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JPN Replica (alias
"John Player Commando")
Contrary to popular belief, the
JPN Nortons are few and far between- only about 300 of them were
manufactured in 1974 only. As is the case with the "Production
Racers", about several times that number exists today, often in forms
that bear little resemblance to the originals. Twin seats were available
from Gus Kuhn for these at one time, but never supplied by the factory; in
the book by Don Morley one can find such a non-JPN. As all the glass fibre
parts are still available from various sources today, any 750 or 850
Commando can be made into a "Replica replica".
The press picture above- as opposed to others I have seen- shows the
correct (production type) fairing decals. On the genuine production JPN I
bought in 1980, however, the "window" here shown near the
cylinder head was not cut. The name transfer "Joe Customer"
under the windscreen was also never fitted.
So what IS a JPN? In real life, it is a standart
production 850Mk2A Commando, easy to recognize by its plastic air
filter box and black chrome "beancan" fitted 850
exhaust system. A good indication if you have a genuine one is the
footrest arrangement on the l.h. side, and the elongated Roadster petrol tank
under the fairing (a steel Roadster tank with a purpose-made pressing
welded to the back, making it longer than standart). If the fibreglass
parts are genuine, they should have some hairline cracks by now.
In the sales leaflet, the bike was offered alternatively with the 750
short-stroke engine, but I have yet to see one that wasbuilt with it. Also, the bike
was featured in the 850Mk3 sales leaflet, but never produced. Bar the one
hand-built prototype for the sales leaflet, which was presumably then
converted back to standart Roadster or Interstate and sold as such, no
Mk3 JPNs exist.
The JPN is heavier than a standart Roadster or Interstate Mk2A, and slower
through its wind resistance with the wide fairing. The racer seating
position does not make it the ideal town or touring bike- yes, I know it can
be done, done it myself, but it is no fun- so it is a bike for the
Norton collector who wants one of the rarer Commando models.
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