RealClassic.co.uk: Norton Commando 850 Interstate Profile

Bike Profile

Norton Commando 850 Interstate

Little girls beware; Barry Granger's Norton Commando is out to get you...

Apart from the front brake, Barry Granger has very little to complain about when he thinks about his 1974 Norton Commando Interstate. Bought in 1982 for around Ł700, Barry sees his Commando as; 'the last of the hairy-chested bikes. Large, heavy and grunty with super looks for a Seventies bike.'

The Interstate has toured abroad over the years; 'it did 1600 miles in four days in 1993. Aren't foreign motorways boring -- no roadworks!' but now it's used mostly 'to annoy the neighbours!'

Wet-sumping was a problem so Barry fitted an RGM non-return valve; 'but on hearing horrendous stories of no oil flow, I always check that oil is returning to the tank.' The bike's other flaw has been harder to resolve; 'the front brake is the worse thing on it. I made an ally bracket and fitted a Lockheed caliper and Triumph master cylinder. Tried various types of pads and even fitted Goodridge hoses but to no avail, so I still have to keep my distance in traffic!'

A better project was the change to an 18-inch rear wheel; 'enabling me to have a better selection of tyres. At the moment I am running on an Avon AM21 and road-holding is vastly improved.'

Overall, Barry is still impressed be the bike's impressed by smoothness and torque. 'I love my Norton,' he says. 'It makes lots of orgasmic noises and still frightens little girls - and big ones as well - if they get in its way!'

RECOMMENDED MODS

Fit a non-return valve to stop wet sumping, available from RGM

Use Honda or Yamaha brake master-cylinder

Lay hands on a Clymer manual, out of print but very useful

Use Honda switchgear

Fit Cibe headlight, Ł25

Use bronze exhaust inserts which tighten with heat

Fit Superblend bearings in engine and gearbox, Ł100

Upgrade to a Quaife 5-speed gearbox

Fit Mk3 Isolastics to earlier models

PEOPLE TO SPEAK TO

Norvil, spares and expert advice, 01543 278008. www.norvilmotorcycles.co.uk

RGM, spares and service, 01946 841517

Mick Hemmings, spares and service, 01604 638505

Tony Hayward, belt drives, 01244 830776

Home

Like what you see here? Then help to make RealClassic.co.uk even better

Š 2002 The Cosmic Motorcycle Co. Ltd / Redleg Interactive Media

You may download pages from this site for your private use. No other reproduction, re-publication, re-transmission or other re-distribution of any part of this site in any medium is permitted except with the written consent of the copyright owner or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.