norton Commando T H E NORTON COMMANDO AT FIFTY HALF A CENTURY OF GLORY, TINGED WITH THE THRILL OF UNCERTAINTY By Peter Egan Illustrations by Mick Ofield 44 CYCLE WORLD DECEMBER 2017 CYCLEWORLD.COM 45 norton Commando Illustrations and modeling of the never-produced Commando Mk 4 from the sketchbook of Mick Ofield, Norton employee 1972-'80. Merger brought parts sharing with Triumph models. “love/hate relationship” with Nortons, but it might be more accurately de- scribed as a “love/hope relationship.” I know all their foibles but keep thinking that just the right upgrades to modern materials, electronics, and sealants will render them virtually as useful and reli- and then 850 Roadsters of the early ’70s the Whitworth wrenches I still own. able as any modern motorcycle. And I to win my heart. I spent hours gazing Later that year, the Commando seized know people who have made that theory at those full-color Commando ads in- and bent an exhaust valve in Montana work for them. My friend Bill Getty, who side the front cover of every major bike while Barb and I were attempting a ride owns a British parts business called JRC magazine, charmed by the pure ele- from Wisconsin to Seattle, and we had Engineering, has now put 130,000 miles mental beauty of the bike and of course to ship the bike home from Missoula in a on his 1974 850. the beauty of the “Norton Girl” who Bekins moving van, continuing the trip And of course Editor-in-Chief Mark stood alluringly nearby, pouting at me by bus and train. I wrote a story about Hoyer has an 850 Commando that he because I didn’t yet own a Norton. The the trip and got my first article pub- rides everywhere with impunity—after Roadsters had a spare and rangy look lished right here in Cycle World. a certain amount of (ahem) “sorting out.” about them, without flab or artifice. As So it seems I owe my journalism ca- He now swears by this bike far more of- with early Harley Sportsters, they were reer to that Norton as well. If I’d bought ten than he swears at it. And then there’s like the Chesterfield or Lucky Strike of a Honda, god knows what I’d be doing my old friend Brian Slark, who was West motorcycles: pure nicotine, no filter. now. Possibly something useful to hu- Coast service manager for Norton from Gears meshed in my febrile brain, and manity. That or sleeping under a bridge. 1969 to 1975, and he affirms that there is I knew beyond any doubt that I would Incidentally, that valve seizure in now “a fix for everything.” eventually own a Commando. And in Montana was attributed to “abuse” and The big question, of course, on the 50th 1975 I finally bought one, brand new, by naturally not covered under warranty, anniversary of the Commando, is why has selling a dead-reliable Honda CB350 and so I learned how to install valves, guides, so much latter-day development time, ex- using all the money I had in the world. It and pistons. Self-taught, again. The Nor- pense, and sheer effort been lavished on a was, by far, the most expensive thing I’d ton was making me brilliant. British twin that’s now half a century old? ever purchased. I sold the bike soon after that, chafing Along with the 1959–1970 Triumph Bonn- Now, half a century later, when I The dream wilted somewhat on my under the travel restrictions dictated by eville, the Commando has clearly emerged It's funny how your tastes see a Commando Fastback at a vintage ride home from the dealership when the the bike’s apparent lack of long-distance as one of the two most popular and vener- bike show, it stops me in my tracks and bike quit running at every single stop stamina. I loved looking at the Norton in ated bikes of its era. It has a world-wide I find it to be quite a lovely thing, and if sign and stoplight. And during my first the garage, but I also wanted to go places following and support network, not to can change with time. I were collecting Nortons I’d probably few months of riding, about six major far away and the Commando had an mention a cultish aura of cool that seems to For instance, when I first tried a sip for me. Too swoopy and radical, not tra- have to have one. But, at the time, that things went wrong with the Commando, invisible bungee cord of doubt that kept work on riders of all ages. Why so? of homemade corn liquor as a youth I ditionally British enough. “Repelled” is too-daring styling put me off, as it did but none of them (I was told) could be me near home. I put this question to Brian Slark this thought it tasted like paint remover. But probably too strong a word, but the look many others. The Commando was ini- covered under warranty. The dealer But that was a long time ago, and morning, and he said, “For one thing, it’s I tried some again recently and decided of that bike drove me firmly back into tially a slow seller, despite its impressive pronounced every failure a clear case time either heals all wounds or causes really the only classic British bike you just the opposite is true. the Triumph camp, where I normally superbike performance and the magical of “abuse.” By default, I learned to fix Alzheimer’s because I’ve owned four can ride at current speeds and not have Also, when the first Norton Com- resided, at least in my dreams. I owned rubber engine mounts that gave it an everything myself and became a self- more Commandos since then and just it shake apart. Also, it’s eminently tun- mando was introduced in September of a secondhand Honda CB160 at the time, almost unearthly smoothness (for a Brit- taught British-bike mechanic. did a full restoration on another black- able, with many upgrades available, and 1967 at the Earl’s Court show in London, which was all I could afford as a college ish vertical twin) on the highway. So you might say I owe the Comman- and-gold 850 Roadster about two years great parts availability as well.” I examined the photos of the new Fast- sophomore, what with squandering per- In any case, it took the more con- do for a free technical education—except ago. It appears I’m addicted to them. He also pointed out that the parallel back and immediately decided it was not fectly good bike money on textbooks. ventionally restyled Commando 750 for the parts, of course, and the cost of Friends have accused me of having a twin is a compact, sensible, and generally 46 CYCLE WORLD DECEMBER 2017 CYCLEWORLD.COM 47 norton Commando charismatic engine design for motorcy- ously blended into one motorcycle. and the Commando’s failure to start cles and that nearly every major manu- And when the Commando was up- saved my life because I had the stroke facturer is now building one for those dated to an 850 in 1973, it got even more at home, 6 miles from a hospital, rather FRIENDS HAVE ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A “LOVE/HATE very reasons. “Interesting,” he said, “that torque, much improved “Superblend” than out on a distant country road RELATIONSHIP” WITH NORTONS, BUT IT MIGHT BE MORE after all these years we’ve come full crank bearings, and a mild styling up- while riding alone. circle, back to the parallel twin.” date of the seat and instruments, re- It’s quite possible they’re right. In ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS A “LOVE/HOPE RELATIONSHIP.” I asked him about Norton’s sketchy sulting in what is probably my favorite which case I can now thank the Norton reputation for reliability and he said, version, the 1974 Roadster. In black and Commando for my mechanical train- “Well, when you own a bike you’re more gold, of course. ing, journalism career, and current aware of its problems. We tend to forget In 1975, Norton added an electric good health. that a lot of Japanese bikes at the time starter that was incapable of turn- And the ownership of all those Whit- also had serious problems: transmis- ing the engine over, so they called it worth wrenches. Which I used just yes- sions that packed up, crank failures, a “starter assist” and changed the air terday on a 1965 Triumph engine with piston seizures, and so on.” cleaner and mufflers to a less tradi- low oil pressure and a rod knock. Fair enough. I had friends in that era tional—but US compliant—design. But Some of us never learn. And don’t who found the repair of worn Japanese touches like this didn’t help much. It really want to. bikes economically unfeasible and seemed the inability to make an elec- simply abandoned them. Conversely, tric starter that could spin the crank of The first Norton Commando 750 I’d never heard of anyone throwing a an internal combustion engine was no Fastback brochure, complete with Norton away. longer amusing to customers, and years the Green Globe. Later Globes were But of course much of the Com- of indifferent execution of an essen- redesigned with linear gradient. The mando’s appeal lies outside the bounds of Fastback was a leap in ’67 but still tially good design finally came home to had a drum brake at the front, and mere reason.