1975 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Racer

Lot details
Registration No: Un-Reg
Frame No: 207848
Engine No: 207848
cc: 850

With the introduction of the Commando Norton sought to address one of the problems associated with large capacity parallel twins, vibration. By isolating the engine, gearbox, primary drive and swinging arm from the main frame with adjustable rubber mounts vibrations were not passed to the rider. The "isolastic" system proved successful, although in its early form it required careful adjustment and regular maintaince to work effectively. The engine was derived from the Atlas unit canted forwards at a slight angle which required modifications to the oil pick up. The initial version was equipped with a twin leading shoe front brake and a seat unit with a fastback tail section. By the early seventies the range had expanded to include a "Street Scrambler", Roadster and a "chopperesque" variant with high ape hanger handlebars and a saddle incorporating a back rest. For those wishing to compete in production class racing Norton offered a dedicated variant fitted with a tuned engine, clip-ons, rear-sets ,a half fairing housing the headlamp and a fibreglass fuel tank matched to a single racing saddle that had provision for the racing numbers.
In the years following the end of Commando production a number of machines have been rebuilt using the bodywork of the production racer (readily available in reproduction form from a number of specialists) to create attractive café racers. The machine offered is one such example. Built using a 850 Commando as the basis it is equipped with the production racer bodywork finished in the distinctive yellow livery. Hagon rear shock absorbers are fitted as is a belt drive primary conversion. Interestingly, the machine is fitted with a four leading shoe front brake instead of the standard disc brake that was a feature of the original machine.