My 71 commando is still completely apart and all over the basement....I got a 82 Yamaha xj650 4 banger for a 100 bucks and now have it running. I no the old norton is mad but now I have a rider. I know ...what a turn coat! The four pipes in the front sold me ..what can I say?

That will give you more time to work on the Norton.

I have a mate who still occasionally rides an XJ750 he bought new in "81(?), original unrestored but very tidy. Not bad bikes - for non Brits
Having a rider is great, you can give the Norton the tlc it deserves rather than rushing the job.

I must confess.... I got a honda vt500c for 100 bucks. it needs a carb cleaning, a few cables and a rattle can spray paint job on the tank for it to be a commuter. It's uglier than a bag of hammers but it has a 'start' button and h20 cooling . It's going to be my get to work and back bike.

The way I look at it, that allows 'strunzo' to live a charmed life of careful polishing, scenic Vermont country roads, and mountain twisties instead of dodging connecticut and new york touristas

that's my story and I'm sticking with it!

kfh

Having a dog of a bike in the garage is good news - it will just confirm to you what a hoot of a ride the Commando is!!

I have a '79 Suzuki GS1000 that I bought for $800. You can barely buy a Norton gas tank for that! It's a great bike but it needs new valve guide seals and a new base gasket now, and I haven't been looking forward to pulling that big four cylinder motor apart.

Old UJMs are great to have around!

Debby

Most days I ride a 76 Goldwing that runs like a Civic and you can ignore it until a once a year service. Bikes like that allow you to fiddle with your Norton and still have wheels, I'm all for the concept. I paid $500 for the yellow one a couple years back as a non runner.

The neightbor has something like a Yamaha Virago or something sitting outside for the last couple months. Believe it or not, no urge whatsoever to ask about it.

I bought an XJ650 back in '83 - and had it until a year ago. I had actually gone to the Yamaha dealer to buy an XS650, but he had this leftover '82 XJ for the same price - $1999 OTD. It was a fantastic bike - 4 cylinder, shaft drive, 5 speed - and served me well for over 20 years, but seemed dull after getting the Triumph.

Once I had the Speed Triple, the XJ only got ridden a couple times a month. Once the Norton was in the garage, that was it. I sold the XJ to a kid who needed cheap transportation - he loves it.

Now the Triumph and the Norton each get about 1/2 my riding time.

Since my Norton isn't a good cruiser like the Commandos you guys own it has a different place in my life. The Honda does boring transportation, the Chang does errands, and the Norton comes out to fiddle with on a nice day when I feel a bit like a hooligan. It sure does remind me of being 16 until I look in a mirror. Any aches and pains or cold knees are forgotten in the short blasts and vibration.