The Norton Commando was the last Great British Motorcycle

The Norton Commando came at a time when the British Motorcycle industry was on its way to extinction, and new fresh designs and ideas were paramount. In this video I explain how this motorcycle made such an impact and managed to keep Norton afloat during the hardest times they ever faced.

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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

[jamesketrowhcorangers]

I came back from Vietnam, and out of the Army. Immediately started looking at motorcycles. The Norton 750 Combat seemed like it, after riding some Harleys. It was smooth as butter, yet powerful compared to Harleys, it could move. Cornering, was no contest Harley was sloppy, where Norton carved the turns. Mine was bright yellow and black, chrome. Loved that motorcycle.

[TheGtk]

I bought a brand new Norton commando roadster in 1973. I was 21 years old.When it hit 400 miles I hit a telephone pole. Almost killed myself. After I recovered, I bought parts to repair the bike including front forks, front tire, tank, frame, seat etc. The engine and rear swing arm along with the rear fender survived. The bike cost $1800 new and it cost me $1200 in parts to put it back together. Rode it for years afterwards. I’ve had many bikes, Harleys, Honda CBR 1000, and others. This was my favorite motorcycle. If I could find one that I could afford I would buy it right now. Athletic, powerful, exciting.

[mminlamesa]

I had a 73 850 that I rode all over the west. Took it over the Golden Gate Bridge one time at sunset. Memory of a lifetime. Looking to get one right now.

[pdm]

Bought a 850 Roadster in 1973 with the classic gloss black and gold trim. I’m 72 yrs old and still enjoy it but I don’t go too fast now. Over the years many aftermarket improvements have made the bike more reliable and easy to live with. Improved engine breathers, rectifier/zener diode replacements, better head steadies, better carb., electric start etc. The 850 Commando Roadsters are among the best looking motorcycles.

[johnwood]

I was General Sales Manager at the Plumstead factory when the Commando was launched. I therefore, sold thousands worldwide, mostly to the USA during late 60s/early 70s. You might be interested to know that the bike was originally named "Silver Flash". However, only days before the launch at the Earls Court show in London and half way through the sales
catalogue print run. I cancelled and renamed the model as the "Commando Fastback".

[theoutsider]

I bought a brand new, 750 Commando Interstate back in 1972 .... fabulous machine.

[chrisburton]

I have a 1973 Mark 2 A 850 Roadster I’ve had many bikes but there’s something special about the handling the sound of a Norton commando

[robertmuddle]

great bike I'm still riding my 850 norton roadster 1975 today after 40 of ownership

[robynbazlen-weglarz]

I owned a 750 Commando back in the early seventies and of all the bikes I’ve had since then I’d have to say it’s still my all time favorite bike.

[Rudolf.Winkler.Verlag]

Norton 850 commando is one of the best bikes i have ever Riden. You cant underdtand until you ride it

[patdunphy]

Great bike I had a 750 Commando and still ride it.

[alphafox]

Commando still is the best looking and sounding bike ever. Badoop badoop badoop ROARRRR! My 1974 howls when I get on her throttle. Yes, she kicks back and sprained my ankle more than once. Mine does not leak. Responsiveness of the machine is the pure joy of the thing: the way she moves in anticipation of rider inputs as if by telepathy.

[OzBloke]

So glad I lived and rode through this era……😎

[terrykissell]

My first Norton, 1973 750 Commando Interstate with the Combat engine. Added king size saddle bags, windjammer, and trunk and we toured the West coast ....before kids....

[Spike]

Excellent and accurate history of Norton in the late '60s early to mid '70s. I lived this era. I started motorcycling in 1968 in Massachusetts. In 1971 I got licensed for the road, and started with a Honda CL450. At the time a guy at high school had a 1970 Norton Commando 750 S (with the high pipes). His Commando 750 weighed like 9 lb more than my Honda, but believe me there was no comparison in performance. I vowed to have a Commando myself one day!

In 1974 I bought a new (left-over) 1973 Norton 850 Commando Roadster, in Pacific Blue "Fireflake metalic" paint. At that time there was nothing that could touch a Norton Commando on the twisty winding roads of New England... nothing but another Norton Commando and ALL my friends had them!! What a motorcycle!!

The Norton Commando ruled the back roads here in the early-mid 1970's. If you tried to follow a Norton in the twisties with your Honda 740 four or your Z1 900 Kawasaki and you ended up in the woods. The closest competition was the R5 and RD 350-400 Yamahas which were fast as well.

There was something about the Norton however; the thumping, throbbing power, the stump pulling torque, the excellent handling, the great brakes (for the time, especially for a light motorcycle).

The Norton Commando would shake enough to loosen your fillings at a stop light, but at exactly 3, 200 rpm the vibration VANISHED COMPLETELY! Keep the bike above 3, 200 and you had the smoothest motorcycle on the road! No lie.

The 1973 Norton Commando Roadster had this curve/slope to passenger portion of the seat. Riding with my girlfriend on the back, every time I braked hard she would slide down the seat with the Norton rumbling and vibrating as the rpms backed down to idle. The girls REALLY liked this! Sometimes at a stoplight she would jump right off the bike and stick her tongue down my throat. I’d be sittin’ there at the light with the bike running, in gear, hand on the clutch, making out with my Honey. When the light changed she would hop back on and I’d pull away from the intersection with my goggles all fogged up, thinking: “I LOVE THIS MOYORCYCLE!!!” You won’t find this information on motorcycle magazine tests of the day.

I was much cooler back then.

The Norton Commando is revered to this day by anyone that owned one, and a Commando can still get down a back road!

[geneahart]

In 1978 I bought a used 1976 Norton Commando roadster. It's what cemented the love for British bikes that remains to this day. Nothing like it have I ever ridden since. I was in the Air Force then and rented a house with two other guys, we all had bikes two of them being 850 Norton's with one Honda 750 Four. Sunday was bike ride day and we would go for long rides around San Antonio, TX. At least once every ride myself and the other Norton rider would give each other a nod and give our Norton's the beans hard. Soon the Honda would be a small dot in the back ground, loved it!

[marscruz]

I had two different 850 Commando units. Both had the Interstate 6 gallon (US) tank in Candy Apple Red metal flake. Both were pre electric start Mk II models. One I bought at a dealer outside London, don't remember exactly where. It was a 1973, M plate and I had it modified with a Dunstall exhaust system (2 into 1 into 2) and some porting head work done as well as shaved the head to increase its rather low compression ratio. There were alignment problems between the crank and the magneto and it left me stranded on the side of a Dutch motorway on the way to Amsterdam. I pushed it into a tree line at the side of the road but it was gone by the time I got back there with my mates.
What a fun bike. Perfect for the B roads of East Anglia and pub crawling during the summers there. I put it through the back fence of a pub coming back from the beach at California (yes, outside Gt. Yarmouth) when I didn't see the stop sign at a Tee junction. When I knocked on the door the proprietor told me the pub was closed but when I told him I had knocked down his back fence he said "well you better come in then an have a whisky". About 1976. I don't know how I made it this far. Must have been good luck and the mix of Irish and Viking blood in my veins. Septic Tank.

[jocky]

You covered this so well, it was a pleasure start to finish. My friend bought the 850 commando and I asked him to go up my street from a standstill as fast as he could. Holy shit he only used 1 gear and it went like a rocket. I believe it did 70 in the tall first gear. I was smiling the rest of the day.

[charlienairn]

I bought a 750 fastback new in 1971 … and I still have it! 😊❤😊

[dont]

I also bought a new Commando in 1973 and still ride it today. Off on a rally 250 miles away in June with other old friends on Commandos. Great classic bikes to have fun on.