Most interesting Norton Commandos I've ever seen...

Maybe he couldn't decide whether he wanted a show bike or a rat bike, and there are many rat bikes that are reliable riders and prob clock up more miles than a good looking bike, like my old Norton its no show pony and is showing its age, dents in the tank as well chips, frame has paint worn, has rust stains on the barrels, but it's a good reliable runner with lots of road miles on it and I like the way it is and it has had a lot of good upgrade on it in the last 20 years and only gets a good clean and polish once a year on the day I brought it new, my bike is showing its age because it was an everyday rider most of its life, but it's well maintained and a great runner.
Who care what others think, the owner sure like it and rides it, that is all that matters, bit of a art piece me thinks, the good and the bad, we are all different and look at things differently.

Ashley
 
The only road-going Commando which I would own, would need to be nut and bolt perfect - as it left the show-room floor. Many years ago, I was offered a 500cc 1961 Model Manx Norton for $1300, and did not buy it for a similar reason. I could not do it justice. Every Manx Norton in Australia, and probably Commandos have obvious modifications. It is like painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa. I do not like Velocettes, but I once saw a nut and bolt perfect 500cc Clubmans in the parking area at a race meeting - it was to die for. The Manx I mentioned was bought and restored by millionaire
 
Problem is once you buff out a bike you cannot really ride it much and enjoy it. It might get dirty or even scratched. After all the work to get to show bike level it will only be useful as that.
 
OR, you can take the view it's for riding and you've set it off on the next 50 years of it's journey.

I stripped my CB750K6 down to bare frame nearly 4 years ago. Got it as perfect as I could. Now I ride it. Quite hard. It's mine, for me to enjoy, is my thinking and all the dirt and scratches are part of the game. Someone else's problem in 2070. That said, it's holding up very well, still looks nice.
 
Talked to a guy yesterday eve at a pub who was there when the owner saddled up/rode off and he said the bike started right up (I noticed the Alton E-start on the bike), idled smoothly, no smoke, and sounded great accelerating away. I thought maybe it had been brought to the rally in a van as a display piece but he said it's been seen riding all over the isle and from conversations with others, was told the owner actually rode it to Liverpool from the Netherlands, ferried across to the IOM. :)
 
Fair play to the man...
Must admit I no longer take the attitude that we have a 'duty of care' to preserve these vehicles 'as built' for future generations..... There's museums for that...
Not knocking the 'preservationists/rivet counters' (I got pretty 'anal' over P11 parts), but once your name's on the title/V5 it's your bike, so enjoy as you will. I appreciate a running wreck being used (Sunbeam S8 in the local car park last week, one rim rusty, one painted, technicolour frame) way more than a bubble wrapped trailer queen, but fair play/respect/kudos to the effort required to achieve either..
Call me a cynic, but I'm guessing we might be one of the last generations allowed to ride these dinosaurs, so hats off to those who do...
 
A few years ago i saw an RD400 Yamaha that had a similar style. The RD400s came in yellow, red, blue and white and this owner had very cleverly incorporated all the colours by having a painted on zipper down the middle (half unzipped on the tail piece and tank) and the other colours appearing underneath. Looked stunning and very eye catching. wish i had taken a photo
 
Maybe I should do something similar with my '76 Honda CB400F. Mine is red but I also like them in blue (Yellow was also available). I often think about finding a blue one to have one of each but based on the subject Norton, painting my 400F half blue could save me buying/restoring another motorcycle!!! :)
 
MexicoMike said:
Maybe I should do something similar with my '76 Honda CB400F. Mine is red but I also like them in blue (Yellow was also available). I often think about finding a blue one to have one of each but based on the subject Norton, painting my 400F half blue could save me buying/restoring another motorcycle!!! :)
Click to expand...
Or get blue tank and side covers. Yamiya: https://yamiya750.com/en/products/t...VTWe86p_rxIBTbBDey5F5hRGbMeyETSAY4OXaclO0OmmM

I have an Interstate tank and seat. Swap takes 1/2 an hour, plus time to wash the rust preventing oil from the tank. Gives me a longer distance option when out all day with mates. Prefer the Roadster look for my personal pleasure. 2 bikes in one!
 
Life is too short to try to please everyone else. At least this guy isn't making any bullshit claims like some of the norton guys I've known or certain norton guys that I read about over the years. He's letting people decide if they like the "patina" look or the restored look all in one bike.
 
Onder said:
Problem is once you buff out a bike you cannot really ride it much and enjoy it. It might get dirty or even scratched. After all the work to get to show bike level it will only be useful as that.
Click to expand...
The only bike I've ever built that fit that description is the Dreer monoshock prototype in my avatar. It is far too valuable to risk the slightest damage. It is my backstop if I ever go broke.
 
Look it over some more Boyz, I thought that brake pedal on the left looked a little Funky...
 
It's a trash and treasure combo.

I doubt the engine has been maintained all that well unless the person that did that sprayed on rust, dirt, and faded paint. I was trying to see if the chain was well lubed, but couldn't make it out. Could be it gets trailered to events for grins.
 
MexicoMike said:
Talked to a guy yesterday eve at a pub who was there when the owner saddled up/rode off and he said the bike started right up (I noticed the Alton E-start on the bike), idled smoothly, no smoke, and sounded great accelerating away. I thought maybe it had been brought to the rally in a van as a display piece but he said it's been seen riding all over the isle and from conversations with others, was told the owner actually rode it to Liverpool from the Netherlands, ferried across to the IOM. :)
Click to expand...
Schwany said:
It's a trash and treasure combo.

I doubt the engine has been maintained all that well unless the person that did that sprayed on rust, dirt, and faded paint. I was trying to see if the chain was well lubed, but couldn't make it out. Could be it gets trailered to events for grins.
Click to expand...
 

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