1968 Norton Commando 750S – $24,000

SELLER SAYS: Licensed as 1968 but I think it may be a 1969 Norton Commando 750cc S. Combat engine, lots of after-market period products on it. Proven multiple show and award winner, with many trophies obtained. Fast, powerful and great handling motorcycle. New tyres front and rear which have never been on the road (Avon Roadmasters). Bike will possibly need some preparation work as it’s not been started for about two years and has a new triplex primary chain ready to be fitted. Sadly age has caught up with me not being able to ride it in that position. Great historical racer. On a concessional license. Phone Paul on 0417 051 378 (Albany, WA).

EDITOR TERLICK SAYS: In the history of motorcycles, few bikes carry more gravitas than the Norton Commando. Right from its debut in 1968, riders and moto-journos heaped praise on the big Brit, gushing about its styling, performance, handling and – most of all – its then-revolutionary ‘isolastic’ engine-mounts that dramatically reduced vibration from the big 750 twin. In its early years, before the Japanese manufacturers really got their act together, the Commando was considered by many as the best bike that money could buy. And even when the Honda CB750 Four arrived, it was no match for the Norton as a pure rider’s bike. The Honda was a mile behind the Norton in the corners and, despite the hype around Honda’s four-cylinder engine, barely matched it in a drag race down the highway. Sadly for Norton, the arrival of the Commando was the high point of the company’s history. It was all downhill from there, while Honda and others rose to world dominance in rapid time. This bike of Paul’s is one of those very early Commandos that attracted so much adoration back in the day. Being an S model, it wears an upswept scrambler-style exhaust, making one of history’s most beautiful bikes even more so! I have seen quite a few of Paul’s bikes over the years, and this one looks to be up to his usual very high standard. Nice.