Highlights

• A great looking Commando with pristine looking paintwork and bright chrome
• It is in delightfully original order and remains very faithful to factory specs 
• From the first year of the solely 850cc production run

The Appeal

This Commando is a 1973 model, which was the year they became an 850cc motorcycle, or strictly speaking 828cc in reality. It presents in a great, overall condition and offers a high degree of originality which will appeal to the purists. The bike has been enjoyed by a mere two UK owners with tenures of 11 and 22 years respectively. It’s now ready for the summer in the hands of its next lucky owner.

The History and Paperwork

• This Commando is shown as being manufactured at the end of 1973
• It was first registered in the UK in December 1991
• This would suggest that the motorcycle was imported from overseas
• The motorcycle is being sold by only its second UK keeper
• The first owner bought the bike in 1991 and kept it until 2002
• The current owner acquired the motorcycle in 2002
• The Commando has only covered 18,530 miles during its 51-year history
• The bike is being sold with its V5 present in the name of the current owner
• The online MoT history shows that it was last MoT’d in December 2015
• Since then, the Norton has covered 1 (one!) mile
• Being over 40 years old the bike should qualify for MoT and VED exemption
• The motorcycle is currently registered as SORN
  
  

The Interior

• The riding environment of the Commando is an object lesson in simplicity
• The chequer squared vinyl seat is finished in black
• It is full length to allow for a pillion when required
• The pillion has use of a tubular grab-rail which is fitted behind the saddle
• Fold down, rubber covered foot pegs are available for the passenger
• The rider has a view over a pair of white on black Smiths clocks
• Further controls are situated on the grip bases each side
• Fixed, tubular, rubber covered pegs are available for the rider
• A machined, alloy foot brake in on the left 
• Kick start and gear lever are situated on the right
• It’s a very traditional set up but in excellent condition throughout
  
  

The Exterior

• Our example is a Roadster model, the most popular Commando model
• This is distinguished by a low-level exhaust
• The upward turned, reverse cone silencers are also Roadster specific
• Paintwork is minimal on the Commando with just tank and side panels painted
• The red paintwork in these areas, however, looks to be faultless
• The Norton and 850 Commando script is finished in gold
• The tubular frame is finished in gloss black which exhibits just the odd chip
• The chrome of the mudguards, bars and silencers looks bright and shiny
• Rubbers to various controls all look complete and un-perished 
• Light and indicator lenses all look to be in good, original fettle
• The wheels are chromed, cross spoked 19-inch items
• They look to be in a good condition overall
• These are fitted with Dunlop Roadmaster tyres with a deep tread in evidence
  
  

The Mechanics

• The Commando was fitted with an 828cc engine across all models from 1973
• This was marketed as an “850” and is the engine fitted here
• This is a parallel twin with 2 pushrod valves per cylinder
• This is an air-cooled unit that breathes through 2 Amal carburettors
• In this configuration it was originally rated at 60 bhp at 6,200rpm
• Power is delivered via a four-speed gearbox
• The 850 Commandos were all fitted with a single front disc
• The alloy side plates of the engine are in good order
• They are deeply inscribed with the Norton script
• The fins of the cylinder housings seem to be nicely finished and in good order
• The fuel pipes from the tank to the carburettors appear a little cracked
• Given the period of time since the bike was used a thorough mechanical check is advised
• The owner reports the bike as last having been run in around 2016
• It has been dry stored since then
  
  

Summary