A fellow that had a good experience.

A fellow called Ken Tripkos writes about his experience with a Commando.

This is part of it, "...I rode a 1974 Cafe'd out 850 Commando from Kansas to Alaska and back with out so much as a single part vibrating off or one major mechanical problem...the Bonnie and the BSA are beautiful bikes but the isolactic mount system on the Nortons put them in a class by themselves...That trip was done back in 1989..."

Posted at http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/Blacksidedown-motorcycle-poll-british-twins.aspx

My experiences have been similar in that reliability has been good but I never went more than a thousand miles at a time. Has anyone else taken a long trip on a Commando without breaking down?

The only things that ever stopped the Commando getting me home were; A prototype gear lever splines stripped and a new Boyer failed 3 miles from home.

Cash

I've always made it home from my trips too, although there have been a few roadside repairs.

I've only been stranded once on a Norton: when the layshaft bearing went out on my first Commando and locked up the gearbox. That wasn't on a trip though, I was just riding home from work.

Debby

When I was a "kid" I was apparently too stupid to worry about such things. There were a number of years when I was not able to take my vaction until late September and I would pile all my camping gear on to my 850 Interstate and go from the Willamette Valley in Oregon across the Cascades into the high desert and then fish my way North through Idaho into BC Canada and typically come back via Vancouver Island and the Olympic Penninsula. I know I took along spares and would spend some time in my camp sites going over the bike. But other than a flat tire that I needed help with due to pinching my new tube I don't remember ever having a problem. I do remember sitting by a lot of campfires in BC enjoying the hospitality of the locals. I was so green on my first trip that I didn't know what an imperial gallon was and I thought I was getting better gas mileage due to the Canadian air or something.

Since reviving my Commando addiction I have not had the opportunity to take such a trip, but I would not hesitate to do so. The only problem I see now is that I doubt you will find as many hands-on mechanics at roadside parks to help out if you need it. But I didn't have credit cards back then either.

Russ

No big trips here but have been stranded twice by electrical gremlins, once at 2 in the morning, another time around midnight,(was able to coast several miles down hill and only had a mile or two to push to get to my door), on a Sunday ride by bad Boyer box, and by blown gearbox(wheelies), about 70 miles from home. Other than that I've been able to roadside fix or limp home all other times on my MKIII when It was daily transport/weekend hooligan machine.

Murray B said:

Has anyone else taken a long trip on a Commando without breaking down?

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The first long trip I took after the complete restoration was a trip to Alaska from California. I carried every tool I'd need for a major overhaul, I carried more weight in tools and spares than everything else put together. No problems, old adage confirmed. Of course it was the first trip, so the hook was set. Never happened exactly that way again

Not a Commando, but I drove a ratter BSA B33 in '63 from Monterey to Yosemite, Santa Barbara and all over the Monterey peninsula for months, not a hiccup. This on a $300 bike I bought from Rabers when they were in Salinas. I think it has more to do with your age and attitude than the shape of the bike. However, my 69 is running fine, but I'm about to put it in the heated shop for the winter.

Dave
69S

A fellow called Kristov writes:

“The first and only motorcycle I ever owned was a 750cc Norton Commando which I bought used in 1974 as cheap transportation between my parents home in Santa Monica and the campus at USC. That old Norton was a decent machine which always ran fine, but it's kick starter got old very quickly...I sold the Norton in 1978...and never rode on a motorcycle again. Maybe when I retire I'll buy another Norton...with an ELECTRIC STARTER...”

Posted at http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=199653

Murray B said:

A fellow called Kristov writes:Maybe when I retire I'll buy another Norton...with an ELECTRIC STARTER...”

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Sacrilege. If you can't start it, you don't need to ride it. Scares me too much anyhow.

Dave
69S

i went from San Jose California to key west Florida on my 850 in about 1984 - spent a few weeks there and then back - was about 2500 miles each way (if memory serves me correct). bike had about 20K on it at the time

i went with a few plugs, few tools, sleeping bag, and probably about $500 in the pocket - (ah to be 19 again!) - and yes i did have a failure - the clutch cable broke - about 4-5 miles from moms place upon my return to Calif (she picked me up - and commented i needed a shave and some clean clothes) - other than that nothing fell off that i couldn't recover (brake lens cover, but i heard it hit the ground as was going about 5 mph in bum-fck Alabama, sleeping bag on freeway in Mississippi) bike ran good the entire way, but i was 19 so running good meant it started and would do 70 when needed - needed 1 plug on way back

would i do it again? maybe if i was 19, but if i was 19 i'm sure i'd have something else that would gobble miles up at ease

Dave, I was just up in Monterey a couple of weekends ago. Have you taken Carmel valley road from the 1 to the 101? Great ride with tons of great turns, Rode up from Long Beach along the coast and back. Nice riding up that way.

Horton, I haven't been to CA since my wife and I took a vacation to SF in maybe '94. Roads around here are pretty nice in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, and not much traffic.

Dave
69S

One of my favorite local trips is touring the back roads and coverd bridges of rural Chester County. I usually end up heading north near Oley where the Antique Motorcycle Meet is in the spring. My favorite month is still September and early October with the colors of autumn in full show. I ride solo and enjoy the solitude.

I have had to ride back with my bike in the truck on only two occasions. The first was when I first purchased the bike. I hate to say this but it had a low RPM tie up due to lack of lubrication. When purchasing a Norton it is necessary to check EVERYTHING. The oil I saw circulating back to the tank was only oil in the sump. The intake pipe had a piece of trash or sludge in it and it was not passing oil at all! Needless to say the bike came home in the truck and was treated to it first tear down.

Its second trip in the truck happened at the 2010 Lake of The Pine Rally held every year by the North Texas Norton Owner Association. Bert and I planned to ride out and this we did. It is about 100 miles to Marshall, Texas where the rally is held. The Norton made it there in fine form but about ten miles out I started to hear a jingling sound like a washer dancing around on a stud (I know my noises). Sure enough, I was checking the Norton out while pulled up at the reservations tent and found a broken lower engine mount bolt. I could have ridden it home but I didn't want to mess up the cases so erred on the side of caution.

Bert, his BMW and The Beast after breakfast and before the bolt broke.

DogT said:

Sacrilege. If you can't start it, you don't need to ride it. Scares me too much anyhow.

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Mine is kick too but if there was a way to have a reliable electric start without adding weight I might have bought it. It was not too hard to start after adding the electronic module which I expect is normal now.

Purchased a new 1970 Commando in London. After cruise in Europe, shipped it to New York. Rode New York to Houston, then Houston to L.A. Bike never missed a beat. Current 1971 just as reliable and I would never use Loctite on anything. If you get a good one, and don't mess them about, these bikes are very reliable.

Big_Jim59 said:

When purchasing a Norton it is necessary to check EVERYTHING.

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Isn't it a good idea to check "EVERYTHING" with any used vehicle and isn't it especially important for high performance ones?

Murray B said:

DogT said:

Sacrilege. If you can't start it, you don't need to ride it. Scares me too much anyhow.

Click to expand...

Mine is kick too but if there was a way to have a reliable electric start without adding weight I might have bought it. It was not too hard to start after adding the electronic module which I expect is normal now.

Click to expand...

Get a remote starter like the flat trackers use.

Dan wrote in 2002:

"What about the most fun invention?
Motorcycle? (wish id never sold the norton!)"

Posted at, http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/invention-time-t45450.html&st=20