Ride along on this 1972 Norton Commando 'fastback' down the twisting A5004 'Long Hill' road in the peak district on a glorious summers day. #Norton #NortonCommando #ClassicMotorcycle
My heart was in my mouth when I saw this video. Bought a brand new Norton commando roadster in 1973 for $1800. Hit a telephone pole when it had 400 miles on it. Almost got killed. Broke the forks, bent the frame, ruined the tank, bent the front wheel. After my stitches were removed I spent $1200 and about four months to put that motorcycle back together after which I rode it for years. During this period I think I was bringing home about $130 a week. Long time ago! Most athletic motorcycle I ever owned, and I have owned many now. I am 68. I was 22 then. God bless you guys!
Hi Jerry, I liked your story a lot. I'm 4 years south of you but brought a 2nd hand 750 norton at age about 17. Crashed into a car about 100 meters from the shop after stalling her a dozen times or so. Too much power for youngsters buying a first bike which isnt legal now. Unlike you, me and the bike were fine. Left it in the shed for a few days then rode it again. Later I traded it on a new 750/4 which was a mistake looking back even though the Honda was a nice bike. Thanks again and cheers.
Love Norton's! Bought mine brand new in 1974, 850 Commando Roadster. Black, of course. Paid in the $1800 range also. Had to sell it in 1978. Wife and I were putting together down payment for our first house. Got $1200 for it with less than 3,000 miles on it. That really hurt to type that last sentence!
Does my soul good to hear a Commando at full throat. I haven’t ridden mine in many years as age and electric start have taken over. I still have my two 68 Fastbacks, a 72 Combat and a 74&5 Roadsters along with my 63 65 SS.
The Nortons, Triunphs, BSAs of the early 70s....damn. What an age of motorcycling genius. Design, sound, prestige...and fun. But being a decent mechanic was also very helpful.
Thanks eekamoose. I still watch it every once in a while to remind myself as to how good that bike sounded. I wonder if any of my future video's will come anywhere close to sounding as nice?
I bought my Norton Commando in 1968. $1,600.00 I took it to the drag races at Vargo, PA and Atco, NJ. They put me in the D-SS class with the big BSA Lightnings. The announcers at the tracks were anti-Norton till I took the trophy. Great bike. There's a YT video under Perrine's Racing.
It was divinity in that category as one of the best. I still have plenty more to try and film though so who knows, there might be another that could sound just as good?
@@thilo7546 Nathan, I've had two boxers and they don't compare in sound. Imho. R65Ls and R1200s. And the 1200 I had fitted a full Staintune kit on. The only thing which matches a Commando is a Guzzi. Again, imho.
Back in 75, I bought a MK3 Interstate when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath. Rode the bike all over UK and Belgium. Sold it when I came back to the US. Later in my life I found a basket case MK3 roadster (got it for $350). Needed a lot of work, installed reverse cone pipe, repaired the engine, painted the tank etc. Now I'm 69 and still have it. Love the look and sound. Enjoyed this video!!
Well done for correctly referring to reverse cones. Most you tube comments refer to pea shooters which are nothing to do with commandos at all. I also fitted them to my 76 MKIII, bought it in '77 & still own it.
Excellent video excellent sound too, i remember the cops in Bedfordshire used these bikes, And my fathers friends called in one day at home ,there were three Norton Commandoes on the drive, For a 14 year old that was so special,
Oh my God , this is a professional video since 1:30. IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE MY 1970 COMMANDO. BY 6:00 I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SO MANY MEMORIES OF WHAT MY BIKE SOUNDS LIKE AND HAS GIVEN ME FOR 50 YEARS AND LOTS MORE UNTIL I CAN'T RIDE IT ANT LONGER. Bought mine in 1973 when I was 20 years old. Will be 70 in July 23. Still can start it and drive it no problem.
Same as you, bought mine in '73 when I was 30. This is a video of me riding it in June 2023 ... czcams.com/video/3p3W-DH89ZA/video.htmlsi=aB67jaiwRmBwZMjh
I just love the old school black Nortons with the black and gold leafing they are so bad ass. I want to find one unrestored and just polish the old paint and chrome and leave the patina I want one more than ever now
Great journey -- thank you! I owned my 71 Roadster for 32 years and that sound brings back deep feelings of joy. I'm looking forward to the new technology in the 961.
I'm so glad you lugged the motor some. Most of these videos are on the pipe all the time. The ability to ride out of corners without downshifting is a real testament to me for how comfortable and easy the bike is to ride. It's sounded great and appears to have plenty of lugging torque.
Great comment - sitting still sounding sweet tells you nothing. Same as my 1967 Triumph Daytona, you have to ride it to appreciate how agile it is, and how much pull it has - it loves the throttle, especially on hills.
I am getting emotional! I bought this bike, a red one, in 1972, and I must say it was one of the most fun bikes I have ever driven! Still today I miss having one, just to take out on a sunny day sometimes!! At full speed the noise was enormous!! Also, that bike was the only British bike I have had that did not leak oil!! LOL!
Great sounding bike. Never owned one but I always remember my neighbor had one when I was 12 - 13. Every morning I heard him start that thing up and rip down the street. Great bike. Always wanted one.
Nice story. I'm sure a 65 hp Combat could keep up with a 39hp Rebel if it wanted to unless all that blue smoke coming out of your exhaust was choking him.
I rode pillion as a "youf" on a blue 850 Commando from Cromer to Norwich in the late 70s, and I still remember it well. What an incredible sound, and such a smooth ride
Lovely sound. It’s amazing how senses evoke memories. Just watching this takes me back about 25 years to my first ride of the Commando, which I still own, but haven’t ridden for a while. Thank you for sharing!
In 1993, I had a 1975 850 Commando get a frame up restoration by TC Christensen, of SunsetMotors. He updated the ignition, did some tricks with both the engine and suspension. What a fun bike to ride. For seven years it was my only motorcycle. It took double-time maintenance to keep it running right. When it ran right, it was awesome. I remember both of those days well. 😂.......it really was a nimble little fucker through the curves. I'd run it against anyone. It is the only motorcycle, out of six Harley Davidson motorcycles and four PII built Indian Motorcycles...... plus my first motorcycle, a mortally wounded 1974 Norton 850, that I am sentimental about. RIP Hogslayer.
That was a great ride. Thanks for sharing it. Nice trip down memory lane. I had three Nortons when I was younger, '71 and '72 750's and a '74 850. I loved them all. They were great bikes to ride. Had lots of bikes since, but the Nortons were always my favorite. Last bike I had was a Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan which I hated. Giant stupid pig of a thing.
What a sweet sound of a near Superbike in the 60s & 70s..had street respect then & still got cred today..Man that sounds nice! (Triumph Bonneville rider)
I wanted one when I was younger but fell for the Triumph TR6R single carb sound...The Norton was a magnificent beast that did well on the Isle of Man if I remember correctly.
It was a Superbike. The 1970 Commando had the fastest ET in the " Superbike Seven Shootout" March 1970 Cycle magazine. The slower bikes were - Kawi H1 Honda 750 four Triumph Trident triple Bsa Rocket 3 Harley XLCH Sportster 900 Suzuki Titan I still have the Magazine & 2 Commandos
Ah, a Commando! Not just music, a symphony of sound. I have a '72 750 with the Combat motor and he's stone stock except for an electronic ignition. I've had him for 45 years and since then, have had other notable machines, but this one will be with me until the end. Thanks for the great work!
Thanks John. I don't blame you. I wouldn't be letting go either. Not many of these bikes still on the road and it was a real privilege to ride this on and capture it all on camera.
I bought my 1970 purple Commando with no key for $400 back in 1973. I was 21 and had to have one of these bikes after hearing and seeing one at my high school. I still own and ride it today. Best bike I ever owned.
Sweet ride ! Working in Yellowknife, NWT; through the mail, I bought one of those Bad-Boy's, new in 1974 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I had the dealer install a Dunstall 810cc bore-kit and proceeded to make the trek back to Sarnia, Ontario.... and the rest as they say, is history ! 😎
I loved my old fastback, mine was bored to 890cc,Dunstall clip ons,Dunstall rear sets, Dunstall racing fairing, and a 2 into 1 into 2 exhaust system, as well as high comp pistons and valve springs. She used to hammer, pulled 130mph one fine morning and she did it easy
@@classicmoto1535 I'm blessed to have been young then. I was a Soldier based in Aldershot at the time. In 1978 i upgraded to a Commando Interstate M3 elec start from Gill Stevens M/Cs in Ash, for £925.00. Beam me back Scotty.
There could be no finer experience than this. I have a history with these that is too long to mention, but I always loved my Mark 11A - even though it was stolen so long ago.
These bikes sound absolutely wicked with Drag TT straights. And at night, like the BSA Lightning, shoots blue flame out about 4 inches going down the highway @ speed. Man do I miss the 60s.
Thank you Anthony 👍. I was surprised by how little shifting you actually needed to do on this bike. It had loads of torque and could pretty much do everything in third once you were moving.
I was lucky enough to be able to replace the rotting straight through seamless peashooters on my 1971 Roadster with replacement brand new ones of the same spec, now they are pure sound and they positively snarl when you roll the throttle off.
A friend of my father's had a Norton Commando. A beautiful bike. A 4-speed transmission with a lot of torque. Definitely hotter than the BSA or the Triumph. The motors were designed by the same guy. In a way kind of refined and still kind of brutal. Great bike.
@@classicmoto1535 Yes have not been able to get off it this week! Bringing all the memories flooding back from when I had Commandos in my teens and 20s:)
I was 19 when I traded a 1949 panhead for a 1969 Norton Commando. A lot of people thought I was nuts but I didn't think so. The Hog had been nothing but a money pit and the Norton was a little more within my budget plus it handled, had rear suspension (the pan was rigid) and had real brakes. I traded it in for a brand new 1971 Commando. The purchase price was $1495.00 CDN. A year later I traded it for a New Norton Combat with a few more ponies and a front disc brake. They were great bikes for their era and I wish there was something around today to replace them other than the W800 Kawasaki which is a gussied up Triumph. I preferred the Norton over the Triumph and BSA because it was unit construction. When I bought the 69 it had a set of megaphones on it that I never saw another set of. When I sold it part of the deal was to keep those and put them on the 71 and the stock pipes on the 69. I did the same thing again on the 72. There was something about the sound of those particular pipes that always appealed to me. The only street bike that rivaled a Norton in those days was the original Honda 750 fours. The Honda's were a little faster than the Norton's but the Norton's would handily beat them in the turns due to the suspension in the curves and the torque acceleration pulling out of the turns onto the straights. It was a great time to be a rider............
Thank you for writing this Scooter Tramp. It was wonderful to hear you story of trading in the Pan Head for the Norton and how you got on with it. Thank you for sharing it 👍
Walked into a bike shop in 1969 and saw a new candy apple red Norton Commando which I remember was selling for $1000 CDN. Thought it was the most beautiful Bike I've ever seen. It's still at the top of my list 50 plus years later. Was just out of high school looking for a job and dead broke so I couldn't even swing the thousand. I was sick about it. Ended up saving a thousand and needed transportation year round so I bought a black used Volkswagen with red leather interior. In 1975 I bought a 1973 Honda 750 four. A nice bike but not a Commando with its distinctive throaty growl, ability to take the curves and torque acceleration.
I'm starting to realise how many people love these bikes now from reading all these comments. I have also got a thing for this bike now I've ridden it.
You’ve certainly picked up the sound with no wind noise, good job. I remember going to the Earls Court motorcycle show in I think it was 1968 when the Commando was first introduced. Everyone was amazed by the price of £450 and thought it wouldn’t sell because it was too expensive! It was certainly a big change from the Featherbed Nortons. I owned a Norton 650SS at the time, got a Kawasaki Z900RS now.
I love Norton's 650ss. Such a clean and iconic design. I also own Kawasaki's, I've got two ZX7R's which are slowly becoming classics in their own right.
A very enjoyable video. I used to lust after Norton Commandos when I was young (and couldn't afford one), but I wouldn't think of getting one now because modern bikes are so much better in every way. But this is great nostalgia.
Yeah, I think you are right. It would be easy to get an old vintage bike and underestimate the amount of maintenance it will require, plus a hole new tool kit in imperial sizes.
@@classicmoto1535 I mean TVS bought Norton and they will be producing bikes again soon, so sooner or later we will be seeing a retro looking modern Norton on the street again
I love this to death. Just bought my fifth Commando(a ''71), out of ten Nortons in 44 years and can't wait to hear and feel that lovely Norton 750 snarl once again. Fab vid!!!
I lived in Andover where the Norton Villiers factory was . A couple would pass by where I worked on their way to Thruxton for a test run , awesome sound !!!!
Had one in Palma de Mallorca, thank you!!!!, your video send me filthy years back in time. !that sound and vibrations. We’re unique and impossible to forget, saved my life once due to the flexibility of her frame Hidrolastic, Ithink it was. Made mistake of selling her and exchanged for a Kawa400, triple cylinder. Memories again. Thank you for making this videos, will follow you!!!!! Cheers!!!!
I sold mine way back in '83. This video reminds me of that wonderful sound along with that torque that just pulls so nicely. Wish I still had it. Cheers!
OMG! Brings back a better time of my life! Was a Triumph rider .. had a 500 and a 750 ... Modified exhaust to get that sound! Had certain twisty roads I would ride to de-stress. Miss those days ...😊
That sound is so soothing to me having owned one back in the day. I owned a new one that was black with gold pin stripping and emblems, and Dunstall pipes! It was an 850 Commando, from 1973 I believe. I especially liked how the front wheel would shake about 1 inch back and forth while sitting at a stop when idling. Then it would smooth out like glass as I took off. Those bikes were fast, don't let the 60hp fool you. They were light and nimble, and fast to 100mph+.
I have had my 1970 since 1973. Just put the original Amals back on. My God that sounds so good, just like mine. Great video ! ! One of the best I've seen and heard ! Right on ! So glad I am a millwright mechanic (however) You really need good skills to keep these things running well, but it sure does !
Hi Stan. Some bikes you just can't let go. The owner of this one is exactly the same. He's loved and maintained this bike for over 30 years. He done some minor improvements aswell, including hardened valve seats so it can run on unleaded and a roller bearing conversion on the swing arm pivot.
I had a 68 Matchless G15 that sounded similar but with a deeper rumble than the Commando Pea Shooter exhaust. The first Commando in Canada was the 69 Fastback which had the same pipes as my Matchless.
My heart was in my mouth when I saw this video. Bought a brand new Norton commando roadster in 1973 for $1800. Hit a telephone pole when it had 400 miles on it. Almost got killed. Broke the forks, bent the frame, ruined the tank, bent the front wheel. After my stitches were removed I spent $1200 and about four months to put that motorcycle back together after which I rode it for years. During this period I think I was bringing home about $130 a week. Long time ago! Most athletic motorcycle I ever owned, and I have owned many now. I am 68. I was 22 then. God bless you guys!
Wow! It's really amazing to hear from people who owned them back in the day. And the prices you paid, if only they were that price now 😄
Hi Jerry, I liked your story a lot. I'm 4 years south of you but brought a 2nd hand 750 norton at age about 17. Crashed into a car about 100 meters from the shop after stalling her a dozen times or so. Too much power for youngsters buying a first bike which isnt legal now. Unlike you, me and the bike were fine. Left it in the shed for a few days then rode it again. Later I traded it on a new 750/4 which was a mistake looking back even though the Honda was a nice bike. Thanks again and cheers.
You had a nice memory with your bike😊
What a story! X
Love Norton's! Bought mine brand new in 1974, 850 Commando Roadster. Black, of course. Paid in the $1800 range also. Had to sell it in 1978. Wife and I were putting together down payment for our first house. Got $1200 for it with less than 3,000 miles on it. That really hurt to type that last sentence!
Does my soul good to hear a Commando at full throat. I haven’t ridden mine in many years as age and electric start have taken over. I still have my two 68 Fastbacks, a 72 Combat and a 74&5 Roadsters along with my 63 65 SS.
The Nortons, Triunphs, BSAs of the early 70s....damn. What an age of motorcycling genius. Design, sound, prestige...and fun. But being a decent mechanic was also very helpful.
A properly snortin' Norton. Thankyousomuch.
Magnificent sound capturing ❤
Eight minutes and nineteen seconds of heaven.
Thanks eekamoose. I still watch it every once in a while to remind myself as to how good that bike sounded. I wonder if any of my future video's will come anywhere close to sounding as nice?
One of the most respected bikes ever made. You can see and hear why.
1972, the year I was born... the Norton sounds better and looks in better condition than I do now.
That engine sounds nearly as good as Cats purring.
What a Magnificent Sounding and Great Motorcycle. 😍🥰
I bought my Norton Commando in 1968. $1,600.00 I took it to the drag races at Vargo, PA and Atco, NJ. They put me in the D-SS class with the big BSA Lightnings. The announcers at the tracks were anti-Norton till I took the trophy. Great bike. There's a YT video under Perrine's Racing.
Fifty years later. The pinnacle of motorcycling right here. It doesn't matter how many brake horse power modern motorbikes has. This is it 😎
8:18 of sheer bliss
One of the best sounding bikes ever made.
It was divinity in that category as one of the best. I still have plenty more to try and film though so who knows, there might be another that could sound just as good?
Except every R model BMW since 1923! 😉
@@nathanranft I have a couple of boxers myself, but the 4 valve boxers don't do it for me as much to be honest.
yep, these and the A10 Beezas.
@@thilo7546 Nathan, I've had two boxers and they don't compare in sound. Imho. R65Ls and R1200s. And the 1200 I had fitted a full Staintune kit on. The only thing which matches a Commando is a Guzzi. Again, imho.
I had a Fastback 72 with 4S end isolatics Upgrade command.
I miss you.
Back in 75, I bought a MK3 Interstate when I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath. Rode the bike all over UK and Belgium. Sold it when I came back to the US. Later in my life I found a basket case MK3 roadster (got it for $350). Needed a lot of work, installed reverse cone pipe, repaired the engine, painted the tank etc. Now I'm 69 and still have it. Love the look and sound. Enjoyed this video!!
Right Arm!
Well done for correctly referring to reverse cones. Most you tube comments refer to pea shooters which are nothing to do with commandos at all. I also fitted them to my 76 MKIII, bought it in '77 & still own it.
Haven’t heard that sound since high school. Thanks!
Our pleasure, glad it brought back fond memories for you.
I had one, 828cc. Now I have nostalgia.
There are quite a few people commenting on here who are reminiscing about when they used to own one.
Norton Commando Forever - This is the most beautiful sound a motorcycle can have
Excellent video excellent sound too, i remember the cops in Bedfordshire used these bikes, And my fathers friends called in one day at home ,there were three Norton Commandoes on the drive, For a 14 year old that was so special,
This is the stuff that dreams are made if! Terrific sound, beautiful bike, fantastic countryside, great video.
Oh my God , this is a professional video since 1:30. IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE MY 1970 COMMANDO. BY 6:00 I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SO MANY MEMORIES OF WHAT MY BIKE SOUNDS LIKE AND HAS GIVEN ME FOR 50 YEARS AND LOTS MORE UNTIL I CAN'T RIDE IT ANT LONGER. Bought mine in 1973 when I was 20 years old. Will be 70 in July 23. Still can start it and drive it no problem.
Same as you, bought mine in '73 when I was 30. This is a video of me riding it in June 2023 ... czcams.com/video/3p3W-DH89ZA/video.htmlsi=aB67jaiwRmBwZMjh
I just love the old school black Nortons with the black and gold leafing they are so bad ass. I want to find one unrestored and just polish the old paint and chrome and leave the patina I want one more than ever now
Great journey -- thank you! I owned my 71 Roadster for 32 years and that sound brings back deep feelings of joy. I'm looking forward to the new technology in the 961.
The 961 was plagued, but certain guys can run em great. My 71 Roadster 750 is still a "Snortin Norton!"
I'm so glad you lugged the motor some. Most of these videos are on the pipe all the time. The ability to ride out of corners without downshifting is a real testament to me for how comfortable and easy the bike is to ride. It's sounded great and appears to have plenty of lugging torque.
Great comment - sitting still sounding sweet tells you nothing. Same as my 1967 Triumph Daytona, you have to ride it to appreciate how agile it is, and how much pull it has - it loves the throttle, especially on hills.
Wonderful .
I am getting emotional! I bought this bike, a red one, in 1972, and I must say it was one of the most fun bikes I have ever driven! Still today I miss having one, just to take out on a sunny day sometimes!! At full speed the noise was enormous!! Also, that bike was the only British bike I have had that did not leak oil!! LOL!
I think of it as the last of the old British bikes. What a fantastic bike it was.
@@classicmoto1535 The best one actually....
@@classicmoto1535 I think of the Triumph Trident as the last gasp of old Brit bikes.
It was probably just out of oil. They all leak. Jk. I own 2 brush bikes that don't leak. My BSA leaks though.
What a beautiful sounding bike.
Thanks John. I also love the sound of this bike. It was a privilege to get a chance to ride it.
That is music to my ears. I had a ‘65 Triumph Bonneville!
Great sounding bike. Never owned one but I always remember my neighbor had one when I was 12 - 13. Every morning I heard him start that thing up and rip down the street. Great bike. Always wanted one.
COOL SOUNDS LIKE EVERY MOTORCYCLE EVER
My mate had a 750 combat years ago.i was on the back he took me for a blast and boy what a bike.
I'm not surprised it's something that you remember well. 👍
Nice sound.I remember blowing past one of these on my 350cc Suzuki Rebel.Couldnt keep up :)
Nice story. I'm sure a 65 hp Combat could keep up with a 39hp Rebel if it wanted to unless all that blue smoke coming out of your exhaust was choking him.
I rode pillion as a "youf" on a blue 850 Commando from Cromer to Norwich in the late 70s, and I still remember it well. What an incredible sound, and such a smooth ride
I bet that was fun!!
Lovely sound. It’s amazing how senses evoke memories. Just watching this takes me back about 25 years to my first ride of the Commando, which I still own, but haven’t ridden for a while. Thank you for sharing!
Got that commando running?
@@joshuageetter6050 yeah she runs alright!👍🏼
Now that’s a real mans bike, I remember it well awesome 😎🇨🇦
One of the best bikes i ever owned. Still miss it and it's been 30 yrs.
Reading the comments on this video it sounds like you're not alone. There is alot of love for these old commando's.
The sound of music. Lovely road with hardly any wheelchairs to get in the way. Lovely.
😄 Itwas a glorious day. It would have made a nice postcard with Norton in the countryside with a blue sky.
The more money the government puts up for "wheelchairs" and "children" watch them start to get in the way..
Enjoyed that, lovely bike , sound's great
In 1993, I had a 1975 850 Commando get a frame up restoration by TC Christensen, of SunsetMotors. He updated the ignition, did some tricks with both the engine and suspension. What a fun bike to ride. For seven years it was my only motorcycle.
It took double-time maintenance to keep it running right. When it ran right, it was awesome. I remember both of those days well. 😂.......it really was a nimble little fucker through the curves. I'd run it against anyone.
It is the only motorcycle, out of six Harley Davidson motorcycles and four PII built Indian Motorcycles...... plus my first motorcycle, a mortally wounded 1974 Norton 850, that I am sentimental about. RIP Hogslayer.
Looks fantastic and that sound is awesome..wow!!!
The commando has definitely got an intoxicating sound. Reading through all the comments it seems to be something that you never forget.
That was a great ride. Thanks for sharing it. Nice trip down memory lane. I had three Nortons when I was younger, '71 and '72 750's and a '74 850. I loved them all. They were great bikes to ride. Had lots of bikes since, but the Nortons were always my favorite. Last bike I had was a Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan which I hated. Giant stupid pig of a thing.
Hi Theo , did you belong to the Billericay bike club in the 70s?
Where are those Commandos?
What a sweet sound of a near Superbike in the 60s & 70s..had street respect then & still got cred today..Man that sounds nice! (Triumph Bonneville rider)
Thank you Lee. Hopefully I'll be able to include a Bonneville as one of my future video's. 👍
I wanted one when I was younger but fell for the Triumph TR6R single carb sound...The Norton was a magnificent beast that did well on the Isle of Man if I remember correctly.
It was a Superbike. The 1970 Commando had the fastest ET in the " Superbike Seven Shootout" March 1970 Cycle magazine. The slower bikes were -
Kawi H1
Honda 750 four
Triumph Trident triple
Bsa Rocket 3
Harley XLCH Sportster 900
Suzuki Titan
I still have the Magazine
& 2 Commandos
@@glenbreaks5448Very cool. Own a couple also. That comparison sounds about right.
Wish I had one of them now!
Nice bikes I rode one in the 70s
What an awesome time to be riding bikes. I bet you have some fascinating story you could tell.
Ah, a Commando! Not just music, a symphony of sound. I have a '72 750 with the Combat motor and he's stone stock except for an electronic ignition. I've had him for 45 years and since then, have had other notable machines, but this one will be with me until the end. Thanks for the great work!
Thanks John. I don't blame you. I wouldn't be letting go either. Not many of these bikes still on the road and it was a real privilege to ride this on and capture it all on camera.
I bought my 1970 purple Commando with no key for $400 back in 1973. I was 21 and had to have one of these bikes after hearing and seeing one at my high school. I still own and ride it today. Best bike I ever owned.
Awesome mate I also have a 750 combat ,no way I'm letting it go
"Stone Stock" on the Combat is one Hhhhhhot motor!
Still have mine. Bought her new in '72.
Im a supersport guy. I think im starting to love this kinda bike
I can'tget enough of the 360 degree parallel twin sound. 🔊😍👌
😂
Need a side by side co parison between a 270 Interceptor and the Norton.. my preference is the Interceptor with stock pipes. 😆👍
Brings back so many great memories. Had a 750 roadster when I was 17 then Mk 2a and Mk 3 850s. Have a V Max now but loved my Nortons.
I had a P11 for about 6mo before I entered the Army in '68. Wish I had stored it and still had it.
Sweet ride ! Working in Yellowknife, NWT; through the mail, I bought one of those Bad-Boy's, new in 1974 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I had the dealer install a Dunstall 810cc bore-kit and proceeded to make the trek back to Sarnia, Ontario.... and the rest as they say, is history ! 😎
I loved my old fastback, mine was bored to 890cc,Dunstall clip ons,Dunstall rear sets, Dunstall racing fairing, and a 2 into 1 into 2 exhaust system, as well as high comp pistons and valve springs. She used to hammer, pulled 130mph one fine morning and she did it easy
Where's dat bike, Mate?
And.. What a great day for a ride out too 😎😎.
Fantastic. My only mode of transport in 1977, a '72 Fastback, cost £340 with an MOT.
Wow. If only they cost £340 now. What fantastic years they must have been?
@@classicmoto1535 I'm blessed to have been young then. I was a Soldier based in Aldershot at the time. In 1978 i upgraded to a Commando Interstate M3 elec start from Gill Stevens M/Cs in Ash, for £925.00. Beam me back Scotty.
Always loved this sound and what a beautiful bike! I'd like one like that! Norton!
There could be no finer experience than this. I have a history with these that is too long to mention, but I always loved my Mark 11A - even though it was stolen so long ago.
What a beauty!
the pipes.. oh my god the pipes.....
These bikes sound absolutely wicked with Drag TT straights. And at night, like the BSA Lightning, shoots blue flame out about 4 inches going down the highway @ speed. Man do I miss the 60s.
It was a great sounding bike, I'd love to get a chance to do a city ride on one in the early hours.
You are welcome.
@@classicmoto1535 That would be cool with that exhaust note racking off in the buildings downtown.
super ballade, merci ;) j'adore cette Norton :O
My Dream bike that will happen. Cheers for the cruise,from NZ.
Absolutely awesome video great to see another Norton Commando out on our local roads :)
Very good rider. He's got the shifting down perfectly.
Thank you Anthony 👍. I was surprised by how little shifting you actually needed to do on this bike. It had loads of torque and could pretty much do everything in third once you were moving.
Sounds incredible thanks for sharing
I was lucky enough to be able to replace the rotting straight through seamless peashooters on my 1971 Roadster with replacement brand new ones of the same spec, now they are pure sound and they positively snarl when you roll the throttle off.
I always use Dunstall Decibel model gatling mufflers, Commando sound with sub woofer overrev!
A friend of my father's had a Norton Commando. A beautiful bike. A 4-speed transmission with a lot of torque. Definitely hotter than the BSA or the Triumph. The motors were designed by the same guy.
In a way kind of refined and still kind of brutal. Great bike.
I got one! 1972 Roadster, immaculate and well looked after:)
Cool, do you get to ride it often?
@@classicmoto1535 Yes have not been able to get off it this week! Bringing all the memories flooding back from when I had Commandos in my teens and 20s:)
My brother had a 750 Norton short stroke......that thing was so fast.
What is a short stroke Norton?
I was 19 when I traded a 1949 panhead for a 1969 Norton Commando. A lot of people thought I was nuts but I didn't think so. The Hog had been nothing but a money pit and the Norton was a little more within my budget plus it handled, had rear suspension (the pan was rigid) and had real brakes. I traded it in for a brand new 1971 Commando. The purchase price was $1495.00 CDN. A year later I traded it for a New Norton Combat with a few more ponies and a front disc brake. They were great bikes for their era and I wish there was something around today to replace them other than the W800 Kawasaki which is a gussied up Triumph. I preferred the Norton over the Triumph and BSA because it was unit construction. When I bought the 69 it had a set of megaphones on it that I never saw another set of. When I sold it part of the deal was to keep those and put them on the 71 and the stock pipes on the 69. I did the same thing again on the 72. There was something about the sound of those particular pipes that always appealed to me. The only street bike that rivaled a Norton in those days was the original Honda 750 fours. The Honda's were a little faster than the Norton's but the Norton's would handily beat them in the turns due to the suspension in the curves and the torque acceleration pulling out of the turns onto the straights. It was a great time to be a rider............
Thank you for writing this Scooter Tramp. It was wonderful to hear you story of trading in the Pan Head for the Norton and how you got on with it. Thank you for sharing it 👍
Walked into a bike shop in 1969 and saw a new candy apple red Norton Commando which I remember was selling for $1000 CDN. Thought it was the most beautiful Bike I've ever seen. It's still at the top of my list 50 plus years later.
Was just out of high school looking for a job and dead broke so I couldn't even swing the thousand. I was sick about it.
Ended up saving a thousand and needed transportation year round so I bought a black used Volkswagen with red leather
interior. In 1975 I bought a 1973 Honda 750 four. A nice bike but not a Commando with its distinctive throaty growl, ability to take the curves and torque acceleration.
Looks great and sounds fantastic, and that appeared to be a ride to remember.
That is beautiful to look at and to hear. Great vid. Thanks for the ride.
Excellent video, it took me back to what it was like riding my '75 Norton 850 Commando, especially after l had Dunstall mufflers installed on it.
My all-time most favorite bike - since the 60s!
I'm starting to realise how many people love these bikes now from reading all these comments. I have also got a thing for this bike now I've ridden it.
You’ve certainly picked up the sound with no wind noise, good job. I remember going to the Earls Court motorcycle show in I think it was 1968 when the Commando was first introduced. Everyone was amazed by the price of £450 and thought it wouldn’t sell because it was too expensive! It was certainly a big change from the Featherbed Nortons. I owned a Norton 650SS at the time, got a Kawasaki Z900RS now.
I love Norton's 650ss. Such a clean and iconic design. I also own Kawasaki's, I've got two ZX7R's which are slowly becoming classics in their own right.
beautiful 360 stroker noise
Music to the ears
A very enjoyable video. I used to lust after Norton Commandos when I was young (and couldn't afford one), but I wouldn't think of getting one now because modern bikes are so much better in every way. But this is great nostalgia.
Yeah, I think you are right. It would be easy to get an old vintage bike and underestimate the amount of maintenance it will require, plus a hole new tool kit in imperial sizes.
@@classicmoto1535 I mean TVS bought Norton and they will be producing bikes again soon, so sooner or later we will be seeing a retro looking modern Norton on the street again
Parallel sounds 👍...great!!
I totally agree. I fell in love with the sound as soon as I rode it. 👍
Wow what a glorious Sound. Man that Commando is such a Fantastic Machine to ride. Superb 👌
Thank you Alistair 👍
That's one of the best sounding motorcycles ever, thanks for making this video.
Einfach nur Klasse wie die Maschine sich anhört!
I love this to death. Just bought my fifth Commando(a ''71), out of ten Nortons in 44 years and can't wait to hear and feel that lovely Norton 750 snarl once again. Fab vid!!!
Sounds just right.
One of the best bikes ever made.
There is alot of love for these bikes.
I lived in Andover where the Norton Villiers factory was . A couple would pass by where I worked on their way to Thruxton for a test run , awesome sound !!!!
superb sound quality! thx a lot
No Problem. Thanks for watching Peter 👍
Beautiful bike. Sounds so Cool. Also love the fork mounted instruments!
Road an 1974 850 for about 4 years with straight out Dunstall mufflers ,gee this clip brings back some great memories .
Hi John, I'm so glad this video can help remind you of some great times.
Stunning
A beautiful sexy motorcycle I have ridden 1 1979 vibration was a little of putting on idle but ridding was absolute pleasure highly recommend
Had one in Palma de Mallorca, thank you!!!!, your video send me filthy years back in time. !that sound and vibrations. We’re unique and impossible to forget, saved my life once due to the flexibility of her frame Hidrolastic, Ithink it was. Made mistake of selling her and exchanged for a Kawa400, triple cylinder. Memories again. Thank you for making this videos, will follow you!!!!! Cheers!!!!
I sold mine way back in '83. This video reminds me of that wonderful sound along with that torque that just pulls so nicely. Wish I still had it. Cheers!
Such an invocative sound of those days. Who knows what the 2021 Norton's will be like? Delighted to subscribe.
I really hope they restore Norton's name. It's such a shame that it has been unfairly dragged through the mud all because of a couple of bad eggs.
@@classicmoto1535 Could not agree more.
Nice matching clocks , a real treat to see and hear ,enjoy your ride out .
OMG! Brings back a better time of my life! Was a Triumph rider .. had a 500 and a 750 ... Modified exhaust to get that sound! Had certain twisty roads I would ride to de-stress. Miss those days ...😊
That sound is so soothing to me having owned one back in the day. I owned a new one that was black with gold pin stripping and emblems, and Dunstall pipes! It was an 850 Commando, from 1973 I believe. I especially liked how the front wheel would shake about 1 inch back and forth while sitting at a stop when idling. Then it would smooth out like glass as I took off. Those bikes were fast, don't let the 60hp fool you. They were light and nimble, and fast to 100mph+.
Yeah, I noticed the front wheel likes to shake when it's idling. It makes it looks like the forks were was also rubber mounted 😄
Yeah, the 850 Commando was the bomb.
@@classicmoto1535 my front mudguard fell off mine due to vibration!
6:37 This sound sweet :-)
Great bike and sounds amazing ❤
I have had my 1970 since 1973. Just put the original Amals back on. My God that sounds so good, just like mine. Great video ! ! One of the best I've seen and heard ! Right on ! So glad I am a millwright mechanic (however) You really need good skills to keep these things running well, but it sure does !
Hi Stan. Some bikes you just can't let go. The owner of this one is exactly the same. He's loved and maintained this bike for over 30 years. He done some minor improvements aswell, including hardened valve seats so it can run on unleaded and a roller bearing conversion on the swing arm pivot.
I had a 68 Matchless G15 that sounded similar but with a deeper rumble than the Commando Pea Shooter exhaust. The first Commando in Canada was the 69 Fastback which had the same pipes as my Matchless.
I am hopefully riding a BSA A10 soon which has a much deeper rumble than the Norton. Possibly down to the silencer though?
Me dad's got a 74 interstate, I try to get out on it as much as I can. Love the old British twins
How much you want for it?