c1969 Norton 750 S Commando Motorcycle

Description

Norton's new flagship, the Commando, was launched in 1967 as a replacement for the 750 Atlas and boasted an entirely new frame design by a former Rolls-Royce engineer, Dr Stefan Bauer, with an innovative Isolastic system anti-vibration system. Mounted in a canted position, the engine, gearbox and swing-arm assembly were all bolted together and isolated by rubber mounts for a vibration-free ride. The Commando was powered by an air-cooled parallel twin whose origins can be traced back to the Bert Hopwood-designed Model 7 of the late 1940s. Well received by the press and public alike, the Commando won the Motorcycle News ?Machine of the Year? award for five years in succession. The earliest Mark 1 Commandos had a twin leading-shoe front drum brake and the original Fastback model was joined by the scrambler-style 750S variant, with a high exhaust, smaller fuel tank and front forks lacking any shrouds. 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 850cc replacement was launched the following year. The Commando enjoyed 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. Viewed by many pundits 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.