barber via commando

I can sincerely say that I have developed a new love and respect for my commando after riding it to barber and back 1700 miles. I know the distance is no feat, but in the past I was always reluctant to take the bike on a somewhat long trip in fear of the bike suffering some catastrophic mechanical failure. At any rate the trip was a complete success and I only suffered one potentially disastrous situation which was discovered when I stopped to take pictures of pink winged pigs along side the road. The big nut on the back of the oil tank came loose and pissed a quart of oil onto the back of the bike. Had I not stopped certain engine seizure would have soon followed. The bike handled well and was able to maintain cruising speeds up to 75 mph for hours on end. On the return trip I rode it straight through 17 hrs with only gas stops, which I thought to be pretty impressive for a nearly 40 year old bike. I did have an airhawk seat which I view as my best long distance travel investment over the years. It did help with the commando, but after the 13 hour mark even the airhawk was unable to provide much comfort. I took quite a few pictures and was able to meet hobot, who is crazier than I thought, but very kind and harmless to all except himself. I met unclvinny briefly and grandpaul both were very friendly and kenny cummings who is not only an exceptional racer, but a downright decent dude. This morning I did a general maintenance check on the bike and found everything to be pretty normal. The only thing I noticed were the plugs to be a bit lighter than usual or expected, but that could be due to the constant travel hour upon end at speeds I am generally not used to for the duration I maintained on the trip. This was the third time I'd been to barber and definitely the most fun I've had. If you've never been you need to go because the whole event is a class act matched by none I've ever been to before and ride those commando's.

These bikes went all over the place back in the day. I road my '71 as a daily rider to work and on long trips. We never worried about it at all. Seems amusing that now we do. What happened to us; when did we all turn into weenies?

Tim is a Kettle calling the Pot too black : )
Cross continent ride on Triumph to point of hallucinations and almost death only saved by firemen recognizing his shock state and taking him in. Then with an over night rest and fluids he did 5000 more miles in glee. Then he gave me chills telling us about the hog country he had to ride through to a friend 'nearby'.
I'm pensive on each trip out, but Commando's actually won long endurance contests in their prime. I trace out on long steady rides, desire to see how far I can take it too.

Here's how world saw us, after police said must have helmet if motorized cycle.
Wes forget to rubber band the propeller on my bicycle bar airplane so spun itself off on trip back home. Barber is huge place, trolley and walking can't keep up with time scales-distances, no place to park cages but away from all the action.



Met GrandPaul another live wire experiencing both lows and highs there to leave ya shaking your head with same mixed feelings.




Only slightly skewed people actually pull over to look at pink flamingo's or flying pigs

We turned into weenies when we got responsibilities and had to perform for a living and make money and got old and scared. However, Central IL to Barber is a very good trip. Glad you could do it and have a nice experience. Even better on a Norton. What more could one want? I'm sure you will remember it. I remember all the trips I made in Calif. on my BSA B33, even if it did shake me to death. I remember all the long trips I took on my Norton in the 70's over the Blue Ridge too. Doesn't get much better than that, just listening to those tappets doing their work all the way up those hills and around the curves. I hope to make some more soon.

Dave
69S

I am just sick. I had planned to do that but my riding buddy backed out. ( A heart attack really messes up your plans.) We settled for the consolation ride out to the Lake of The Pines rally and I guess it was for the best because that is where I stopped with a broken engine mounting bolt. I have been to Barber twice but never on a bike and I really want to go and experience Vintage Days as a rider and not baggage. If you have never been, and you are any kind of motorcycle enthusiast at all, then you will enjoy yourself enormously. There are bikes to drool over everywhere. There is the museum, the auction, the swap meet, the race pits and on Saturday, as the crowds build, the amount of fantastic bikes being ridden to the event is astounding. Not only that you will be among like minded people, the only difference between you and them is the types and numbers of bikes they have in their garages. You can talk motorcycles with everyone and they will understand. This party is thrown by George Barber, the guy with the biggest personal collection of motorcycles ever. He is also a class act. Everything at that track is first rate, from fantastic volunteers to the camping facilities and even the landscaped outdoor toilets. You can't ask for a cleaner better place. Anyone wanna go next year?? I promise to keep my bolts tight.

Steve the karmic pink winged pigs saved my engine from running itself dry and tested my wits early on in the trip. My head looks flatter than usual in that picture not sure if it's helmet head or a birth defect, I'll have to look closer in the mirror. At any rate I learned a lot about myself and the bike, even at 48 I am still learning and still having endless fun, though I am a somewhat responsible adult I view responsibility as secondary to fun in my life. I just know how and when to arrange each a bit better than I used to.

These were the two nicest Nortons I saw. I thought I took a couple front shots of the player, but the only one I found on the camera was blurry, damn!

Like is crazy, here just so many weekends then gone, so having a blast is my top priority, only doing what it takes to keep life flowing for me and those I encounter.

I prevented my younger brother from getting bike he wanted '69 Bonnieville, telling our Dad how frail they were, buy the honda 350 instead. He never forgave me. It was pure selfessness as didn't want his bike draining resources to be spent on my stuff.
I bought Trixie Combat with him in mind to ride with me on Peel. Bad engine parts then a deer strike delayed those plans till he died in sleep couple years ago. Last trip we had was to New Orleans to pick it up at river side shop, a couple months before Katrina. I got part of my deep down don't give a shit attitude from Dale. He got some Devil may Dare from me. I still got a ways to go to catch up with likes of your trace travel touring but its about all I think about, especially on the road. The few rallys I've made had a definite spiritual renewal element.

You look impressive vigorous dude to me, just wind sun burnt two tone face.
Hope to cross paths again Tim. Your photo of all the #1's unknown to you will help me keep a promise to Kenny I didn't think I could. May we all just seem to be in the right place at the right time for the right experience, what ever it is.

Great Post! And many thanks for the photos and synopsis, britbike. Always nice to get anywhere on one of these old classics, and have it come back all in one piece. I lost my points cover on an afternoon sprint today; can't imagine what would fall off after 1700 miles!

Barber looks and sounds like the place to be... 'round here most every bike is a rice rocket or a harley... I'm a bit of an oddball, but we all get along.

cheers,
Don

Hello Britbike. I had a similar experience a few months ago and I completly agree with you. I spent over a year working on my 75 MK3 to get ready for the trip but I probably was too cautious with the amount of tools and parts I brought with me. The bike performed perfectly (except losing an oil line that I installed at the halfway point) and I have total confidence in the bike now. I would jump on and ride across the country at the drop of a hat.

I understand about getting older, responsabilities, etc. I was in a high stress career for 21 years. Last October after winning a battle with a terminal health issue, I resigned. The nine days of travel on the Commando were the best I have enjoyed in a long time. I can make more money but I will never be able to match the feeling I had every morning as I loaded up my Commando for the days ride having no idea where I would be staying that night. The travel itself was great but doing it on a 35 year old Norton Commando pushed the experience into the realm of one of the most memorable of my life. For those feeling like they are trapped and could not possibly get away for a week long road trip I suggest you take another look at your situation. Chances are you could work it out. Do it while you can because our days are numbered and the trick as I see it is to make them count.

About three months after I had my '73 sorted, I thought to bring it up to Daytona for the turn 6 thing in Vintage Monday. I asked my Norton guy what he thought, and he said, "Why not?"

So in March, 2009, I rode Ed up to Nortona and back in one day, about 650 miles or so. I can't be sure, as the only thing that packed up was my speedometer drive around 70 miles from home. The bike performed flawlessly otherwise, riding for several hours at a time at 4500-5000 RPM in top gear.

I put a pair of saddlebags on the bike for the trip, and thought they looked pretty good...until the wife said, "you made Ed look like one of those Harley thingys"

Bags have been in the closet ever since!

BillT, I thought these bags were fitting for my 73. Looks nothin like a harley thingy and I plan on using the bags again.