2010 norton commando specs

The braking set-up of the bike was sophisticated, too, with the front of the bike housing a swing arm, two dampers, and isolastic mounts, while the rear featured an 8-inch TLS drum.

Overall, the Commando was a stylish and mechanical sound two-wheeler that enveloped superior racing characteristics. This year was an eventful one for Norton-Villiers. The Commando Fastback was available to the general public and housed a more durable frame, a revised chain-guard, and even alloy levers with modified switchgear. The Type S iteration of the Commando featured the same fiberglass fuel tank used on the Type R, with its new high-level left side exhausts giving it a more stylish presence.

Both these machines remained mechanically identical to their original iteration but managed to differentiate themselves with significant structural and aesthetic changes as well as a different nomenclature that managed to give them their own distinct identities. The Commando lineage saw the introduction of the more powerful and explosive cc Interstate version. The powertrain on this iteration of the Commando was a tad more lively than the cc unit and churned out a meatier 65 hp at 6,rpm.

Highway cruising is effortless on this machine and one must be careful not to exceed the posted speed limits on even the superhighways. The would pull all the way to an indicated mph with a little coaxing.

At any speed the machine was smooth and stable. The springing is stiff but the machine did not feel uncomfortable on most roads. There were a few shortcomings. One of these was the seat. At first I thought it was just a problem with the material used in the padding of the saddle, but then discovered that the reason for the shortcoming was the seat is only about two inches thick over the main top tube of the frame, but on a sport machine this is something to be forgiven for the fine handling made possible by the frame design.

We also found that it was impossible to find a comfortable position on the right footpeg because of the kick start lever. We finally solved this problem by folding out the pedal. The brakes on the Commando were excellent and very much in keeping with the overall performance of the machine.

The Lockeed-Norton front disc was smooth and required little effort to bring the machine to a safe stable halt. The input is predictable and there is little danger in locking up the front wheel.

The rear drum was the perfect mate and even high speed stops were made with no panic factor at all. If a machine with good handling, smooth engines, mechanical simplicity and a high performance potential are your idea of what a motorcycle is all about, a Norton Commando is a bike that must be taken for careful consideration.

It has all those qualities in abundance. Home Manufacturer Contact. Contact Terms of Use Policy Links. Norton Commando Make Model. Four stroke, parallel twin cylinder, push rod 2 valves per cylinder. Bore x Stroke. Compression Ratio.

Co oling System. Air cooled. Lucas alternator. Max Power. Diaphragm type pressure plate. Final Drive. Front Suspension. Telescopic fork. Rear Suspension. Dual shocks. Heavens above! Imagine a motorcycle with an electric starter.

What would those dastardly Japs come up with next? Finally the company was also in trouble with legislators who demanded quieter and cleaner Norton's, and it was thought although the legislation never actually transpired gear-change pedals on the left-hand side.

There was also a lb increase in weight, and the result was a parody of the lean, lithe sports bike which Dr. Stefan Bauer hurriedly drew in Where to start? By , the original cc Hopwood-designed Dominator engine had been taking illegal steroids and became a whopping cc. Unfortunately, the capacity does not produce arm-wrenching, buttock-tightening Commando racing engine power and torque but dull, supersize-me, flab.

Ironically, it results in a very mid-'70s Harley-Davidson boulevard cruising style. With a beer belly and beard, any middle-class Hells Angel aspirant would feel at home. The isolastic rubber engine mountings do prevent the vibration reaching the rider, but the motor was now so heavily muffled and dull that it became a soulless lump. Imagine an interview with a particularly pedantic IRS official when you have failed to file your tax return on time: that's about the excitement level.

As with the gearbox, the Commando Interstate made an impressive leap backwards with its horrid brakes, which were abysmal and required a lot of effort at the lever. The Commando still had a separate gearbox - an idea which was old-fashioned in the s. However, the original Norton gearbox was a flawless piece of engineering and gives one of the sweetest, most accurate actions of any motorcycle - and that includes any current bike.

So, one thing is perfect on the Commando? Well, no, actually. With the gearshift on the left, the feel of the 'box is destroyed. Now, instead of a knife through butter, it was the motorcycling equivalent of making love wearing 20 industrial-strength prophylactics.

Intellectually you might be aware of the act, but your body would never know what's going on. Ironically, the electric starter does actually start the motor - at least on the very hot day we had the Commando on test. At Norton, the in-house joke was that the starter provided "electrical assistance.

Together, man and solenoid would fire up the big Twin. Massive Motorcycle Specifications Handbook You must be logged in to post a comment. News Ticker. New Motorcycle Models. Moto Guzzi.