Post-Sale Update: After 11 bids on eBay, this Gus Kuhn Norton 850 Commando sold for $10,600.
After a successful career in trials, scrambles, and TT racing, Gus Kuhn founded a dealership with his namesake in 1932. His wife fell ill in the 40s, and he took a back seat and let Vincent Davey start taking over the reins. When Norton released the Commando in ’68, Vincent thought it’d be a great model to start a race team. The Gus Kuhn Norton 850 Commando was born – and it led to an extensive customization service at the dealership. In the 70s, export business grew tremendously thanks to tax breaks for exported vehicles, and bikes like this one made it across the pond.
Gus Kuhn would custom build a Commando to any buyer’s specifications, which means each bike is a little bit different from its bretheren. Common modifications include the fiberglass fairing, chromed oil tanks and battery covers, special clipons, rearsets, and varying power levels as requested.
This specific Gus Kuhn Norton 850 Commando has been the beneficiary of a restoration with the help of Rabers, including power coating the frame, and rebuilding the transmission, bottom end, and top end. There’s plenty of new parts – and just 2 miles on the engine, so you’ll still need to break it in. The seller has over $15,000 in receipts from Rabers in his process of bringing this bike back to life.
Find this Gus Kuhn Norton 850 Commando for sale in San Francisco, California with bidding up to $8,600 and the reserve not yet met
