Topic: 11 New 1975 Norton Commandos Found in Belgium!

[winnipeg550guy]

Motorcycle Classics newsletter headline: 11 New 1975 Norton Commandos Found in Belgium!

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/black-side-down-new-nortons-found-in-belgium.aspx?utm_content=MCC+Shop+Talk+4.15.10&utm_campaign=E-+Newsletters&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

[BeSeeingYou]

Hey that's my uncle.  I will be over shortly to collect them.

[SD750F]

Why can't I find one of those around where I live???

[Freaky1]

The amount of work required to get them running would be a joy every minute, I would be wide-eyed every second, guess it's time to go buy my lottery ticket.

[Caaveman82]

I need to go change my shorts.

[BeSeeingYou]

A few years ago I saw an add for someone who was selling one in similar condition.  Brand new, never stated or run.  Was asking $10K.

[Freaky1]

The bikes are enough to make me dizzy, but all the other parts too?? Man, look at all those tanks, wheels, seats, gauges, motors, unbelievable!!

[BeSeeingYou]

Makes you wonder what is lurking around "undiscovered" in a country as big as the U.S.  Saw 79 XS650 still in the crate go for $5K not long ago.

[SOHC4ever]

The amount of work required to get them running would be a joy every minute, I would be wide-eyed every second, guess it's time to go buy my lottery ticket.

How much work, do you think? Would there be much oxidization?

[BeSeeingYou]

Properly stored in a dry environment not that much.  I would guess there may be oil in the crankcase, maybe not but at least no gas in the tank. Brakes may be locked up from sitting.  A little oil circulated through the engine, new tires, check the brakes, add gas and fire it up.

[Brown Bomber]

The amount of work required to get them running would be a joy every minute, I would be wide-eyed every second, guess it's time to go buy my lottery ticket.

How much work, do you think? Would there be much oxidization?

Probably a lot less work than most of us have put into our used and abused bikes after we found them sitting in some garage for 15 years or more.

[traveler]

Strangely enough....I have no desire for old english iron.....Honda ran them out of business for a reason....crappy electronics, and poor reliability.  If I had these, I would sell them off.

~Joe

[bucky katt]

i want 2  1 as a museum piece and one to ride the snot out of after fixing the electrics

[bill440cars]

       I'd take one in a heartbeat. A Norton, I wouldn't want a Matchless, unless it had the Matchless engine. BTW, the new bikes (back then, at least) used to have lots of cosmolene on them before they were crated up. That used to be my job back in the late 50's and early 60's, to clean all of the cosmolene of of the NEW bikes before they were put on the showroom floor. We used Gunk for that.    

[BeSeeingYou]

Strangely enough....I have no desire for old english iron.....Honda ran them out of business for a reason....crappy electronics, and poor reliability.  If I had these, I would sell them off.

~Joe

I think Norton stands above the other Brit bikes.  I have had time on 3 friends Norton's ( 2 750's and 1 850) over the years and they are lighter and handle better than my Yamaha or Honda.  With electronic ignition upgrades they can be as reliable as any vintage bike.  Granted the engineering was a bit out of date and they may require a bit more routine adjustments but they proved to be as reliable as my XS650 on our many cross country trips.  IMO one of the best sounding bikes ever.

[Freaky1]

The amount of work required to get them running would be a joy every minute, I would be wide-eyed every second, guess it's time to go buy my lottery ticket.

How much work, do you think? Would there be much oxidization?

Probably a lot less work than most of us have put into our used and abused bikes after we found them sitting in some garage for 15 years or more.

The ones in the crates wouldn't be too hard, I think but did you look at some of the other pictures? Some of them looked like they'd been sitting in the showroom and some looked like they'd been sitting who knows where, I'd still love the chance to crack one open.

[bill440cars]

  As a Young kid, I enjoyed getting in the new bikes at my Granddad's shop. Opening them up and helping assemble them was pretty cool, so I can imagine how it would feel to get hold of a NEW Vintage bike in the crate and being the first one to get it out of there and put it together.

[CycleRanger]

http://www.troostwijkauctions.com/uk/motorshop-podevyn/01-13018/00/

More pix of some of the other bikes being offered at the auction.

[BeSeeingYou]

I don't want to look anymore.  It makes me cry.

[Brown Bomber]

I don't want to look anymore.  It makes me cry.

Yeah between this and the Babe Thread,,,