen a few in bikes and 3 wheel racing outfits.

[@petershepherd6889]

I put a Hillman imp engine in a Royal Enfield meteor frame. Made a subframe for the engine to mount in and that picked up the original Enfield mounts. Still had the Hillman flywheel and starter motor. Kept the Enfield clutch and connected it to a Norton 4 speed box. It was a right old Heinz 57 contraption but I did get it working and rode it on private land. In the end I dismantled it and sold the frame to an Enfield enthusiast.

[@adamoneale4396]

He can't put peashooters on that. Well, he can, but it's's probably the most cherry example in the world. Well worth keeping it stock

[@colblood4426]

Glad you unboxed the Norton it needs to be on the road. There's always a person in every forum that bloody murder. They are just Jealous you have it .👍

[@CHRnorton]

I'm not jealous I own many Commandos, I just did not see anything to impress me with the way they did the work on the bike and how little they know about bikes. When your breaking in new machines there are many thing to know to do it right. You need a skilled Commando mechanic to do it right.

[@G58]

@@CHRnorton Totally agree. I would never allow those guys anywhere near any bike of mine, nor would I want any bike they worked on. They’re not to be trusted in my opinion. For one thing, they suffer from the ridiculous ‘Will it run?’ disease. Ludicrous dangerous god bothering amateurs. Darwin has a plan for them. Peace

[@saber-jocky3436]

@@CHRnorton How do you know they were talking about you? Me thinks he doth protest too much!

[@Tubespoet]

As the British owner, back in the day, of a Norton Commando 750 which I used well and treated it to the same care and attention of any bike Ive owned I think people forget that while Americans maybe a little different they were the ones who kept the British motorcycle industry going for as long as it did! I applaud you getting the bike on the road and using it, no machine deserves to linger on in a crate, they need action! BTW, plenty of brain deads on this side of the Atlantic who would rather argue about paint codes on a 1962 BSA Bantam than actually ride anywhere on anything!

[@twhitus]

I applaud you for getting it on the road, its what it was meant to do. I would how ever get quite a few high res pictures in decent lighting as its 100% original so would make a nice reference bike for someone who is restoring one.

[@tonyt3919]

I used to go to Sonny Angels shop in National city, over my 20+year Naval career for parts for my 75 union jack Mark III commando. Saw that crate there but always thought he had a union jack in there as well? He bought my red 500 BSA Gold srar and had it in the shop for many years also. GREAT Shop always felt like walking into old bike valhalla

[@dumboldfool]

Let Them Hate You. You Own The Bike They Don'T

[@demetriuscooksey7147]

Yep. They are just jealous AF.

[@geraldscott4302]

Just because you have the legal right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I'm a 64 year old recently retired vintage car mechanic. Motorcycles are one of my hobbies, along with vintage vehicles of all kinds. I have never owned a motorcycle, car, or truck that wasn't carbureted, and I never will. The stuff they call motorcycles and cars these days is nothing but computerized TRASH. If you want to destroy something, destroy that. It has no value, and never will. I have seen so many old vehicles totally ruined by owners who didn't care anything about them other than as a toy to chop up. They had the money to buy it, and the legal right to destroy it. That's one less of whatever it was in existence. I own some really nice old bikes and cars that are treated with great care. I have a 1991 truck that WAS computerized, but isn't anymore. I removed all the computerized garbage, and put a carbureted engine from 1967 in it. Its year means it will never be a collectors item, yet it no longer has any computer trash on it. It's my daily driver.

[@michaelvick2872]

@@geraldscott4302 okay boomer

[@adamweston4152]

​@@geraldscott4302dear Gerald, what is your problem?!! I'm a 52yr old Welshman who has a gilbern invader, a 1936 Austin 10 and two motorcycle's and I have no issues with the guys who now own this Norton whatsoever, I very much doubt that they will harm,alter or even chop up the bike and will be good custodians of it. I encourage you to try and find out why you are so negative about this situation as it's extremely childish behaviour from a man of your age, maybe go and sit in the corner for a while ok.

[@shatazer]

@@geraldscott4302 imagine living that long and still getting that twisted up about life. Take a few deep breaths bro and relax.

[@dougsnova1]

around the time your bike was made I had a 73 Norton. I rode it from Springfield Ohio to LA and back in the spring. Was a epic adventure and the bike was flawless .I've always regretted selling that bike. I've had hundreds of bikes since then but that will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for saving this piece of history and riding it as it was meant to be riden

[@vincedibona4687]

“Hundreds of bikes…” No you haven’t.

[@dougsnova1]

@@vincedibona4687 yes in my 66 years I sure have. Bought,sold,traded just about anything you could think of in old school bikes. Not much in present modern ones.

[@1bigapple2]

I had a 67 Norton Atlas. I would not wish that bike on anyone. On the ride home from the dealership it broke down, an early omen for what was to come. It would always stop running in commuter traffic with me in the middle lane😮. Damn near impossible to start without dismounting, putting it on the center stand, putting my full weight on the kickstarter and lunging down! It took many years later for my knee to recover (seriously). The few times I tried wringing it out to it’s full 110 mph potential, I had to back off as the gauges were a vibrating blur and I was fearful of the frame cracking. It required a rebore at about 12,000 miles and it was then that the shop discovered that the original bores were not parallel! Due to it’s unreliability and spine tingling vibration it never got past 30,000 miles in my 30 years of ownership (I know, a slow learner). To it’s credit, it looked great, sounded great and was a joy to ride through the twisty’s . After I sold it, it sadly turned up again, several times over the years, in parts, at swap meets. Bits and pieces filtering out in different directions for different purposes. A love/hate relationship, with the former being the lesser.

[@jimmyneutron5679]

@@vincedibona4687 blud does not know the concept of making money and putting it into bikes

[@Zappy1210]

My father had a Norton 850 back in 1975, he loved that thing. He was military and we got shipped to Germany in 1979. I remember watching him watch the guy who bought it from him going down the driveway on it... was a sad day indeed for the old man lol.

[@grahamjohnpreston]

So glad you unboxed this bike. It was built to be ridden! My father in law sold his MK111 Norton Interstate 850 a few years ago and he miss's it so much. If you choose to keep one of your bikes forever, make sure it's this one. 😉

[@oulupulu]

As a Californian, heck yes Sonny Angel motorcycles is a MASSIVE deal. Thanks for bringing that to light, bruh

[@sonnyangelarchives2052]

That he was!

[@tmackinator]

I daily ride my '71 commando 750 roadster. It is a right hand shift with one up, three down shift pattern. This bike has soul that modern bikes will never have. Saving all the old parts, if you add electronic ignition and primary belt drive with associated clutch kit, you will have an excellent machine. I'm glad you put it on the road. When you tire of it, give it to me for safe keeping!

[@L46C3]

Quick 750 story from 1974. I, a 19 years old, strong kid, afraid of nothing, had only ridden a 250 DT3 Yamaha and a 350 Kawi that was built for the street. My good friend, Dave, takes delivery of a new 750. Beautiful, Black, Gold Script. He said "Take it for a ride, Pete". I jumped at the opportunity. After a couple lefts and rights on side streets I get to open road. The light changes and I get on it. I don't exactly remember which gear I lost my riding posture, but I hit one gear and it threw me back, arms went from locked elbows to completely stretched out, my weight/torque pulling me off the seat towards the rear. I was hanging on for dear life. The torque, propelling the bike forward, and I, falling off the back was opening the throttle. To this day I do not know how I righted myself but I did. I returned the bike and never told Dave what happened until 5 yrs ago..BEAUTIFUL BIKES! P.S. GOD, through Jesus Christ, decided it wasn't my time to crash.

[@MJPilote]

I was once commissioned to fix one of thos old British bikes, it was a early Triumph Bonneville and like all brits if it has oil it leaks. Well this customer had seen one of my friends Bonnie that he made all the seals and changed rope seals for modern oil seals. The customer hated it leaking, and asked me to do the same for his bike so we changed every seal and rope to modern oil seals and teflon rings. It cost a lot but he was so happy that he brought his other triumph to get leak free too. Great old bikes but very prone to leaking. They are ment to be driven and not left rotting!

[@alanfenick1103]

It’s great to see the Norton on the road! I bought my first Norton in 1963 While stationed in Asmara Eritrea! The bike was bought through the Post Exchange system and delivered to Massawa on the Red Sea. The bike was incredible and one ride from Massawa to Asmara made it perfectly clear why English bikes and especially Norton were the masters of motorcycling. The road starts at sea level and ends at 7,600ft in less than 65 miles. Hare pin turns and animals, traffic all make for memorable riding! The bike went with me to Germany where it may still be running! Norton was the king of affordable English bikes in the early 60’s. I went from the Atlas 750 and in 1972 bought a Commando and upgraded it to a Dunstall 810cc (A true English classic Cafe’ Racer.) Thanks for bringing back great memories and history back on the road!

[@forbaldo1]

you are so right!!! my grandchildren are proud of me we go in my old Mustang and they scream makes smoke come off the back wheels poppy

[@MayheM_72]

That is a beautiful example of the golden days of the British motorcycle industry! I love the simplicity of the air cooled verticle twin!

[@rustyturner431]

OK... You're "worthy" of owning anything you can afford to pay for! I still have a '73 Commando 850 I've had since new, and I'll never get rid of it. My daughter (who does not ride) says that she's going to drain all the fluids and put it in her living room when I'm gone, because it's SO pretty...and it would remind her of her reprobate dad! Feet on the pegs and WFO! I'm 86, still riding and trying to live forever!

[@ramishrambarran3998]

Sean. Glad you have that classic running. The Police service in my country contracted the Suzuki dealer around 1974/1975 to supply them with the Norton Commando 850. They got them, but as police motorcycles go in my country, they lasted as a snowball in hell ! As a small island, we have to import everything mechanical, and police bikes are real casualties. A bike would be down for some reason, then the company contracted to repair would cannibalize it to repair others. Eventually all would be incapacitated. They have had Triumph Tiger 500s, Suzuki GSX 750s. Yamaha FJR 850s, BMW R1150RTPs & Funduros, among others..........and they disappeared one by one in little time. Later, there would be a Police Auction, for the useless remains. Right now, our police service use a Chinese-made 4-cyl bike. I do not even know the brand name ! I heard you mention the Hillman Imp 850. This was a car made by the British Rootes Group under two of of their brands, Hillman and Singer. The Imp carried a rear mounted RWD 850cc 4-cyl engine. It was intended to be a competitor to the Austin Mini 850 in its day. It was used a lot as a rally car. But the consumer version suffered reliability problems. Many, many years ago, I saw in a magazine, a British guy using that engine in a motorcycle. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Didn’t they have a Coventry Climax engine?

[@turbowankel1264]

​@@mickvonbornemann3824 not all, only some.

[@dennishanson9529]

Sonny was a great guy. High energy and straight up. I purchased a '69 Triumph 500 and later a Moto Guzzi from him in the '70's. His shop was in National City, CA. He always had a lot of interesting bikes for sale. He was a good guy and sold a lot of bikes to young sailors stationed at 32nd Street Naval Station. He was also an accomplished racer. You got a special bike there.

[@sonnyangelarchives2052]

Great post, Dennis. Cheers - Mark Brush

[@AdamSuperAC]

Sean, man I envy you. An extraordinary bike and find. What a great back story. Cheers and hello from Australia ! Love ya channel ! 😎👍

[@MrPnew1]

Yeah we love our Nortons in Australia 🇦🇺

[@prigs750]

Once you ride a Norton, you understand why their owners love them. O er the years I had the pleasure of owning a 68 P11 Ranger (my all time fav), 68 750 Commando and a 70 Commando. I had Triumphs and BSAs but the Nortons were my favorite

[@ray8427]

"Not worthy to own a Norton" - too funny. Keyboard courage from mom's basement in an Internet thang.

[@Thomas-vh9th]

After owning a new 1969 BSA 500 in Germany, in 1975 I bought a brand new 1975 Norton 850 Commando in Livery Black and Gold pinstripe from a dealer in Orange County, CA. I loved that bike! Had it for years. It was a kick start, comfortable and I always carried extra clutch cables. They never seemed to last. Times got hard and in a bad money pinch, I sold it to a buddy who stiffed me out of the last 3-month payments. I still ride at 74 y.o. and getting ready for another Iron Butt Assoc. ride. Of all the bikes I've owned, the 850 was the tops. Watching this is bittersweet.

[@daveco1270]

I think opening the crate and riding the bike is the right move. It's a 75 Commando, not some 1910 one-off Harley prototype. Throttle should snap right back. You may want to lube the cable and make sure the slide isn't sticking. I haven't ridden an old Norton but I've got a 64 Triumph 650 as my daily rider. I accidentally left my choke on the other day... took me a couple miles to realize why she was running so bad. A lot of people take the choke mechanism out of the carb. They don't really need it, but they're helpful.

[@garneauweld1100]

I knew Sonny. He kept a Vincent Black Shadow in the middle of his showroom floor. He was also one of the early Yamaha two-stroke road-racers, and he loved Ducati's very much. He was down in National City in San Diego near the dry doc's for shipbuilding. Great guy and extremely creative with a superb imagination and spirit for life. G.

[@sonnyangelarchives2052]

It was actually a "shadowized" Rapide. Vincent expert Max Lambky helped him build it. They were life-long friends.

[@maartenholl1176]

You need to find a local Norton club and get someone to go over the whole bike and tune everything in, check everything has been recommissioned, lubed and adjusted. It will be a keeper with a little love!

[@P_RO_]

Absolutely. Commando's need to be 'fine-tuned' to really give their best, and they do need that done regularly and frequently.

[@jdflhr]

Great job Shawn..the rest of us can see what these old bikes were truly like to ride. Those Brit Bike Snobs who are dismayed can go pound sand!

[@janschkeuditz6065]

Maybe it is just English humour , after all we allowed a English citizen by the name of George Washington to Change a flag and call the country whatever he liked . The money people of course stayed the same . Joe Biden thinks it was a war for freedom ,by Irish freedom fighters. Now there's a real.comedian ..

[@davidhakes3884]

Yep, I agree= Phuck'em

[@MadMattRides]

Amazing who has the right to say who is worthy or not. You brought these beautiful nortons more sunlight than those old snobs ever will !

[@peter-e2q]

I’m British, and a biker. Dad had a Norton decades ago. How lovely to see this beautiful bike doing what it’s built to do! Cheers guys!

[@wilsonlaidlaw]

Your experience with the idiots on the Norton forums is why I never join car make clubs. The sort of people, who are "clubbies" are far too precious about their vehicles. They are always right and everybody else is wrong - closed minds. However I don't think I would ride a motorcycle without a working front brake on a public road. Imagine if a kid stepped out in front of you and you could not stop.

[@philtucker1224]

There are adventurers in this world and those with every good reason not to be. The only tragedy is when some people reach the end of their lives and then say “I wish I had”…..

[@lornemower1531]

Without these idiots and their clubs providing support for owners, spare parts and advice on preserving these old machines they would all have gone to the scrapyard. Let’s hope no one calls you an idiot for caring about something.

[@wilsonlaidlaw]

@@lornemower1531 Yes the clubs can be useful for parts and information, although for the latter, forums now serve for this purpose. My objection is how precious, over-protective and boring the members often are about the particular car their club is for. A few years ago, when I had a Jaguar V12 Sovereign (a singularly poorly made and unreliable car with lots of design flaws) I was persuaded by a friend to go to a Jaguar Drivers Club dinner in London. I was bored out of my skull by the other members pontificating about Jaguars.

[@lornemower1531]

@@wilsonlaidlaw Of course they are cliquey and obsessive, that’s why the form clubs so they can bore each other to death. You bought a notoriously unreliable and quirky car and are not an idiot but all those in the club who did the same are, although I can just imagine the kind of people who attend a Jaguar Drivers Club dinner. You clearly are not sufficiently obsessive for the JDC or you would still be telling everyone that you once owned a V12 Jag and everything that was wrong with it, hang on a mo!

[@G58]

I agree with you about some club guys, but that’s not the issue here. They simply don’t bother to do basic research. That choke issue is the perfect example. MANY British bikes have chokes that operate in the same way. A simple check, or posting a question - on the very forums that you and they are criticising, would not only have solved their confusion, they would also have introduced themselves to the Norton community, and stood a decent chance of being accepted. Instead they did their usual arrogant thing and ploughed on with zero information. I own 17 bikes by several manufacturers from Bultaco, BMW, CCM and Honda to Velocette, plus Ford and SAAB cars. I regularly read and ask questions on multiple forums. I study previously asked questions for hours. It’s a great way to learn - by tapping into the issues reported by other owners, and of course the decades of collective knowledge from owners. I simply don’t respect anyone who lacks the integrity and intellectual curiosity to ask simple questions. My personal experience over decades in various fields, including the military and aircraft engineering, is that they are dangerous.

[@robmanson2056]

The bike that adorned my wall as a kid along with the triumph bonneville! Thanks for giving the old girl the life she deserves and was built for! 🙏

[@michaelarchangel1163]

Congratulations for having found this bike. A pal here in Wales has the Interstate version mk 3, with the larger fuel tank, but I much prefer the look of the Roadster that you have. I'm pretty sure they made 58 BHP at the wheel, which is about the same as the 1970's Triumph Trident 750 T150 V , one of which I owned as a 17 year old. I'm all but 66 now and have ridden a Suzuki SV1000 for the last 18 years.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

The Mk lll is more likely max 40 bhp at the wheel. It never made 58 bhp in standard form. It was dog slow and any Norton 750 would leave it for dead.

[@adamweston4152]

Hello from Bridgend mid Glamorgan 😊

[@oldbatwit5102]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 40 bhp? Erm.... no. Ps.... Isn't bhp measured at the engine, not the wheel?

[@P_RO_]

​@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 Not every 750 could beat the 850, but the better tuned versions could. Norton dropped the compression after the "Combat" main bearing fiasco and changed some other things as they realized the design was as over-stressed as could be gotten away with.

[@P_RO_]

@@oldbatwit5102 The truth is close to 40 than 60. Everybody overtestimated HP on bikes back then.

[@Frank-sf1wh]

I have never ridden on a Norton,but wouldn’t pass up the chance to do so. Good job rescuing that bike! I believe old bikes and cars are meant to admire. Restore and enjoy is what I always say.

[@patmancrowley8509]

A friend of mine bought one back in the 1980's, used. He loves it so much that he still has it to this day.

[@frasermitchell9183]

I owned two Commandos in the 70s. First off was a Fastback I bought in 1971 after leaving university. Then I sold it on and bought an Interstate. The rubber mounted engine and gearbox assembly made cruising very comfortable, there being no vibration at all ! However round about 1975, I had heard Norton were bringing out an electric-start version and with lots of improvements to what was, really, quite dire reliability. However, Triumph got to me first with their T160 triple. I was out riding with some mates and we stopped in Atherstone to visit the toilets. A small motorcycle dealer called Bennets had their ship opposite the car park, so we walked over, and in the window was a brand-new T160 in the maroon colour. Well ! I remember walking in and saying, "I'll take the Triumph in the window", only to be told it was already sold ! However, they soon got me one from the factory, and that was the end of my Norton phase.

[@larrynixon5979]

I bought my Norton 750 Commander from Sunny’s shop in National City in 1972. I wanted a motorcycle waiting for me when I got back from Vietnam, so I wrote letters to a number of dealers in San Diego. Sunny was the only one who wrote back. I loved the bike.

[@troyscherr5054]

I knew Sonny and Mark when I was in San Diego. Both were always top tier guys. I'd run my 851 over and have coffee at the shop just to see what creation Sonny would show me then tell me the story behind it. Fond memories of Sonny, Don, Walt, and Mark. Thanks for sharing the story.

[@YamahaR1R7]

Appreciate that, Troy. Cheers - Mark

[@waydegardner7373]

850cc was in fact a big motor for the time. Most guys in HS through college rode a 500cc or smaller. We did a Texas to CA in ‘75 on a CB 750 with no issues. Beautiful bike. Thanks for the history lesson.

[@krupboom]

As someone who grew up in the UK during the70s , the Commando was a BIG bike. An 850 twin was something we were in awe of at the time when most of us aspired to a BSA 500 single pot!

[@Zippoking1969]

I'm a Brit and a motorcycle mechanic, it's a sin to own a bike in a box with no intentions of riding it, it's entire purpose is to be ridden, make you feel awesome and make memories, if that Norton could speak I'm sure it would thank you and say about f$%king time, well done I say

[@S1000ds]

In 1976, while working in Labrador City, Newfoundland (about as far away from anywhere as you can get), I read that Norton had gone bankrupt. I immediately called my old Norton dealer in Ottawa and bought the same bike you have. … in the crate! I had owned a Combat Commando 750 (‘72) and later, a Commando Interstate model. I put a lot of miles on those bikes. In their day, they were among the best built, most reliable and best performing bikes you could get. I kept the new ‘76 Commando until 1998, before finally selling it, unused. I made a bit of money on it. I always preferred the earlier Norton’s - essentially the same, but with right side shift (better!) and lighter weight. But you are absolutely right when you talk about how good they feel. Smooth, solid running with good torque and performance. Thanks for the video, and thanks for the respect you showed for a truly great motorcycle of its time. In the 90’s

[@keithhellyer4565]

Can't believe the haters, this thing deserves to be ridden and appreciated, thats what they are all about. Congrats on getting this built & running, love your videos.

[@jamielee9350]

Here is another Brit loving what you have done. I am of the age that remembers Nortons being the 1st choice for our police force.

[@missogyny4921]

The ‘Hillman I.M.P.’ engine you mentioned Sonny fitting to an Atlas chassis is from a small British car from the 1960s, the Hillman Imp (‘Imp’ being one word). It was based on a Coventry Climax all-aluminium engine used in many racing/performance cars, (Lotus Elite being one), so a good ‘lightweight’ choice!

[@mej6519]

yep imp, one word.

[@missogyny4921]

@@mej6519 I had two Imps as my first cars after learning to drive in one, so remember them with both fondness and frustration, as they weren’t the most reliable!

[@mej6519]

@@missogyny4921 a mates dad used to have a full race preped one, remarkabley rapid wee beasty, but yeah engines wernt thier strong suit.

[@missogyny4921]

@@mej6519 Warped heads, blown gaskets - ah yes!

[@TheCerro99]

well done guys, glad to see it run, I met Sonny in his shop in 2013 , in National City CA, he was a legend and will always be, here in So Cal, lets make him proud!

[@YamahaR1R7]

You must have met him in the very final days that he went there. He stopped going there late 2013, Walt and Donny continued going.

[@TheCerro99]

@@YamahaR1R7 yes i probably did, i was lucky enough for him to sing me a spanish love song. a true legend!

[@Joe_HamRadioGuy]

Haters will be haters. Nice story, you got an icon of a bike there in good hands 🙏🏼

[@demetriuscooksey7147]

They are just jealous because he got the bike they always dreamed of. A Commando in the CRATE for F sakes!

[@LonesomeTwin]

I think the reason for the hate is that so many of these old twins ended up as choppers, and as you know a chopper has no afterlife and is effectively lost to the world. This is a problem when the spares availability from your long dead manufacturer is minimal to say the least. This unboxed beauty is far away from the threat of choppering, and since it's appeared at the peak of the retro boom I'm sure it will live a long and happy life wherever it ends up showing Enfields how it was really done.

[@ChuckChrome]

Heaven forbid motorcycling be fun and have some humor involved. Worth it if only for all the pearl clutching over on the Norton forums. Great video and thanks for some funny positive content. It is needed more than you can ever know.

[@hugh_ghennaux]

I bought an 850 MK III Roadster in red white and blue back in `78. Lovely, tractable bike to ride and steered like it was on rails. Had it at an indicated 115mph two up.

[@richardcasey7521]

It’s a good thing that you uncreated it because rust was beginning to damage the chrome.

[@matthewm3927]

My dad and I have a 75 Commando, and I’m so happy this one found a home with you, and that you are sharing the experience with all of us! Don’t listen to those who are just jealous 😂.

[@kdsowen2882]

Sonny Angel m/c inlet-manifolds turn-up in NZ from time-to-time for sale , He even made-it down here ! Dave NZ

[@bleedingear1952]

I bought my 1965 Norton Atlas about 10 years ago , got it running , registered , then a few years later took it off the road to restore …. Life got in the way and it sat in boxes for quite a few years. I have just recently completed the restoration and am out riding any chance i get. They are fantastic motorcycles and deserve to be ridden. Unfortunately some of the members on the Norton FB groups and forums are less than helpful (thankfully these are a minority) it nearly seams they are bitter that a younger generation are enjoying motorcycles of such vintage. I say the more people who discover the joy of vintage machines the better , otherwise these fine machines will sit idle as a generation becomes to old to ride them and they will rott away and be forgotten. Enjoy your lovely Commando .. you are worthy :)

[@angelo_af]

Now I've heard the idea of putting a Hillman Imp engine in a bike chassis, it cannot be unheard.

[@YamahaR1R7]

If you want details, let me know.

[@angelo_af]

@@YamahaR1R7 Aww, thank you, but I'm not Alan Millyard! Your Father in Law sounds like exactly the kind of man after my own heart. Thanks so much for writing in and keeping his story going. Cheers from the land of Burt Munro.

[@borderlands6606]

The Imp engine was a common power unit for custom specials and trikes at the time. Glad you said it was an imp (pixie, fairy, sprite, etc), not an I.M.P. as stated in the video. Not to be confused with J.A.P. (J.A. Prestwich) bike engines, often confused with Jap(anese) motorcycles.

[@themotorider1]

I believe the Hillman Imp engine was used by some sidecar racers in the UK before the Japanese fours became popular.

[@angelo_af]

@@borderlands6606 there's some insider knowledge right there.

[@JackPeters-yk9wg]

I got out of the army at age 21, 1976. My brother, who had served as a marine in vietnam, and myself, went to a dealer that carried Harley, Triumph, BSA and Norton....We went in with both of us anticipating buying a new bike..It was a candy store, during an era when motorcycles were the embodiment of Americana...We looked at everything..I kept drifting back to this brand new red, 1975 Norton 850 Commando..My brothers eye was on a new Bonnie..We both rode away on new scoots..As we throttled on to the freeway in Southern Oregon, my brother gave me the "let's see what they can do" sign, and we both rolled the throttle...It wasn't long before he was fading away in my rear view mirrors....After we switched bikes, just to compare and claim bragging rights, it was abundantly clear that I made the right choice...The rubber mounted 850 was velvet thunder..I'm now a couple weeks from 70 years of age..I've purchased north of 30 brand new motorcycles in my life, including 7 new Harleys..But the one that's most akin to "the one beautiful woman" that you let slip away, is without question, that most ravishingly beautiful Red, Norton 850 Commando... ..

[@denerumsby6789]

Hi guys, love the channel 👍 Your comment about the chokes made me grin and struck a chord with me You guys obviously had never had any previous experience with Amal Concentric carburettors.. Neither had I until I bought a 64 Triumph Bonneville that had been fitted with those carbs in place of the original Monoblocs I found out the hard way about the choke slides being sprung loaded to come down like a guillotine left to their own devices when my choke cable snapped whilst I was riding along at about 70mph.... At the time I can remember thinking as you did what crazy twonk spring loads chokes to come ON if not held up by a spindly cable? I just removed both choke slides altogether- tickling the carbs was enough to start every time even from cold in England Never really needed the stupid things.. PS if you're not too bothered about pure originality, ditch those "Black Cap" mufflers and retro fit the earlier "Peashooter" type - they look and sound way better

[@jackrichards1863]

I have a recollection of the 850 Commando being 92 horsepower. HP was really the thing with those since IOM was the focus of the marque to sell their brand. There are some different models one of which is a Special manx model with race fairings, there was very few of them made and less sold. There is so much to know about Norton but for me it's a long time ago.

[@magna116]

92?! 😂😂😂😂

[@Spargowombat]

More like 50hp

[@jackrichards1863]

@@Spargowombat can't debate the matter. They'll do 120 mph tho.

[@SnowmanN49]

Sorry Jack, but there's no way they had that much HP. Somewhere in the 50-60 range would be more accurate. Plenty of torque though and the gearing would let them do about 120 MPH.

[@mapleholler9800]

Had a '69 750 Villiers, back in the mid 70's. Loved that bike. I bought it used and my cousin tuned it up and got it running great. He worked on Norton, Triumph, and BSA and raced them. I sold that sweet thing to my wife's cousin back in the nineties and he eventually sold it to a museum in England that had burned, when they were rebuilding. So, it went home. But I miss it. Of course, I also miss being young. Getting old sucks. Videos lke this help though. Thanks for the memories.

[@mitchelltaylor7816]

This video is very special to me for two reasons. One, my first motorcycle was a 1972 Norton commando 750 which I owned for 23 years. Two, My second and present bike is a 2001 Honda Valkyrie, the same as your chase bike in the video, which I bought new in Daytona in 2001. My Valkyrie is the Interstate model. The Norton suited my lifestyle when I was younger and the Valkyrie fits my nearly 70 year old life now. Thanks for the video!

[@scottsgaragehtx439]

Glad to see you walk past the haters. As a Christian, you probably have a lot of experience with that journey. Anyone who works with their hands to bring lost history to life,no matter how experienced, should be praised. Good job.

[@pdm2201]

I am now 74 yrs old and the original owner of my 1973 Roadster 850. Because of age I can no longer enjoy much of my previous pastimes but tinkering, maintaining and polishing my Norton remains a joy.

[@Tekjoe25]

Fellow 1975 owner here and great to see it runs so well with a bit of fettling. Well done, such a great story behind it and in yourself, an appreciative temporary caretaker. No chance it would get anywhere near 150mph though, maybe 105. $24k an OK price too. Ignore all the childish jealousy and negative sour grapes, you get these types everywhere but easily recognised. Usually have the biggest mouths and ugliest faces. Surprised it was seemingly well put together, thought the opposite was true going by period reports and road tests. Hopefully Sonny got it fully sorted and riding it regularly as it should be. I'd change the tyres however and keep the originals as period samples. Fabulous bikes still with many modern updates plus nearly every part available new in Andover, England. Right across the road from where they were made. True class. Plenty of owners here in Europe still ride them on some of the best roads in the world. Places where highly rated Japanese bikes from the same era are NEVER seen.....

[@_Peremalfait]

What good is a motorcycle kept in a box never to be ridden or even looked at. I'm glad this beauty finally made it to the road just as it was meant for.

[@russbilzing5348]

I can think of no one that less deserves the privilege of owning a Norton than you.

[@Srkcycles]

good to know lol

[@pdm2201]

Booo!

[@samrodian919]

A Brit here. Glad you appreciate British parallel twins! Now I've watched you ride it, a couple of things, get that carb off and drown it in carb cleaner. There must be varnish from the old fuel that was residual in it from the factory. And for gods sake get that front brake fixed. It's there for the primary reason of stopping you! The rear brake only does 30% of any braking on a Brit bike get an air line to the calliper and work it back and forth levering the pads back every time. Then flush the master cylinder out with fresh dot 4 or is it 5 now? Then connect it all together and bleed the system and that should get the bike SAFE to ride, coz it ain't at the moment mate! Cheers from the UK

[@BloodPlusPwn]

I *hate* collectors. Greedy, selfish troglodytes that are willing to hide away something beautiful just so no one else can experience it. Thank you for letting it breathe and for riding it like God intended and sharing the experience.

[@theothertonydutch]

I literally give away some of my old cameras to people who are getting into it. If I don't use it, it has to go. Isn't always easy though.

[@jsollowsphotography]

I can relate! I’m a photographer and use vintage film cameras. I had the opportunity to purchase a 1982 Hasselblad still new in the sealed box. It was discovered unsold in the Hasselblad warehouse in Sweden. I was called every name in the book when I opened the box and used the camera. The Hassy is arguably the best film camera ever made and I’m a photographer. Not a chance Im going to let it sit in the box. It needs to do what it was made to do. Just like you did with the Norton! Well done!! 👍

[@Jackel7]

If you got pulled by the cops in the uk on a bike, it would probably been a Norton commando back in the day....iconic machine.

[@ellisgordon829]

Very cool , there is one other great man with a shop , who's passed away, but I had the great pleasure to hang with him , Ed Labelle in Philadelphia, the only reason I'm even commenting about your story is because I also have a 75 850 electric start roadster that I truly love . Great bike .

[@Harold710]

I bought my 1971 Roadster from Ed.

[@paulgrogan8032]

What a special bike and a incredible lineage, I'm 64 so I remember these Commandos on the road. They were slow for 75 but they were Special like all 70's Brit bikes🏆

[@ggold3357]

These bikes are meant to be ridden. I don't understand why anyone would want it to rot away inside a box? This is one of my fav series that you've done. So cool and amazing to get the backstory! Cheers fellas.

[@factorylad5071]

Fun facts about the Nor*Imp* The 4 cylinder overhead cam engine was designed in WW2 as a high performance water pump motor and was designated the Coventry Climax. It was single OHC water cooled all alloy available in low compression and sports versions. No man ever fitted one to a Commando frame but used the Dominator duplex frame instead. The conversion involved making custom Al castings to fit over the clutch bell housing and transmission would be a separate unit quafe gearbox. And imp is one word being the car model . 10:06

[@tctc2470]

You guys deserve all the good that comes your way! Your life-perspective is contagious

[@garycraig4277]

My dad bought a new one back then I remember riding on it,it was very fast as a kid But do remember him doing about 140mph for a long distance it was a great bike

[@OGOAB2023]

Greets from another Brit although I've been living in Mexico for the past 34 years and even have Mexican nationality. I had a modified Norton 850 Commando during the late 1970´s into the mid 1980's. My bike had dropped handlebars, rear set footpegs and a massive polished aluminium fuel tank. There was no electronic ignition just a very powerful kickstart which could throw you over the front of the bike if you didn't catch it just right. Riding the bike was a great experience and it was definitely an eyestopper. I left the UK for Mexico in 1988 after accepting a lucrative job offer. At the time the bike was in parts midway through an engine rebuild and it was later sold to an enthusiast who restored it back to its orginal form. Boy do I miss that bike! It had style, character and plenty of power. Now in my early 70's I ride a 2020 Honda NC 750x with dual clutch transmission. A nice dual purpose bike which suits my needs but definitely not a Norton. Enjoy your bike and look after it and it will surely look after you. Thanks for the video.

[@stephendriscoll7549]

I had a Norton Commando MK2A Interstate in the 70’s and 80’s and it was the best Bike ever! Never got bored with it and never ceased to astound Me! King Norton!

[@kernelpaniq]

Congratulations on the bike! That bike deserves a good home, I am happy that it was yours.

[@scottvillett4854]

Beautiful bike my uncle was the quintessential 60's hippie and had a geodesic dome house and shop....the shop store 20-30 triumphs...BSA's and Nortons....truth be told I'd have committed crimes for any of them but his old commando was one of my favs I worked at a Triumph store my own self for a while years ago and have quite an affinity for old brit bikes.....don't let any grumpy old cusses tell you different leaving that bike in a box would have been a crime.....bike were meant to be ridden not stored....God bless guys great work bringing this thing back into the light and back on the road

[@T10elC]

I'm happy to see you unboxed it and got it running. It was shoved against the wall in protest. It needed to be unboxed in protest.

[@oldengdg2575]

Wish I owned it. The thing I like about this bike is it's not too big and not too small and a great style. I remember in 1974 I test drove a Norton 950 and I let him test drive my 1973 Kawasaki 900. The thing was fast.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I remember Sonny Angel motorcycle shop. Used to check out all the interesting stuff that wasn't in the Japanese shops.

[@sonnyangelarchives2052]

I miss it too. If able to go back 12 years, I'd do things very differently.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@sonnyangelarchives2052 I used to drool over the older Ducatis there. San Diego isn’t the same without that iconic shop!

[@sonnyangelarchives2052]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures it's a very long story. In 2011, I still had another 13 years to go in the Navy. Sonny didn't have any sons or grandsons, so I would have been the only one to keep it going. Was TOTALLY overwhelmed by what I saw behind the walls in that shop. So much that people couldn't see. Sonny had no money for retirement care, so the only way to care for him was to sell the shop and bikes. At the time, it made sense. All these years later, it's something I'll regret for the rest of my life.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@sonnyangelarchives2052 The motorcycle industry is difficult in the best of times. I did my time in the Navy, thank you for your service.

[@VTSteve]

Did you have to put new tires on it?

[@1950norton]

Bought my 850 Norton new in 1975 and now have 135,000 miles on it. I knew Sonny pretty well and have been in the British motorcycle business from 1980 to now with JRC Engineering Inc. Good job getting that lovely bike on the road. Ride them don't hide them.

[@stancoleshill8925]

So glad that I bought one when I was 20 years old. Paid $400. Still have it to this day and it is the best bike I ever kept for 54 years. Now I am 70. It is truly what motorcycles are all about.

[@rondaking382]

Back in the day Sonny Angle was one of the guys for getting Brit parts in San Diego. He had a lot of classic bikes in his collection and more than once I went to his shop to get parts for my Norton, 68 Atlas. PS still got the Atlas!!

[@arthurcrego8297]

I still miss my 1972 Triumph Bonneville. I rode it all over, sold it when I turned 70 yrs old, great memories. i always wanted a Norton

[@davidmurray9193]

Don't understand the negative comments, well happy for your purchase and it is a beautiful bike

[@kmock]

I happy to see a bike like this back on the road where it should be, and not boxed up in the corner of a shop

[@shrikant444]

Always a pleasure watching a Classic Running smooth after being stored for soooooo long

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

I had to quit bikes in 1970 and only knew about the 650 and 750, I never saw the 850. I tried to buy a used Norton from a fellow in 66 or 67 but he wanted too much for it. My kingdom for a find like you guys!!

[@mercsport]

Seems like an aeon ago, but I once owned a race spec' Egli-Vincent 1000; its engine was Lightning spec’ and its Vincent clutch was dumped for a Norton. Historically the single pot 500 Manx Norton in the 50s was ’the business’; the benchmark. It’s worth being reminded that for most of the 70s the fastest drag bike in the world that ran regular 7s was T.C.Christanson’s ‘Hogslayer’, a twin 750 engined Norton beauty. I saw T.C.C. and Hogslayer in England when he came to see-off everyone else in great style in these parts: sensational. I recall also that in the years I used to read Cycle magazine when Cook Neilson was its editor, its inside front cover advert was for the Norton Commando. It was a great machine.

[@llamamanism]

When you said the dealer squeezed a Hillman Imp engine into an Atlas frame, that’s a small car called an Imp not spelt I-M-P - a compact 4 cylinder car engine. Because the Atlas used Norton’s “featherbed” frame it was an ideal frame for specials because of its strength and large opening that accepted Triumphs, Vincent’s even 4 cylinder Jap bike engines.

[@triffidgrower]

Recollections of the 850 Commando from the era? I still smile at the torque/pulling power that impressed me the times I was able to be on one, owned by a friend. Very few perfect bikes, but they all have their charm. Good on you for having a crack at anything that takes your fancy, and learning from your experiences. It will all be good to look back on one day. THAT makes you a worthy custodian...✌

[@andovernorton-thesource]

Hi there, it's great to see you've got it running. If there's any parts you need at all to finish it off we'd be happy to offer these FOC to make sure this lovely bike is running with genuine Norton parts.

[@richarddixon7276]

Nice One Guys , good one . I just hope they realise who You guys are & take You up on it.😊

[@ndt270]

I want to add another good word for Andover Norton. I have a '72 Commando with a Combat motor and have ridden it for 47 years. Andover has always had the parts I needed at a fair price and timely delivery. They are a class act and I'm glad they're out there for us.

[@livingthedream669]

I had a '75 Norton Commando, just like yours. It even had the roadster tank and interstate pipes. It was black as well, a spitting image. It was my first motorcycle. There was nothing better than pulling away in third gear up through the canyons in Utah. Torque was awesome!

[@jacksloan3516]

Wow that sound really bring back memories, I had my heart set on a new 1977 Norton 850 Commando, but just wasn't in my budget. Ended up buying a 1978 Triumph 750 Bonneville. It was $2300 MSRP

[@brianfrank8661]

SEAN CONGRATS ON THE NORTON...GREAT FIND!! I've had my mk3 49 years, I bought it brand new and still have it. I own and have owned many motorcycles over the course of my life, 41 to be exact and the Norton is my favorite. it doesn't really care what gear you're in coming out of a corner, the vibrations go away after 3k rpms and it is a joy to ride and own. sure it is not the fastest bike around, not even the fastest Norton. that's not what it was built for. the company was dieing and gold wings were already out. kawi z1's and their 2 stroke triples owned the drag strips, cb750's were stone reliable and quick so in a last ditch effort Norton increased the bore and stroke added f and r disc brakes an electric starter and put the r brake and shift lever where the rest of the world decided they should be but it just wasn't enough to save them. they made an excellent riding machine.sure my Norton has let me down a time or two but the bike is worth repairing. I used to tell japanese bike riders that my Norton will still be on the road when their bike has worn out and been melted down and recycled into beer cans. I recently got my bike back from colorado Norton works, he did a complete rebuild/modernization of the bike and it now has no bad points with all that we love about Nortons. there are a lot of Norton people out there to help if you plan on keeping the bike. New York Norton is very good and colorado Norton works has a lot of parts and upgrades for your bike. enjoy it for what it is, don't pay attention to the critics and enjoy the fact that no matter how many other bikes are in the parking lot you will never have to check the license plate to know which bike is yours.

[@mixter7x7]

In 1979 I was going to buy a black Norton Commando EXACTLY like this one for $1000. . The guy brought it to work - started showing off and wrecked it in the parking lot. I found a very nice 1972 Triumph Bonneville for $800. Gold / white. Loved that bike.

[@maverick1685]

If I ever purchased a bike in a box, I would assemble it and ride it. You've done very well Shawn..

[@josephphillips7949]

Ah the joy of Amal carbs. On my 1970 Triumph TR6 I just removed the choke slide and spring (they are sperate parts to the throttle slide)and use the "tickler" to flood the carb for cold starts. Works well , the bike starts on the 1st or 2nd kick.

[@gwendogy]

My brother had one, literally identical to this. We drove down to Englandshire (Brum) in a Commer PB van to pick it up. Needless to say, the prop shaft fell off the van 5 miles from home. At night, in the rain. Personally, managed to fall asleep repeatedly on the back of this Commando when he took me on trips in Scotland. Have always missed it, since he sold it. He bought a Vincent Shadow v-twin in boxes, never got around to building it. But his "work" gave him a Kawasaki Z1 to use as a daily ride. A lot easier to sleep on than the Norton. And yes, he regrets selling the boxes of Vincent bits.