1974 Norton Commando Vr880 on 2040-motos

1974 NORTON COMMANDO 880 CUSTOM CAFE RACER

UNIQUE CUSTOM BUILD WITH SOME OF THE LAST KENNY DREER / VINTAGE REBUILDS PARTS

AUCTION INCLUDES NUMBERS-MATCHING TEXAS TITLE, AND SHIPPING TO YOUR DOOR IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S.

NO RESERVE - YOU BID, YOU WIN!

CHASSIS & BRACKETS - '74 Commando frame with VR880 transmission cradle, modified to accept a Spyke electric starter (E-START PARTS NOT INCLUDED). The swingarm mount is a Kenny Dreer VR880 "big bearing” conversion for the box-section swingarm that pivots on Norton sealed bearings (common Norton steering bearings) instead of the original spindle & bushing setup. Vernier adjustable isolastic suspension units. Late style box head steady. Sidestand and centerstand, battery tray, and all other items in this section freshly powdercoated Black. Polished alloy footpeg mounting Z-plates. Polished alloy Yamaha XS650 yokes turn in standard Norton sealed bearings.

SUSPENSION - The entire front end is a totally rebuilt 73 Yamaha XS650 unit including polished yokes & lowers, with new seals. Lower fork leg & hub will accept a 2nd disc setup with no modifications. Out back is a pair of very nice DOT shocks with adjustable preload settings. 

WHEELS, BRAKES & TIRES - Yamaha XS650 spoked front wheel with Cheng Shin 3.50x18 tire in very good condition with new tube. Drilled & Blanchard ground brake disc. Honda CB750 rear wheel with single leading shoe brake with polished cover. Rear brake has been converted from rod operator to cable. Polished alloy rear brake torque arm. Cheng Shin 4.25x18 used rear tire with new tube. Rear axle & spacers custom fabricated and fit for proper spacing. Box section swingarm has custom fabricated chain adjuster slider blocks, and can accommodate up to a 6" wide rear tire (must convert drive chain arrangement for over 5" tire).

ENGINE

Power Unit: Refurbished Norton 850 Commando cases. “Superblend” roller main bearings. Standard 850 crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods with NEW shell bearings, oil pump, and cam drivetrain. Polished timing cover. Installed is one of my custom reed valve crankcase breathers to eliminate potential/typical oil leaks.

Top End: Kenny Dreer VR880 barrels, with cam followers (tappets), standard pushrods. Set of NEW J&E lightweight 880 pistons with Total Seal gapless rings & pins. RH4 head, with fresh valve job. All threads in perfect shape. Polished rocker inspection caps

Primary: Standard 850 primary cases with oil fling lip cleanly weld repaired. Standard clutch assembly with Sureflex fiber friction plates. Primary cover polished.

Intake & Exhaust- NEW Amal Premier 932 carbs on 32mm intakes, with K&N dual-neck air filter. Standard crossover chrome headers and “Peashooter” mufflers, mounted with NEW rubber isolation buffers.

Transmission - Matching number transmission, 4-speed, with NEW seals; all bearings, bushings, gears, shafts & forks in excellent condition. Transmission outer cover polished.

HAND & FOOT CONTROLS - Simple chromed steel slip-on clip-on handlebars with UJM thumb switches and NEW Brembo master cylinder. Dunstall style rearset footpegs & controls with shift linkage and decent rubbers.  

ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING - Includes a NEW cloth-wrapped Norton wiring harness with some adaptation for this layout. Japanese thumbswitch in decent shape, NEW Indian m/c keyswitch. Ducati Monster headlight, incorporated VR tail light (uses a trailer side marker light base with dual bulbs). UJM Brake light switch. No turn signals. Small form factor AGM battery. Sparx electronic ignition system with Emgo dual lead coil, Sparx solid state regulator/rectifier. Sparx single phase alternator stator, Lucas rotor. Veypor electronic speedometer/tachometer. I will include a set of mini alloy turn signals, NEW in the box (installation extra).

BODYWORK - Kenny Dreer VR880 (Lyta Sprint style) molded plastic fuel cell with Aero filler cap. Very nicely painted (Green & Silver) VR 880 Sprint Special tank cover, matching sidecovers, and boat-tail seat with very nice leather upholstery, no rear fender. Yamaha chrome front fender with mounts.

OTHER - All hardware / fasteners are freshly Cadmium plated. Champion spark plugs. Gates oil & fuel resistant hoses. RK drive chain. Baldwin spin-on oil filter. All fresh Castrol dino-based lubricants. SuperBike brand grips. Actual mileage of donor bike is unknown, but engine, chassis & suspension are fully overhauled. The most significant used items on the bike are the tires and mufflers which are in excellent condition. Will install buyer's choice of new tires at my cost if desired.

DOCUMENTATION - Clean Texas title in my name. I can provide copies of all receipts if desired. Entire build narrative with hundreds of photos can be viewed on my Born Again Bikes facebook page, DoTheTon.Com forum, and AccessNorton.Com forum. I have made every effort to list every detail, but may have overlooked one or two things. This listing has plenty of clear photos, and the above narrative is quite complete. “What You See Is What You Get”.

BACK STORY - Kenny Dreer is the guy that ALMOST resurrected Norton here in the USA. His very successful Vintage Rebuilds VR Sprint Special Commando resto/mods are what inspired this build. This BAB Sprint Special won "Bike Of The Month" (Jan 2016) on the "Do The Ton" forum. I opened Born Again Bikes in 2005, and have custom built, restored, refurbished, and overhauled more than 19 Commandos in that time, including custom building a monoshock "sister" to this bike that appeared in "Cafe Racer" magazine, and the ORIGINAL Dreer New Norton prototype monoshock bike that has been featured in magazines, calendars, and on various show bike forums including BikeExif, PipeBurn, KneeSlider, MotorcyclePhotoOfTheDay, and others. This bike is sure to win it's fair share of bike shows and online accolades for it's proud new owner.

SHIPPING - Bike will be shipped to your door in the continental U.S. by Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping, fully insured, on a motorcycle-specific pallet. If shipping internationally / overseas, a $500 credit will be applied to shipping charges. I can disassemble and/or crate the bike FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE.

BOTTOM LINE

As with every bike, project and part I’ve sold online in over 16 years (with 100% satisfaction), the above listing contains no hype, no fluff and NO BULL. Some of these parts are getting pretty rare or impossible to find, as Kenny Dreer sold out all of his VR parts to me and two other people, and they’re mostly off the market now. I am passing on the discount Kenny gave me.

SOLD AS-IS, WHERE-IS. Many of the core parts on this bike are over 40 years old and there is no way to guarantee them. I do stand behind my work, and will assist the buyer to the best of my ability from long distance, should the need arise. Motorcycles are inherently dangerous, and buyer assumes all risk and liability as soon as the motorcycle is loaded up and removed from my property.

Thanx for looking, you won't be disappointed for bidding!