Needs a Service – 1974 John Player Norton Commando

In England, Sport by Abhi2 Comments

Post Sale Update – After 15 bides on eBay, this JPN sold for $9,000.

John Player refers to a tobacco company that sponsored Norton’s 750cc racers with distinctive black/gold and white/red/blue liveries. In 1974, Norton produced 200 bikes as replicas – 120 of them were sold in the United States.

John Player Norton Commando - Right Side

The replica was based on the 850cc bike, and features the large race fairing protecting low clipons, the lovely single-seat, and a black chrome exhaust. The initial plan was to produce 1,000 of these replica bikes, but only approximately 200 were made between ’74 and ’75. Very few were imported to the US, and because endurance bikes had not caught on in the States yet, even the small number of imports struggled to sell at a MSRP of $2,995. Weighing 475 pounds, the JPN was capable of 115 miles per hour. Want to learn more? Check out a great feature by Motorcycle Classics here.

John Player Norton Commando - Left Side

This bike (VIN: 112088) has just 4,725 miles but it hasn’t been started in about 20 years. The engine has good compression and it turns freely, but you’ll need to give it a service. It should also be noted that the original cylinders were sleeved down to 750cc so the bike could qualify for AHRMA racing (I can’t remember the last time I heard a bike having a displacement drop). Find this John Player for sale in Maple Lake, Minnesota with bidding up to $6,000 and no reserve