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Commando £ Values

Submitted by richard_holmes on Monday, 9 February, 2026 - 16:26
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NOC Riders Section

I am new to the NOC and looking to buy a 750/850 Commando. I would like one that's riding well and very tidy, I am not looking for another project - I have too many already!

I have seen a few Commandos, and listened to the views of owners on what they think their bikes are worth.

I have a few questions:

Are there particular models of Commando that are worth more than others? ie Early Fastbacks, Mk3s

Do people think that generally the Roadsters are more desirable than the Interstates?

Is the value of a bike enhanced or reduced by improvements such as Norvil disc brakes, Alton electric starters, alloy rims, single carb conversions, stainless exhausts etc?

There are some lovely bikes out there, and I am sure that once the weather has improved so that I can actually ride a few, I will find a nice one!

Thanks for your views.

 

Submitted by stan_thomas on Monday, 9 February, 2026 - 18:21

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If you're buying it to ride then it's worth what you, and others, are prepared to pay for it. I'm not going to say which are more desirable; it's either what you want or it isn't. Read the period magazine road tests that you'll find online. Spares situation is very good so there's no reason not to ride it.

If you're buying it as an investment then they're all over priced and I predict prices will come down to Dominator levels as owners find they can't ride them anymore and the kids don't want them. They made 60,000 of the things.

I would say buy from a friend or at least find a bike you know about. There are lots of stories about bikes being 'professionally restored' where it turns out they've been cobbled together from some box of old bits by someone who doesn't know a Whitworth bolt from something Screwfix sell.

Ashley Cutler was selling his, don't know if he still has it.
 

Hi Stan,

Definitely buying to ride. I recognise that Commandos prices will probably still fall further, but if I do 10,000 miles over a couple of years on UK and European trips I will be happy. This is a bit of an experiment for me as up-until-now I have mainly ridden 70s Italian bikes, and more recently some 60s Japanese bikes.

Love to give British biking a go. Just need a bit of a tutorial on which are the most desirable Commandos to ride. At the moment I am leaning towards a well sorted Mk 3 Interstate if I can find one.

I do not know Ashley Cutler, is his bike still for sale and what is it?

Thanks again,

Richard

Ashley works for Andover Norton and is on this forum: https://www.nortonownersclub.org/user/110959
He has/had a Mk3.

If I were in the market for another Commando and lived in Scotland I'd take a look at this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/257350828009
Lots of little things to pick up on and I'd want to know why he's only had it a year, but it might be a decent ride.

Submitted by ashley_cutler1 on Tuesday, 10 February, 2026 - 08:16

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Mine is still for sale but I want to sell everything Norton in my garage and that is one MK3 and another MK3 project, both Inerstates.
Many 'restored' bikes are usually bodged together to get their money back or a profit. Alton kit may increase the price marginally, but make sure if the bike comes with the original parts. In the UK the Roadster is the more sought after as it is lighter to ride and move about. For touring and long distance the Interstate is the wanted bike. The difference being another 3 gallons of petrol sat high up on the bike. The fastback is no more expensive than the later bikes these days. 
If I was in the market for a Commando like you describe then the NOC is the place to look, the bikes tend to have long ownership and they are maintained by owners that tend to know what they are doing or know who to maintain the bike for them, most are used often so pretty reliable. So the bikes to aim for first time ownership I would suggest a late 750 Roadster or pre Mk3 850 Roadster for a right hand gear change or MK3 Roadster for the left hand gear change, but most owners swap from bikes with the gear change on either side with no issues. 

 



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