1973 Norton Commando 850

•••••1973••••
Norton Commando 850

Mileage: 19353
Build Month: August • Build Year: 1972

VIN #: 211246
Engine #: 300520
Transmission #: 211246
Upper frame backbone #: 20G2
Title: Street Legal Montana

CORRECTED INFORMATION:
Judging from the VIN and engine number you have a 1972 750 frame

Could have been titled as a 1973 depending on the state

Original transmission and an early 850 engine

There are several resources to confirm this. I used:
http://classicenglishbikes.com/tech_file/norton.html

The bike is a 1972 Mk4 750 machine (would have originally had a post Combat detuned engine)

The orig 750 engine to this bike has been replaced with a 1st year 850 engine

Commandos ALWAYS left the factory with matching engine, gearbox & frame numbers.

CSI: Commando Size Increased

I spoke to the owner (Greg) about the Commando

He was not aware that his 850 is actually a 1972 750

So here goes a little theory/conjecture/alternative facts:

FACT: The Commando is actually a 1972 750 and is titled 1973 Norton VIN# 211246.
The title is from Colorado where the current owner lived before moving to Montana.
Greg says that a vehicle was usually titled the year that it was sold.
He had a few titles for his 1975 Nortons that listed them as 1977/1978 because a lot of bikes went unsold.
Back in the Day riders did not care about "matching numbers"

FACT: It has an 850 engine with 300520 stamping which is an early engine.

850 engines started at 30000.

Greg thinks that the first owner blew up the 750 engine and that the dealer replaced the engine with the 850.

Either under warranty or the first owner wanted the bigger engine.

Owner was probably mad that 850 came out and they were stuck with a "lowly" 750.