Book excerpt: There are lots of books about the Norton Commando; about its history, performance, lineage, and the minutiae of its specification. But none of them will tell you what to look for when buying one secondhand. That's what this book is about – it is a straightforward, practical guide to buying a used Commando. It doesn't list all the correct colour combinations for each year, or analyse the bike's design philosophy, or consider its background as part of a troubled industry – there are excellent books listed at the end of this one that do all of that – but it will help you avoid buying a dud. Point by point, it takes the reader through everything that needs looking at when buying a Commando, plus spares prices, which is the best model to buy for your needs, and a look at auctions, restorations and paperwork The last of the ‘classic' Nortons, the Commando remains a collector's item, and many have been saved, restored and ridden – this book tells the reader how to be part of its ongoing story.