AWAKENING THE LION - START YOUR NORTON

Starting a Norton Commando is a special task that one learns over time. Once mastered, the machine will come to life as if it were a roaring lion suddenly awakened via a swift kick in the arse. The roar brings a smile to the face of the lion tamer. The sequence of events leading up to this point required many days of training to determine the exact sequence of events necessary to tickle the fancy of the lion. Every Norton owner has his or her own unique method burned into their brain, yet still has in-trepidations that things will go as planned. This is true especially when a crowd of people have gathered to witness this amazing event. The sequence of events generally goes something like this. Straddle the machine, raise the kickstand, crack the throttle, tickle the carbs for a predetermined time based on temperature, humidity and wind direction, set the choke position, position the pistons in their the exact location, turn the key on, pounce of the starter lever like you mean it, then listen for the roar of the lion as you have awoken it in anger. Put a big smile on your face because you are now ready to roar off down the road.

Now, there are critical nuances to master in each phase of the procedure. Get any one of them wrong and you will be eaten by the lion. Let’s look at what can go wrong with each critical step.

Crack the throttle - This step is only for those that have a throttle lock for cruise control. Obviously you cannot crack the throttle and tickle the carbs with both hands at the same time.

Ah, Tickle the carbs - This is probably the most crucial step. Too much tickle and the lion will awaken with a bone stuck in his throat. He may be able to clear it or you may have fouled his plugs. Too little tickle and there will be no fire in his belly. Maybe burps and sputters but no roar. You are now in a real predicament. A calculation must be made as to how much extra tickle is required. Miss it and you have ruined your days ride.

Choke - Based on your beasts preferences you may or may not choose to close the choke a predetermined amount. This is also determined by the temperature of the day and the temperature of the beast.

Position the pistons - Ideally, the pistons must be on the compression stroke, ready to fire position. Failure to complete this step can cause the lion tamer to switch roles and become cannon fodder for the cannoneer. In this case there is no net to catch you.

Pounce on it - If you have plenty of beef on your bones, this step is usually straightforward. However if you are
malnourished, you must make every effort to pounce like a lion.

Conclusion - When you have mastered and burned into your memory each steps noted above, you have become a true Nortoneer. You have tamed the beast. Your relationship with the lion will bring you no end of joy and happiness. Ride on down the road and enjoy the wind in your face and the roar of your lion.

or

push Alton electric start button

1up3down said:

or

push Alton electric start button

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eewww. I'm 73 and about 170. I have to get on the pegs and make sure it goes through the second compression stroke to start. The only problem I've ever had starting mine is when something is wrong, bad coil, bad battery, etc. 3 kicks max, usually 1 and sometimes 2.

aceaceca
I reckon you've got it about right. I also agree with DogT.
Back in the day (1973-76) a good friend used to race a production racer Commando at Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Brands Hatch and Silverstone etc in the UK. He would regularly beat electric start bikes (Honda etc) away from the grid on his kick-start racer. Just one kick over compression and he was away.
Good memories.
Andy

Yesterday I was bit by the lion. The Norton is mad at me and I at it. We finally settled it. Its all good.

Do what I do after 42 years of ownership and you might think I am crazy but I talk to my Norton, I treat it as my son, my mate and best friend, I feed it good oil, good hi grade fuel, service it reguarly and thank it when I get home safe, it has no name I just call it Norton or bike.
In 42 years it has never let me down, well it did blow the lay shaft bearing but it did it out side my house when I put it gear, it dropped a coil but it got me home on one cylinder, and it broke 2 chains one doing a burn out in my younger days and another time a few years ago when the joining link decided to leave the chain, other than that it has been very good to me.
I have done a lot of changes to it in the time I have owned it since new, its no longer orginal but I have made it lighter, more powerfull with its hot motor for the Feartherbed frame, improve the frontend, give it better brakes, better carbies and of course a better ignition system (Joe Hunt maggie one of the best things I ever done to it) it has always fired up on the first kick since I put the JH on, but it has always been good to me even when I brought it when I was 17 years old and skinny as a broom stick and after 42 years together and been a everyday ride for the last 38 years its now semi retired just like me, we are both aging together, my Triumph Thruxton is now my everyday ride but I still take my old friend out and will do till the day I die, by the way my Triumph is called Doris and she has also been good to me in the 4 years of ownership.

Ashley

ashman said:

my Triumph Thruxton is now my everyday ride but I still take my old friend out and will do till the day I die, by the way my Triumph is called Doris and she has also been good to me in the 4 years of ownership.

Ashley

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Sound advice.

My daily ride is a Hinckley Bonnie T100. Little to no work to maintain. Always ready to roll.
Keep the Norton for fun rides, but buy another cheap modern ride for everyday use that doesn't require constant preventive maintenance.
Used Jap bikes and Hinckley Triumphs are pretty inexpensive.

BritTwit said:

ashman said:

my Triumph Thruxton is now my everyday ride but I still take my old friend out and will do till the day I die, by the way my Triumph is called Doris and she has also been good to me in the 4 years of ownership.

Ashley

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Sound advice.

My daily ride is a Hinckley Bonnie T100. Little to no work to maintain. Always ready to roll.
Keep the Norton for fun rides, but buy another cheap modern ride for everyday use that doesn't require constant preventive maintenance.
Used Jap bikes and Hinckley Triumphs are pretty inexpensive.

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Even new moden bikes need maintenance done to them to keep them happy, my bikes only get a good clean and polish once a year on their birthday when I took delivery of them, I sit with them all day cleaning and polishing them and having a few beers with them, Norton is the 22nd June 1976 and Doris 26th January 2013 (Australia day) and the best thing is they don't answer you back, they are good listeners, they never argue and they keep off your back, should have married the bike instead of the wife :lol:

Ashley

If I'd killed my wife when I first thought about it, I'd be outta jail by now. That said, 50th anniversary next month. Biggest test now, she broke her ankle in FL and is home wheelchair and walker bound and I don't trust her on the walker, so it's full time nurse prolly until July or so. This is what they call 'for worse'. But you gotta take care of the family. Norton never gave me this much trouble.

As Aceaceca has said at the begining each Norton is different, there is a knack at starting them and learning how your bike starts is the first thing we need to learn, keeping them tuned and maitained so it makes it easier for us to fire them up, but sometimes they have their moments, with me mine has been pretty good because I learned how to do it at a young age, my mates it don't matter how hard they try they have troubles kicking mine to life, it amazes them when they give up and I just sit on it and give it one easy kick and it fires up, they just don't have the knack, most of them owned Old Trumpies in their younger days, Nortons are a bit different to kick start than Triumphs.

Tdog I feel for you mate, the women in our lives can be a pain in the arse sometimes, but hey where would we be with out them, more saner I surppose, but I been lucky there as well she drives me crazy but she lets me go away when I want to, she leaves me alone when up in the shed, she allows me to go riding when I want, she gets my beer for me when I am running out, she ever picks my mates up from the pub when they want to come around to drink more and she takes them home when they have had enough, my mates think I am lucky as their wife's wouldn't do that for them, so really we got to put up with the good as well as the bad with our girls, myself I live with 3 women in my house so I am a bit out numbered and 2 female cattle dogs but at leese the dogs stick by me.

Ashley

First things first

Fit your norton with the Long folding kickstart lever sold by RGM. It's a variant of the T160 lever, makes kicking the lion so much easier.

I too enjoy the whole ritual and have it down pretty well for 1st (sometimes but seldom 2) kicks. When I bought mine I wanted near the last that had kick only - purity. Now being 64 years old I still enjoy it except, Lions eat the young and infirm and having had back surgery for :foot drop" on the right side I worry that the Lion will catch up to me one of these days. Rearsets preclude a kickstart lever change in my case. Just gotta tickle and pounce first before the Lion awakens.
- Lance

I have 26 bikes, many of them old bikes with points, carbs, and kickers, including my Commando.

I have one bike with fuel injection.

I have a few bikes with electronic ignition.

I have NEVER 'upgraded' an old bike with electronics etc.

The ONLY bike that ever stranded me, the ONLY one, was my 2006 Triumph Scrambler when the igniter shit the bed. Other than that I've always been
able to get any bike I'm on home under it's own power.

As for the starting sequence above. I liken it to foreplay. Tickling, stroking, pouncing, choking, whatever. You get it right and it's the ride of your life

Talking to your bike is not all silly. You have to establish who is in command and makes things happen. My bike would not be game enough to disobey me. That might result in a complete tear-down and rebuild.

chasbmw said:

First things first

Fit your norton with the Long folding kickstart lever sold by RGM. It's a variant of the T160 lever, makes kicking the lion so much easier.

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Bent the RGM into uselessness yesterday...second time used. Combat engine and I weigh 225 lbs....but really?!

We were out on the Norton's yesterday, first time this year for my wife, she managed to start it (in front of a big crowd) first time, and then again when she stalled it and she is a small woman (but determined)

I remember quite a while ago of seeing a pic of a smallish woman starting a large Harley type bike on this forum. She was up on the lever with her whole body on one leg giving it both barrels and looked determined. That's what I think of starting the Norton, it's attitude, you really have to think it's going to start, otherwise it won't. That's what I've decided.

The wife is now on both feet, but the bad one only for balance, at least it's improvement. It's been a trip and a lot of work, full time nurse is my job now, but she's stepping up and I push her.

Talking to your motorcycle?

I do too. I usually talk nice and say positive things. But there are times when I need to cuss at them some. What I have learned over the years is that you must cuss at them in the language of their origin. My Norton and Triumph get English. My Trials bikes have all been made in Spain, and since I work with so many Mexican guys, I know enough Spanish to get the job done. I don't know any Japanese, so I don't buy Japanese bikes. I've been thinking about getting a BMW so it looks like I'll need to learn some German. Or just take it to the shop when it needs service.

They all know three words; "You Old Bast**d"

Dave