Greetings all,
My Commando was unfortunately involved in a traffic "incident" in Manhattan last week. It is called an incident, rather than an accident, because a minivan intentionally hit it - 3 times! To make a long story short, the driver of the car was cited and there were plenty of witnesses to what occurred. A lack of patience on a sweltering summer day led one irate minivan driver - stopped at a traffic light - to rear-end me. After the first tap, I immediately got off the bike and began to roll it forward so I could put it onto its center stand. As I was doing that, the driver tapped me - AGAIN! I repeated the above. He hit me a third time - except this final time he rammed me and knocked the bike out of my hands and onto its side.
Fortunately, the driver was apprehended and his insurance details obtained. Witnesses gave reports to the police. No issues with any of that.
My insurance company will easily recover any damages claims via his insurance company.
My Commando was certainly not flawless - but it was pretty darn close. It has had a range of work performed by Kenny Cummings at NYC Norton and we were just about out of things to do on this bike - cosmetically as well as mechanically. It is a beautiful, well running machine.
It still is. Except the contact with Essex street in lower Manhattan caused fuel to run out over my beautiful decals and pin-stripes - paint was not cleared - and break them loose. There are a couple of other minor scrapes and crimps but fortunately no dents to the tank.
The adjuster has just advised that he has determined the market value of my Commando to be $5600. My experience buying my bike - pre modifications by Kenny - along with staying very aware of market prices for these bikes - leads me to believe that it is entirely possible to buy a 1970 Commando for that amount of money. However the condition would not be particularly great (generally...i know this crowd knows how to find sweet deals!).
I promised the adjuster that I would send links to any references that underscore my contention that a fully-restored, near flawless 1970 Commando cannot be had for $5600.
If any Access Norton folks can send me some examples of this fact, I would be EXTREMELY grateful. It doesn't matter if they are outside of New York City.
Thanks so much!
Larry
My Commando was unfortunately involved in a traffic "incident" in Manhattan last week. It is called an incident, rather than an accident, because a minivan intentionally hit it - 3 times! To make a long story short, the driver of the car was cited and there were plenty of witnesses to what occurred. A lack of patience on a sweltering summer day led one irate minivan driver - stopped at a traffic light - to rear-end me. After the first tap, I immediately got off the bike and began to roll it forward so I could put it onto its center stand. As I was doing that, the driver tapped me - AGAIN! I repeated the above. He hit me a third time - except this final time he rammed me and knocked the bike out of my hands and onto its side.
Fortunately, the driver was apprehended and his insurance details obtained. Witnesses gave reports to the police. No issues with any of that.
My insurance company will easily recover any damages claims via his insurance company.
My Commando was certainly not flawless - but it was pretty darn close. It has had a range of work performed by Kenny Cummings at NYC Norton and we were just about out of things to do on this bike - cosmetically as well as mechanically. It is a beautiful, well running machine.
It still is. Except the contact with Essex street in lower Manhattan caused fuel to run out over my beautiful decals and pin-stripes - paint was not cleared - and break them loose. There are a couple of other minor scrapes and crimps but fortunately no dents to the tank.
The adjuster has just advised that he has determined the market value of my Commando to be $5600. My experience buying my bike - pre modifications by Kenny - along with staying very aware of market prices for these bikes - leads me to believe that it is entirely possible to buy a 1970 Commando for that amount of money. However the condition would not be particularly great (generally...i know this crowd knows how to find sweet deals!).
I promised the adjuster that I would send links to any references that underscore my contention that a fully-restored, near flawless 1970 Commando cannot be had for $5600.
If any Access Norton folks can send me some examples of this fact, I would be EXTREMELY grateful. It doesn't matter if they are outside of New York City.
Thanks so much!
Larry