NORTON Rotary commander

[dmouse]

now here is a real relic for sale wish i had the room and money for this bike, the problems that this bike caused on the gp world was amaseing and the tech is still ahead of its times these things can shift and to be honest there would not be too much that could keep up with it even today pound for pound its pure shit off of a shovel

respect to the owner/seller and awsome to the buyer god my eyes look green i was sure they were blue !!!


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-120507136.htm

[Steam]

Oh dear, look at that generic plastic fairing. Tragedy! What's the point of having a gorgeous and special engine if you can't caress it with your eyes every time you look at the bike.

[dmouse]

yes very true Steam now here is a story, when i was a lad and i used to ride track semi pro i went to the IOM track for testing some onda`s in the late seventies early eighties and there was a test bike with no names or logos grafix or anything it was just painted plain white all the fairings and stuff on it with extras so you could see nothing at all on the motor, and lots of guys runnin around with meters spanners and other assorted tools, then they fired this thing up and it did not sound like any bike i had heard before and when this thing took off it just went no other way to describe it but as just gone, then it came back and they wrapped it up and packed it away, there was so much speculation that it had a jet engine not too far off i guess ah the memorys, it would be nice to see what a stripped down version could of done on the track i wouldnt fancy one on the road though ah well back to my dreams......


Oh dear, look at that generic plastic fairing. Tragedy! What's the point of having a gorgeous and special engine if you can't caress it with your eyes every time you look at the bike.

[nudemetalz]

The Commander utilised a lot of Yamaha (XJ900?) running gear.
Check the wheels and dash out for a start.

Now, the F1 was a beauty. I'd have one of those.

[Paul in NZ]

There is a big difference between the Commander (worthy as it is) and the race bikes...

As for being at the cutting edge? Erm - bleeding edge is more accurate but great bikes, really great to ride but these days a bit outclassed and you would have a battle getting one to pass an emission certificate....

Shame the Norton / BSA / Triumph spent so much time and money on these things when they had so many other options really..... Thats the commercial reality... But by then it was already too late so why not.

[martybabe]

:yes: Fond memories of those babies blattin round donnington park with metre long flames shooting out the back, awsome spectacle.I don't know to this day weather they were supposed to incinerate following riders.Brits love the underdog and the whole crowd was excited that we might be witnessing something radical enough to take the world by storm, as usual it wasn't to be but it was thrilling for a while.Good try Norton.The commander made it to police bike status for a while but ultimately proved too fragile :thud:

A collectors piece for sure.:yes:

[nudemetalz]

Here's some on-bike footage of a Norton racing, this time it's a 1962 Twin.
Not a rotary, but sounds good also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXsTee_FGY