From 22 to mid 30s Norton Passion and Restoration Norton 1927 16H Flat Tanker, Norton RAF 1944 WD16H, Norton Commando 1968, Norton 650ss 1967

Got out on the 68 Norton Commando again today making the most of her while she’s still mine really good 20 mile or so ride the hagons arrived today are absolutely superb really liking the feel of them, which doesn’t surprise me as I use them on my daily rider 650SS.

Stunning day and a stunning ride out was nice to get one some twisty roads, an experience all the hard work effort and expenditure.

Had a spin to the local Norton dealer to ^_^ not been there before.

Had another day of test riding today got some more great footage,

Filming each test ride day as a diary about 19 mile loops made a few checks tonight and a couple of adjustments n really looking forward to tomorrows test ride.

The ab1 timing cover worked a treat all week.

Good job. The tank badges would make it look complete.

Thanks Saber n yep if I have chance I’ll get them off the original tank and put them on,

Hi everyone hope we are all well the 1968 Norton Commando run in is going great day 5 of riding and running her in been really fun getting out I’ve done two more videos a ride to Prestbury and today’s ride which is the one linked where I show her some corners on a National Speed limit Road handling really great which is good certainly has some pace to her even hardly using the throttle or revs.

Just dialing in the isolastic settings and fine tuning her overall very happy with how its going

Hope you have all enjoyed the mini updates along the way.

Norton Commando 1968 run in day 4 after restoration





An finally a short for those that like condensed videos and portrait viewing this one’s got a peak at the plugs to,

Gonna do some plug chops soon just a bit tricky with the ignition location, might wire a kill switch in on the bars,

Norton Commando 750 1968 day 5 run in after restoration Fun!

Got all the receipts together before for the Commando n added them up was a few I’d forgotten about to the tune of 400 quid,

So for anyone wondering what it takes to do a Commando to this standard mechanically here’s the total.

Having so much fun running her in this morning I gave her a small service checked clearances, barrel and head torque all a ok! Day 6 went well and she’s proving to be nice and very exciting to ride,

Tomorrows ride will be a different location an not the test loop. looking forward to it at the moment there’s just lots of fine adjustments an she’s pretty much there now so tomorrow will be exciting.

An the short for those that like short vids

Norton Commando 750 1968 run in day 6 and mini service

Sounds sweet when it’s given some revs

Thanks mate hardest bits all the speed limits that’s one of the few national roads round here now most are 40s,

Looking forward to doing the cat and fiddle next. at this rate I’m gonna have her run in fully haha.

Just been fettling the isolastics today in between filming

So DGR day it’s an important one I got out today on the 1968 Norton Commando for a bit of a personal journey as anyone who follows will know, my dad has stage 3b/4 prostate cancer an we were in the middle of a house move down to Somerset which had been dads dream as well as mine for years,

Last year he got a shock diagnosis of it and we didn’t know what would happen, after radiotherapy and surgery he’s been doing good n been back on a bike which I got him

Dads on a medication called Abiraterone we luckily come under the Christie an he is so lucky to get it as it’s transforming his treatment, as they are funding it for him, unfortunately NHS England don’t fund it, although wales and Scotland do, so we ended up cancelling the move and are downsizing locally,


today I wanted to spend time with dad he’s been in pain waiting for surgery on his mouth after some other meds affected it n that’s about 2 months off been hard to watch I’m not gonna lie, n there’s a lot of risk relating to the jaw bone not healing as he’s gotta have 3 teeth out an trauma on the jaw can cause it not to heal, so all fingers crossed team,

Dad followed me in the car as his jaws to sore for a helmet at the mo an it was amazing fun chatting on the breaks, it’s the small moments worth treasuring,

The cat and fiddle was amazing on the 1968 Norton Commando the way she’s running is fab it’s been emotional for sure every ride on her, to think she’s one of the first 65 ever made an I brought her back to life £5,832.09 in money later in parts n only £750 of that is Engineering by the legend Norman White on the frame and the head work by Seager, but worth every single penny even just for these rides

Life is emotional isn’t it a roller coaster we never know what the future holds but we adapt we move on and continue forward one corner one twist and turn at a time, clear the tricky section in life and ride forwards to the next challenge,

Everyone kept asking about the badges on the 1968 Norton Commando so took the only one I’ve got currently out with some blutac for some pics as I was saving funds for oil changes etc.

Every time I ride her I’m reminded of just how amazing classic motorcycles are I used to daily ride a 1967 Norton 650SS for 4 years n 4 winters an I’m looking forward to getting back to doing this with classics.

This is day 7 of the daily rides this week on the 1968 Norton 100 miles of pure enjoyment running her in, she will easily do that in a day at the moment it’s been heat cycles and checks she’s settled in to be incredibly reliable with no issues, an more often than not a first kick starter some footage to come when I’ve got it edited.

Hope you all enjoy the pics

An emotional day out today on the 1968 Norton Commando 750 one of the first 65 off the production line, it’s been a bit of stressful times latley with dads stage 3b/4 prostate cancer he’s waiting for surgery on his mouth n couldn’t cope with the pressure of the helmet this morning on his jaw so he took the car and I took the commando make those moments count everyone life is precious every moment matters every second counts,

I said in the video I don’t mind how we travel together as long as we do I caught myself getting emotional in a few bits in the helmet,

I think in the future if it comes to it itl be a few bikes in the back of a van to travel abroad n ride on individual days, for now the initial plan of riding abroad still stands on a couple of bikes,

All being well next year dad an I will be doing our Norway trip together

Now it’s time to finish this house downsize end my chapter with my 68’ commando and get my 650ss back into service as a daily an maybe after the move look at a classic Triumph resto a t100c maybe or tr6c,

What does the future hold only the sands of time slipping through our fingers will tell us what fate has in store.

Hope you all enjoy the ride as much as I did on her

Norton Commando 750 1968 - Cat and Fiddle Run in day 7

1968 Norton Commando day 8 run in went superb had a 20 mile ride tonight which takes the total to just over 120 in 8 days, she’s running tremendous honestly can’t get enough of it, gonna miss her that’s for sure, 8 days back go back riding has been really fun and very uplifting

Looking forward to day 9 although it’s gonna have to wait a day as I’ve managed to get dad an emergency appointment tomorrow to see what they can do about his pain in his jaw until his opp in June / july (dad has stage 3b/4 prostate cancer) so probs no riding tomorrow depending on what happens,

The riding has been absolutely so much fun an memories I’ll treasure especially with dad following me out yesterday was nice chatting and making memories.

If the Vulcan is ever missing we know we are all done for lol,

An finally a slightly different pic from yesterday’s cat and fiddle ride.

You and I are similar in age. Admire you for what you've been able to accomplish for both your father and yourself. Keep up the good work and keep living life to the fullest. Hope your dad heals well.

Hi Pete thanks for taking the time to comment really appreciated the kind words, great to see others around my ages into keeping these beautiful bikes going,

I’ll pass your best wishes along to dad always show him any messages anyone leaves

Means a lot

Last nights spin

Probably a break tonight not long back from an emergency dentist visit for dad unfortunately looks like it’s gonna be even more surgery on his mouth as the issues under the jaw line, than initially thought quite a lot of risk to it with some of the cancer meds an healing at least it’s in progress though first consultation for that is at the end of June

Norton Commando 750 1968 Classic British motorcycle Run in day 8

Hi team in today’s video we had some special guests Rob and his dad from the vmjc who hadn’t seen a 68 Norton Commando before so I invited them round an the weather was nice so we took her for a run,

An if you’ve ever heard of the term making a rod for your own back while I was waiting I decided to fit my new shiny rh exhaust silencer clamp, n on the commando the easiest way to do it is to remove the down pipe and that means a new exhaust gasket anyway half way through the ride I ended up having to replace it with one from an old packet which is working great an now on run in day 10 is as settled as the old one,

So in total the only two issues I’ve had during run in have been the fuel cap with an undersized rubber grommet and what I suspect was an undersized exhaust gasket as the new one from my older AN pack is working a treat ^_^

So yep day 9 was a brilliant evening ride a great bit of fun and laughing as dad went for the exhaust gasket only for me to realise the spares were already in the car

Was a brilliant evening ride with excellent company an some fun along the way I’m just back from run in ride 10 an I’ll be posting it soon as it’s edited just off with dad to go get his 3 monthly cancer injection, always exhausts him tomorrow,

Norton Commando 750 1968 run in day 9


Norton Commando 750 1968 Run in day 9 classic British bike


Norton Commando 1968 classic motorcycle Run in day 10 ^_^ today was spent bedding in the new exhaust gasket that we fitted on the run last night worked a treat, really nice to get out again weather was a bit rubbish,

One thing I’m really learning is how excellent the Norton Commandos are as a daily rider an a fast one at that, comfortable and fun with brilliant parts availability from Andover Norton

Probably won’t be out tomorrow as currently sat with dad waiting for his cancer meds injection,

Norton Commando 750 1968 Run in day 10 classic British motorcycle


Norton Commando 750 1968 run in day 10




so next one will be over the weekend

The past 10 days have been something really special for me everyone of the 175 miles I’ve covered with dad and friends will stay with me for a long time,

I was just musing about this over on my socials n thought I’d post it here to.

Getting to experience the 1968 Norton Commando 750 the 61st Norton Commando ever made, that I saved an restored with my own hands has been amazing,

Yep she cost £5,832 to restore I paid £8,500 for her n now I’m letting her go for 7k but oh gosh was it worth it, even just for these miles alone,

When you ride a classic motorcycle it’s like being transported to the past living history right there roaring away, making you appreciate a different motorcycling experience a different feeling a different mix of emotions of trials of amazing experiences,

Every day an opportunity to learn every day an opportunity to experience something new from the past,

Classic motorcycles are living history that we mere mortals, those of us without huge savings can experience, something that is more visceral than any museum piece isn’t that an amazing truly special thing to have in our lives,

An I’ll tell you what they are not slow either, I’d honestly tour on the Commando you can feel the monumental change in design that the isolastics system brought to our modern bikes) riding and owning stuff from different eras it’s so interesting to contrast to see the changes not only see them to feel them such an epic experience,

I hope more people my age and under take on these amazing classics the life experiences they teach you cannot be underestimated + you will never be short of people to speak to that’s for sure!

It was a pleasure having Rob and his dad over yesterday chatting bikes an watching Rob start her first kick, there’s no mystery to starting a Classic just the right instruction an a well running bike, if you have ever fancied a British classic now’s a great time be it a commando or anything else with the prices low and the right models having great parts availability be it Norton or Triumph or one of the others.

I really think with the commando you can feel that modernity that turning point in design evolution an the best bit is you can get all the parts in the right finishes to from Andover Norton even for the 68’

I think it’s so important to keep passing the torch on even in my mid 30s my greatest hope with sharing my experiences with classics and vintage bikes being from one of the last generations that remembers a world without social media is passing on what other people have been kind enough to teach me, passing on the knowledge and the passion and the amazing feeling of what came before of restoring and working with our hands blended with the connection and knowledge and amazing community we now have in our modern world,

Hopefully through places like access Norton we can inspire more people in the way everyone on here inspired me

The next steps for me are to finish the house downsize, get dad through his latest op then get my WD16H running an once the commandos gone I’ll be back to daily riding the 650ss again as she will be my most modern bike I own.

Run in day 11 was an interesting one decided to try a new GoPro mount that I used to use gives a different point of view I’m kinda unsure which one I prefer,

Run in on the commando is going great was a short one today as there was quite a few trees down after last night on a few of the roads,

Overall running really nice as to be expected checked the cylinder head torque last night not moved which is good approx 180 miles in,

Next ride should be up to the Cat and Fiddle if she’s still here to capture it with this new camera angle,



Norton Commando 750 1968 Classic Motorcycle run in day 11 GoPro pov test


Norton Commando 750 1968 run in day 11 GoPro test


Next week I’ll be out on the 1967 Norton 650SS all being well should have my modern bike sold and it’s back to daily riding the 650SS now my shoulders better, (old figure skating injury) the kickstarting hasn’t caused any problem any more which is really encouraging for the future of my classic an vintage motorcycle riding,

Hi team in today’s post I took a very relaxed ride on my 1968 Norton Commando 750 up the cat and fiddle on Bank Holiday Sunday the weather was way worse than it seems with 45 mph gust speeds (looked it up) and a lot of trees down on the way to the cat and fiddle,

The commandos one of those bikes if you feel spirited she will respond if you are in a chill flow kinda mood she will do that to really enjoyed today

Also while we were stopped at our new fav relax spot in Cheshire max and his dad came over chatting, max is on l plates currently fancies a Triumph Bonnie one day, so I let him have a sit on the Commando an under a bit of tutoring he aced starting a big British twin for the first time. Once you get the technique in your mind it becomes second nature an you never forget,

All the best for the future Max,

This is what it’s all about everyone not hiding the classics riding them, sharing the knowledge and our wonderful passion for classic and vintage motorcycles,

Really enjoyed today an chatting with max an his dad just made the day for me tbh it reminded me of when John the original owner since new of my 650ss taught me to kickstart a British twin,

He’s gonna have a chat with the vmcc an explore some classic 125s it was great to share the passion,

Here’s a few pictures from the day, dads been coming out but in his car as he’s in a bit of pain at the moment waiting for an operation on his jaw, (dads got stage 3b/4 prostate cancer)

So didn’t wanna risk making it worse with his helmet on his Honda

Was incredible fun again to get out on the Norton Commando 750 one of the first 65 ever made.











Dad smiling as always








Video from today


An the short from today

Norton Commando 750 1968 run in day 12 classic British motorcycle