The yr was 1975, and the writing was on the wall for the Brits. A long time of trade dominance had been coming to an in depth within the blink of a watch as multi-cylinder choices from Japan proliferated. Honda had rewritten the e-book with the CB750, Suzuki had the 70 hp GT750 and the Kawasaki Z1 had solidified the truth that four-stroke, four-cylinder engines would energy the civilized sport bike of the long run. One of the best of the old-world Brits had been grouped into the troubled conglomerate of Norton Villiers Triumph for his or her respective Hail Marys, counting on custom, superior dealing with and good old style parallel twins, however may the previous method nonetheless work?
Whereas the story of Japan’s rise to the highest of the motorbike trade is effectively documented, Britain’s response has obtained considerably much less consideration. There are few higher machines to inform the story than the Norton 850 Commando, and since I’ve been afforded the chance to spend the day with one, it appears solely proper to discover that narrative from essentially the most becoming place—the saddle. So bear with me as we discuss somewhat historical past, however solely because it pertains to the texture of this 50-year-old motorbike, which is at present obtainable on the Bike EXIF Auctions.
Its styling was tried and true (at finest) by 1975, however there could be little question this 850 Commando has some critical parking-lot presence immediately. It’s low and muscular, with a pair of 19-inch spoked hoops and Lockheed disc brakes making its intentions clear. The 828 cc parallel-twin has been canted ahead for visible impact and its upswept exhausts arch purposefully from tip to tail.
Subsequent to the opposite paint choices obtainable for 1975, this 850 Commando is especially eye-catching with its pearl-white paint fronted by pink and blue stripes and gold lettering. Norton known as it the ‘Blue Stripe End,’ and it is ceaselessly related to the John Participant Particular Commandos of the time interval. Whereas the manufacturing facility made no connections between the JPS machines and the Blue Stripe, I believe it’s cheap to imagine that Norton would leverage any connections that they had on the time, and the affect is there if nothing else.
The beginning process is antiquated, even in comparison with the age of the machine. Click on the important thing all the way in which to the fitting, activate the twin petcocks, dial within the lengthy throw of the cable choke and plunge the Amal carburettors ‘tickler’ primers a handful of occasions every. For those who’ve carried out all of it good, the parallel twin fires with little fuss and settles all the way down to a lopey idle. Contemplating ’75 was the primary yr for electrical begin, and so they instantly gained a poor fame for chilly beginning, this one works flawlessly.
Apart from the throaty huff from the reverse cones, there’s a wholesome ticking from the overhead valvetrain, with the manually-adjusted tappets sounding completely in spec. A tactile notch from the pre-unit four-speed accompanies the shift into first gear, and the Commando is in movement with little drama to talk of. Regardless of its presence and noticeable 490-pound heft, it’s straightforward to get the massive Norton transferring, largely because of the torquey nature of the long-stroke engine.
Whereas the Smiths tachometer has left the chat on this explicit motorbike, the nice demeanor of the 850 parallel twin is clear from the seat of the pants. The engine pulls laborious from low revs up past the mid-range. It doesn’t sound offended or ragged in any approach, and plods alongside dutifully by way of its lengthy gears, attaining snug freeway speeds simply in third gear. That’s to not say that it’s not responsive; as a fast wrap of the throttle on downshifts readily brings the revs up for clean deceleration.
Historical past may have been kinder to the 850. It wasn’t as high-strung because the notoriously unreliable 750 Fight engine and misplaced a number of ponies alongside the way in which. Prime velocity was additionally all the way down to round 105 mph for the Mk3, and peak energy is available in 1,000 rpm decrease within the rev vary. These enhancements did make for a way more dependable cycle, although, and the 850 wasn’t liable to the identical bearing and piston failures because the 750, and didn’t mark its territory with oil as profusely.
Whilst you may glean all the identical data with a Google search, some issues simply don’t translate from the spec sheet to the true world, particularly 50 years later. Faraway from the top-speed wars of the ’70s, the 828 cc parallel twin is elegant on the road. It motivates with a protracted, constant push that places you into misdemeanor territory surprisingly rapidly. The bike feels secure and composed at velocity, and I can nonetheless envision it being a wonderful classic touring machine immediately, due to its tall gearing.
And it nonetheless handles effectively. The final bastion of British motorbike excellence was dealing with, one thing the early Japanese frames couldn’t match. It corners effectively, even by immediately’s requirements, and the impartial seating place retains you in management with out sacrificing consolation. The twin Lockheed discs carry out admirably, even when the entrance pot lacks the chunk we’re accustomed to from fashionable machines.
There may be one peculiar facet of the Commando’s dealing with, and it comes all the way down to the Isolastic body. Portray in broad strokes, these huge parallel twins vibrate like a Harley, and Norton devised a rubber-mounting system to tame the shakes. Within the manufacturing Commando, the Isolastic system mounted the swingarm on to the engine mounting plates, making certain that distortion from the rubber mounts wouldn’t result in chain alignment points.
Name it a placebo impact, however you’ll be able to really feel the engine pull the driveline to 1 aspect if you throttle on whereas cornering. Apparently, it’s generally known as ‘the hinge’ in Norton circles, and whereas the impact was negligible on the speeds I used to be working, I did discover it. And even with that facy Isolastic body, this factor positive vibrates like an SOB at cease indicators. The bars shake, you’ll be able to really feel it in your eyes and the mirrors struggle a dropping battle to remain pointed in the fitting course.
However all that fades away at velocity, and the miles fly by effortlessly—I may simply trip this bike all day lengthy. And that, I believe, is the genius of the 850 Commando. It has the charisma and presence that made Norton top-of-the-line bikes cash may purchase, however they’ve had the time to work the kinks out. It was the ultimate flourish of the traditional British motorbike period—a machine that arrived simply because the Japanese had been rewriting the foundations, but in some way managed to carry its personal, and nonetheless does so immediately.
Though my day with this motorbike got here to an finish, it may mark the beginning of yours. This unmolested 850 Commando survivor is at present up for grabs on the Bike EXIF auctions and is ripe to be taken to the following stage or, merely, loved as is. I definitely loved my time with it, and to the successful bidder, I apologize for working up the odometer—NOT.
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