650ss for the road, Manx for the track would be my vote.
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What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
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grandpaul
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I very recently repaired a crashed red MG Breva 1100 , and revived it's near twin (black) for the widow of my late friend, Andy. He had racked up over 100,000 miles on the black bike, then bought the red one and within 6,000 miles, dumped it pretty badly in Mexico.
Black one already sold, red one will sell soon (if you are interested, I can connect you).
Very zippy, but the torque steer is an acquired taste!
Stephen_Spencer
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Stumbled across this site - https://egli-vincent.net/
Godet gets the golden gong for me! Interesting to see some other builders interpretations; widely replicated over the years. Not something old Fritz was worried about I guress (no IP/trademark).
A sign of the times, the Egli workshop closed its doors only six months ago, after 60 years of trading. Genuine quality going the way of the dodo!
Godet gets the golden gong for me! Interesting to see some other builders interpretations; widely replicated over the years. Not something old Fritz was worried about I guress (no IP/trademark).
A sign of the times, the Egli workshop closed its doors only six months ago, after 60 years of trading. Genuine quality going the way of the dodo!
Fast Eddie
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Fritz Egli granted Godet the right to use the name. He openly stated that Godet built better bikes than he did! Fritz himself had a Godet and would send potential customers to Godet. Patrick and Fritz became close personal friends.
Godet also has the usage right granted to them by the owners of the Vincent name. Godet Motorcycles continues in Patrick’s absence.
I really liked Patrick, I liked his French stubbornness towards what he considered his art (for best results reading the quotes below use animated gesticulations and a comedy French accent)…
I discussed Vincent 4 valve heads with him once and he said “if you want an 8 valve v twin… buy a Ducati” !
And a request for a kick start only machine (with 1330cc and high CR) was met with “when you have a crowd around you and you cannot start it, it has MY NAME on the tank, I won’t do it”.
And the best was when I enquired about disc brakes “Non! They are ‘orrible! They ‘ave no place on such a beautiful machine. Even if it costs me a sale, I will not do it”.
RIP Patrick Godet
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Stephen_Spencer
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Interesting stuff indeed FE - Godet was no doubt a true master of his craft. You were honoured to meet him indeed. I guess when you bought yours?
You might not be a fan of this, and we’ve seen the vid before, but it’s worth another look. Possibly the most beautiful ever built!? Try not to throw anything at the screen
!
Not for the purists of course and Godet would have hated the brake disks as you recount - god only knows what his thoughts would be on fuel injection and USD forks! I wonder what his assessment of the bike as a whole would have been though - as a modern iteration.
It’s a bastard (by the adjective meaning) but I think that it’s truly magnificent! Then again, I’ve never ridden the real thing!
You might not be a fan of this, and we’ve seen the vid before, but it’s worth another look. Possibly the most beautiful ever built!? Try not to throw anything at the screen
!Not for the purists of course and Godet would have hated the brake disks as you recount - god only knows what his thoughts would be on fuel injection and USD forks! I wonder what his assessment of the bike as a whole would have been though - as a modern iteration.
It’s a bastard (by the adjective meaning) but I think that it’s truly magnificent! Then again, I’ve never ridden the real thing!
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Fast Eddie
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Interesting stuff indeed FE - Godet was no doubt a true master of his craft. You were honoured to meet him indeed. I guess when you bought yours?
You might not be a fan of this, and we’ve seen the vid before, but it’s worth another look. Possibly the most beautiful ever built!? Try not to throw anything at the screen
Not for the purists of course and Godet would have hated the brake disks as you recount - god only knows what his thoughts would be on fuel injection and USD forks! I wonder what his assessment of the bike as a whole would have been though - as a modern iteration.
It’s a bastard (by the adjective meaning) but I think that’s it’s truly magnificent! Then again, I’ve never ridden the real thing!
It’s a well executed custom bike using a Vincent engine.
And the fact it has a Vincent engine is where the comparison ends!
Personally, I admire the workmanship, but I don’t like the finished article. But I’m sure the owner does… which is all that matters.
Amazing that Buell, with only a fraction of the money that TVS Norton has dumped into their brand, that Buell has new models available and ready to buy and now going global.
Not to mention, buell designed their own bikes from new and not bought an out of business brand that was already established.
What’s up TVS?
Not to mention, buell designed their own bikes from new and not bought an out of business brand that was already established.
What’s up TVS?
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Hi Voodooo , Are they reliable with good dealer support service ? Aren't these esentially the EBR bikes that Eric designed ? Not the Super Cruiser of course.
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Right after I blew the crank out of my Hot Rod Norton, I went and bought one of these, and swore off Nortons.
2007 Aprilia Tuono, 998cc V twin w/ Hi Swept Leos. Wonderful motorcycle. I always felt like this is what Norton would have evolved too,
or similar, had they stuck around.
Stephen_Spencer
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Buell built the new bikes around existing EBR engine/tech apparently, which makes sense both financially and if they want them to maintain what makes them somewhat unique.
They have an interesting backstory story too, which includes a planned partnership with an Indian company (sounds familiar) before EBR fell over. Lets hope they can succeed this time.
Never ridden one - would like to have a good thrash around on an old Lightening XB12s or similar though. A purposeful looking beast!!
www.advrider.com
Their more recent story has some obvious similarities to that of modern Norton.
They have an interesting backstory story too, which includes a planned partnership with an Indian company (sounds familiar) before EBR fell over. Lets hope they can succeed this time.
Never ridden one - would like to have a good thrash around on an old Lightening XB12s or similar though. A purposeful looking beast!!
Buell Motorcycles Is Expanding World-Wide - Adventure Rider
Buell Motorcycles is expanding their operations outside the US for the first time in years, with help from the government.
www.advrider.com
Their more recent story has some obvious similarities to that of modern Norton.
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Except Buell is making them and not dragging their feet in the mud like TVS Norton.Buell built the new bikes around existing EBR engine/tech apparently, which makes sense both financially and if they want them to maintain what makes them somewhat unique.
They have an interesting backstory story too, which includes a planned partnership with an Indian company (sounds familiar) before EBR fell over. Lets hope they can succeed this time.
Never ridden one - would like to have a good thrash around on an old Lightening XB12s or similar though. A purposeful looking beast!!
Buell Motorcycles Is Expanding World-Wide - Adventure Rider
Buell Motorcycles is expanding their operations outside the US for the first time in years, with help from the government.
Their more recent story has some obvious similarities to that of modern Norton.
View attachment 114616
Don’t know, don’t own one. I’d say more reliable and better service than a TVS Norton outside the UK.
Since EBR is Eric Buell, I’d say that’s a plus.
TVS bought Garner Norton and still to this day hasn’t done anything except paint schemes.
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I can imagine you may have known the replies in advance, but went through what must have been a captivating and memorable discussion precisely to hear them said in the described method of delivery and to confirm joint preferences.Fritz Egli granted Godet the right to use the name. He openly stated that Godet built better bikes than he did! Fritz himself had a Godet and would send potential customers to Godet. Patrick and Fritz became close personal friends.
Godet also has the usage right granted to them by the owners of the Vincent name. Godet Motorcycles continues in Patrick’s absence.
I really liked Patrick, I liked his French stubbornness towards what he considered his art (for best results reading the quotes below use animated gesticulations and a comedy French accent)…
I discussed Vincent 4 valve heads with him once and he said “if you want an 8 valve v twin… buy a Ducati” !
And a request for a kick start only machine (with 1330cc and high CR) was met with “when you have a crowd around you and you cannot start it, it has MY NAME on the tank, I won’t do it”.
And the best was when I enquired about disc brakes “Non! They are ‘orrible! They ‘ave no place on such a beautiful machine. Even if it costs me a sale, I will not do it”.
RIP Patrick Godet
A Vincent motorbike can only ever be and look like what Godet was making. It is perfection and I don´t see how it could be improved for what it is. In an artsy looking motorcycle, the front brake mechanism is especially eye-catching. And without having had any experience with it, I estimate that the engine braking effect is considerable anyway.
The beastly Buell pictured above has aged very well. It looks like a bulldog ready for a scrap. Has a taste of Bimota about it.
The common theme in this thread is - almost anything is better that a standard production bike. Not in the spreadsheet criteria analysis kind of way, of course. You all understand. Otherwise, what are we doing on a 961 in the era of otherwise perfect production bikes for the same price?
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Fast Eddie
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Thank you very much for the excellent and detailed photos. From the side view, the only thing which breaks the organic curves is the battery. But you may argue that it underlines the utilitarian economy of the aesthetics. It it looks beautiful, it will go beautifully. There are just so many things which make it special and unique that I will stop here and refer anyone to the pictures themselves. I hope you ride it often.
Fast Eddie
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Yes, the battery is a topic. Some opt for side panels that fill in the frame triangulation in that area and cover the battery. It does look ‘neater’ but you’re quite right, I prefer the raw naked look !
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I like my Norley, Featherbed replica frame with a tuned XL1000 engine. Tank and frame both made in Wales..
Polished alloy tanks are a pita in use, so had mine painted a year or two later..
Polished alloy tanks are a pita in use, so had mine painted a year or two later..
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Nice bike !