The Norton 850 Commando was one of the most popular motorcycles ever made. For 5 straight years it was “Machine of the Year” in the UK, and even Norton themselves were surprised as the success as the engine was a pre-unit design. This was because money was very tight at the time for Norton, so they instead focused on chassis improvements. In 1973, Norton bumped up compression to 828cc (and then called it an 850), and the Roadster model continued unchanged for the 1974 model year. ’75 brought about the Mark III, which marked the end of Norton until their recent revival in 2008.
The Norton was well-known for rubber engine mounts (deemed an “isolastic” systems) that tremendously cut down vibrations. Ignoring how pretty it is, when it comes to classic British bikes, the Commando is probably the most practical and realistic one to enjoy on a daily basis in modern times. They’ve got good (~60hp) power, decent electrics, and in this case, a genuine Norton disc brake up front. There’s a reason the 850 Commando is a classic. Want to learn more? Check out this great writeup from Motorcycle Classics about the 850.
This specific Norton 850 Commando looks beautiful in red. While the seller doesn’t give much information on it, it seems that there are no mechanical issues, and that it’s only covered 17,500 miles. It’s got an aftermarket Corbin “Fastback” seat and aftermarket mirrors, the latter of which are the only things I would consider changing on this beauty.
Find this Norton 850 Commando for sale here on Cycle Trader for $8,995 in Camarillo, California.
