A Franco-British Café Racer from FCR Original…
French workshop FCR Original specializes in modern neo-retro bikes like the BMW R nineT, Triumph Bonneville, and Royal Enfield twins. So this latest build from the Chauvigny-based shop is a bit of a departure: a 1975 Norton Commando 850 Mark III.
The Mk3 was the final form of the Commando — arguably the greatest British twin of all time. It had disc brakes at each end, an electric start, an “Isolastic Anti-Vibration System,” and an 828cc engine that could be traced back to the original Commando of 1968.
“With a modest 8.5:1 compression ratio, the factory claimed 60 horses at 6,200 rpm. About the only internal modification was a slightly lighter flywheel to compensate for the heavier pistons. With a small fairing and a change in the gearbox sprocket, a very carefully fettled 850 was timed at 142.75 mph; this feat got headlines.” –Rider
Today the Commando 850 is often collected and shown more than ridden, which is a pity for such a thunderous hunk of old British iron.
“The Mk3 Commando is a lot…more than an investment. It’s a great riding machine, with all the bottom end grunt of a big twin with low compression and gentle valve timing. No rice pudding is safe near one of these. Think Harley levels of low-rev heave.” –Bennetts
FCR Original founder Sébastien Guillemot got his hands on a Commando 850 in need of total restoration, which gave him the liberty to resurrect the bike that would make the old Ton Up Boys and rockers drool into their leather jackets.
“The idea was simple: to create the ultimate café racer. A machine stripped of all superfluous elements, with a stylized and radical design, perfectly matching its idealized image.”
Bringing this legendary English twin back to life would be no small feat, especially as parts are limited.
“Once the design was finalized, the hunt for parts began. Our plan was to build a beautiful object capable of riding. The engine and transmission were dismantled and fully renovated. From the crankshaft to the cylinder head — on which a Y-shaped intake manifold was installed. With a single shared carburetor, the twin appears even narrower — through the pistons and rings, the oil pump, everything was restored. With quality parts, selected in England where we have our networks.”
Truly we’ve never seen a Norton twin look so narrow and svelte — almost like a large single-cylinder engine with dual exhaust ports.
The bike is running an elegant set of Ceriani forks paired with 18-inch Borrani rims at both the front and rear, giving the bike a perfectly horizontal stance. It’s worth noting that the hubs, on which the aluminum rims were spoked, are original creations specifically designed and manufactured by the workshop.
The triple clamps bear the FCR Original logo, and all of the bodywork is either aluminum or stainless steel: tank, tail, fenders, etc.
These serve to highlight the beautiful work of art that is the original Norton engine, here bearing distinctive paint and finishes.
“I wanted an authentic café racer, crafted with metal and a touch of leather. My goal was to highlight the engine with its black and polished aluminum finishes. During the disassembly, I seized the opportunity to give it a distinctive look. So, we chose to paint the top of the engine black.” -Sébastien
The long, curving 2-into-2 exhaust is another highlight of the build…and one of the most significant feats of craftsmanship.
For the exhausts, we had a precise vision from the start. However, the path from design to reality was not without challenges… We had to employ a lot of technique with the pipe bender to achieve perfectly parallel dual exits. We did hot work for the parts near the cylinder heads and cold work for the rest.” -Sébastien
The result is one of the most stunning Norton café racer we’ve ever seen — a truly distinctive work of two-wheeled art from one of Europe’s foremost workshops. Congratulations to Sébastien and the rest of the team!
Build Sheet
AESTHETIC MODIFICATIONS
Aluminum fuel tank
Aluminum rear cowl
Custom-made seat
Inov handlebars
Bates headlights
FCR Original LED tail light
FCR Original LED turn signals
Aluminum front fender
MECHANICAL MODIFICATIONS
Stainless steel exhaust system
Stainless steel rear cowl
Completely restored engine
Custom-spoked wheels
CHASSIS MODIFICATIONS
Frame painted with black epoxy
Swingarm painted with epoxy
Ceriani fork
Factory suspension shocks
ABM brake caliper
More Photos
Follow the Builder
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Urban Range: fcr-original.com/gamme/urban/
Photographer: @bertrandbremontphotography | www.bertrandbremont.com
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Nic bike
Cool bike! i liked the looks.