’74 Norton JPS Motorcycle Was the Last of a British Breed
Motorcycles & ATVs
Motorcycles
John Player & Sons was a British tobacco company founded in 1877. Nearly a century later, in 1971, the company took an interest in motorbike racing, teaming up with Norton to produce the Norton John Player Special 850cc motorcycle. A mint-condition example was recently offered on eBay.
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Inspired by the Commando
The 1974 Norton John Player Special—also dubbed the “JPS”—was based on the Norton Commando 850. The 435-pound bike features an 828cc air-cooled overhead valve parallel-twin engine with rubber mounts to reduce vibration. The engine can produce 60 bhp at 6,200 rpm with a top speed of 115 miles per hour.
The displacement numbers can be confusing—the engine was 828cc, but Norton referred to it as 850cc because the bike was a modified 850 Commando.
A hand-formed aluminum frame with a 3.2-gallon fiberglass-covered tank and bodywork feeds the bike’s 32 mm Amal Concentric carburetors that move into 30 mm intake ports. Two six-inch headlights light the way, while the single-seat features a large hump used as a storage compartment.
The left-hand lever controls the front disc brakes. Drum brakes provide stopping power in the back. Before 1975, Commandos had right-hand-side gear shifters. They moved to the left side in 1975 to accommodate the American market.
Modern Charging Port
This ’74 JPS is a gorgeous 48-year-old motorcycle that comes with paperwork charting its history from the dealer to the present day. This bike is in pristine condition despite one or two barely noticeable dings to the paint on the fairing.
This Norton features a flat-lead charging port that enables you to plug in the battery without removing it from the bike.
Extremely Rare
John Player Special Motorcycle Ad from 1974
Norton planned to make 1,000 John Player Specials but produced only about 200 units. The company sent about 120 of them to the United States.
At the time, sales were slow. The bug-eyed fairing and twin headlights might have turned off prospective buyers. Also, riders wanted bikes that had space for a companion.
The hefty price was another roadblock. At just under $3,000, the Norton John Player Special was about $495 more than a regular Norton Commando. That was a big deal in 1970s dollars.
Nearly a half-century later, this fully restored rare bird looks attractive at $29,995. The 1974 Norton John Player Special marks a pivotal transition in motorcycle design.
Jay Leno summarizes the bike’s place in history:
When you look at this motorcycle, you realize it’s just about dead center in the middle of old and new motorcycles. These are the last days of old old-school technology. Brilliant British bikes ruled the motorcycle world. That was just about over.
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