Re: Norton 880 Commando Special Cafe Racer Project
1974 Norton 850 Commando custom VR880 replica Café Racer - Rolling Project
CHASSIS & BRACKETS
'74 Commando frame with Kenny Dreer VR880 tranny cradle, modified to accept a Spyke electric starter (HD Sportster). The swingarm mount is a Dreer VR880 "big bearing conversion to accept a box-section swingarm that pivots on full bearings instead of the original spindle & bushing setup. I also have a standard cradle & swingarm, as well as parts to fabricate a monoshock swingarm (buyer's choice). Currently mounted with a decent used vernier adjustable isolastic unit in very good shape. At present, I do not have the proper swingarm bearings, so I've inserted some temporary / loose spacers to be able to roll the bike around. I will include an early style flat head steady plate with no fastening hardware. Front engine mount with used isolastic unit. Late style long sidestand, no spring; no centerstand. Good condition alloy Z-plates (peg mounts).
ENGINE
Power Unit: Empty set of Kenny Dreer VR880 cases, Cerma coated (metallic ceramic). Cases need some rehab work and all new bushings and bearings. I will include a good used set of “Superblend” roller mains. No crank, no cam, no rods. Includes a good used oil pump, recommend refurbishing to minimize typical Norton wet sumping. I have a used camchain, sprocket, and adjuster foot. No timing cover, no intermediate or crank pinions. Included is one of my custom adapted reed valve crankcase breathers to eliminate potential/typical oil leaks.
Top End: Kenny Dreer VR880 barrels, no hardware, no cam followers (tappets), no pushrods. Set of NEW J&E lightweight 880 pistons with Total Seal gapless rings & pins. RH4 head, bare (no rockers). Will include a complete set of valves, springs, cups and collets, no split keepers. I will include three very rough cam followers if buyer wants them; they will need welding up, resurfacing and heat treating. No rocker cover caps.
Primary: Empty set of modified MkIII e-start cases with starter lump removed and epoxied over. Currently held on with one screw into power unit and a temporary bolt & spacer fixed to the Tranny cradle. No clutch parts; I do have a MkIII triplex sprocket and primary chain. With a bit of work, this primary case can be made to work with a belt drive primary system, and can be vented/drilled/cut-out as desired.
NO TRANSMISSION.
INTAKE & EXHAUST
Buyer has the choice of a pair of standard intakes with a pair of Amal 932 carbs needing overhaul and air filters, or a single Mikuni carb conversion (manifold & carb). Also have available a pair of modern CV carbs on custom manifolds but these won’t fit in the standard frame. Includes a fairly new set of sawed-off exhaust pipes with very good finned nuts and the cut-off kink sections of the pipes. Buyer has option to buy a set of very good condition OEM “Bean Can” mufflers that I have, but this bike really needs “Peashooters”.
SUSPENSION
The entire front end is a good condition 70's Yamaha unit (unknown model) including yokes, fender & disc brake front wheel. Lower fork legs & hub will accept a 2nd disc setup with no modifications. Steering is currently set in place with incorrect tapered roller bearings in order to roll the project around. Front disc brake system will be cleaned & flushed, it's a bit sticky but working. Forks were working well on a Triumph that was restored with original forks. Out back is a pair of scruffy original Girlings; they do still have good damping, and 5 preload settings. I also have a brand new pair of NJB (classic Girling clones), buyer's choice. If the buyer wants a monoshock, I can get one from a nearby cycle salvage yard.
WHEELS, BRAKES & TIRES
Yamaha spoked front wheel with tire in very good condition; standard plain steel brake disc. I can have this disc drilled if buyer wants. Rear wheel is from an unknown Japanese bike with a single leading shoe brake (probably Honda 550 or 750). Rear brake will need conversion from rod operator to cable; cable must cross over to the Norton left foot brake. Rear brake torque arm needs mounts welded to swingarm. Decent 4.25x18 rear tire, no tube. Rear wheel is currently using a long bolt and incorrect spacers, I do not have the proper rear axle or chain adjusters, Box section swingarm can take custom fabricated slider blocks for a nice custom touch.
CONTROLS
Simple chromed steel slip-on clip-on handlebars with unknown switches and controls. Dunstall style rearset footpegs & controls with shift linkage and decent rubbers. No clutch, throttle, brake, speedo or tach cables. No instruments (tach/speedo). Buyer has the option of standard handlebar mounts with used Clubman style or standard bars.
ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING
Includes a new cloth-wrapped Norton wiring harness with some adaptation for this layout. Japanese thumbswitches in decent shape, mismatched wire color-code, not connected. No keyswitch. Ducati Monster headlight with pigtail, not connected. No tail light (uses a trailer side marker light base), no brake light switch, no turn signals, no battery, no battery tray. NEW Lucas RITA electronic ignition system (in a box), used Tympanium solid state regulator/rectifier. Very good condition Sparx single phase alternator stator, used Lucas rotor. Including a pair of good condition Lucas black-topped 12 volt coils with all OEM terminals in a fabricated coil mount.
BODYWORK
Kenny Dreer VR880 (Lyta Sprint style) molded plastic fuel cell with Aero style filler neck, no cap, no petcocks. I have available an uncut hard plastic shell if buyer wants that option. Very nicely painted (Green & Silver) VR 880 Sprint Special tail/seat with very nice upholstery and standard Commando mount, with a pair of used mismatched seat knobs that need re-threading. No sidecovers, no rear fender. Yamaha chrome front fender with mounts, installed. Buyer has the option of a standard fiberglass Norton Roadster tank (will need lining for modern fuel).
OTHER
This project is
LOOSELY ASSEMBLED with mismatched hardware, bearings, spacers, etc.; critical bearings, spacers, bolts, nuts, screws & washers are not included. The bike will roll, and the front brake works, so it can be loaded, unloaded and moved around as needed. If I didn’t mention a part in the listing, it’s probably not on the bike.
Frame, yokes, and other parts are rattle-can spray painted with Rust-O-Leum to preserve condition (rust and scale were wire-brushed before painting).
I have made a very good effort to list every detail, but may have overlooked things. I have available many decent photos of the individual parts, as well as the entire assembly to rolling. “What You See Is What You Get”. Entire build narrative with photos can be viewed
HERE
I have good sources for used centerstand, oil tank and battery tray (plus many other parts); will include the contact info (very inexpensive, even compared to e-bay). I also have wholesale trade sources for EVERYTHING needed to finish this entire project as the buyer wishes; these are true wholesale prices for NEW parts, but must be purchased in large lots directly through me to receive the discounts. I also have excellent subcontractors for painting, machine work, welding, chrome & zinc plating. If buyer wishes, I can handle all parts to be sent to these trades, and/or order all parts required to build the bike.
BOTTOM LINE
As with every bike, project and part I’ve sold online in over 15 years, the above listing contains no hype, no fluff and
NO BULL.
Some of these parts are getting pretty rare, 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, and heavily discounting the small parts I had on my shelves.
Item by item, the value of the parts is near $8,000.00, even using e-bay pricing.
I’ll take $6,000 or best reasonable offer. Contact me at grandpaulz@hotmail.com
SOLD AS-IS, WHERE-IS, NO TITLE, BILL OF SALE ONLY I can provide a clean Texas title in my name
FOR A FEE, takes about 2 months.
Bike is located in Laredo, Texas at the southern end of I-35. I get a discount with Keyboard Motorcycle Shippers, and I'm willing to deliver as far as Austin or Houston (shipyard)
AT MY COST. I can disassemble and/or crate the bike
FOR A FEE.
I’m not offended by lowball offers, but reserve the right to politely refuse them! Thanx for looking.
