I have two running (non project) bikes in my garage at the moment. A 1973 750 Commando and a 1982 FT500 Honda Ascot. It was a nice day today with lots of sun and temperatures in the low 60s. Both bikes have been sitting since warmer days in early November with battery tenders for company. I decided to go ride. The Ascot is closest to the door and has an electric start so I try it first. It cranks at the touch of the button but seems sluggish. I am rewarded with a couple of farts before the battery goes flat. I connect the batter charger and leave it to bubble and move on to the Norton. I check tire pressure and roll it outside, tickle the carbs, switch on and kick. I am rewarded with a couple of coughs on the first and second kicks and a full start on the third. I know the oil is cold. I know it is sumped up. It always is. It has the original points. I keep it in good tune but I marvel that my old Norton seems to always be ready to go when my more modern, electric start bikes, need a bit of persuasion to fire up.

I let is stand and idle a bit (yes, it does idle with the original Amals). I get my gear on and The Beast and I go ride. Truly wonderful!



The image was taken by my wife.

Yes indeed, simple is better. Modern bikes with electric starters - dead battery and no starting in cold weather. Or one of the many sensors connected to the ECU burns out and it won't run any more. Or the fuel lines blow off the in-tank fuel pump because the modern fuel has made them soften and expand. There you are, stranded again.

Not so with my Norton. Except my 850 has become hard to start when hot. I'm suspecting the modern electronic ignition has a heat-related issue. Time to look for a good set of points and AAU.

Points and Amals, the only way to go!

Debby
ps: 10F here this morning. Probably won't be riding today.

Points & Amal's on my tuned 72. First or second kick on a cold start. New Tri-Spark still sitting in the box for almost 2 years now. New Boyer in the box for the last 5-6 years.

I just thought it was really cool that the Norton was such an easy runner in the face of the ribbing I receive at the hands of the people I work with. They consider my choice of motorcycle to be antiquated when compared with the more modern metric brands they ride. I know the the Norton does not have an untarnished reputation for reliability but over the years my bike has become increasingly reliable as more and more of the original problems are fix or eliminated. It also does not hurt my bike's reliability that I ride like a 50 plus year old man and not like the teenager I used to be.

Hey Big Jim, there is only one person you have to please in this short little life we are given. ( Selfish a tad maybe.. ) Who really cares what other people think anyways ? just be nice and do your thing. I only get nice comments on the Norton. To quote Bill Cosby : " I don't know what the key to success is,but the key to failure is trying to please everyone."

I will cheerfully admit the only two times I've been unable to get home on my own in the last 25 years was on modern bikes. 1990 - K75 BMW - starter relay conked out in a gas station. Pushed it home about three miles rather that getting the trailer. (easier than it sounded, lots of downhill on a bike path!) 2002 - my '01 Speed Triple broke a clutch cable, and was easier to trailer it. Was a defective cable there was a recall on, and it never got changed out, before I was notified. Oh, that's not say I haven't limped home on some British and Italian bikes in those years, but they always manage to make it, and when I do have to fiddle with something on the side of the road, it at least do-able. I love(d) both of those bikes in their own way, but they aren't the kind of things you can do much to on the side of the road. Even if I would have had a cable, and a relay, it would be easier to get them back in the garage to start working on.

Oh, and I'm not counting running out of gas, which I'm famous for!

Debby
ps: 10F here this morning. Probably won't be riding today.

This is why I'm not against Global Warming.

It was in the mid 40's when I took a ride up the coast yesterday. I was feeling it, any colder and it's going to be in a pair of snow-mobile bib overalls and lined Falstaff from Aerostitch. There is some really good gear out there that isn't bulky that actually works. Nortons love cold weather

For a Cdo to be always ready means its never winterized stored long. They don't make riding suits thick enough to equal a big ole wind screen or grip shields I've found. Norton don't make enough juice to keep headlight and much else warm by heating element but chemical heat packs shoved in glove palm and under foot arch sure helps it feel like heated grips and socks. These packs last a handuf of hrs so if more life in them I store them packed tight in air tight jar to reopen and get another ride out of em some time later. I'm on look out for light colored knee high socks to stick pants in and roll down over boots to seal air out. Seaman sock in England but only sold there in pounds best I can find. With above my skin and bones are fine to 20'F with just heavy hoodie sweat shirt, long leg under wear and normal jacket, chaps and helmet. I do put on ski level type gloves. Below 20' F I don't know yet and may never as starting attempts might over heat and kill me.

New riding friend an hour ride away has invited me for their groups Polar Bear run New Year's eve a few hours into a city to get a meal then head home before sun gets too low, if not ice storm hitting that day. Snow is ridable if deep enough, not too steep to climb and no hazards to turn and stop short for.

0 degrees Celcius today at noon, tickled Amals to overflow, no pre-kicking -cheating. Switch to the left for assimilator light on , then one easy kick to startup. 20-50 w. That's after wiping off the snowflakes. Many compliments at grocery store. Sun came out. All good.

I have become a wimp. My cut off temperature is 60 F. I remember last new years day I think it was,I rode in shorts and a T shirt here in the Bay area. I have now driven a BMW and a Kawasaki police bike as I am becoming even more of a wimp. To tell you the truth, I was not impressed. I think now that if Hobot can tell me where to get that fancy windscreen of his, I will ride the Norton to eternity.

I just put in Mobil1 10w40 for the winter. previously I have always used diesel Rotella 15w40.
I agree after proper warmup Norton runs great in the cold.
I just got a set of Aerostitch removable grip heaters from Santa that draw 1.6 amps. I already have a 60/55 watt halogen and LED tailamp. I don't have an ammeter so I wonder how they'll do. I have the Sparx alternator.
Brendan

My old sedan lost its transmission Sunday so only left roadworthy was Trixie Combat and was actually enjoying 20 mile trips down to 36'F after dark. X-mass eve had to leave before 10 am so was still freezing temps so heat packs in gloves and long thermal under wear made it almost nice out to me. Got to town to order hot meal while office heating up - so left Trix idling, got on, took off slowly to 30 mph for couple hundered yards then spits and backfires half a second and quits and wont do a thing. ugh. Lucked out this left me right on square where office located. Called Wesley to rescue in PU then headed out for a movie and last minute wife gifts shopping. Turned out to be a great day anyway. Now its short sleeve warm so not mean to step turn the sudden lack of sparks.

With the Sparx 3 phase 210 watts you can get away with your grip heaters in city stop go traffic and maybe even vest too if staying at cruise. I ran 165 watts of lights going slow in 2nd in the woods on 1.2 ah micro battery but had LED volt meter to let me know if I could kick off again w/o letting it build up some 1st.
Never stalled unless left a dead idle a couple of minutes. hobot