AGE AND VIEW ON NEW OWNERS

Fullauto said:

The thing that saves the Commando from oblivion is that it is such a fantastic ride. There will always be people who fall under the spell of a Commando. There is nothing out there that is remotely similar and the fact that there is pretty much 100% spares availability is the icing on the cake. Iron out the bugs and there is nothing impractical about the Commando. Need an electric starter? You have a choice. And really, parts are dirt cheap! The only expensive part is that cylinder head!

Last Saturday I did about 300 miles into the country to visit relatives on the old family farm and when I came back, I just wanted to keep going. There are a million other bikes out there, but there is nothing, literally nothing, that I would trade it for.

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well said...its exactly how i feel. I still commute on mine...and its why i have two...and maybe a third real soon.

billson said:

Hi guys - Just a thought, I wonder if young gents / guys will ever be interested in our bikes. There has been a movement into Cafe racers, some reflecting back to older bikes ,but will the the true spirit of the commandos be of interest to the new generation ?

Keanu Reeves has two, and seems to enjoy them, is he young 53, not really probably not .....

It's hard to say how they will be valued by say a 25 year old when he is 40 ish, or will he favour some thing that he knew when he was young, just like us, so what will happen to our wonderful bikes as time passes ?

By the way I am 60.

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well im 52......but ive had my first norton since i was 35.

I am 75. I built my Seeley 850 out of parts in 1978. I intend to race it one more time because it is now so good, I believe it cannot be beaten in a Period 4 historic race against 1100cc methanol-fuelled CB750 Hondas, and I am speaking from experience. Strange thing though - after I had built it, I never believed in it. It must be the most agricultural bike ever created.

I am 58 going on 59 brought my Norton new when I was 17 and every time I ride it I feel 17 again but then again I feel like I am 17 when I ride all my bikes, I still ride them hard as a 17 year old, I am building my 1960 Manxman for my 20 year old daughter as a caferacer, but she will have to learn how to kick it.

Ashley

I only regret that I don't see more guys riding commandos around our town - the sound and appearance is really lovely. All Japanese bikes and Harleys look the same to me and there is little which is inspiring about them. The Harleys sound as though there is no overlap on the valves. The Japanese bikes are simply throw-away items like table-tennis bats.

'Went to an air show yesterday, and the experience touched a nerve; as entertaining as it is to watch the Thunderbirds and Canadian Snowbirds, the old warbirds are much more stirring. Why? It's the sound! V12's and round engines sound like they're alive. You can tell when they're loafing, and when they really lay on the coal. Jet engines all just sound like unbridled air hoses gone mad. Kinda like the crotch rockets running around my neighborhood; no soul...

Nathan

I’m 41 (in hexadecimal that is) and have loved britiron since a teenager. I think there will be fewer and fewer interested in vintage bikes as time goes on. Electric vehicles will eventually take over the imaginations of younger enthusiasts. The Enviro-Nazis in government, universities and private environmental organizations are already indoctrinating the young to make sure it happens. But I think there will always be gearheads around that will find whirling bits inside a traditional internal combustion engine far more interesting than bits of data controlling an electric motor. There will just be fewer interested gearheads as time goes by. However, I don’t think it will lead to the extinction of our old Nortons. If government doesn’t legislate old bikes and cars off the roads, then it’s just a question of how long companies like Norvil/RGM/CNW/etc can make a profit and stay in business supplying parts for fewer and fewer Norton/Triumph/BSA customers.

Once the parts supply dries up, our bikes become museum pieces.

Let's enjoy ‘em while we got ‘em.

I’am 26 and i love my norton, will prob keep her mine for a long long time to pass it on to my sons. Have 3 so i may need more bikes I love the fact how good the bike is to be and old lady from 70’
Always give me people with real bikes to talk with always somebody that comes and want to talk about the bike when i stop in places. I use my bike about every day i can in the seasson and so far she let me down 1 time, and that was my own fault (was moving around the hunt magneto) she always start first or second kick and one more thing I love with the bike is that you have to ride it like a real motorcycle not just sit on it and point out a direction. And yeah thanks to all folks keeping the norton so a live today. With all the new parts and everything you can get to keep the bike in good shape and performing better and better THANKS

A long-running tally of member ages. It hasn't been updated in a year, so I suppose I should get off my tuchus and tend to it. http://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/youngest-and-oldest.21257/page-11

My neighbors son who up to this point had only ridden mopeds was asking me about buying a Norton. He has a very short attention span and the mechanical abilities of a rock. Told him a Norton wasn't a good buy for a first real motorcycle. I offered to go with him looking at bikes but he declined. He bought a badly abused Honda from a "friend" it was in such bad shape he couldn't get it registered much less running right. His friend wouldn't give him his money back. A lesson learned the hard way.

John in Texas