My Steps to Apparent Ownership

I know there are the 12 steps to overcoming addiction, but I seem to be headed in the opposite direction with so far 8 steps to owning a Commando.

1. Start pining a bit for “back in the day” bikes.
2. Remember how stunning the Commando looked.
3. Casually browse BaT and other classified ads “just for the fun of it”.
4. Start justifying owning a Commando even though there are 4 other bikes in your garage.
5. Seriously browse BaT and other classified ads.
6. Declare that it is providence that the exact bike you are looking for (1974) is only 100 miles away when all other bikes are more than a thousand miles away.
7. Convince the wife that you really, really need this bike because you, well, um, ah… you just really, really need it.
8. Put yourself in harms way by “just going to look at it” while you have the purchase price in cash in your pocket.

Well, I’ll complete Step 8 and on Sunday.

Weakness can be a good thing …

And don't come on here expecting the Ne'er-do-wells to talk you down from the ledge...they completely failed when I was about to step off....

Was going to sell the 2010 Monster to help defray the costs, but when I woke up this morning that sounded like sacrilege.

MJD999 said:

I know there are the 12 steps to overcoming addiction, but I seem to be headed in the opposite direction with so far 8 steps to owning a Commando.

1. Start pining a bit for “back in the day” bikes.
2. Remember how stunning the Commando looked.
3. Casually browse BaT and other classified ads “just for the fun of it”.
4. Start justifying owning a Commando even though there are 4 other bikes in your garage.
5. Seriously browse BaT and other classified ads.
6. Declare that it is providence that the exact bike you are looking for (1974) is only 100 miles away when all other bikes are more than a thousand miles away.
7. Convince the wife that you really, really need this bike because you, well, um, ah… you just really, really need it.
8. Put yourself in harms way by “just going to look at it” while you have the purchase price in cash in your pocket.

Well, I’ll complete Step 8 and on Sunday.

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Talk them down - BaT is almost always way over priced!

Agreed on the BaT. Seems to me that it is not often that an auction winner gets a good deal. Found this bike in regular classifieds.

Choose one that's "well sorted" then begin sorting it!

There is NO known cure for this addiction.
Only Therapy.
Which consists of obtaining another M/C.....

Cheers..........

Edfury828 said:

Choose one that's "well sorted" then begin sorting it!

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Yes! I'm already window shopping!

MichaelB said:

There is NO known cure for this addiction.
Only Therapy.
Which consists of obtaining another M/C.....

Cheers..........

Click to expand...

Where do I go for this therapy or better yet to stop the therapy? Since I started keeping a spreadsheet of my projects, I've completed 43 and have 34 more to go - mostly bike builds. With the fact that I've been in the hospital four times since Oct 24, not sure I have time to finish, and I don't have a wife to nag me into stopping.

I been lucky just stuck with my Norton from new and built it the way I wanted it early after 49 years I had a few other British bikes but the Norton has been the best, but I did acquirer a project Norton in boxes so it will be on the cards soon, and I have my 2016 Thruxton, I been downsizing my collection so 2 road going bikes one old, one newer as well still have my dirt bike, so that's enough for me can only ride one bike at the time, to many bikes and some just get neglected.
I done a few Norton rebuilds for mates and friends of mates but I now stop working on others as too much troubles waiting for the owners to get parts and having their bikes taking up room in my shed while waiting for them to pull their fingers out, so now just do my own, but my Norton has been too reliable and very hardly need any major work and the Thruxton is just oil change reliable.
The 1960 Manxman project is just to keep me busy in retirement, was building it for my younger daughter but that changed she has her Triumph triple and hot Japanese's drift car to play with and now training to become a copper so the Manxman got put on hold till I pull my finger out and get into it, being built as a caferacer.

Contact your local Norton club. Many nice, well cared for bikes and aging owners with multiples.

batrider said:

Contact your local Norton club. Many nice, well cared for bikes and aging owners with multiples.

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Now, that is some good advice...

marshg246 said:

Where do I go for this therapy or better yet to stop the therapy? Since I started keeping a spreadsheet of my projects, I've completed 43 and have 34 more to go - mostly bike builds. With the fact that I've been in the hospital four times since Oct 24, not sure I have time to finish, and I don't have a wife to nag me into stopping.

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Not sure what to say Greg. I had a couple fo smart apple comments to make, decided to leave them out.
I do know that myself and many others here hope you live a long time..

Cheers....

Go to a British BIke Gathering/ Swap Meet and look at all the bikes with prices on them and few sales, so you have your pick of the litter. Find a good one and arrange to go see the bike in a few days to take a test ride.

If you can afford it , just do it. If you aren't mechanically inclined, make friends with someone who is or save regularly to pay for a mechanic. who knows Nortons.

Dedubyah said:

If you can afford it , just do it. If you aren't mechanically inclined, make friends with someone who is or save regularly to pay for a mechanic. who knows Nortons.

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Yeah that's where I am at. Looking forward to Sunday.

MJD999 said:

Yeah that's where I am at. Looking forward to Sunday.View attachment 121426

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Nice.........

I believe that is a late 1974 MK2a, It most likely will have the defective Lay shaft bearing in it. Plan on at least $500.00 to replace it along with a full mechanical inspection. Good luck finding a good mechanic.

MJD999 said:

MJD999 said:

I know there are the 12 steps to overcoming addiction, but I seem to be headed in the opposite direction with so far 8 steps to owning a Commando.

1. Start pining a bit for “back in the day” bikes.
2. Remember how stunning the Commando looked.
3. Casually browse BaT and other classified ads “just for the fun of it”.
4. Start justifying owning a Commando even though there are 4 other bikes in your garage.
5. Seriously browse BaT and other classified ads.
6. Declare that it is providence that the exact bike you are looking for (1974) is only 100 miles away when all other bikes are more than a thousand miles away.
7. Convince the wife that you really, really need this bike because you, well, um, ah… you just really, really need it.
8. Put yourself in harms way by “just going to look at it” while you have the purchase price in cash in your pocket.

Well, I’ll complete Step 8 and on Sunday.

Click to expand...

Yeah that's where I am at. Looking forward to Sunday.

Click to expand...

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