Few names in motorcycling command as much reverence as Norton. A cornerstone of the British motorcycle industry, the storied marque is synonymous with racing pedigree, engineering innovation, and dogged charisma. From the dominant Manx racers of the 1950s to the revolutionary Isolastic frame of the iconic Commando, Norton has consistently built machines that stir the soul.
Today, that heritage fuels a fervent collector’s market. A pristine, numbers-matching Norton is a blue-chip investment, with concours-correct restorations of models like the iconic John Player Special Commando fetching handsome sums. But Nortons are not just museum pieces; they are living, breathing machines that serve as some of the finest canvases for restoration, resto-modding, and full-blown customization. From subtle café racers to unhinged drag bikes, the platform’s potential is limitless.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite builds that celebrate the enduring legacy of Norton motorcycles. If they leave you inspired, you can check out the Norton Commando in the Bike EXIF Auctions that is currently open for bidding.
Lamb Engineering’s ‘Comet’
What happens when you ditch pistons entirely? Larry Houghton of Lamb Engineering answered that with ‘The Comet,’ a build centered around one of motorcycling’s most fascinating power plants.
The project began when Larry tracked down a rare ex-police Norton Interpol 2, securing its 588 cc twin-rotor Wankel engine. Despite high mileage and 20 years in storage, the factory-overhauled unit ran flawlessly, providing the perfect heart for a long-dreamed-of project.
While an Aprilia RSV chassis was considered, Larry opted for a bespoke frame to showcase the space-age motor. Fabricated in-house, the new chassis hangs the Wankel engine while incorporating modern running gear, including a front end from a Ducati 999 and a swingarm from an Aprilia RSV 1000. A Norton Commando gearbox cleverly facilitates the switch from shaft to chain drive. The most striking features are the twin induction tubes that solve the rotary’s unique cooling needs, feeding air through the rotors before it’s drawn into twin SU carburetors.
The finished machine is a masterpiece of engineering and artistry. Metalworker Tony Taysom crafted the MotoGP-inspired aluminum bodywork, but the soul of the build lies in the custom-machined parts. Larry reports a sublime riding experience: zero vibration, a linear power curve, and a glorious howl unlike anything else on two wheels. It’s a fascinating mechanical study and a testament to what’s possible when convention is left behind. [MORE]
NYC Norton’s Commando ‘S’ Roadster
Every great bike deserves a great story, and this Commando ‘S’ from Kenny Cummings at NYC Norton has one of the best. It began with a call from a woman claiming to be the world’s most famous Tina Turner impersonator, who had a 1970s S-Type languishing in her New Jersey backyard. Kenny arrived to find the bike on its side, with weeds growing through it, having been previously dragged across the yard by a pickup truck and left to corrode.
After rescuing the machine and decontaminating it, the bike sat in the corner of the shop, awaiting its day. That day came when a client, Ben Schmitt, wanted to get back to AHRMA racing. The NYC Norton team resurrected the bike from its swampy grave, transforming it into a top-spec BEARS-class racer.
The engine, surprisingly well-preserved internally, was rebuilt with rare Steve Maney parts, Carrillo rods, and JE pistons. The frame was restored, and the chassis was updated, complete with adjustable front suspension and a mix of Grimeca and AP Racing brakes.
One of the key requests was for a reliable electric start, so a Colorado Norton Works kit was installed; this necessitated a switch to a later-model side-mount oil tank. The bodywork is all business, with a racer-style aluminum tank and a purposeful fairing. Resurrected from the brink, this Norton is a stunning example of how even the most neglected British iron can be reborn as a serious performer. [MORE]
Herb Becker’s Supercharged Drag Bike
If some is good, more is better, and excess is best. That seems to be the philosophy behind Herb Becker’s ‘Double H,’ a twin-engined, supercharged homage to the legendary ‘Hogslayer’ Norton drag bike. As a tool and die maker and Norton race guru, Herb had the skills to turn this wild concept into a terrifying reality, building a machine that is anything but a static display.
The chassis is a one-off, built to harness the power of two 765 cc Commando engines working in unison. To get them to play nice, Herb fabricated custom steel flywheels, allowing the methanol-fueled beast to idle smoothly. As if two engines weren’t enough, he bolted on an M90 supercharger from a 3.8L Pontiac, feeding the twin mills through a custom Hilborn fuel injection setup. Herb estimates the combination is good for 240 hp—a figure that demands respect and a very steady throttle hand. [MORE]
Auto Fabrica’s ‘Type 16’ Commando
The guys at Auto Fabrica are masters of minimalist design and sublime metalwork. So when they finally turned their attention to a British bike, the result was bound to be special. Tasked with creating a 1971 Norton Commando in the vein of their popular Yamaha ‘Type 6,’ they created the ‘Type 16’—a stunning exercise in form and function.
The build’s biggest challenge was dealing with the Commando’s external oil tank while maintaining Auto Fabrica’s signature clean lines. Their solution was ingenious: the frame’s main tube was converted into part of the oil reservoir, with the remaining volume contained within the handcrafted aluminum tail section. This allowed for the breathtaking, single-piece tank and seat unit to flow uninterrupted over the chassis. A stealthy oil cooler was added to manage temperatures in the hot climate the bike was destined for.
The rest of the bike received the full Auto Fabrica treatment. The engine was rebuilt with a high-compression head, and a signature, swooping stainless steel exhaust was fabricated. The wheels were re-laced with Morad rims, with a Laverda drum brake up front and a custom conical hub at the rear. The cockpit is a study in minimalism, featuring one-piece stainless handlebars and custom switchgear.
It’s a perfect fusion of classic British engineering and contemporary design. [MORE]
Ron Wood’s ‘Lightweight’ Flat Tracker
In the golden age of American flat-track, privateer ingenuity could still overcome factory might. No one proved that better than Ron Wood. This ‘Lightweight’ Norton is one of his seminal machines, a legend of the dirt oval and the last Norton to ever win an AMA Grand National, beautifully preserved by its owner, Jamie Waters.
This was Wood’s follow-up to his famous ‘big tube’ Nortons, designed with one goal: to shed weight. The single-backbone, dual-downtube frame brought the bike in at under 270 pounds, nearly 40 pounds lighter than the factory Harley XRs of the day. While down on peak horsepower, Wood’s genius was in creating a balanced chassis that could get more of its power to the dirt. The CR Axtell-tuned 750 cc engine, fed by 36mm Dell’Orto pumper carbs, was a finely honed weapon.
Outfitted with Ceriani forks, 19″ Barnes wheels, and a distinctive tank from a Yamaha DT, the bike was pure function. In the hands of future AMA Hall of Famer Alex Jorgenson, it cemented its place in history with a win at the AMA National at Ascot in 1978. It remains an icon of a golden era, embodying the spirit of a true privateer champion. [MORE]
Fuller Moto’s Commando
Some projects begin with a complete motorcycle; others, like this showstopper from Bryan Fuller of Fuller Moto, begin with a few boxes of parts. The owner, Kyle Frey, had inherited his uncle’s 1968 Commando 750 as a matching-numbers frame and four milk crates full of components. Upon inspection, the Fuller team discovered the famously flexible 68 frame had been crudely repaired with a solid piece of two-inch round stock welded into the backbone—an attempt to improve the model’s known weakness.
Rather than attempt a simple repair, Fuller took the ambitious route and fabricated an entirely new frame from scratch. The result is a beautiful and far more rigid chromoly chassis that retains the classic oil-in-frame design. Fuller even integrated an ingenious crankcase venting system that runs through the frame’s downtube.
The rolling chassis was brought up to modern standards with a lightened and shortened CB550 front end, a lengthened swingarm, Fox shocks, and a full suite of high-performance Beringer brakes. The engine was handed to English bike expert Beno Rodi for a thorough rebuild, complete with a new open primary drive and clutch.
Turning his attention to the bodywork, Fuller hand-formed a stunning alloy fairing and tail section reminiscent of old Manx racers. The livery is a classic Norton green, elegantly applied by Joe Patterson with pin striping by Chastin Brand. The level of detail is obsessive, from the custom lighting to the decision to strip the stock red anodizing from the Beringer brakes and re-coat them in satin black to better suit the build. Nicknamed ‘Misty Green,’ this Commando is more than a restoration; it’s a complete re-engineering, transforming a box of parts into a world-class café racer. [MORE]
FCR Original’s Commando Café Racer
The French workshop FCR Original typically works with modern classics, but the allure of the Norton Commando proved too strong to resist. With a 1975 Commando Mk3 as a starting point, their goal was to build the sleekest café racer possible, with an intense focus on visual lightness and handcrafted parts. The project began with a meticulous, nut-and-bolt restoration, where every component was renewed or replaced to a better-than-factory standard after extensive research.
To achieve their vision of a slim, elegant machine, FCR blended modern technology with old-world craftsmanship. The stunning tank and tail unit were first designed and perfected using 3D rendering software before being painstakingly hand-formed from aluminum. The decision was made to polish the raw metal to a mirror finish, creating an almost liquid-like flow over the top of the bike. To accentuate this, the frame, swingarm, and even the top of the engine were finished in black, making the polished bodywork the undisputed centerpiece.
This ethos of reduction extends to the mechanics. The twin carburetors were swapped for a single unit on a 2-into-1 intake, narrowing the engine’s profile. A gorgeous, stainless steel exhaust was fabricated to exit in a stacked configuration on the right-hand side. The running gear is equally impressive, with Ceriani forks, 18-inch Borrani rims laced to custom hubs, and modern ABM calipers. The result is a testament to FCR Original’s meticulous execution—a Norton that feels both authentically vintage and refreshingly contemporary. [MORE]
