EXIF

The CNW bikes are not to my taste, but I can't fault them for execution. I like the traditional look and that's what I've got, not that I can't enjoy someone else's opinion. Matt's bikes are very interesting looking, and I can understand why some like them. I'm just glad that he's putting some time in the Norton and bringing some of them back. I bet he would build a traditional one if you gave him the money.

Dave
69S

I like everything CNW does except Corbin seats and painted fenders.

ludwig said:

Tintin said:

.. far to shiny and bling-bling for my European taste..

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+ 1

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+2! and i an't no euroopeean

(but i do think Matt does some of the best work on commandos)

A beautiful bike, Matt.

It's a law of the universe that whiners will always find something to whine about. Or should that be whinging, in deference to the origin of our Nortons?

See, I'm whining about the whiners.

Ken

My 2 cents worth

I like custom classic motorcycles and I like stock classic motorcycles.

Good workmanship is good workmanship whether custom or stock.

If I represent a stock classic restoration as such, then it should be just that.

If I represent a custom classic as a personal expression of creativity, then I have a free license to be just that.
The measure of success is; did I really make a custom motorcycle or did I just give it a flashy paint job and a little chrome; or did I give every detail a custom touch.

The measure of success for a stock restoration is did the builder do their home work and get all of the details correct, or did they just refinish and rebuild whatever they could find.

The difference between stock and custom is that the stock motorcycle is judge against facts. It is either correct and executed with attention to detail. or it isn't.

The custom is judged by whether the finished product appeals to the beholder. It should be a given that the builder/owner likes it. The value is what somebody that likes the custom is willing to pay what the seller wants for it.

Bottom line as I see it is that stock classics are measured by tangibles and custom classics are measured by emotions. The intensity of the stock classic owner is an emotion but stock is stock, and if it isn't stock it is custom by definition.

Colorado Norton works has established the standard for made to order and turn-key customs classics. I think that DogT is correct in that Matt and company could build you a correct stock classic if you commissioned it and I am quite sure that his work would be just as good on a stock classic as a custom classic.

certainly a nice machine..I have had my rear wheel hub machined by matt and polished. makes a huge difference to the finished look. and Im not talking "bling" just a nice well enginered look.

Matt,
I guess it's safe to say that You have 'Arrived'. You are being talked about by people all over the world. Of course, most of them have never actually seen one of your bikes, let alone ridden one. It's something like someone seeing a picture of of a dish of food and saying, "I don't like it," No imagination, which is probably just as well for them.

My CNW custom would be a fuel injected 920 Interstate with slim, leather covered Craven style luggage and a single leather covered tractor style seat, with a small luggage rack over the rear fender. Brown leather with red piping and low Interstate pipes please. And paint it RED. Patina and luggage stickers to follow.

come on guys, too shiny???? :roll: Is there such a thing. :lol: :lol: :lol: You guys know the shiny-ness doesn't last long

Guido said:

It always brings out the worst in some people and maybe a little jealousy too.

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Spare me with that b*llsh*t and don't try to interpret anymore in my words than what I've written. I appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail - I just don't like the overall result. For my personal taste it is too shiny, too perfect etc. and therefore I'm not jealous at all and that was what the OP stated. I object, that's all.

If it was for the monetary representation you could as well post a pic of anything else in that price tag region - a small sports car, some brand new Harry-Detlefsons, Ducatis, whatever - and state that somebody is jealous so what is the point of that?

..... but you can't help but love the looks of those bikes.

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Sorry, but still no. Actually it is only the looks of (most of) the CNW bikes which I don't like, all other attributes are probably perfectly okay in my book.


Tim

Guido said:

It's Christmas, that's why. It always brings out the worst in some people and maybe a little jealousy too.

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You aren't kidding. :shock:

Tintin said:

Guido said:

It always brings out the worst in some people and maybe a little jealousy too.

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Spare me with that b*llsh*t and don't try to interpret anymore in my words than what I've written. I appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail - I just don't like the overall result. For my personal taste it is too shiny, too perfect etc. and therefore I'm not jealous at all and that was what the OP stated. I object, that's all.

If it was for the monetary representation you could as well post a pic of anything else in that price tag region - a small sports car, some brand new Harry-Detlefsons, Ducatis, whatever - and state that somebody is jealous so what is the point of that?

..... but you can't help but love the looks of those bikes.

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Sorry, but still no. Actually it is only the looks of (most of) the CNW bikes which I don't like, all other attributes are probably perfectly okay in my book.


Tim

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big +1
but as many a thread here its a if you don't agree with me you are wrong sort of thing (i actually agree with you tim about CNW bikes being mechanically top notch, but a bit to boulevard cruiser for my taste, but to each his own ) - so i must be wrong too oh well must be Chritmas i guess :roll:

Trying hard to stifle my jealousy

That is absolutely a world class bike/restoration/build. Hats off!

I believe CNW is in the business of selling new condition motorcycles. I cant speak for Matt, but I believe he would be genuinely pleased if 5 years from now this bike had 60,000 miles on it. Stone chips, blued pipes, roo guts and a bit less shiny.

Beljum

Tintin said:

Spare me with that b*llsh*t and don't try to interpret anymore in my words than what I've written.

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Didn't mean to offend you but you seem a little angry. Did somebody put the wall back up?

Guido said:

Didn't mean to offend you but you seem a little angry.

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I'm about as angry as I'm jealous. Again: Don't try to interpret something into my writing that isn't there.

Calling somebody "jealous" because he doesn't like something is Kindergarden stuff, that's all.




Tim

beljum said:

That is absolutely a world class bike/restoration/build.

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Based on how restoration is defined what CNW does is not a restoration - and that is my point. Matt calls it Custom bikes himself - and that is what they are. Executed close to perfection, everything is fine etc - I don't object. It is only the - voluntary - lack of authenticity in a historical sense I don't like. Back then no Commando had this kind of high lustre finish. I had the same discussion when restoring my Lotus. The first painter I talked to wanted to apply the usual high gloss finish with modern 2K stuff - which to me just looks plain wrong on an old car. He actually recommend another guy because he felt he would have a problem being "artifically sub-standard". His paintwork is second to none but it's just something else that I want.


Tim

I find this, and several other CNW built bikes to be truly stunning. I have spent hours at CNW’s home page looking at pictures and reading about their modifications. The finish is absolute show style and maybe this is what some members, including myself, feel is a bit too much for a road bike. If I had the money to have a dedicated show bike to take for a spin only on sunny Sundays I would love to have one

But if you are to use the bike more regularly you will, in most countries, end up in rain several/many times each riding season and I don’t even want to think about the number of hours it would take to get this bike back in shape again.

Regards,
Per

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Tintin,

You miss the whole point of my post.

To quote tintin:

Again: Don't try to interpret something into my writing that isn't there.

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You keyed on one word and expanded it to support what you want to say while totally ignoring the writing as a whole. Anyway, restoration has a bit more of a compliant meaning in the language of the trades. You even exercise this compliancy in your first post. Fine if you want to make that point but don’t cut up my post to do it.


Beljum

beljum said:

You miss the whole point of my post.

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Don't think so: I can actually support what you said except for that it is no restoration (which is a term used different in arts and architecture but that is a very long discussion - which is BTW ongoing here in Europe and I can tell you if the FIVA gets their wishlist called Torino charta cast into a law a CNW Norton would not be considered a classic bike with potential tax etc. benefits anymore). It is a very fine build, it is a fine custom bike. In the meaning of a restoration it is not and it is not meant to be.


Tim

ludwig said:

don't know why , but the bike reminds me of Kim Kardashian in her wedding dress ..
very beautifull , extremely polished and manicured , flawless skin ..
But marry her ? ..mm ..

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OK….very well stated.

Now….imagine riding her for a season or two ‘cause that’s what she likes and thats what she was built for.

Imagine a few extended camping trips without handy soap and towels.

Now that’s what I’m talking about!

bel