Battle Scars

I put my 1973, 750 together out of the crate when I worked for the dealer after school and on weekends while in school. I was the first one to fill it with it's fluds, put the battery in it, fill the tires with air, clean off the cosmolene and kick it to life for the first time (on this side of the pond). During that first summer we rode nearly 14,000 miles together, camped on the roadside in Laconia, Carved the curves of the Adirondaks, the Bershires, The White mountains and the Green Mountains. Riding to school, taking my Girlfriend out and posing for my Mom in my Cap and Gown with one foot on the peg, smiling like the proverbial Cheshire Cat!

This Norton and I have had our share of trials, tribulations, happiness, sadness, anger and melancholy.... growing up and maturing together in those New York hills and valleys. A better summer I cannot recall than that Summer of '73.

Well, here it is 38 years later and I finally have her back to the original Royal Fire Flake Blue as well as the rest of her totally restored. While discussing this restoration with Frank Diehl of Classic Cycles, who did the majority of the work, he wanted to know if I wanted to remove the Battle Scars. The right front corner of the front fender, scars on the tachometer case, as well as some other cosmetic "imperfections". I nearly told him yes, as my original thinking was to get her back to as perfect as possilble.

Then, I thought NO. Let's leave some personality, some memories I can share with those who may inquire about those little reminders. I have absolutely no regrets.

I feel the same way about "patina". Graceful aging. Since I have shared many stories with interested on lookers, those that come out of the bar to take a look, listening to all the oooooohsssss and ahhhhhhssss of the throngs of Harley riders. While hearing, "I remember those! They were Hot". "Wasn't a Harley around in those days that would even come close to one of those" as he points with the slender end of his long neck. And my personal favorite (taking place duing the Harley week here in Myrtle Beach, Of all the Hundreds of Motorcycles in this parking Lot, Your's is the only one I would want to take home."

Smiling, I took another draught from my own longneck, thinking I am happy I left theese Battle Scars.

Well said Steve. Not many Nortoneers every had that expierence uncrating their own bike and keeping it that many years. It's close to a "Love Story". Ride Safe.

I almost know the feeling. I still have my original '67 TR6C. Down in there between the handlebars & the speedo are a few of my front teeth. I'm still keeping an eye out for those. You have the special one, though.

Beautiful!

Mello

That's eerie Steve. My own '73 750 has been with me for 38 years also. Although I did not have the pleasure to uncrate it. As to patina and battle scars, mine still has the original paint (Fireflake Blue!) and has a few nicks and scrapes, many with their own story.

Nice story.

Great story and good points. I don't have any past history with mine (purchased by me in 2010 with a full resto/mod thereafter) so I started with a clean slate, but I can certainly understand leaving the battle scars when you have such a history with your bike!

-Jordan

I rode my '74 from the dealer's showroom 36 years ago. Still have the original bill of sale.

I've taken a different approach though... I've tried to keep it looking and running like the day I rode it home. So it's been in a constant state of restoration from the start. I've repared or replaced on an as-needed basis and upgraded where appropriate. It's the only bike I've owned in 36 years, and probably will be my last.

First, thank you all for your kind commentary, I certainly appreciate them all.

as a Post Script to my original post: I purchased my Norton in the early spring of 1973, March I believe, the head stamp is January 1973. I volunteered for the U.S. Army on October 31, 1973. At that time, the Dealer agreed to store her for me until I got out, that turned out to be 6 years later. In the interim I had a chance to ride her a couple of times when home on leave, My friends were always happy to get her out and get her running for me.

In the late spring of 1978 I purchased the then new Suzuki GS 1OOO, being in the mood for a new 4 Cyl Super Bike. While I did ride my Norton occaisionally, the Zuk took prescedence. Larger seat, more room for the (now) wife and I, Electric start, come on, you all know what I mean.

After that there were a procession of Motorcycles: Honda Goldwing Aspencade, Honda VF700S sport tourning bike (1984 which is still my daily transport) among others. All the while the Norton languished in storage, suffering from garage rot. Resurrected her in the late 80's, early 90's... Painted her black (Yea, I know) and had fun riding her around pretending I was 18 again!

Moved to SC in '96, put her in the Garage of the new house and there she sat....... Until April of 2008 when my wife spied a new paper article spotlighting some guy that does Motorcycle restorations. Lo! and Behold! if he wasn;t working on a Norton Engine in the photo. My wife smiles, and said, I already called him, he will be here Sunday morning! (When I met y Wife, Nancy the Norton was in the Dining room of the house I rented. No way it was gonna stay outside!)

Sunday arrive and I meet Frank Diehl, the rest is history, I now have her back and I enjoy the hell out of riding whenever I can. Can't do too much, the bone spur and arthritis in right hip and knees from previous injuries hurts like hell when starting. But, when running, the sound of the peashooters is purely orchestral to me.

Nice story, sounds like your wife loves you very much & is a very nice person to have done that. I once came home from work to find a Moto Guzzi I had missing from my girlfriends garage, she had contacted a local Guzzi mechanic & had him come get it to fix a problem that had stumped me. I thought it was very nice of her to care. Turned out the coil on one side was shorting out some how so a new set of Dyna coils & I was back terrorizing the neighborhood and waking up everyone at 5:00am going to work.

Good feelings reading this. Thanks Steve.

Great story, but sadly LACKING PICTURES!!!!!

Steve,
thanks for the good story.
You know what? I had been thinking for a while about selling the older of my BMWs -the one I've been riding for 20+ years, with 110,000 Km on the clock, and keep the one in better conditions.
But now you made me think.. that is MY bike. that is the bike I gotta keep and ride for another 20 years.
I'll sell the other one. I do not have any emotional link with that one. It's only in incredibly good conditions (20K Km, original conditions) but does not give me any emotions because we did not share any experience together.

thank you!
Orso

grandpaul said:

Great story, but sadly LACKING PICTURES!!!!!

Click to expand...

Hopefully, I will have some photos to share soon enough. Until then, allow your mind to paint a portrait to fill the voids the story tells.

Orsonoce said:

Steve,
thanks for the good story.
You know what? I had been thinking for a while about selling the older of my BMWs -the one I've been riding for 20+ years, with 110,000 Km on the clock, and keep the one in better conditions.
But now you made me think.. that is MY bike. that is the bike I gotta keep and ride for another 20 years.
I'll sell the other one. I do not have any emotional link with that one. It's only in incredibly good conditions (20K Km, original conditions) but does not give me any emotions because we did not share any experience together.

thank you!
Orso

Click to expand...

One of the nicest things anyone has said as a result of my humble life. Thank you