Teigen's Twin; Norton Commando 850

Previous slide

0/0

Next slide

The MC fair at Earls Court in London in September 1967 was the kickoff for Norton's new twin, Commando 750, a machine that proved so potent that even Honda CB750Four literally got a run for it.

On its home turf in England, it challenged all the machines in the heaviest segment, and the two 750cc BSA Rocket 3 and Triumph Trident had something to grind down on. At a little distance, Commando cast in the same mold as the other English motorcycles. However, up close, a technical solution was revealed that was unique to Norton , and which had a major impact on the bike's handling characteristics. "The isolastic system", which isolated the engine, gearbox and swingarm from the frame through rubber suspension, reduced vibrations from the 750cc engine to a level that could be called "good vibes".

750cc vs 850

As mentioned, the competitors offered machines of 750 cubic meters, and therefore Norton had to answer to the charges. The engine in Commando was developed respectively. in Plumstead and Wolverhampton under the leadership of Dennis Poore. Names such as Bernhard Hooper, Charles Udall and Wally Wyatt were all involved in the process of the motorcycle that actually gave the Japanese machines a real challenge. All those involved in the development work were painfully aware that the old 650 cubic meters were no longer competitive in terms of power. The Atlas engine, which was 745 cc with an output of 49 hp, had development potential. The new Commando engine was actually a slightly upgraded Atlas, with modified intakes and new ignition. The new engine was tested and showed an output of 56 hp. In comparison, this was 11 hp less than in the Honda CB750Four, but what the Commando lost in power it made up for in weight, and the speed resources attracted attention. Top speed was measured at a whopping 195 km/h, which was in no way inferior to the Honda. The standing quarter mile was completed in 12.8 seconds, and 0-60 mph, or 0-96 km/h, was swept away in just 4.8 seconds. The figures were crystal clear, and thus a British twin could make the Japanese super four from Honda dance. In 1973 it was also possible to get Commando in an 850 version, and for those who wanted to take it all the way it was possible to throw on a so-called "Stage 3 kit" developed by Dunstall. This kit guaranteed a top speed of a whopping 220 km/h.

Motorcycle of the Year 5 years in a row

Test rides with such a review are of course important, and the Commando was no exception. The superlatives came like pearls on a string, and among the first to praise Norton's new flagship was test rider David Dixon. The man was no novice, and words like "The most significant model of the decade" resonated in motorcycle circles. The renowned motorcycle magazine "Motor Cycle Mechanics" described Commando as "One of the most exciting machines they had ever tested". Another event that benefited the model was the Castrol design prize of 1000 pounds, given to Norton for the invention of the "Isolastic system". To top off the review, the English magazine MCN went as far as to name the Commando the motorcycle of the year 5 years in a row, from 1968 to 1972.

Teigen's Twin

Bård Henning Teigen from Vestby has found his Commando , more specifically an 850. He has had a taste for Norton Commando Interstate for many years, and since he was already relatively anglophile, it had to be a Commando . He got his interest in motorcycles from an older brother who rode motorcycles in the mid-70s. That's when he saw pictures of a 1975 Norton Commando Interstate in a MC-Nytt that his brother had lying around. The sight of the bike left an impression. Bård didn't buy a motorcycle until 1986, and then he chose a Honda R600XL that he rode for four years. Then there was a break of five years until 2007 when a friend came with a find ad with the dream from the old motorcycle magazine. It was time for Commando .

Picked down in grits

The bike was a fairly original 1975 model, but the bike was "picked to the bone" as he says. The style has become arch-British in a light cafe version. A Commando doesn't need many options before it gets the right style. Bård has switched to contemporary TT handlebars, alloy wheels, a Norman Hyde drop-back kit, and a clubman saddle. Exhaust mufflers with conical tips emphasize it all. The sum of the parts gives the Commando a perfect race look. "This is a motorcycle that offers real riding pleasure and has good vibrations," says Bård, before he puts his helmet on his head, presses the start button and lets the sound from the twin hang in the air as he pulls the tight wire out onto the E6.