Buying a Commando

Hi Paul thanks for your welcome! and thanks for directing me to the right area.

Off to look at the Commando now so perhaps i will be a proud owner later!

Needs lots of TLC ....

Went to see the Commando but was a lot worse than it looked in the photos so have decided not to go for it. I will keep an eye out in the classifieds on this site...

Hi Julian and thank you for your wise words. It’s very tempting to go for on of those seemingly bargain priced “free shipping to the Uk” eBay commandos but I’m just not one for risk taking so as you say would be better off buying a bike from a Uk owner who knows at least a bit of its history. I would ideally like to buy a commando that’s looking a bit tired and needs some tlc rather than a complete wreck!    I am sure there is one out there somewhere and I will just have to bide my time…

Thanks again for your advice and kind regards,

Shaun

Ok update on the Commando purchasing quest - i have just won an ebay auction for a single owner 1972 750 Commando. Not sure if its an S model but has the upswept pipes. It may also have a Combat engine - will check for the C stamp on the head

Not been ridden for years but I'm told it runs

Going to see it tomorrow and if all ok will pay for it and bring it home!

Hi John yes they are so tempting because of the price and a mate of mine has bought Commando parts off them so they are bona fide. Good luck with your two and I would say if I get this one it will definitely be a keeper even if it has a tricky Combat motor Speedo says 2700 miles but that can’t be genuine Was last MOT’d in 2008

Ok folks to finish this thread off I just want to let you know that I have bought the 72 750 commando and although it will need a fair bit of tidying up and investigation over the years I am very happy with it apart from discovering what looks like a liquid metal bodge on the head just forward of the offside carb inlet and around the head bolt ...

I know that I said that I would finish this thread off but a few weeks have gone by and more updates now!

I wrote a letter to the original owner having got his name and address from the reg. document and he was kind enough to call me. He confirmed that he bought the commando in 1973 from Comerfords in Thames Ditton and that he has owned it all this time. the bike has done thousands of miles with him and his wife all over Europe back in the day. He said that he had the rear sets made up and fitted the "s"type exhausts because the originals kept grounding out!!

The original Crank Cases broke so he replaced them from an engine that was originally fitted to a grass track outfit hence the non matching numbers.

The bike has not been ridden since 2008 when it was last MOT'd. I fitted a battery and believe it or not the engine fired up after 2 kicks - ran rough and sounds like the main bearings have gone so its a strip down and engine re build.

Luckily I have a very experienced Norton specialist not far from me who is going to check the engine over an carry out all the mods that it needs to improve the engine (A Combat) and he's also going to overhaul the gearbox too. At least I will have the peace of mind that the heart of the bike will be good for years to come - now to attend to everything else.....