Cafe Racer Motorcycles
| |
Make |
Model |
Year |
Price |
Description |
 |
Norton |
unknown |
1965 |
0 |
unknown year, model |
 |
Norton |
unknown |
1965 |
0 |
unknown year model |
 |
Norton |
Commando 850 MK3 |
1975 |
0 |
1975 Norton COMMANDO CAFE RACER 850 MK3 with ALLOY TANK.
ORIGINALLY AN UNDER 3500 MILE BIKE PER PREVIOUS OWNER, ALL MATCHING NUMBERS BIKE WITH CLEAN OPEN TITLE SIGNED AND NOTARIZED.
HAD BEEN SITTING QUITE A WHILE - NEEDS NEW TIRES, SPEEDO, TACH AND TAIL LIGHT, WITHOUT THE FRONT BRAKE BEST I COULD DO WAS A COUPLE OF TIMES AROUND BLOCK AND THAT WAS WITH NO MUFFLER ALL I CAN SAY THIS BIKE HAS SOME B@#LL5 BUT I GOT CHICKEN AT 50MPH, MUFFLER ON THE BIKE NOW IS JUST LOOSELY MOUNTED AND JUST WAS SOMETHING I HAD LYING AROUND... LOTS OF TRICK PARTS... ALLOY SPRINT TANK WITH MONZA GAS CAP FEW SCRATCHES AND A FEW SMALL DINGS BUT SHOWS VERY WELL LOOK AT PICS , 4.60 X 18 REAR ALLOY SUN RIM LACED TO OEM CONICAL HUB, CLIP-ONS, ELECTRIC STARTER BLANKED OFF, RH4 HEAD, NICE FENDERS, CLUBMAN RACING SEAT (HAS A FEW SMALL TEARS AND NEEDS TO BE MOUNTED), NEW OLD STOCK NORVIL REAR SETS UNMOUNTED SPECIFIC TO THE 1975,THIS WAS BUILT AS A RACER BUT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS LIKELY ONLY OFFICE RACED... UNWIRED HEAD LIGHT AND CAFE MOUNT ARE CHEAPER REPRODUCTION ITEMS, NOS VINTAGE THROTTLE, K&N AIR FILTER MATED TO AMAL CARBS, FRONT BRAKE CALIPER IS UNMOUNTED AND I DON'T HAVE A MASTER CYLINDER OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO MOUNT IF BIKE DOESN'T SELL...MK3 COMMANDO BRAKES ON THE RIGHT, SHIFTS ON THE LEFT. |
 |
Norton |
Commando Cafe |
1973 |
0 |
It no longer has any Lucas handlebar switches or wiring which are JUNK. In fact, I think the only Lucas part on the bike is the headlight on/off switch mounted in the housing.The primary drive is now belt driven eliminating the constant primary case oil leaks. It runs, rides, stops, and the battery charges just like a REAL motorcycle! I didn't want an old British pile of junk that was going to leave me stranded so this is what I built. Why would you want such a beautiful, old, machine that you're afraid to ride? You'll be hard pressed to find one with this many updates without calling Kenny Dreer and parting with 18 grand.
Custom drilled, dry, vented, primary case with belt drive system;
12" floating cast iron rotor, Grimeca; master/caliper, and stainless braided line;
Fresh cables and new polished levers;
Mikuni single carb and proper jetting;
Electronic ignition w/Bosch coils ;
3 phase stator w/solid state rectifier and fresh battery;
Custom wire harness with all spade connectors and new chrome horn/dip switch;
Halogen headlamp ;
Cafe style gauge mounts;
Progressive rear shocks and external front spring kit;
Steering stabilizer ;
Valente wheels, powder coated hubs, and Avon tires with plenty of life left;
Polished aluminum tank ;
Cafe style seat and front fender ;
Rear set foot pegs, clip on bars ;
Freshly painted gloss black side covers in perfect condition;
I believe it also has adjustable isolastic mounts but I'm not sure of the brand. I don't think they use shims but adjust with a wrench. They were on there when I got the bike and I never messed with them, so I'm not exactly sure what the type or brand is.
At idle this thing shakes like a smack addicted epileptic in need of a fix. If you don't maintain it and sometimes even if you do, it will break and things will fall off of it. That's part of Norton ownership.
The engine was rebuilt within a couple thousand miles of when I bought it. I've never had it apart, but from what I understand, it's all stock and it definitely runs excellent. I've only put about 1500 on it myself.I NEVER abused it and it always had fresh synthetic oil in it. The indicator bulb for the brights doesn't work. I guess the bulb burned out. The bike has no signal lights.
|
 |
Norton |
norton commando 850 |
1975 |
0 |
meanwhile this bike is super reliable and does not leak a drop of oil, very unusual for british engineering (i dont know why) when i purchased this motorcycle (15 years ago!) it was pretty much stock. the motor had approx 10,000 miles on it. i stripped down the complete bike and had the engine rebuilt by left coast racing here in camarillo, ca. the ports were polished and ken put in a 2S cam, the same as the commando combat. this cam is reliable, smooth and idles well for street use. we did not opt for the 'wild' 4S cam. putting the bike together i did the moronic thing of putting the oil lines back to front resulting in a seizure during the break in period. i cried. i then had the engine rebuilt by steve chauvin of west covina, ca. a reputable engine builder and well known for his contributions to the southern california norton owners club. steve sorted out the electrics and had a genius idea of eliminating the battery and replacing it with a capacitor. brilliant. the only sacrifice with this new electrical conversion is that to start it it needs a kick to 'prime' the capacitor and a second kick to fire. i start it second kick every time, never a problem. lights work perfectly. all the electrical is under the seat which is fastened with velcro (ez off and on) the aluminum oil tank works just great, has a magnet to catch the metal contaminents instead of a filter. also i like to have alot of empty space in the frame. the oil breather empties into an old oil container. electronic ignition (boyer), twin mikunis, as i remember i think they're 38mm? they need filters or velicity stacks. the swing arm has been widened to accept a wider rear tire. the wheels are flangless akront with stainless spokes laced by buchannans (sp?) metzner rubber with lots of wear left (80%) the rear hub is drilled, like a manx. the brake light works only when the front brake is used, no linkage to the back one. the braking system: front disc is a norvil cast iron 11 inch with the grimeca calipers braided stainless line etc. i actually went to northampton in england. purchased the triple clamps there too. the master cylinder is off a japanese bike as i remember. all in all it stops very well. Also, the brake light doesn't come on with the rear brake pedal, only the front lever. the rear brake however needs some work... the cylinder is off a go cart and the caliper is a single piston brembo off a gocart. there are some adjustments between the rear sets etc to make this work properly. it's all there. the disc is original. tank is the lyta style, made in scotland, had to wait 6 months for it. mufflers are after market crap, no baffles so the bikes very loud. i would replace these if i was keeping the bike. there's lots of stainless nuts and bolts. i have a pair of new headlight 'ears' that i'll include. the ones on the bike i made and are showing stress, but still very functional. no speedo or tach or mirror, i just liked the look and sacrificed the look for a fix it ticket if ever i was stopped. fortunately that never happened. again, if i kept the bike i would put a super small digital speedo on the bike. |
| |
Norton |
triton |
1956 |
0 |
norton featherbedframe, triumph 650 pre unit engine
alutank and oiltank etc. |
|
