Growing pains

Hello all,

I have started down a path that many of you have been traveling for quite some time. I bought my first motorcycle and it is a 1973 commando 850. The bike is about ten years older than I am. Most of my peers do not know what it is. Those that know tried to warn me against it like I was getting involved with a bipolar, alcoholic girlfriend. "She's beautiful and can be a lot of fun one day, next day you might be sorry you ever laid eyes on her". They told me get something new with a push button electric start and a warranty, but this advice was falling on deaf ears. Once you've been hooked by that unexplainable allure of the Norton there seems to be no escape. I even lurked the access Norton board as a guest before making my purchase, reading all sorts of tales of frustration but somehow I was only more intrigued. I kept my eye on the market for many months. Some beautiful bikes came and went while I wrestled with indecision until I had to make my move on a 1 owner, all original bike. I drove 6 hours to pick it up on the strength of the photos and the sellers word that it "runs great".

We met in a Massachusetts parking lot and he had a considerable amount of trouble starting it, but it did look better in person than the photos and when it finally roared to life it sounded as good as it looked. Seems like he just lost track of time and it had been sitting a lot longer than he thought. I happily went through with the deal as he seemed honest and nice. Also ,I don't expect an all original 73 to be without problems and personality.

I got the bike in the back of my pick up truck and returned to Brooklyn. Next day I brought it to Hugh at 6th st. specials on the lower east side nyc to make sure it was safe to ride and to trouble shoot the issue of why it took me 30 kicks to start it. He got it started much quicker but right away felt that the carbs were not functioning well. He cleaned a crazy amount of clay out of the carbs and it was starting on first or second kick (for him) and running smooth. I Can't say enough good things about that guy and his shop. He could have told me it needed thousands in repairs and I wouldn't have known better. Other than cleaning the carbs he said I've got a really nice bike, quiet motor, everything looks in order. "Go put a couple hundred miles on it and see how you feel, the bike will let you know what it needs".

What came next was my first ride on a Brit bike, in nyc traffic, Williamsburg bridge, the whole business...hence the name trial by fire. Obviously I'm alive or I wouldn't be typing this.

There is more to the story. To be continued. This is the most I have typed in a long time

Welcome to your new life with a Norton, don't be put off as they are a reliable bike if ridden all the time, after 39 years of owning mine it has never let me down, except for a broken rear chain (lost joining link realy), anyway enjoy your new old bike, learn everything you need to know about your bike and learn to kick it right and it should start first time everytime, these are a easy bike to maintain, get a workshop manual, learn to work on it yourself is the best way to get to know your Norton, have fun, now take it for a ride.

Ashley

They say What don't kill you right off makes ya stronger but I add it may still get ya down the road. Best wishes trying to short cut equiping a tool shop and learning details of manual with errors on Commando models most shops are not aware of. As you found out can't judge a ride by its cover so best wishes riding it out. Keep hot slack in the primary chain and brake and oil topped off.

Tbf

Have you no got any photos in Shugs shop ? I always quite liked him on cafe racer ,probably cos he was a Scotsman and sounded like he could spin a yarn.
Best of fun with your 828.

J

ashman said:

learn everything you need to know about your bike and learn to kick it right and it should start first time everytime,

Ashley

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Learn to kick it right is the best advice
And to hobot, that which didn't kill me sure did kill my ankle

On my ride home from the shop I did stall a couple times at traffic lights trying to get back to neutral. Pushed to the side of the road, put it on center stand, cracked the throttle about a quarter inch and I got it back running in two or three kicks. Safe ride back home. The next morning I come out and start it in one kick and I'm feeling on top of the world. Rode around the neighborhood loving life. Parked up and went to start it again about an hour later and what I got was a lesson I won't soon forget. A rite of passage perhaps. That thing kicked back like a thoroughbred and destroyed my ankle. Didn't throw me over the bars but I guess my boot was not adequate for ankle support. I sat on the curb for a second trying to downplay how much it rocked me, waiting for the pain to pass. When I went to stand up I couldn't put any weight on it. So I'm laid up on the couch for what may be the last nice riding weather of the year. I got x rays, not broken but crazy swollen, maybe a sprained ligament or something.

Not mad at the bike but somewhat mad at myself

auldblue said:

Tbf

Have you no got any photos in Shugs shop ? I always quite liked him on cafe racer ,probably cos he was a Scotsman and sounded like he could spin a yarn.
Best of fun with your 828.

J

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Man that shop is a real time capsule, the walls are covered in photos and motorcycle history. It's like stepping back into the nyc that has almost completely gone extinct. I didn't take any pics because I wasn't sure how he feels about that. I felt lucky just to be allowed to stand in there and not get clowned for being such an amateur

Dear burnt-toast your chit&chat is too much ongoing flashbacks for me on all fronts, done paid my karma so best wishes on affording yours to come...
Does help to share-dilute the pains though - so common among us - so we don't take it too deeply to heart either.

Check that the ignition timing is acurately set and also that the battery has a full charge. It shouldn't kick back if these are correct. Welcome to Norton ownership, they are a lot of fun and have a unique character.

Looks like a lot of the possible causes been explained on the forum before. I'm thinking weak battery or didn't follow through with kick.

Does the bike have electronic ignition and if so which one?

If you are running standard points then check the ignition advance mechanism is not sticking (and they do have a habit) and thus staying full advanced for you next attempt to kick start.
This will surely launch you into space .
It's really great when this happens and your mates laugh their heads off and say "I bet that hurt", you get no sympathy from them at all.

Cheers
Peter R

When inexperanced please wear decent boots till you learn how to start it propper, once you master kicking it you will find out how easy they are to start and if everything is ajusted right it should just click in to netrual, keep it in gear with the clutch in when at lights, the clutch should be nice and light and don't kick it when the pistons are down the bottom of the stroke, it be a wasted kick, a lot of poeple will tell you how to start it but you need to learn for yourself is all the advice I can give you, give it time once you master it you will love it even more.

Ashley

"Bipolar alcoholic girlfriend" is the best description I've heard yet. And from personal experience with both, so true...

kernel65 said:

"Bipolar alcoholic girlfriend" is the best description I've heard yet. And from personal experience with both, so true...

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Have you still got her number?

" Those that know tried to warn me against it like I was getting involved with a bipolar, alcoholic girlfriend. "She's beautiful and can be a lot of fun one day, next day you might be sorry you ever laid eyes on her"."

You friends were right…and now you have a sore ankle to prove it.


OK…in reality they can be totally reliable but with an old one it may take a while to get it back to "like new" operating condition. As noted, incorrect ignition timing is the reason it kicked back. There is nothing at all wrong with the oem points/advance unit as far as providing what the engine needs for best operation BUT, as also noted, the AAU can stick in the advanced position if it is not properly maintained.

I bought my current Commando in '06 from a very well known brit bike shop. They assured me it was "ready to ride across country." Yeah- RIGHY! It took a full day of work to start it the first time ( I owned Commandos back when they were making them so I was very familiar with them and kickstarting). It was beautiful in appearance but an absolute safety and operational disaster in just about every way you can think of. It took me quite a while to get it sorted out. Now it's a one-kick starter (though now it has an Alton Elec start) and is as reliable as an anvil. One piece of advice lI will pass on re "reliability"… as a long time Norton rider told me a year or two ago… Safety wire parts you wish to keep on the bike. Don't bother safety-wiring parts you don't care about!

My point is, it's an OLD bike and probably needs attention to everything that turns/rotates/moves and that electrons or fuel flows through. Just remember that when they were new and ridden regularly, they were great daily riders and still are when put back into shape.

Welcome to the pain and love affair. Once you figure it out, things will be fine.

Welcome and good luck. I started mine as a project and that was about $5000.00 ago.
Looks just like it did when I got it but at least it runs and drives now, and safe as well.
Still have a long way to go but the Norton fascination continues.

Been through bipolar alcoholic girlfriends. I Think it could be part of a much greater syndrome called Sick puppy Syndrome which translates to feeling sorry for old sick rusty motorbikes to forever fix up and help. It's O.K. to party with the sick puppy but don't bring it home . :roll: Wife told me that one.

ugh another tar baby subject I should let go of but all sticky smeared now. I now doubt there isn't a more slap stick comical motorcycle than a clunky ole Commando to break your bones and balls on. I hate mechanics but fascinated by what makes Seado owners tick and ticked off.

Mike996 made my day with this one, and its so, until not so sweet...

OK…in reality they can be totally reliable

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New blood should savor the lead in but seasoned souls can skip to the punch lines on better left unasked question$... 6:29 min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrhBlvm3Tq4

Trialbyfire, Welcome. Please fill out your profile with location.. (I read Brooklyn, but many times we miss it)
Please tell us about yourself, regarding your mechanical/electrical skills. It'll make a big difference when we're trying to help you through a problem, if we know approximately what level to begin the troubleshooting. So, what kind of automotive repairs have you done? Brakes? Struts? Wheel bearings? Spark plugs? Fuel pump? Do you have a DMM? Oil changes? etc. I understand that urban dwelling can somewhat limit the space needed to do your own repairs.
As mentioned by a few others, you WILL become a mechanic, at some level just to be an operator. Having a good mechanic is fine, if that's how you like it, but don't fail to learn to be self sufficient.
Hope you heal swiftly and you do NOT develop a good relationship with your orthopedic surgeon