I bought this exact color and finish 1972 Combat 50 years ago, in August 1974, in Phoenix. My first ever motorcycle. I was mesmerized by its sound and length of chassis. The gearing was so long you didn't need a 5 speed.
Definitely a Combat. I have 3, one I bought new in '72. Still have it. You can see on this bike the carb manifolds are 32 mm which is correct. You can see where the head meets the barrels that the fin space is squished = correct, meant to up the compression. The breather is incorrect, the combat breather is down low on the cases between the cradle. These incorrect clock holders are chromed 850 holders, taller than the shorter 71-72 aluminum holders. That style of seat I've never seen before. The '72 seats were lined. Other years had squares or texture embossed into the vinyl. The rail at the back of the seat is not '72 vintage but later 850 style. The peashooter mufflers supplied in '72 had no weld seam. I had to replace mine after 10 years ~1980 and could only get the seamed style. I was very disappointed but now it's no problem getting seamless peashooters. My fenders were chromed in '72 with the arms front and back on the front fender unlike this bike. Regardless of parts and changes added later, this bike sounds great. You can tell the compression is strong just by the sound. The Amals are adjusted nicely. This bike pops. Its a joke when you hear a Commando with a single Mikuni carb. The sound is weak but not this bike. Combat's compression ratios are 10-1 unlike other Commandos. The Combats also had a different cam that kicked in ~ 3500 rpm. This bike also idles great, seems to run strong. It's a good one. Congrats.
Dad had the same model and year combat-engined Norton. It was a hot rod in its day and was the funnest bike I've ever been privileged to ride. Smooth, torquey, nimble, sweet-shifting transmission, and that wonderful exhaust note. He sold it and later got a Triumph Trident.
I've owned a 1970 Commando for 54 years and I never ever had a problem with the points ignition. The fenders were not stainless because the chrome on my original fenders (1970) all peeled of after using a pressure washer. The chrome flakes ended up all over the garage. I replaced both fenders with stainless steel . The reason the bike leaks is because of the primary case. If you buy a new gasket for the primary case , IT WILL STILL LEAK. MINE STILL LEAKED WITH ALL NEW GASKETS. I took the clutch apart and cleaned it thoroughly of any oil as well as the inside of the primary case. The clutch then performed EXCELLENTLY ! ! ! ! It doesn't slip at all and it also does NOT stick. WITH NEW OIL IN THE PRIMARY, IT SLIPPED AND STUCK WHEN PUTTING IT INTO FIRST GEAR. Best thing I ever did. You just have to remember to oil the primary chain occasionally and it will stay nice for a long time because it is enclosed. PLEASE DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING I SAY BECAUSE I AM ONLY A MECHANICAL DESIGN TECHNOLOGIST AND ALSO, A CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL MILLWRIGHT MECHANIC SINCE 1994 AND I HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR 55 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT AFTER REBUILDING THE ENGINE TWO TIMES ONCE IN 1972 AND ONCE AGAIN IN 2018 BECAUSE AFTER PAYING SOMEONE TO "PROFESSIONALLY" (HA-HA) REBUILDING THE ENGINE TOP TO BOTTOM FOR A FEE OF $1700 cdn, THE BIKE SMOKED OUT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH OIL SMOKE. AND POURED OIL ONTO THE FLOOR LIKE AN OPEN OIL CAN. THE GUY THAT REBUILT IT BROKE THE OIL RING AND TORE THE BASE GASKET. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL ALUMINUM CHIPS FOUND INSIDE THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER THAT STUCK ONTO THE VAVE SEAT. i HAD TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AGAIN AND PUT NEW RINGS IN MYSELF.AFTER SPENDING 1700 DOLLARS FOR NOTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a '73 Combat Commando with the C stamp on the head, in yellow like this one. It's a beautiful bike, sounds good and surprisingly fast. With new Amal Supreme carbs and electronic ignition, its a 1st kick starter! A great vintage bike to own and ride, parts availability is excellent!
Combat motors had a rep for main bearing failure. The cure is to fit later 'Superblend' bearings, which accommodate crankshaft flex much better. It's a relatively easy job, but only because this is a simple pushrod motor! Crankcases on some batches were also dodgy, Norton beefed them up for the 850s, which seemed to fix this. Be very careful, if removing the inner primary chaincase, not to lose the little washer behind it. This is actually a shim and if it's lost, the alternator stator will burn out. Be warned.
I'm sick to my stomach, for selling my 750 Norton commando, I had bought it at a garage sale in the basket , for $100, dollars, reassemble that got it running and sold it for $500, 😥😥 who knows they would be so popular today ‼️
Hi Robert, I have a 72 roadster and it has the same seat pattern as this one, Its a really good lower mileage bike, I thought it was original , can you add anything to this.
@@briancritchley5295Hey. If you go to Old Britts, Seats and Seat Covers it shows the various patterns that Norton supplied with the Roadsters and Interstates. The basketweave shows as a '73, square pattern as 74-75 and the rib pattern as pre-73. For what it's worth. Cheers.
@@briancritchley5295Depending on precise production date, maybe there was some supply variations at the factory, production date, inventory quantities, etc, ??
I bought this exact color and finish 1972 Combat 50 years ago, in August 1974, in Phoenix. My first ever motorcycle. I was mesmerized by its sound and length of chassis. The gearing was so long you didn't need a 5 speed.
Nothing beats the sound of a parallel twin.
So raw and nasty.
☺☺☺
Love the sound especially idling nice and slow............ see !
Definitely a Combat. I have 3, one I bought new in '72. Still have it. You can see on this bike the carb manifolds are 32 mm which is correct. You can see where the head meets the barrels that the fin space is squished = correct, meant to up the compression. The breather is incorrect, the combat breather is down low on the cases between the cradle. These incorrect clock holders are chromed 850 holders, taller than the shorter 71-72 aluminum holders. That style of seat I've never seen before. The '72 seats were lined. Other years had squares or texture embossed into the vinyl. The rail at the back of the seat is not '72 vintage but later 850 style. The peashooter mufflers supplied in '72 had no weld seam. I had to replace mine after 10 years ~1980 and could only get the seamed style. I was very disappointed but now it's no problem getting seamless peashooters. My fenders were chromed in '72 with the arms front and back on the front fender unlike this bike. Regardless of parts and changes added later, this bike sounds great. You can tell the compression is strong just by the sound. The Amals are adjusted nicely. This bike pops. Its a joke when you hear a Commando with a single Mikuni carb. The sound is weak but not this bike. Combat's compression ratios are 10-1 unlike other Commandos. The Combats also had a different cam that kicked in ~ 3500 rpm. This bike also idles great, seems to run strong. It's a good one. Congrats.
Well said my friend , the bike does sounds sharper 👌
Dad had the same model and year combat-engined Norton. It was a hot rod in its day and was the funnest bike I've ever been privileged to ride. Smooth, torquey, nimble, sweet-shifting transmission, and that wonderful exhaust note. He sold it and later got a Triumph Trident.
I've owned a 1970 Commando for 54 years and I never ever had a problem with the points ignition. The fenders were not stainless because the chrome on my original fenders (1970) all peeled of after using a pressure washer. The chrome flakes ended up all over the garage. I replaced both fenders with stainless steel . The reason the bike leaks is because of the primary case. If you buy a new gasket for the primary case , IT WILL STILL LEAK. MINE STILL LEAKED WITH ALL NEW GASKETS. I took the clutch apart and cleaned it thoroughly of any oil as well as the inside of the primary case. The clutch then performed EXCELLENTLY ! ! ! ! It doesn't slip at all and it also does NOT stick. WITH NEW OIL IN THE PRIMARY, IT SLIPPED AND STUCK WHEN PUTTING IT INTO FIRST GEAR. Best thing I ever did. You just have to remember to oil the primary chain occasionally and it will stay nice for a long time because it is enclosed. PLEASE DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING I SAY BECAUSE I AM ONLY A MECHANICAL DESIGN TECHNOLOGIST AND ALSO, A CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL MILLWRIGHT MECHANIC SINCE 1994 AND I HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR 55 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT AFTER REBUILDING THE ENGINE TWO TIMES ONCE IN 1972 AND ONCE AGAIN IN 2018 BECAUSE AFTER PAYING SOMEONE TO "PROFESSIONALLY" (HA-HA) REBUILDING THE ENGINE TOP TO BOTTOM FOR A FEE OF $1700 cdn, THE BIKE SMOKED OUT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH OIL SMOKE. AND POURED OIL ONTO THE FLOOR LIKE AN OPEN OIL CAN. THE GUY THAT REBUILT IT BROKE THE OIL RING AND TORE THE BASE GASKET. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL ALUMINUM CHIPS FOUND INSIDE THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER THAT STUCK ONTO THE VAVE SEAT. i HAD TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AGAIN AND PUT NEW RINGS IN MYSELF.AFTER SPENDING 1700 DOLLARS FOR NOTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds fantastic
I have a '73 Combat Commando with the C stamp on the head, in yellow like this one. It's a beautiful bike, sounds good and surprisingly fast. With new Amal Supreme carbs and electronic ignition, its a 1st kick starter! A great vintage bike to own and ride, parts availability is excellent!
Combat motors had a rep for main bearing failure. The cure is to fit later 'Superblend' bearings, which accommodate crankshaft flex much better. It's a relatively easy job, but only because this is a simple pushrod motor! Crankcases on some batches were also dodgy, Norton beefed them up for the 850s, which seemed to fix this. Be very careful, if removing the inner primary chaincase, not to lose the little washer behind it. This is actually a shim and if it's lost, the alternator stator will burn out. Be warned.
I should have NEVER sold mine. 5000 original miles. SIGH!
Same here😊
top combat enjoy ..I have one use it for touring ...john in Down under
In my favourite colour
I'm sick to my stomach, for selling my 750 Norton commando, I had bought it at a garage sale in the basket , for $100, dollars, reassemble that got it running and sold it for $500, 😥😥 who knows they would be so popular today ‼️
Taking a better look at this seat. This seat shown is what's called the 'basketweave' which was a later vintage than '72.
Hi Robert, I have a 72 roadster and it has the same seat pattern as this one, Its a really good lower mileage bike, I thought it was original , can you add anything to this.
@@briancritchley5295Hey. If you go to Old Britts, Seats and Seat Covers it shows the various patterns that Norton supplied with the Roadsters and Interstates. The basketweave shows as a '73, square pattern as 74-75 and the rib pattern as pre-73. For what it's worth. Cheers.
@@briancritchley5295Depending on precise production date, maybe there was some supply variations at the factory, production date, inventory quantities, etc, ??
Bub used to make muffler replacements
Where can I buy the same type of petcocks (fuel taps) as your 1972 Norton 750 Combat commando has?
Check Colorado Norton Works
So , how-much did it fetch in the-end ? Dave NZ
Seat does not look original to me....normally has ribs on it not the dotted finish your one is showing...?
Since when do the speedometer work or for how long. The Smiths instruments are unreliable and inaccurate for the most part.
Sounds amazing.
Thank you!