1975 Norton Commando

1975 Norton Commando Roadster Mk3 Electric Start.

No Expense Spared.

Fully Restored and Highly Modified.

A Complete Nut & Bolt / Top-to-Bottom Restoration.

A Much Improved Vintage Classic.

This bike shifts on the LEFT SIDE and the rear brake lever is on the RIGHT SIDE.

THIS BIKE HAS ELECTRIC START.

Complete Frame-off Restoration by Zap Cycle, using every modern upgrade.

Looks very original, very vintage, but is loaded with modern upgrades.

Note: When I mention “genuine Norton parts”, I am referring to brand new parts made today by Andover Norton International Ltd. According to their website: “Andover Norton was established by Norton Villiers to continue the manufacture and distribution of Genuine Norton Spare Parts when Norton Motors Ltd was liquidated in 1977. Andover Norton has the original tooling and the original drawings and is continuously getting parts made to original or, where advisable, improved specification by our specialist suppliers- foundries, forges and machine shops most of which are based in the Midlands.”

FRAME-OFF RESTORATION

Frame stamped 850-332478

Frame VIN Tag stamped 332478

Engine number stamped 850-332478

Gearbox number stamped 332478

Clean title in my name.

ENGINE

Head-work, ports cleaned up, intakes matched.

Head surface has been milled for assured gasket sealing.

New connecting rod big-end bearings.

New Superblend main crankshaft bearings.

Kibblewhite valve guides.

Black Diamond valves.

New Powermax pistons & rings (.040”).

Lightened and polished rockers to give quicker acceleration.

High performance valve springs.

Cylinder deck has been milled for assured gasket sealing surfaces.

New genuine Norton 1S cam.

New genuine Norton camshaft chain.

New genuine Norton camchain tensioner.

New genuine Norton camshaft bushings.

Reground lifters.

Positive crankcase ventilation valve.

Genuine Norton adjustable Vernier isolastics (all isolastic parts are new genuine Norton).

Dave Taylor head steady, which is the ultimate way of locking the engine/ transmission unit in alignment with the rear wheel. The engine can move fore and aft, but not side to side, so handling is much improved and more predictable.

New pressure relief valve, upgraded to 60psi.

Genuine Norton alloy pushrods have been polished.

New genuine Norton oil pump.

New oil lines, with an in-line anti-sumping valve.

Braided stainless steel rocker oil lines, for better reliability over OEM nylon lines.

Upgraded tachometer drive housing, preventing leaks at the cable hook-up.

New genuine Norton sump filter body.

New headers with new improved (RGM) exhaust nuts.

Early Commando-style peashooter mufflers.

New muffler mounting rubbers, and new stainless steel muffler brackets.

All drain plugs and inspection plugs are new.

GEARBOX AND CLUTCH

Transmission has been completely and thoroughly overhauled.

Every part showing even minor wear has been replaced.

All bearings, bushings, and springs have been replaced.

The kickstart lever assembly is new.

Upgraded electric starter system, using a high output 4-brush starter motor and upgraded 18-cam sprag gear in lieu of out-dated 14-cam sprag gear.

New genuine Norton crankshaft sprocket/outer sprag race (engine sprocket 06-4681) carries the new genuine Renold primary chain, as OEM.

New genuine Norton starter shaft main gear/internal sprag race (06-4731) and genuine Norton needle bearing (06-4711).

New genuine Norton idler gears and new genuine Norton starter shaft gear (06-4707).

New solenoid, and heavy duty starter wires.

New genuine Norton primary chain adjuster body assembly (06-4718) and new genuine Norton plunger assemblies (06-5341). It's imperative to replace these parts, as the tensioner body eventually becomes twisted out-of-square. When this happens, the plungers are forced outward, and cannot retract into the body, which results in exerting so much pressure against the primary chain as to stall the engine.

All clutch parts are new, including a genuine Norton clutch center (06-3979), a new upgraded diaphragm spring (06-0770), a new spring circlip (06-0751), new Barnett fiber and steel clutch plates, genuine Norton clutch basket bearing (06-0750), and new adjuster screw and nut.

The clutch has been upgraded with our well-known ZM EZ-Pull clutch modification, which includes a needle roller clutch pushrod system and modified clutch activating parts. All of which results in much less clutch drag, and a much lighter lever pull. Imagine a Norton with a very strong clutch, but a two-finger clutch-pull.

New genuine Norton clutch lever.

New Venhill easy-pull clutch cable.

CHARGING SYSTEM AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Pazon electronic ignition, which fires on only 10.8 volts. (Boyer requires 12.5 volts)

New coils.

New high output alternator stator and new rotor.

New Tympanium solid-state regulator/rectifier.

New maintenance-free, glass-mat sealed battery, high cold-cranking-amps.

New ignition switch, two keys.

New headlight assembly.

New taillight internals and new lens.

CARBURETORS

New upgraded Amal Premier carburetors, which are designed with forged, hard-anodized slides for longevity and non-stick.

Another improvement of the Premier carbs is a 'stay-up' float made from a military grade material that will not allow the float to sink for any reason.

This float is adjustable unlike the OEM float.

A Viton float needle is another bonus.

The carb uses a removable pilot jet for better fine-tuning, where the OEM Amal's pilot jet is not removable.

K & N high-flow washable reusable air cleaner.

New genuine Norton throttle assembly.

New genuine Norton throttle cables.

FRAME AND CHASSIS

Powder-coated frame and all black parts.

Every nut and bolt is brand new, stainless steel where practical and available.

New handle bars, “Semi-Western type” as were installed on USA bikes.

New handle bar switches.

New stainless steel front fender.

New stainless steel rear fender.

New taillight fairing.

New steel gas tank, freshly painted correctly, as OEM.

New steel side covers, freshly painted. Electric Start decal is optional.

Correct Mk3 mirrors.

New genuine Norton swingarm bushings.

Good side stand with new genuine Norton bushings and return spring.

Good centerstand with new genuine Norton bushings and return spring.

New genuine Norton footpeg brackets.

New hinged seat with seat lock, two keys.

New polished alloy seat knobs.

New chrome grab rail, as was OEM. We can install stainless steel, if desired.

WHEELS and TIRES

We've rebuilt the wheels with Devon chrome rims, as was OEM.

New Buchanan polished stainless steel spokes, and Buchanan stainless steel nipples.

Tires are English-made Avon Roadrunners in the same size and tread pattern as were OEM.

New wheel bearings.

New rear wheel hub drive cushion rubbers.

FINAL DRIVE

We've chosen a 21 tooth countershaft sprocket as being the best combination of quick acceleration and comfortable revs at highway speeds.

New high performance RK drive chain.

New stainless steel chain guard.

New chain adjusters.

FRONT-END AND FRONT SUSPENSION

Upgraded Timpken steering bearings.

Overhauled front forks, new stanchion tubes, new internal bushings.

New and improved Progressive brand fork springs.

New genuine Norton fork lock, two keys.

REAR SUSPENSION

New Progressive brand shocks, 13” eye-to-eye.

GAS TANK

Gas tank is new, steel, as OEM, freshly painted correctly.

New petcocks, high performance Motion Pro gas line.

FRONT BRAKES

New genuine Norton brake lever.

New genuine Norton brake lines. We will upgrade to braided stainless steel brake line for no charge.

Original master cylinder has been upgraded with a sleeved, stainless steel master cylinder body, which increases the hydraulic fluid pressure at the caliper.

New stainless steel caliper pistons.

New genuine Ferodo brake pads.

Our brake modifications improve stopping power tremendously over the OEM set-up.

New brake fluid reservoir cap.

REAR BRAKES

New upgraded stainless steel master cylinder.

New stainless steel caliper pistons.

New genuine Norton brake line.

We will upgrade to braided stainless steel brake line for no charge.

New genuine Norton brake lever.

New genuine Norton brake lever return spring.

New brake fluid reservoir cap.

INSTRUMENTS

Genuine Norton speedometer, odometer reset to zero, overhauled by Nisonger Instrument in Mamaroneck, NY.

New Venhill speedometer cable.

New genuine Norton speedometer drive unit (06-5540).

Genuine Norton tachometer, overhauled by Nisonger Instrument.

New Venhill tachometer cable.

LED instrument lights.

OTHER LIGHTING

LED taillights.

New genuine Lucas OEM signals.

ENGINE BREAK-IN

Fresh oil change after 30 break-in miles on an indoor 'rolling road'.

Another fresh oil change after apx 150 road miles.

Head gasket re-torqued, valves re-adjusted.

GASOLINE

Runs strong on pump gas, although we always recommend non-ethanol (no alcohol).

#1 choice: non-ethanol

#2 choice: 87-91 octane, adding Star-Tron gas treatment.

High octane is not necessary, but if you choose to use it, make sure you add Star-Tron gas treatment, as much of the high octane has alcohol added, and Star-Tron will negate the damaging effects of ethanol.

Fresh gas is most important, as there will be less likelihood of water in the gas.

EXTRAS

Complete with genuine Norton tool tray and tool kit.

The purchase of this bike will be an investment that is sure to increase in value.

We've built the bike with modern upgrades, while keeping the appearance of the bike very original. Overall improvements over stock result in quicker acceleration, faster on top power, with smoother running engine.

Buyer will be provided with an indepth list of non-stock parts, in the event repairs may be required in the years to come.

If the Buyer wishes us to substitute the dual Amal Premier carburetors for a new single Mikuni set-up, we will oblige at no extra cost.