Most desirable Norton???

Horror said:

It seems there's hardly anyone on this forum that doesn't rubbish what someone else says. I think people come here for an argument..!

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The forum has quite a few people who have an encyclopaedic knowledge of Nortons and other British bikes and who offer constructive advice or post useful or interesting information. A glance through some of the threads in the archive will show this. It is easily the best forum I have been a member of. You happen to have joined very recently, at a time when there has been a lot more 'noise' than usual. Keep posting and don't be discouraged!

Lotta experienced Norton race folk and some ex-factory guys here too, which certainly ups the knowledge base.

If you watch closely too, Mr Moderator is very good at gently correcting technical stuff.
Fairly often. Without offending anyone.

The trick is to tackle the technical stuff, not the messenger nor the message.... ?

Horror said:

It seems there's hardly anyone on this forum that doesn't rubbish what someone else says. I think people come here for an argument..!

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This is exactly what we try to guard against. There are differences of opinions and often more than one way to solve a Norton, or any other, motorcycle related issue.

I, for one, apologize for any ill will you or anyone else may encounter. Why should I apologise? Trust me, I have had my moments.

Nobody has all the answers but some come close. Use the search function. It's all here and repeated all too often.

Topics generally start on point and finish respectfully. Others can get off topic and can become totally highjacked. It's easy to get sucked in. Many are quite fond and defensive of the forum as a whole. It has both help me with problems and has given me opportunities to help other. These instanses can creat an emotion bond. I care.

There is some friendly banter but we should remember that this is a forum, not a chat room.

Someone who chooses to muddy up the waters make it difficult for people who need real answers to real problems. After a while it becomes easy to see who has something to say versus those who just want to say something. There's a big difference.

To keep the context of this topic in line, I will say that the 1972 Norton Combat Commando is the most desireable Norton.

I would have to agree with the combat being the most desirable.

It has the look of a standard roadster, but the go of a much meaner machine.

I made the decision that I would own one, and buy some strange miracle one found me and I had the money.

Horror said:

It seems there's hardly anyone on this forum that doesn't rubbish what someone else says. I think people come here for an argument..!

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I strongly disagree with your viewpoint and am willing to argue for at least nine pages before storming off, never to yield! :mrgreen:

Glen

I've never had an argument on this forum. I think some of the guys are a bit young and inexperienced, but we were all like that once . If I can ever help someone to go faster, I will do that. If they want to then argue - why worry about continuing the conversation ? I lost my ego years ago after crashing everywhere and often, and some of my friends were killed road racing. This stuff is about having fun but not really about proving anything. If you want to argue with me, come and race and we will have a lovely time.

You guys are too serious !

Good attitude Acotrel, but you are rare model among adult males!
Three of my friends and I are looking for a new fishing partner, we no longer can handle the ego of the fifth member of our group.
Too bad you are in OZ, we have 10 lb rainbow trout on tap here in BC!


Glen

acotrel said:

You guys are too serious !

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A lot of it is said tongue-in-cheek, looking for a funny comeback.
But trying to crack the 100 posts a day record was stretching a point...... ?

BTW, that
"I strongly disagree with your viewpoint and am willing to argue for at least nine pages before storming off, never to yield! :mrgreen:"
was worth a good chuckle....

'But trying to crack the 100 posts a day record was stretching a point...... ?
'
I find this forum very interesting and enjoyable, but I expect to be talking to strange people, if they believe in Nortons.

Now there is a fine back-handed compliment...... !?

Sorry, its outside your early bike request, but for me it would have to be the #19 Hilsop 588 rotary.

If not that, then AOK 200.

The one I have is my preference. Have owned several Nortons and this is the keeper. Not really interested in a second, but maybe a 650 featherbed Dominator or an 850 Interstate.

Yeah, you’re right. I wouldn’t really want a Manx either. But, in spite of that, I still have the 30M that I bought over thirty years ago. It’s in the back of my shop covered with a nice soft flannel blanket.

Had a dozen or so Commandos and a 650SS racer, which are all gone now.

WOT,
If you're not that into the Manx, I'd gladly buy it at a reasonable price. The Manx Norton happens to be my dream bike, so I'll certainly enjoy it. Looks like you're in Michigan. I'm just outside of Chicago, so I'd gladly drive up this weekend and pick it up!
Thanks
Jeff

Had the old girl out of the shop a couple of years ago, nice day, sat in the sun and did a little clean up. Serial number 102816, last batch Jan 1963. Bought from original owner who had it in his living room. All original and unrestored, motor has never been apart or out of frame, carburetor and magneto have never been off. Did take off the original Avons and put on some repop Dunlop triangulars several years ago for a track day.

Beautiful Manx Norton!
Impossibly rare to know that it's just been with two owners and has gone untouched. Nearly every Manx ever made was ridden in anger as intended and therefor needed mechanical attention through the years. As much as it's a shame that it's never seen it's day on the track in a competitive fashion, it's also very cool to see that it's survived all these years and sits in original condition.
Hopefully you're able to get it out to events so others can enjoy it. It's definitely the type of thing that I'd love to see. And I hope you're able to fire it up and have the occasional ride as well.
Many thanks for sharing the photos.

The Manx was bought new from Berliner Motors in May 1965 by Zach Reynolds of Winston�Salem, North Carolina. Zach was the grandson of R. J. Reynolds. Zach kept it in the living room where it stayed till I bought it from his widow in August 1982.

Actually, I did race the Manx once in 1983. I was actively racing in WERA (expert no. 420) but had broken my race bike, so decided to take the Manx to a WERA regional at Grattan Raceway in Michigan. Short races, 10 laps. They put me in C Superbike – mostly modified 600cc 4-cyl, Yamaha Seca, etc. Got a bad start with all those Jap bikes doing wheelies off the line, but for the rest of the race I was passing bikes every lap. I was told later that the announcer was going nuts with that old Manx running with the new bikes. Funny, I’d pass guys in the infield, then coming onto the straight I’d could see them behind me going wide, figuring to pass me on the straight. No way, That Manx really has legs. Had speed at the end of the straight equal to any of the modern machines. Ended up maybe 15th of a 40 bike field. Had a steady stream of guys checking out the bike after the race. Explained that it was old, British, and 500cc. A memorable day. I do have one photo of the Manx at the end of the straight, inside a Yamaha 350 LC ridden by an old friend Doug ? (getting old, can’t remember his last name) who was WERA Endurance champ a couple of times. Doug talked about following me with the flat on the Manx megaphone skimming the pavement with about an eight of an inch clearance, and the exhaust pulses from that big single hitting his face shield. Said he was there for several laps, but couldn’t get by. Long time ago.

Brilliant stuff, thanks for sharing the pictures and I'd like to see more

kempoyner said:

Excluding the later model modern Nortons, If you could have 2 Nortons sitting in your garage, what would they be? One has to be a bone stock factory Norton, the other is a second party speciality race Norton. Base you decision on dependability, collectability,function (thrill to ride!) and just plain Beauty. Money is has no bearing, your rich!

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All Nortons are dependable as far as British machinery goes, even the race bikes have a brilliant history of completing countless long-distance races.

Collectable could mean that the bike is popular now because it was plentiful and popular then, or it could be because the bike is extremely rare or even unique.

In this day and age what Norton is not a thrill to ride, and beauty is dependent on personal tastes, some thinking Commandos are stunning, some don't like them, same for the featherbed bikes.

The Manx is undeniably the Norton most enthusiasts are curious about, it has everything going for it, looks, history and scarcity compared to later production bikes.

20 years ago I bought a copy of Mick Woollett's book on Norton history when it came out and was fascinated by the photo of the factory racing twin on page 273. The Manx single was a production racer of which about 100 were sold to the public each year, but this twin was a "works" job of which three were made with slimline frames and shipped to the USA early in 1962 to do battle there, not for sale to the public at any price with parts on the chassis and inside the engine that were never put into or on a production bike. Beautiful unobtanium.

Imagine my amazement a few decades later when one of those three racers, and probably the only one left intact ended up sitting in my garage, very surreal is the only way to describe it. It is of course a thrill to ride.

beng said:

kempoyner said:

Excluding the later model modern Nortons, If you could have 2 Nortons sitting in your garage, what would they be? One has to be a bone stock factory Norton, the other is a second party speciality race Norton. Base you decision on dependability, collectability,function (thrill to ride!) and just plain Beauty. Money is has no bearing, your rich!

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If the bike was the original 500 Domiracer with the alloy barrels e.t.c. then yes, it is more desirable than the Manx to my eyes, but if money was no object then, I’ll have both the Manx and Domiracer.