ashman
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 2010
- Messages
- 6,940
Well my Norton just turned 50 years in my hands, brand new 74 850 Commando brought new (old stock) on 21st June 1976, I was 17 years old, 9 stone nothing with chicken legs, didn't tell anyone I was buying it and just got my mates to drive up to Morgan & Wackers in Brisbane on Saturday morning to get it, we pulled up out front of the dealership and there it was just sitting inside the front door waiting for me, I jumped out of the car as mt mate had to find a parking spot as Saturday mornings is very busy at the shop, its a Harley, Triumph, Norton and BMW dealership.
By the time my mates found a park I had already went through the what you do to fire it up with the salesman and as my mates were walking in the door I had my helmet on and gave the Norton my first kick, everyone at the parts counter were watching in amazement this skinny lad kicking his new Commando over, my mates jaws were dropped, the Norton fired up first kick and before my mate, salesman could say anything I had it in gear and out the front door and down the road.
What a experience as I was used to left foot gear change and not right foot so nearly had a tangle with a bus, which woke me up to the left foot right foot gear change took me about 2 weeks training the brain of the right side, before the Norton only had Honda dirt bikes so first British bike.
Well yesterday I spent the day up in the shed looking at my old Norton with a few beers while doing other stuff in the shed, I was going to have mates over who grew up with me and my Norton but with all the rehab I be going too I didn't have time to arrange it so having the mates over next weekend, the beer fridge is full except for the beers I drank lol and a bottle of Bundy rum for a few rum/beer chasers.
The Norton has gone through a lot of changes while in my hands the major one was the conversion to the Featherbed frame in 1980, using as much of the Commando parts I could use, I was out of a job when I started the conversion so money was tight, but I built the motor for the Featherbed frame with 2S cam, crank balance, head shaved and ported and oversize rebore with Hepilite pistons, Akront alloy wheels laced to the Commando hubs with new Amal carbs, open flowing exhaust system that was made for my motor and frame, but already had the Koni shocks on the rear, took me a few weeks to learn how the Featherbed frame and hot motor worked together so took it easy for awhile, after getting used to it I started to push it harder into the corners using the torque of the motor with the frame, what a great handling Norton I had built, lightweight, very quick and a light rider, was just like I was riding on rails it handled so well.
Well in that 50 years of ownership it has had many great upgrades when I had spare money, it's been a very reliable bike and has never let me down except for a 2 broken chains and 2 EI failures, not bad for 50 years of riding it, it was a everyday rider right up to 2013 but was ridden regularly since then till my accident 6 months ago, but I be back on it soon, I just wish I could have taken it out yesterday, learning to walk at the moment is number one thing going on with my life but the major upgrade for the CNW ES kit and other work need to fit a bigger battery so a few change needed but I be starting on that very soon.
My Norton is showing its age now after 50 years but I like it the way it is, its aged just like me and will be with me till I leave this world, but not before I am 105 years old.
Ashley
By the time my mates found a park I had already went through the what you do to fire it up with the salesman and as my mates were walking in the door I had my helmet on and gave the Norton my first kick, everyone at the parts counter were watching in amazement this skinny lad kicking his new Commando over, my mates jaws were dropped, the Norton fired up first kick and before my mate, salesman could say anything I had it in gear and out the front door and down the road.
What a experience as I was used to left foot gear change and not right foot so nearly had a tangle with a bus, which woke me up to the left foot right foot gear change took me about 2 weeks training the brain of the right side, before the Norton only had Honda dirt bikes so first British bike.
Well yesterday I spent the day up in the shed looking at my old Norton with a few beers while doing other stuff in the shed, I was going to have mates over who grew up with me and my Norton but with all the rehab I be going too I didn't have time to arrange it so having the mates over next weekend, the beer fridge is full except for the beers I drank lol and a bottle of Bundy rum for a few rum/beer chasers.
The Norton has gone through a lot of changes while in my hands the major one was the conversion to the Featherbed frame in 1980, using as much of the Commando parts I could use, I was out of a job when I started the conversion so money was tight, but I built the motor for the Featherbed frame with 2S cam, crank balance, head shaved and ported and oversize rebore with Hepilite pistons, Akront alloy wheels laced to the Commando hubs with new Amal carbs, open flowing exhaust system that was made for my motor and frame, but already had the Koni shocks on the rear, took me a few weeks to learn how the Featherbed frame and hot motor worked together so took it easy for awhile, after getting used to it I started to push it harder into the corners using the torque of the motor with the frame, what a great handling Norton I had built, lightweight, very quick and a light rider, was just like I was riding on rails it handled so well.
Well in that 50 years of ownership it has had many great upgrades when I had spare money, it's been a very reliable bike and has never let me down except for a 2 broken chains and 2 EI failures, not bad for 50 years of riding it, it was a everyday rider right up to 2013 but was ridden regularly since then till my accident 6 months ago, but I be back on it soon, I just wish I could have taken it out yesterday, learning to walk at the moment is number one thing going on with my life but the major upgrade for the CNW ES kit and other work need to fit a bigger battery so a few change needed but I be starting on that very soon.
My Norton is showing its age now after 50 years but I like it the way it is, its aged just like me and will be with me till I leave this world, but not before I am 105 years old.
Ashley
