1992 Norton Commander
1992 Norton Commander
From police to public
Norton spent over a decade refining its rotary engine, and eventually had some success in selling bikes to the British police force. Several years later, in 1989, a modified version of the police bike,’ called the Commander, was put on sale to the public.
Designed for Touring
The Commander was closely related to the police machine, especially its water-cooled, twin-chamber rotary engine, which had an identical swept volume of 588cc and produced a maximum of 85 hp at 9000 rpm. The civilian model’s chassis was also similar, as was the large fairing that marked the Commander as a bike best suited to long distance touring.
Dated but Effective
Beneath that big fairing, the compact engine sat in a pressed-steel frame, which held twin Koni shock absorbers plus forks borrowed from Yamaha’s XJ900. Wheels and tires also revealed the Norton’s early 1980s origins; the 18 inch rims wore unfashionably narrow Pirelli Phantom tires. But if the Commander was not particularly modern, it was nevertheless an effective high-mileage machine. The rotary engine was tractable and smooth. The dated chassis gave slow but reassuringly safe handling, and the roomy riding position, thick seat and big fairing provided plenty of comfort. The original model’s small integrated fiberglass panniers were replaced by bigger after-market items in 1992, belatedly giving the Commander the carrying capacity to match its practicality in other areas. But the hand-assembled Norton was expensive, and did not sell well.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 588cc water-cooled twin-chamber rotary
Power Rating: 85 hp @ 9000 rpm
Fuel System.: 2×38mm SU carburetors
Transmission: 5-speed, chain final drive
Suspension: telescopic forks (front); twin shocks (rear)
Brakes: twin discs (front); single disc (rear)
Wheels: 18 inch cast alloy (front & rear)
Weight: 517 lb
Maximum Speed: 120 mph
This Commander’s blue paintwork and its lack of integrated panniers – instead there are brackets for Krauser bags – mark the British tourer as a revised 1992 model machine.
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