Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In the late 1960s, the British motorcycle industry was staring into the abyss. While BSA and Triumph were experimenting with triples and tricycles, Norton was betting everything on a bizarre 800cc twin with a cam chain longer than Danny DeVito!
When that project spectacularly failed just eleven weeks before the 1967 Earl’s Court show, the team had to pull off the ultimate 'kick, bollock, scramble'. Join us at 3Phils as we look back at the frantic birth of the Norton Commando - a bike that was meant to be a stop-gap but went on to win 'Motorcycle of the Year' five times in a row.
We’ll explore the Isolastic breakthrough and how old-fashioned ingenuity saved Norton from the history books (for a while, at least).
Channel members benefit from early access to the main 3Phils videos. It costs just 99p per month to become a '4th Phil', just follow this link: youtube.com/@3Phils/join
Don't forget to join us on Facebook too!
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550349542826
Credits and links:
Norton Commando 1969 - ClassicSuperBikes
youtu.be/fxT_gmuxfBk?si=uPo8ganvsRJq2Dp0
1960 NORTON DOMINATOR 99 - Russell James Motorcycles
youtube.com/watch?v=cBliC_pLFts
1966 Norton Atlas 750cc - Andy Tiernan Classic Motorcycles
youtube.com/watch?v=4dta6-kDaQI
Norton Commando pure sound - Classic Moto
youtube.com/watch?v=MW11BjFi1P4&t=92s
Chapter headings:
0:00 The British Bike Industry's 'Pit of Doom'
0:37 Norton’s Peculiar Basket: The DOHC 800cc Twin
1:03 11 Weeks to Ear's Court: The Kick-Bollock Scramble
1:37 Scaling Up and Shaking Out: The Vibration Problem
2:25 The P10 Prototype and the 4ft Timing Chain
2:48 Enter Dr. Stefan Bauer and Manganese Bronze
3:19 Redesigning the Frame: Goodbye Featherbed
3:49 The 11-Week Miracle Plan
4:23 Radical Styling and the 'Fastback' Look
4:42 Naming the Legend: The James Company Archive
5:14 Debut at the '67 Bike Show
5:55 Dr. Bauer’s Lateral Thinking and Rubber Mounts
6:14 My Experience Owning a Commando
6:36 Final Thoughts & Support the Channel
#classicmotorcycles #classicmotorbike #vintagemotorcycle #1970smotorcycles #1970s #motorcycling #oldmotorcycle #IsolasticSystem #DOHC #nortonmotorcycles #commando
In the late 1960s, the British motorcycle industry was staring into the abyss. While BSA and Triumph were experimenting with triples and tricycles, Norton was betting everything on a bizarre 800cc twin with a cam chain longer than Danny DeVito!
When that project spectacularly failed just eleven weeks before the 1967 Earl’s Court show, the team had to pull off the ultimate 'kick, bollock, scramble'. Join us at 3Phils as we look back at the frantic birth of the Norton Commando - a bike that was meant to be a stop-gap but went on to win 'Motorcycle of the Year' five times in a row.
We’ll explore the Isolastic breakthrough and how old-fashioned ingenuity saved Norton from the history books (for a while, at least).
Channel members benefit from early access to the main 3Phils videos. It costs just 99p per month to become a '4th Phil', just follow this link: youtube.com/@3Phils/join
Don't forget to join us on Facebook too!
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550349542826
Credits and links:
Norton Commando 1969 - ClassicSuperBikes
youtu.be/fxT_gmuxfBk?si=uPo8ganvsRJq2Dp0
1960 NORTON DOMINATOR 99 - Russell James Motorcycles
youtube.com/watch?v=cBliC_pLFts
1966 Norton Atlas 750cc - Andy Tiernan Classic Motorcycles
youtube.com/watch?v=4dta6-kDaQI
Norton Commando pure sound - Classic Moto
youtube.com/watch?v=MW11BjFi1P4&t=92s
Chapter headings:
0:00 The British Bike Industry's 'Pit of Doom'
0:37 Norton’s Peculiar Basket: The DOHC 800cc Twin
1:03 11 Weeks to Ear's Court: The Kick-Bollock Scramble
1:37 Scaling Up and Shaking Out: The Vibration Problem
2:25 The P10 Prototype and the 4ft Timing Chain
2:48 Enter Dr. Stefan Bauer and Manganese Bronze
3:19 Redesigning the Frame: Goodbye Featherbed
3:49 The 11-Week Miracle Plan
4:23 Radical Styling and the 'Fastback' Look
4:42 Naming the Legend: The James Company Archive
5:14 Debut at the '67 Bike Show
5:55 Dr. Bauer’s Lateral Thinking and Rubber Mounts
6:14 My Experience Owning a Commando
6:36 Final Thoughts & Support the Channel
#classicmotorcycles #classicmotorbike #vintagemotorcycle #1970smotorcycles #1970s #motorcycling #oldmotorcycle #IsolasticSystem #DOHC #nortonmotorcycles #commando
