• Year of manufacture 
    1989
  • Motorcycle type 
    Street
  • Lot number 
    263
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Colour  
    Other
  • Location
    United Kingdom

Description

1989 Norton 588cc Commander
Registration no. F599 GNX
Frame no. 4111

Hailed by Norton as, 'the first true British challenger on the world motorcycle market in over a decade', the fully faired Commander rotary utilised Yamaha XJ900 wheels, suspension, brakes and sundry electrical components. With 80bhp on tap, the Commander was good for a top speed in the region of 120mph, while a commendably flat torque curve - 50lb/ft-plus between 3,500 and 8,500 revs - smooth, almost vibration-free engine, excellent handling, protective fairing and two 25-litre integral panniers made for a tourer to rival BMW's K100. 'On a hideous winter's eve, what should have been a windswept 80mph became a cosseted cruising speed,' marvelled Bike magazine's tester back in 1989. 'The twin chamber rotary really is smooth and the much chewed-over engineering merits of the rotary translate to tireless comfort and a crystal clear mirror image.' Sadly for Norton, the Wankel rotary's inherent deficiencies - excess heat and high exhaust emissions - meant that it had no long-term future as a motorcycle power unit.

This particular Commander was purchased from the auction sale at Norton Motors' Shenstone factory when it closed down in the mid-1990s. It was one of the Norton factory's test machines, and the vendor was informed that it had had a new engine fitted shortly before the sale. The machine is offered with a V5 registration document.


Bonhams 1793
101 New Bond Street
London
W1S 1SR
United Kingdom
Contact Person Kontaktperson
First name 
Bonhams Collectors’ Car department

Phone 
+44-2074685801
Fax 
+44-2074477401