Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:51 am Post subject: A lap of North America
A lap of North America
In 2004 we had friends undertake two long distance motorcycle adventures. The first travelled with his pal from Alaska to Argentina, said pal learning to ride a motorcycle specifically for the journey (and since returning, he has decided that he doesn’t like riding them after all). As well as all the anticipated depravations and problems, they were hijacked and robbed by armed bandits in South America and left to walk down a mountain in their socks. The other chose to follow Ewan MacGregor & Charlie Borman across Russia to the Pacific, the difference being that he went about one month later, on his own and without back up. At Vladivostok on the Pacific coast, he met up with friends, turned round and rode back!
This left self professed softies, Roy and me wondering what challenge we could devise. Our answer is to be a lap of North America in 2007. Pretty wimpish stuff eh? Well, true, hopefully our North American colleagues’ love of comfort and convenience will suit our particular style of exploration and adventure. This will avoid those awful depravations and discomfort so favoured by other intrepid explorers.
However we are not totally oblivious to the need for a challenge, ours is to do it on 850 Commandos – you can no doubt imagine that I can now see the scepticism Christopher Columbus must have felt all around him too. Yes, of course it can be done, we have faith. Roy & myself jointly have 50 years experience of riding (and fixing) Commandos, hmmmmm.
From a more positive angle, what we are looking for ideas & suggestions from NOCers & INOAers who have experience of this most westerly of British counties (head for Pembroke and go straight on, I believe). We would appreciate information on motorcycle events, roads and sights to visit. We have a bit of an idea of the USA situation from having visited it four times myself and Roy about ten, however neither of us has any experience of Canada.
Our plan so far is to start at Daytona in late February 2007....
There you have it, pretty much a blank canvas. From a weather perspective, we have created an even more detailed itinerary:- across, up, across & down; 20,000 miles plus and back in 4 to 5 months or when the wives close the bank accounts, which ever comes first.
Any information, helpful contacts, suggestions of places (roads) to visit, bike meetings or any other advice will be very welcome.
Bob oiltrail@hotmail.com
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:57 pm Post subject: Lap of North America
Hi Bob,
Sorry, not many of us read anything but the "Norton" forum. Just saw your post.
I'm in the San Francisco area. From southern Cal going north toward Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, you should follow the coast from Ventura on Hwy 1 & 101 until you get to San Francisco, about 400 miles. Points of interest along the way are Santa Barbara, Cambria and Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz then north on Hwy 1 to San Francisco. From SF head toward the Sierra's and Yosemite National Park and north to Lake Tahoe (bring money for the casinos). After that you can choose how to go north to Seattle and Canada. Look at http://www.pashnit.com for excellent motorcycle roads throughout California.
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At the end of 1967 the Norton Commando was announced.
The Norton Commando was greeted with a certain amount of scepticism because on first sight the commando appeared to comprise of the old Norton Dominator twin cylinder engine mounted at an inclined angle in a set of new cylinder parts.
It was not realized that the new Norton Commando Isolastic method of engine suspension damped out all engine vibration and produced a machine which had uncanny smoothness for a vertical twin. In due course the critics were silenced and the Norton Commando had the distinction of being regarded as the first of todays so called superbikes. There can be little doubt that the original design concept of the Norton Commando has proved correct, since comparatively few modifications of any real consequence have been made since production commenced during 1968.
Now nearly 40 years later Norton Commando riders like us are a breed of our own, and as far as we are concerned its still more fun to go for a blat on the old Norton Commando, and fast. As a Norton Commando owner and enthusiast, my goal here is to promote and give credit to those who keep the Norton name going.
It is more deserving to give credit to the Commando itself, for after all these years it continues to be respected. The original Commando designers like John Favill are those who deserve the credit for developing this incredible motorcycle.
The Norton Commando Roadster and Interstate of the late seventies, never died. Although the Norton Villiers factory dispersed the tradition lived on. Today Kenny Dreer in the USA is developing the new 952 CC Norton. What a great looking bike this is, and its engineering is still based on the original layout. It will be interesting to see how the new 952CC Norton does in todays tough motorcycle market. One thing is for sure, I would own one if I could afford it.
