1971 Norton Commando 750

1971 Norton Commando 750cc Production Racer. Its innovative vibration-beating Isolastic frame enabled the Commando to prolong the life of Norton's aging parallel twin. Launched in 1967, the model was an instant hit with the motorcycling public, being voted Motor Cycle News 'Machine of the Year' for five consecutive years. A true 'skunkworks' project, the Production Racer was introduced for 1971 and hand-assembled at Norton race manager Peter Inchley's famous 'Long Shop,' a hangar at the old Thruxton air base. A homologation special built for little more than one season to qualify for various 750cc road racing series, the street-legal 'Proddy Racer' was the fastest/quickest Commando made, capable of 130mph as delivered with a list price double that of standard Commandos. Credit for the performance goes to the blueprinted engine, meticulously assembled with high-compression pistons, factory 3S racing camshaft, ported cylinder head, larger valves and polished internals, good for at least an additional 10bhp over an assembly-line Commando. Handling likewise was improved upon thanks to test rider Peter Williams, also an excellent development engineer, who could simply throw open the hangar doors and commence to hot-lapping the adjacent Thruxton race circuit. It certainly did the bike's credibility not one iota of harm when Williams and co-rider Charlie Sanby took a Production Racer to victory in the 1970 Thruxton 500 endurance race.

Fork sliders and internals have been reworked for superior damping, while the swingarm bushing was totally revised, and the arm itself was lengthened. A 6-gallon gas tank replaces the standard Production Racer item.