I Always Wanted One to What Is That. . .

Big_Jim59

Big_Jim59

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Sep 13, 2010
Messages
581
Country flag
I have a couple of friends that are Motor Cops. My guess is that they are in their mid 40s so they are not young but not terribly old ether. I had lunch with them yesterday and I rode my '74 Commando. After lunch they had a good look at it and one remarked "It shifts on the right side!" "Not only that but you shift down to select the next higher gear." They were amazed. Kick start only was another interesting feature to them. Fortunately it banged off on the first kick. One of them noticed the red VIN ID tag right away. He just shrugged and said it was a occupational hazard to notice shiny red things.

The day before, I was getting gas and a kid that looked like he was twelve years old rolled up and one the the new Harley "Sportsters." He looked at my Norton and said "WOW what's that. It's looks cool and retro but I have never seen one." He took a picture to show his dad. I believe that we are passing out of and age where everyone that like motorcycles knew what a Norton was into a new age where no one knows what it is with the exception of Keanu Reeves. It's happening in other areas too. As amazing as it is to me there are young people who do not know who the Beatles were.
 
Old clean Nortons have a lot of curb appeal. Candy Apple Red Nortons pre-VIN ID tag are especially attractive. lol

I used to go to car shows with my '65 El Camino before the Covid crap. Only time I ever got trophies was when I had my Norton in the truck bed. That is saying something for the power of Norton curb appeal.

Once in a while a 30's something will roll down a window at a stop and tell me they really like the look of my P11 which is not as recognizable as a Commando. Unfortunately, my P11 barks if I turn the throttle very far and scares the heck out of women and children. Then I get the evil eye. Have also had the "What is that?" comments several times.

Some young guys are not impressed at all though. They say things like "Why don't you get something newer?" I say I'm done buying motorcycles and this one keeps me entertained and does what I need it to do.
 
Yep - with Norton emblazoned on the tank - cast into the timing cover and a few other spots I get “ what is that ? “ or worse yet
“ is that a Triumph “ …
 
For my sins, I have a DeLorean. I am quite often asked "Is it real?". I am never quite sure how to answer! But I am also conscious on not being "Oh yeah, that dick with the DeLorean" so I always try to be accommodating and chatty. Sit in have a photo etc. Most often tho, is "What's it worth?". Once I responded, (not in my local area) and immediately regretted " Wait, Is that your daughter? How old is she?".
 
AndyDMC said:
For my sins, I have a DeLorean. I am quite often asked "Is it real?". I am never quite sure how to answer! But I am also conscious on not being "Oh yeah, that dick with the DeLorean" so I always try to be accommodating and chatty. Sit in have a photo etc. Most often tho, is "What's it worth?". Once I responded, (not in my local area) and immediately regretted " Wait, Is that your daughter? How old is she?".
Click to expand...
Triumph is probably the first thing that comes to the mind of a lot of people with limited exposure to motorcycles.
 
I live in a very sparsely populated area of New York State. I often take long rural rides, stopping at isolated watering holes in the Adirondacks. With me, it's quite the opposite of the subject of this thread. I often have guys come in and ask. "Who's riding the Norton". The other thing that often happens is that after I put on my leather jacket, a small crowd will
follow me out after seeing the bike in the lot. Trixie almost always starts on the first kick too.
 
Last edited:
AndyDMC said:
For my sins, I have a DeLorean. I am quite often asked "Is it real?". I am never quite sure how to answer! But I am also conscious on not being "Oh yeah, that dick with the DeLorean" so I always try to be accommodating and chatty. Sit in have a photo etc. Most often tho, is "What's it worth?". Once I responded, (not in my local area) and immediately regretted " Wait, Is that your daughter? How old is she?".
Click to expand...

Very cool. Do you exhibit it at the Three Cocks Steam Rally? I saw one there last year.

I got the "retro" comment when out on my bike, I had to reply that its not "retro", it is the real thing...
 
Big_Jim59 said:
It's looks cool and retro
Click to expand...
image_processing20191008-31394-1s1q0o.jpg
 
I do not ride motorcycles on public roads, but a while back I contemplated buying a Commando. - 'Some things are so bad that they are good. I am currently bringing-up 3 young girls - they are my step-grand children - they love motorcycles. I would really like to find a 1929 4 litre Bentley somewhere and pay the owner to take us for a ride at speeds near the highest limit on the freeway. Norton Commandos are a similar type of thing. Many people probably do not appreciate what the Commando really is - IT IS THE ULTIMATE IN OLD SHIT !
 
acotrel said:
I do not ride motorcycles on public roads, but a while back I contemplated buying a Commando. - 'Some things are so bad that they are good. I am currently bringing-up 3 young girls - they are my step-grand children - they love motorcycles. I would really like to find a 1929 4 litre Bentley somewhere and pay the owner to take us for a ride at speeds near the highest limit on the freeway. Norton Commandos are a similar type of thing. Many people probably do not appreciate what the Commando really is - IT IS THE ULTIMATE IN OLD SHIT !
Click to expand...
I've heard " Really neat old Junk . " . But mostly It's stuff like " My first bike was a bla bla bla , let me tell you all about it . :rolleyes: " . Usually whilst I'm actively working on the bike on the street . The distraction level is always proportional to my urgency level to fix , then ride again .
 
When I had my old 750 I had a guy at a service station ask "what's that?" I answered "Norton." He asked "does Harley make that?" Because you know in my neck of the woods the only motorcycle you have ever heard of is a Harley-Davidson!
 
Torontonian said:
I've heard " Really neat old Junk . " . But mostly It's stuff like " My first bike was a bla bla bla , let me tell you all about it . :rolleyes: " . Usually whilst I'm actively working on the bike on the street . The distraction level is always proportional to my urgency level to fix , then ride again .
Click to expand...
Exactly my bugbear !

I‘ll talk about my bike, and RELATED topics with anyone. But those who just see you as someone to talk at, to tell you about their old Bantam or Ford Prefect, or whatever, are tiresome.

The best one I saw was when I was out with my Dad, both of us on very nice Triumphs. I saw this bloke coming towards us so I walked off, but my Dad got caught and this bloke spent 20 minutes telling my Dad about the Triumph he NEARLY BOUGHT about 40 years ago.

20 minutes talking about something he never even had / did…

My Dad is WAY too polite !!

But it did leave a serious thought with me. This bloke is still talking to people about the thing he didn’t do 40 years ago. It must have meant a lot to him if he’s still talking about it 40 years later.

That’s sad. He wasted / lost 40 years. It reminded me that life is short. We should appreciate and enjoy what we have.
 
Last edited:
robs ss said:
Bet he didn't even know there were spiders on Mars!!
Click to expand...
David Bowie was a talented guy and apparently a shrewd investor as well but sadly he will always be soured to me because my college roommate played the grooves off the Ziggy Stardust LP .
” so where were the spiders “ over and over again ad infinitum…
I Always Wanted One to What Is That. . .

proof that we really were there in the seventies . Lost my roomie last year to Bulbar’s Palsy/ ALS . RIP Butch.
 
Richard Tool said:
David Bowie was a talented guy and apparently a shrewd investor as well but sadly he will always be soured to me because my college roommate played the grooves off the Ziggy Stardust LP .
” so where were the spiders “ over and over again ad infinitum…
Click to expand...
His band was called "Spiders from Mars" too 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top