The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller.
Starting to look a little more like a bike. New fork tubes, lowers, and front wheel with the dual disc brakes and stainless braided lines to get the front end sorted out. A custom alloy fender is coming next.
A week of rain in Texas in August! I rolled the bike out for the first round of pictures and had 30 seconds before a sprinkle turned to a cloudburst. The side profile is looking a little cleaner with the shortened and raised tail, rear-sets, clip-ons, and rear fender elimination.
This Lucas headlight is for mock-up only, with a new unit in the works. A small fairing in aluminum is still being contemplated. The tires are Kenda brand that the owner picked out.
Because the rear gas tank mounts for mounting the Roadster tank were not on the bike, I am wondering if the bike was originally a Roadster model. New mounting tabs were fabricated to utilize the original mounting points.
Waiting on some bearings to mount the NOS brake drum. The bike is being assembled to the point that it can be started and ridden. Since the bike came as an unknown, it will be necessary to check the function of the engine and drivetrain before disassembly for finishing.
Just a little tighter and compact with big stopping power up front. The stock handlebar controls are vintage cool, and will be rebuilt.
In other happenings, a lot of vintage tail and other type light came in. Pictured are some of the glass lens ones that got cleaned up a little. A few are US navy and other aircraft, with car and motorcycle units making up the bulk of the collection. A guy who looked to be somewhere near 70 told me they were collected by his Daddy.
My favorite from the lot were this matched set of what would appear to be US military surplus units. With clear lenses and small wattage bulbs, it is unclear what they were for exactly. They would have been almost useless as a headlight, perhaps they were used for a front marker lamp. The paint underneath is Army green. The red paint was likely after it was sold to the public. If parts could talk...
There's plenty to do around here still. Time to get busy.