c1969 Norton Commando 'Modified Café Racer' Motorcycle

Description

Originally launched in 1967, the Commando proved a worthy flagship for Norton-Villiers over the next decade and was well received by the press and public alike, winning Motorcycle News ?Machine of the Year? award five years in succession. Powered by an air-cooled parallel twin whose origins can be traced back to the Bert Hopwood-designed Model 7 of the late 1940s, the Commando replaced the 750 Atlas, with an entirely new frame design and the pre-unit engine was mounted in a canted position. The frame itself was the work of Dr. Stefan Bauer, a former Rolls-Royce engineer, and featured an Isolastic system to eliminate vibration inherent in most other frames of the day, with the engine, gearbox and swing-arm assembly all bolted together and isolated by rubber mounts. The earliest Mark 1 Commandos had a twin leading-shoe front drum brake and were sold in two models, the original 'Fastback' and 'S-type', the latter being a scrambler-style bike with high exhaust, smaller fuel tank and the front forks lacked any shrouds or gaiters. Production of the 750 Commando evolved through the late 1960s and into the early 1970s, with the final Mark V appearing in 1972, before the new 850cc was launched the following year. The Commando also had a strong racing career, initially with privateers running in production classes but later with the works team using more highly developed versions, including Peter Williams victory on a John Player-sponsored Norton in the Formula 750 Isle of Man TT in 1973. Seen by many as the last of the classic British twins, Norton's Commando has a loyal following today and very well supported by clubs and specialists around the world.