How does a Norton compare?

How does driving a Norton compare to driving a newer motorcycle like the reissued Triumph Bonnevilles? I am assuming brakes would be substantially better on a newer Bonny. What other things would you notice if you were to drive both back to back?

Suspension will be better, fuel consumption, power delivery, tyre choice, less maintenance, etc etc

But also less fun to ride I say, I ride a Norton 850MK2a and also a Triumph Sprint.

Sammyman,
I have a 2008 Triumph Bonnie T-100 and a 1972 Commando.
Even though i just got the Commando, I'm impressed with at least the bikes power.
Of course it doesn't seem to handle as well,..... yet.
My bonnie has the airbox removed, a rejet and straight thru NH silencers.
So its pretty quick too.
But the Norton just might take her off the line?
Top end, I just haven't been there yet with the Commando.
Tires, shocks, and a possible steering damper are in the works for the '72.
She's a WIP. That should improve the handleing.
Time will tell.
I would never give up the Bonne, its a great bike.
Now that I have completed the Triumvarate (BSA, Triumph, Norton) I'm pretty much smitten with all of em.
J dog

"Only , after every trip , all they have to do is clean the bike .
I usuallly come back with a "things to do " list .."

It's encouraging to hear folks with experience say that these old bikes are still quite capable in the modern world. I heard a good quote from Art Bone a few days ago when we were walking through town here in San Miguel and ended up talking about comparing the Commando with the original 750 Honda. I was pointing out that back in the day my '71 Commando would outrun and out handle several friends' new 750 Honda's. However, I also noted that if I had to pick either the Commando or the Honda to run at 100MPH all day, I'd have picked the Honda. Art agreed with all that and commented that the Commando had the power/weight and handling but that it came with a "short fuse." It's the short fuse part that means after a ride there is often something that needs a bit of attention.

Re the brakes/current bikes - the Brembo master cylinder (bought mine from CNW) and some sticky pads on the oem Lockheed disc brake provides sufficient braking to lock the front wheel from any speed with excellent feel and modulation. The sleeved oem master cylinder is a big improvement over stock but the Brembo is dramatically better and provides all the braking power that the bike can utilize with the largest tire that can fit within the stock forks. With the brembo/good pads, the tire determines the stopping distance, as it should.

I have been riding all my life. From a homemade mini bike when I was in the single digits to Ducati 750ss. From a Yamaha RD350, Yamaha 850 Special to a 850 Norton MarkIIa in the early 80’s. Life’s troubles caught up with me until 1999 when I was on my feet again.
No other bike stuck out in my mind like the red, white and blue Mark IIa. And the feeling I got when I road it. I couldn’t find another Norton like it at the time so I settled for a new Ducati 750ss. This was a great bike and a pleasure to ride but there was a hole in my heart left from having to give up the Norton back in 85. I knew I would never be happy until I was strapped across a Norton again.

I sold the Duc and started a search in earnest. After traveling to NC to be disappointed by a misrepresented Mark IIa listed on Craig’s list, I went to Ebay and saw a 72 not far from home. The bike was beautiful but the man was no mechanic and let it go in that respect.
Well, I have it now and the feeling is back.

To me, to ride a Norton is to be one with a machine. The feeling of a controlled detonation between your legs combined with the smoothness and control of the properly adjusted frame will bring a smile not only to your face but will be forever imbedded in your heart.

That’s just the way I feel about!

My friend let me ride his modern water cooled Truimph 900cc.
I was nice and smooth like a modern bike but no personality.
When I get onto my 72 combat it takes me back to an era gone by.
I hear 70's songs and I picture my first crush the Winston Cigarette girl.
Hendrix,Joplin,CSN&Y, you get it.
And I'll admit it the Carpenters on a long and winding road.
Don't tell any one about the last one please
Like stated it does different things to each of us.
I get allotta looks from all ages on a canary yellow combat.
Kids marvel at the color and the fact they never saw one.
Old guys have a Norton story to share.
Middle aged guys sneer because their wife won't let them have one.
They'll have to stick to their BMW x-5 w/ the dual car seats in the back.
It's good to be me on a Norton
Marshal

ludwig said:

I usuallly come back with a "things to do " list ..

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That's the way I feel when I wake up, but surely it doesn't have anything to do with getting older doesn't it :?:

Jean

Night and day.

Although I trust my '75 Interstate to go pretty much anywhere I want at 80, and it's got electric start and discs front & rear, it simply cannot be compared to a thoroughly modern DOHC bike.

Yes, it handles nice in the twisty stuff, and stretches your arms when you twist the grip, it will not stay alive at 100 MPH for more than a few minutes at a time, whereas the Bonnie can run at 100 flat till it runs out of gas, 200 tankfulls in a row, with nothing more than an oil change and a bit of chain adjustment afterwards.

Riding all morning on the Bonnie won't get you worn out, where jumping on the Norton and riding the afternoon will have you relatively used up (if you are an old git like me). It's a relatively heavy bike in stock trim.

If you have a pre-Mark III, the kicking routine is something to come to terms with. If everything is set up properly, it's no big deal; however, if you've got adjustment issues, it'll tire you out over time.

Jean,
getting older has nothing to do with it , were just stuck in the 70's.
Grandpaul, the reason you get tired on a Norton is they were
designed to appeal to a 20-30 something guy.
Theres just a 20 y/o guy stuck in a 50 something body in all of us.
When I can't kick any more I'll get a R90s.
That will be the next phase of aging.
And after that a motorized wheel chair w/ wheelie bars :mrgreen:
Marshal

MarshalNorton said:

Hendrix,Joplin,CSN&Y, you get it.
And I'll admit it the Carpenters on a long and winding road.
It's good to be me on a Norton
Marshal

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Don't forget the Eagles! "I wanna sleep with you in the desert tonight with a billion stars all around..." at the top of my lungs while blasting through Eastern Oregon's high desert on some of the best bike roads ever built. Rolling hills, long sweeping turns and the smell of sweet onions when you approach the river, ah...heaven.

We're not stuck in the 70's, but like Pigpen from Charlie Brown, a bunch of the world stuck to us on our way through. I loved working on my bike back then and I do now, if I didn't like that part I would own a different bike.

Russ

You have to drive a commando. New bikes seem to almost drive themselves if that makes any sense.

Rewind: July 2009 in the Rockies, We were at the Colorado Norton Rally. The days trip was a ride up and over the mountains and back with four passes, Three of which were over 10,000 ft. one close to 11,000 (correct me if I am wrong guys) I had the Warden in tow and was wondering how the MKIII would do. Well not only did it never miss a beat but we went through the worst rain storm that turned into hail at the top of one of the passes. I think this trip was about 230 some miles (again check me) And outside of getting soaking wet (only t-shirt and a hoodie on) It was the most fun I have had on my Norton, On any bike for that matter. These bikes when sorted are as good as any, Just remember that their 35+ years old now. It didn't even seem to make a difference how high we went it still had some great torque with both of us on. Oh and Ludwig how much time do you spend riding in that kind of weather? Burrrrrrrr!!!! That looks cold. P.S. Some say don't ride them further that you can push them home, I say then you have some work to do Pal, They are GREAT bikes. That's all i have to say about this, LOL LOL.

How does a an "old" Norton compare to modern bike?

I have a new Honda ST1300, powerful, liquid cooled V4 smoothness, will inhale asphalt all day.

BUT, my old Norton is more "handsome".

I can go out in the garage, and my eyes are drawn to the Commando, first and always.

It has the most beautiful timing cover in motorcycling. It has the most famous name in road racing on its tank.

And, other than making my own clutch cables, I can take everything apart, and know how it all goes back together.

Quality garage time. Gives meaning to my dwindling life.

I had a Commando as a 17 year old, traded it for a Mk1 Guzzi Le Mans, got the racing bug and went racing (Jap stuff) after 18 months of no road bike enough was enough I had to buy another Commando, that was 1982 and I've still got it now. They won't as Grandpaul says cruise at 100 all day but they will at 80 and be reliable, sure there are "unplanned" maintenance stops but that can be some of the fun. I've owned loads of bikes (and still do) but if I had to choose one then it would be the Norton, I've travelled to 26 countries on it (relatively easy in Europe) and its part of my soul!

I own both a 2004 Triumph Thruxton and my 71 Commando. Both have clip-ons, rearsets, airbox deletes, and ride much the same. The Norton has taken some sorting out since I bought it (its almost 40 years old after all), but since then is very reliable and by far I find it more enjoyable. There is a virtue to the simpler systems that cannot be beat. Sure you have to fiddle with the Norton bit, but I bet will will still be running for another 40 years if maintained properly which you cannot say about the newer bikes, even the Triumphs. Power wise between the Thruxton and the Commando, they feel very similar. Handleing is much the same for both machines. I love the looks of the Thruxton, but in no way can it compare to the Norton in shear timeless beauty. There is something simple and clean to the design that I love. As far as gas mileage I get about 30-35 mpg on the Thruxton and 35-40 on the Norton, and my Norton has a larger 5 gallon tank.

The other major appealing thing about the Norton, is that it is very easy to work on. My personal opinion is that I like my Thuxton, but I love my old Snortin Norton.

P.S. Another quick note. I have a friend that always gives me hell about having an old bike and that i should get another new one. He was not laughing so much when his fuel pumped died on his yamaha. Good old gravity does not fail often. :wink:

pvisseriii said:

... was a great bike and a pleasure to ride but there was a hole in my heart left from having to give up the Norton...

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Yup, well said.

MarshalNorton said:

Jean,
getting older has nothing to do with it , were just stuck in the 70's.
Grandpaul, the reason you get tired on a Norton is they were
designed to appeal to a 20-30 something guy.
Theres just a 20 y/o guy stuck in a 50 something body in all of us.
When I can't kick any more I'll get a R90s.
That will be the next phase of aging.
And after that a motorized wheel chair w/ wheelie bars :mrgreen:
Marshal

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Interesting discussion about kickstarting. Luckily my Commando starts first or second kick if I remember to set the choke right. However, I also have a set of those battery powered starter rollers from Doc Z. I bought them for my Manx, but my plan is to use them to start the Commando when I get too old to kick her over. When my wife and I saw the World's Fastest Indian the first time and 'Burt' used his rollers to crank his bike at sunup my wife said "damn, that's you when you get old." At least it will work for rides that have no intermediate stop! Personally, I'd never trade my Commando for a modern bike. I might have one as an alternative though (and do).

When I first got my Commando, it was a rolling basket case with completely worn out isolastics. The bike was so decrepit that I didn't dare ride it over 20 or so. I have to say that I was thoroughly surprised at how much I like this bike once I got it sorted out. The first time I rode it at 70 mph was a revelation.

I ride with friends, many of whom have modern bikes. We sometimes swap bikes for a short stint, the modern stuff goes fast without any effort and it is easy to be doing 100MPH without realising it - this speed on a Commando feels like you are on the Bonneville salt-flats and rattles the filling out of your teeth. The new bikes go faster, brake better, handle better and require less maintainance, but the other guys all want to swap rides with me on the Commando and some have been lured over to 'the dark side'. As society restricts us more and more to low speed limits and stringent rules, my old Commando is capable of breaking the speed limit by two times on most roads here in Hong Kong and I can easily keep up with the pack under real road conditions, I get better gas mileage than most of the new stuff, my parts are often 10% of the cost of modern bikes, I get cheap classic insurance and I don't have to pay the agent to service my bike. As Highdesert eloquently put it "our bikes are handsome" even if we no longer are!

I have a 2008 Triumph Bonny T100 and MK 11 and MK111 Commando's and really there is not much to compare. The Triumph has far superior brakes, handling, power, acceleration and even fuel consuption(50+mpg) The engine is also much smoother than the Norton and requires no real maintenance between services but is is also rather bland. The Norton is a totally different experience, it requires a lot more attention but has loads of character, I enjoy every ride
for different reasons to modern bikes it requires a more relaxed style of riding. I would not sell my Nortons as they are special where with a modern bike I can just go out and replace it from the showroom and don't get too attached.

P.S. Another quick note. I have a friend that always gives me hell about having an old bike and that i should get another new one. He was not laughing so much when his fuel pumped died on his yamaha. Good old gravity does not fail often.

I had a new Triumph (Sprint) and it went like stink but I would end up in 3rd gear beind a row of traffic on the roads around my place. I rode a new Bonneville and found it underwhelming compared to all the sensations of the Norton.

My son's dragstar conked out recently, an hour later i had the tank and instruments off it and it was the inlet manifold and the fuel pump, what a load of grief....

My son wants a Norton or a Bonnie (an old one) when he passes his test.