1975 Norton Commando 850

The 850 Mk III is the last chapter of Norton's story, and like most last chapters, it's complicated. By 1975, Norton knew they were dying. The Japanese had won the horsepower war, the reliability war, and the price war. Norton's response was to add what customers kept asking for: electric start, rear disc brake, left-side shift for the American market, and more displacement. On their own merits, these were sensible improvements. The 828cc engine makes more torque lower in the rev range, the electric start actually works (most of the time), and the rear disc is a genuine safety upgrade. But the added weight — 30 pounds over the 750 — dulled the handling that was the Commando's entire reason for existing. The Mk III is Norton waving a white flag while still trying to fight, and there's something both admirable and heartbreaking about that.

The 850 ages slightly differently from the 750 due to its later-era components. The annular discharge silencers (the flat-ended cans) discolor more evenly than the earlier peashooters — they go from chrome to a uniform bronze patina that's actually quite handsome. The electric start motor and its associated wiring add visual complexity to the right side of the engine that the 750 never had, and this area tends to collect road grime in ways that emphasize the added bulk. The Mk III's black-painted frame shows stone chips more readily than the earlier silver. Switchgear is Japanese-sourced (Wipac/Japanese hybrid) and deteriorates faster than the earlier Lucas items, ironically. The vernier Isolastic adjusters, while functionally superior to the shimmed originals, look more industrial and less purposeful as they age.

The 850 Mk III is genuinely the most practical Commando to own as a rider. The electric start transforms the ownership experience — no more memorizing the kick-start ritual, no more flooded cylinders in cold parking lots, no more embarrassing failed starts at gas stations. The extra torque from the bigger engine means you can be lazier with gear changes, which is welcome given the still-mediocre four-speed box. The rear disc brake is a meaningful safety improvement. But you're paying for these conveniences in added weight and complexity. The starter motor and its reduction gears are another system to maintain, and the charging system works harder to keep up with the starter's demands. The Isolastic system still needs attention, and the heavier engine loads the rubbers faster. Think of the 850 as the Commando for people who want to ride rather than tinker — it's less pure but more useful.