Do you RIDE the Norton Commando?

One of the things I often wonder comes up with certain threads - wet-sumping being the primary one that initiates this: Do folks ride their Commandos regularly as opposed to taking them out occasionally for 'display,' or local get togethers, etc? IOW, what kind of mileage per week, say, do folks put on their Commandos as opposed to other bikes they own?

For me: Nowadays, my '73 Commando, originally a Roadster, configured as a Fastback since '08, and my BMW R9T are located in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. When we are there we ride at least weekly. Rides vary from approx 140 mile round trip rides to a town in the mountains for lunch/mescal and back home to overnights or two nights from 350-500 miles. I almost never ride the R9T, finding the Commando more comfortable and, as surprising (and disappointing) as this is to me, better at handling the occasional off-pavement roads despite the installation of $3k+ worth of Ohlins front/rear suspension parts on the R9T! The Norton has only the Fauth Fork Mod. I also prefer the lighter weight of the Norton. I also can't help but enjoy the fact that when we stop, the Commando always draws the most attention though I will admit that lately one my fellow rider's red (of course) V4 Panigali draws as much!

SO...how much Norton riding do you do?

Good question. And some good points raised.

I've been through more ‘moderns’ than I intended of late in search of enough ‘character’ to actually make it choice when I open the shed door! I’ve come to realise that I NEED character to enjoy riding, a dull (read well engineered) bike, irrespective of its performance, jus‘ don’ float ma boat.

I also had a R9T but next to the Commando it just felt bland. A well behaved Commando is a really good bike, and unless you need supersonic speeds, it’s actually quite a challenge finding a modern that ticks enough boxes to make it a riding choice (of course, a Top Gun Panigale Pilot would disagree, but I am not such).

I’ve 4 bikes in the shed currently, and tend to find that I will ride two of them regularly whilst two are on ‘furlough’.

The Commando is currently on furlough, so will no doubt have a rather full sump...!

10,000 miles per year.

Since owning my 850 from new and at the age of 17 it was my everyday ride and only spent a few years off the road when converting it to the Featherbed frame in the early 80s then it resumed its everyday ride duties right up to 2013 when I brought a new Triumph Thruxton and now the Norton is semi retired, its done over 160k miles of trouble free riding, I now upgraded to a 1200 Triumph Thruxton that is now my everyday rider, but I still take the Norton out regularly, its my hotrod bike and I still have a big smile on my dial when ever I take it out, its semi retired like its owner.

Ashley

4 to 5 thousand km per year, all days and rides out 100 - 300 km on weekends and holidays practically year round.

Four bikes, 1969-1974, Triumph, Norton, RE Inter and a Rickman Enfield.
I like the Rickman because it is light and I can put both feet on the ground easily.
But the Norton is vibration free at 70mph and is reliable if Im going anywhere in
particular, I take it.
The Trident is just coming back together and I like it because it is heavy and handles well
but heavy can be a bother as I get older.
The RE Interceptor is, as Jay Leno says, "Sometimes you just want to go for a ride" bike and it is
the most dated ride but that can be fun too.
Oh I ride only when it isn't raining. Hate cleaning mud off the bike!
So it is the 850 Norton that gets the most use.

Pre Covid, i was riding ~250 km/wk. 60/40.split between my '13 Duc 848 Evo and the Snortin.

The last 7 months have mostly been lock down and working from home. Much, much less riding.

Club ride this weekend. ")

We've been doing day rides here (UK), not very far - maybe 75-80 miles total. I wish I had the Norton here; it would be perfect for our riding. The B roads we prefer would be great fun on the Commando. I really like my '18 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe but its' 110 HP, though not much by today's standards, is massive overkill 99% of the time. We were out on a ride a few days ago and I was commenting to my wife on her bike (via Sena 10s), "Hey, we got up to almost 65MPH back there!"

1200km on the 850 last last weekend : )
961 is my day tripper, 850 for longer trips - better luggage capability, DRZ for adventure trips.
Not a great photo,was trying to get the road in the background.

I am fortunate that I live in a somewhat rural area where I get to ride the Norton 3-5 days a week.Always puts a smile on my face!

Good post an a very interesting one When I got the Commando I was planning on using it every day which I do with my Norton 650SS. They certainly do like being run regularly in my humble opinion.

Unfortunately the previous owners handwork on the 68' Commando had other ideas an I've got the engine in bits still, finally going back together at the moment crank this week rest as funds allow. Soon as shes together though it's getting regular use.
Few Vids on the Commando.


Recently I've been letting my Japanese bikes go as my heart is firmly with the British bikes one of which an RD250C I sold for a modern 2010 T100 Bonnie in the Sixty colourway which has been a different experience from a curiosity point of view mainly,

I refitted the stock pipes to it as I got her to go to Europe on for my dream trip to Norway an Denmark, the engine is epic torquey feels like how I imagine the development of the Commando could have been, my year of bonnie still has a 360 degree engine an that's important to me for the feel but the sound with the stock pipes is that quiet you hear all the primary gears whining from a riders point of view but when we did some ride past clips it sounded quite deep so think she's starting to sound a bit different now I'm putting miles on the pipes which hadn't been used did sound superb with the Triumph none road legal pipes that I took off before I remapped it an fitted the stock pipes.

One thing that is a pain is the parts prices on the modern stuff realise how lucky we are with the Norton's really is a golden age to own one especially a Commando thanks to all the effort everyone put in to getting the parts out there for us.
The Bonnie on the weekends ride up Winnat's Pass.


Last bike in my regular rotation is my daily rider (I don't have a car) an my most used one is my Norton 650SS Been a flawless bike apart from rocker spindles which are a consumable anyway use it in nasty horrible wet weather an sunny days even if its a small ride I'm out most days on her even set it up in a thunderstorm one day. An she's took over our tradition of xmas day rides no matter what the weather.
650SS Last xmas day.



Other bikes I've regularly used was a rd250lc which I let go did 2k miles in one week on that one.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I echo what the others have said a Commando an Norton's have some sort of feeling that's intangible a soul so to speak that no other bikes seem to come close to. I've worked through a ton of modern bikes looking for that an never found it an the T100 is probably the closest I've got it's such a shame they all stopped making 360 degree engines as I think those are intrinsic to what makes these bikes so great.

For my dream Euro trip when the time comes I'm gonna be taking one of the Norton's an letting my dad use the modern Bonnie just couldn't imagine doing my dream bike trip an it not being on a Norton.

Only put 700 miles on my road Commando this year, but like others, I have more than one bike begging to be ridden. Last time out on the Commando, I only got about 25 mile out and stripped all the teeth off the belt so that is still in the garage, mended but blocked in.

Wen't out on the Velo Tuesday night and ran out of petrol, I think I am getting old.



So I have just bought an American V twin thingy to keep me young.

Ha! Last time I ran out of petrol is was taking some out of my mates Velo that got me going again!

What American have you gone and bought Ralph?

I've owned only one motorcycle for the last 45 years. My miles are being limited nowadays by my health but when I ride it's on an 850 Commando.

I have 5 bikes that I try to rotate
I definitely believe running them regularly rather than storing with occasional use is much better for them
My problem is I don't see them as classic bikes
I've grown up with them so to me they are just bikes
I don't own a modern bike as I don't have a need for one
Now to the question of commando use,,,, I ride my commando at least once a week, sometimes every day to commute
Depending what mood I'm in or which bike is easiest to get out
I'm finding my t160 quite heavy to get out the garage these days
I have a BMW r100 rs rigid chop that gets a lot of use
Also a BSA gold flash that will wet sump if I leave it more than 2 weeks or so

I ride my '72 about 500 miles per week during the summer here in Canada, slowing down a bit now as the weather gets colder. With COVID, my Norton is definitely getting a lot more road time than any of my 4-wheeled vehicles.

Thankfully, Ontario is a really big province with all varieties of roads and lots of cool destinations.

The '70 is under restoration right now, but hopefully will be ready to ride next year. My daughter is taking a shine to it, so I am hoping that she will be able to ride it in a few years.

The Electra is an incomplete basket case. I have no plans on restoring it to original. I am actually planning on turning it into a trials bike for our vintage trials events. I have a Yamaha TY250 rolling chassis I have pieced together from swap meets and eBay. If i just had a bit more time....

I have three motorcycles and ride all of them. The newer ones get ridden more.

somewhat of a noob rider - in reality, only riding about 6 months now. usually get out at least once or twice per week - average ride 40, 50, sometimes 90 miles each ride. problem is, for me, it's no fun riding alone. have a good friend that's into british bikes (three triumphs and a commando) - usually ride with him. just need more enthusiasts here in NE florida for the ride. hopefully, the hot, humid, weather has broken and we'll be into the perfect riding weather, and we can expand the ride. since april, figure I've road the commando about 1300 miles.

Commando is the the only petrol based 'toy' in the garage at the moment, it WILL be joined by a four wheeled 'classic' sooner or later, and I've a hankering to own a 675 Daytona before I die (just hope they're not linked in any way)
Gets ridden 'as and when'.. I'm not a social rider, though happy to chat to others whilst I'm out, biking started way back as a financial necessity (pushbike commuting at night in winter ain't fun!) but even when I became slightly more affluent there was always a bike in the shed..
So... no wet weather 'brownie points' to prove any more, the bike holds it's oil well and may sit for weeks before I get the urge, back roads, town or motorways are all grist to it's mill (!)... and it satisfies the polished eye candy requirements too..

I try to ride my bikes at least once a week when weather is good. Usually 50 mile rides in the Sierras or the occasional ride to the auto parts, hardware or grocery store. Been hot and really smoky in Northern California this summer. I found out quickly tha ash in the air will burn your eyes! It's been about a month since the Norton was on the road.