1973 Norton Commando 850 Hi Rider or Roadster - you choose! UK bike ride home

Norton Commando. This is a genuine UK model first registered in 1973. So qualifies for free road tax. I've owned this for just over three years. the previous owner since 1991. As a consequence I have old MOT certificates and tax discs dating back nearly 25 years and lots of receipts. It has now covered 16.000 miles and the MOT's support this. It wintered on the Isle of Wight and I've just ridden it back to London - 100 faultless miles. cruising at 70mph. I'm about to lose my storage for a year or so and need to dispose of three bikes. My British bikes are probably the easiest to sell and. of course. the easiest to replace. hence the Commando and next the T140D.

The winner will. in effect. be getting two bikes for the price of one. I bought it as a black Roadster in stock condition. but managed to acquire an original and complete Hi Rider kit from Matt Vale (author of the definitive Norton Commando restoration book which featured his Hi Rider resto) – tank. seat. cissy bar. enormous handlebars. small headlamp and longer control cables. The Hi Rider is extremely rare and a quirky footnote in Norton's history as the factory attempted to cash in on the nascent chopper craze following the release of the movie ‘Easy Rider'. Strapped for cash. they couldn't afford to build a ‘proper' chopper. so cleverly modified a standard bike to look like it had raked forks and longer wheelbase. but underneath its pure Roadster. If you look at the angle of the tank. the way the bars seem to stretch the line of the forks and the transfer offsets it really does look raked. Now. I put all this on for a laugh. but its so unusual and comfortable to ride. I've never quite got round to changing it back! I have. safely tucked away. the original steel roadster tank. side panels. recovered saddle. grab rail. large headlight. big rear light and flatter bars and they will come with the bike. It takes about an hour to swap it over. its really easy. Bet you don't do it. though! I've posted a picture of it in regular roadster form. for reference.

Right. the bike itself. In almost continual use. and regularly MOT'd. it is mostly original and largely unrestored. It especially attracts attention in the Hi Rider form and most people haven't seen one. or even knew Norton made such a model. I would describe it as a bright. clean. runner. but not so shiny that you're frightened to use it if it might rain. Details:

Frame paint and fittings - mostly original and in good overall condition 7/10

Orange Hi Rider paint - Fireflake orange. perfect 10/10

Black Roadster paint - overall very good. a few marks in places 8/10

Chrome - original and worn in places. particularly footrest hangers and front wheel rim. I've tried to take a picture. not bad. but not perfect. Rims are original. Jones at the back. 8/10. Dunlop front. with lifting in places. If I were to keep it I'd plan on replacing the rims. or having them rechromed (they are original and its almost a shame to swap them). Silencers. grab rail and handlebars all very good. Overall 6/10

Clocks and switchgear - both instruments work correctly and show no damage or repair marks. and I had both switches professionally rewired with grey cables as per stock. 10/10

Wiring and electrics - complete new loom. Boyer ignition. Boyer powerbox. Odyssey battery. I can't abide unreliable bikes. so this was all replaced as a matter of course with everything properly crimped. no dodgy blue or red crimps here! 10/10

Clutch - Norvil belt conversion. the lightest clutch I've ever used and in perfect order 10/10

Charging system - 10/10

Gearbox - perfect ratio selection 10/10

Engine - in 2013 I took the top end off for vapour blasting. had the barrels stove enameled and rebuilt it with new rings and stainless bolt kit (£150- for bolts!). The motor looks very tidy now and starts perfectly. idles well and produces smooth power. If I'm being really picky it smokes a little if left standing for a while until it warms up fully. but mostly its fine. It was written up as an article for RealClassic Magazine and a copy comes with the bike. The engine uses virtually no oil now. most unusual in a British bike! 9/10

Take it as read the brakes work well. the front completely rebuilt with platinum pads. all the cables are Venhill ultra glide. the carbs were stripped and ultrasonically cleaned. new cartridge oil filter every year and fresh classic 20/50 dino oil.

Overall. we have a superb and interesting bike in clean. riding condition. It's not a unused concours trailer queen. nor some old shonker that'll cost five grand to fix up. Rather. it's a bike that looks clean and is ready to ride NOW and enjoy the season on. Over the winter you could re-chrome a couple of bits and perhaps rebuild the wheels. but that's up to you. It charges. lights. handles. goes and stops like a Norton Commando should and has NEVER let me down.

I have a man with a van who is very reasonable and any inspection most welcome. I'm in West London. near Kempton Park. I've also tried a shaky video of it starting and idling. It will normally fire up first or second kick and is a really easy starter.

I've decided this has to go so have listed it with a modest. Paul's losing a fortune. reserve. But I hope you'll see sense any pay me what its worth. of course! Commandos are very desirable and especially so this bike because its ready to ride. sorted and comes with both sets of bodywork. so the best of both worlds.

Have a look at the photos. watch the video. ask any questions. come and see it.

I think I paid about 4.5K for it and have easily spent a further two thousand pounds getting it to this fine condition ( piles of receipts. especially from Norvil). I'm not looking to make a huge profit. its been a fantastic experience owning it. but I'm not prepared to lose thousands on it. I'll just sell something else instead. If it reaches what I consider to be a realistic amount I will include a workshop manual. parts list and a signed copy of the Matt Vale book. the subject of which is wearing the Hi Rider bodywork now fitted to my bike. As it's so rare in this form. does it command a price premium over a regular Commando? Or is a standard roadster worth more? Decide for yourself. you're getting both! You could even sell the body kit you don't want. I'd imagine each set must be close to a thousand pounds.