Nos Machines
is King!
Twins
750 cc of sheer pleasure, that's how I can summarize my Commando! It left the Norton Factory in the beginning of 1969, serial n° 127795, not yet a Fastback. In May 2000 I bought it from the second owner, having been looking for that precise model for a long time. Unrestored, it has been maintained with care. I keep on doin' so. Thanks to that, it's a first time starter, revs superbly, holds the road well, brakes correctly, is honorably trusty and leaks just the amount not to let you forget it.
Fitted with a single carb, it's even more torquey.
The trailer is not my cup of tea and when I go to an event, I ride it. This
year I attended the International Rallye, the N'eurton and a few other events.
2002 programme includes TT and though Scandinavia is quite far, I consider
going to the Rally. I nevertheless have had to get accustomed to the Beaut,
as it can prove to be a bit temperamental. My first outing was the Norman
Scramble at Bauval en Caux. It ran dry on the way home. Was my fault, as
I had not correctly estimated the tank and reserve capacities. On a sunday
evening, alone, under the rain in the middle of the country, a great fun!
Happily one of those guys that makes you suddenly feel a great love for
the human kind took me in his car to go and fetch the precious liquid. I
also started twice to Saint Pompon, place of the Rallye. First attempt aborted
20 miles from Paris, electrical trouble. Back home I found that the brand
new zener I changed 15 days before was out of duty again. Rage ! After 30
years of motorcycling on several makes (that I don't reny, even the japaneses),
riding the Old English Bike I rediscovered long forgotten sensations. Please
don't change anything for me!
Bought in 1995 in an horrific, but complete state (needing new paint, petrol tank and seat, wheels needing rebuilding) engine and gearbox OK (it fired at second kick). Restoration took two years, and a huge problem was to find the genuine colour hue.Blown engine after 999 km - unscrewed conrod cap. Engine rebuilt - valve guide seized. Engine rebuilt - blown piston - (a bit of rust detached from the gas tank, poorly cleaned before getting plasticized (by a preceding owner) and went in the engine. Engine rebuilt since.
Engine rebuilt - blown piston - (a bit of rust detached from the gas tank, poorly cleaned before getting plasticized (by a preceding owner) and went in the engine. Engine rebuilt since.
Found in 1989 in Paris
in a piteous state (missing body parts, broken forks, engine shell virtually
empty).The biggest problem was to find body parts, especially mudguards.Being
impossible to find in France, mesurements were taken from the model in the
Sammy Miller museum...thank you Sammy!. Back in France, blue prints were
made and parts built by a panel beater from raw metal sheet.
After five years of much hard work, patience and research, the owner could
at long last ride it (he came to the N'eurton from Paris by the road).
Just remain some finishing details to do.
The present owner has succumbed to
the charm of the different look of the machine, typical of the sixties.
The "de Luxe" version can be equipped with windshield,
legshields and two-tone panniers (the last are now available directly from
the british NOC).Found in 1999 in a pretty good shape in Luxemburg.
Checking the workshop manual showed some non-standard parts like tyres and
silencers.Genuine item shall replace them when found.Owner says that riding
this machine is just as easy as a moped (but a bit quicker!).
The first Norton TT winner's engine, a Peugeot V 1000 could also be found on the 1904 Peugeot.
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