Newbie Bike Purchase Questions...

Hi Everyone

Sorry in advance as this is my first post.

I have saved up enough money to buy my first classic bike and I want to by one that I can keep indefinitely. I had a Norton Commando 850 lined up as my dream bike but having spoken to a bike mechanic began to be put off by the idea. He had said that the Norton is horribly unreliable and things are always going wrong. He also said the the isoelastics are a nightmare and cause the bike to either handle awfully or shake you to death. I am still desperate to buy a vintage bike but know very little about motorbikes in general. I was hoping that those of you who have experience with them could advise me about which one to get (year, what to look out for, changes I could make to improve reliability and handling ect...). Or indeed if i should get one at all!

I intend to use the bike for weekend trips and hopefully longer trips in the summer for a number of weeks in the U.K

Thanks in advance

Alex

I'd stay away from that "mechanic". I seriously doubt his expertise.

The Commando won MCN's best bike of the year at least four years running, held the standing 1/4 mile for prody bikes for 15 years (I think), you'll see plenty of high milage examples and a hell of a lot in daily use.

Well! he aint much of a mechanic that's all I can say.

True they have problems but nothing insurmountable and this forum will help you though all that. Take someone with you who knows Commandos and you'll end up with an addictive joy of a motor cycle.

Best of luck,
Cash

Don't rush into anything. And I wouldn't base the decision on one man's opinion (who doesn't know what he's talking about). Find the local branch of the Norton Owner's Club. Meet some of the locals. Look at their bikes and talk to them about their experiences. You just need to immerse yourself in the Norton culture a bit and get a feel for what you are getting into. Are you handy and have tools and a place to work? Any classic bike will be more maintenance intensive than a modern bike.

Everybody here started as a Norton newbie so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Russ

Alex,

A classic bike, any classic bike, is not a gas and go item. They require a fair amount of attention. Most Norton aficionados do a fair amount of upgrading to the stock model. In it's day, the Norton was cock-of-the-walk. It's still a pretty fair performer . It will put a lot of chromed up Harleys to shame.

Any bike of this era will only be as good as its last owner :wink:
Whereabouts are you?

If you've never owned an old Brit before I'd say a Commando is as good a bike as any to start with - this forum will provide all the answers you'll ever need; all the bits are still available, and the Commando will keep up with anything at unfaired bike speeds.

I'm with the rest of the guys regarding your mechanic friend's advice - however, if you're uncomfortable using spanners he may have a point...dealer serviced Commandos aren't that common in the UK these days. You'll notice that a lot of the guys here have 'everyday' bikes in the garage as well as their Commandos.

In my experience, these bikes are not inherently unreliable, but some knowledge and judgement is required when surveying a potential purchase. Are you after a ready-to-go bike, or do you want a project?

If you don't want to get your hands dirty and tinker you may be better off with a more modern sport bike. Ninjas come to mind as a good example of reasonable price and performance.
If you want to ride a classic and learn motorcycle mechanics it is hard to beat a Norton. A lot of folks do trips on a Commando with little fear as they have well maintained mounts.
A Commando can be a good tour bike as it usually has a smooth speed where vibration is way down, parts are easy to come by but expensive.
I doubt your friend will be much help.

Many of the posters here have experience of plenty of older bikes and I'm sure that we can give impartial advice. Generally we're addicted to Commandos and find that they suit us.

I think that you need to have a clear idea of what you're going to use the bike for. When you say longish trips, do you mean a 100 mile round trip or two-up touring including motorways ?

I've just come back from Austria with a ten hour stint on the autobahn. I can't think of any other British motorcycle that I'd rather do that on. If you're looking for the sound and feel of a British machine then you have to weigh the Commando up against the competition.

Tridents are nice but potentially much more expensive to fix. Oil in frame Bonnevilles are nice and flickable but if you run one at 80 mph all day then I'd warrant that it will protest before the Commando does.

If you just want a big four stroke twin then perhaps a 1990s Ducati is the sort of thing to look for ?

Earlier British twins will lower your average speed (which may not be a problem for you). For simplicity and ease of servicing then a single cylinder is always going to be more economical.

There is no doubt that a well-wrung Commando is quite a highly stressed machine and if you have a badly put together one it can go bang. However, this is an exception and parts availability is very good.

Alex
You said "know very little about motorbikes in general"

I can tell you that unless you're a very good mechanic or have very deep pockets owning a Commando will be an extremely frustrating experience. Yes the Commando can be used for touring and yes they can be made reliable as well as good handling but to get one to that point takes one hell of a good mechanic or if buying one, big money to hand over to an ace restorer or one of the re manufacturers like Colorado Norton Works or if in the UK, Norvil. Just look at some of the posts on this forum to see the plethora of problems/quirks that members have encountered, most of whom have been motorcycle owners, mechanics and tinkerers all of their life. The good news is that if you do get a Commando (in my opinion the best of the British vertical twins) you will be joining a cadre of dedicated and helpful followers of the marque that will give you the moral and technical support to overcome all of the trials and tribulations you may encounter.
As said before, join the Norton Owners club in your area and meet other owners, familiarize yourself with the variations between years and models and if possible get someone to let you ride one. I understand there are companies in the UK that let you ride vintage bikes as part of their tours. Give it a try to see if you even like riding one of the "old ones". If you've never even ridden a motorcycle get a more current bike made by one of the Japanese brands, say 400cc or less even and ride it for at least 6 months before moving to a bigger bike. While you're riding the smaller bike you can research your next one be it a Norton or whatever. You may even decide that sometimes being wet, cold, hot or dirty isn't your cup of tea and stop right there. No shame in that I've seen lots of used Harleys with very low miles sold because the "idea of being a biker isn't the same as the reality of being a biker".
My experience with motorcycles goes back 50 years. Ive had Triumphs, Hondas, Yamahas, Bultacos and a Ducati, oh yeah and a Rumi, a Vespa and Lambretta scooter. For better or worse I've worked on them myself and I can honestly tell you the Commando is a deceptively complex motorcycle. The engineering subtleties that were needed to get a 30 year old design to compete with the likes of a 1969 Honda 750 four were significant and to this day we're still tweeking the damn thing! Loads of fun but very frustrating at times.
Cookies advice is pretty good and I would expand the list to include some of the modern classics such as the new Hinkley Triumphs or the new Guzzi classic I think its called a V7. A Royal Enfield Bullet, the new one with fuel injection and electric start would also be a good choice and you might even get to work on it to get some hands on experience.

Scooter

The Norton Commando can be one seductive, tempremental mistress.
Very soothing and satisfying one moment, and a complete PITA the next.
It doesn't expect but DEMANDS attention.
The more you give it, the more satisfying it becomes.
Not everyone can keep these things running sweetly. Which is part of the allure.

Any Jap bike will run further, longer with less attention.

A Ducati or BMW may be a better choice. (R90 / R100's are very cool)

Pick your poison. It's all good.

I agree with most everything said above.

A classic motorcycle is a fair amount of work. If you want the look without the hassle, a Hinckley Bonneville, Moto Guzzi V7, Ducati Sport Classic, or even the Harley-Davidson XR1200 would be good choices.

Any classic bike is not something one can just pull out of the garage once or twice a month, turn on the gas, and fire right up. Bolts and nuts need to be checked for proper torque, fluid levels checked, tire pressures checked, chain oiled, etc. Most classic bikes require a precise setting of the various components to get that 'sweet spot' of running and handling. a 1/4 turn of an adjusting screw can be the difference between 'great' and 'garbage'. Owning any classic vehicle can be an expensive proposition if everything is done by a hired mechanic.

If you're prepared to get your hands dirty and perform some basic maintenance, the Norton Commando is actually a good choice. Most of the parts needed to keep a Commando on the road are readily available. When I've needed parts for mine, I've gotten them quicker than the couple of times I've needed parts for my modern bike. Some other bikes of this age range are very hard to find parts for.


It took me about four months of tinkering with my bike (which had been apart for 20 years) after I got it running to shake out all the bugs. Once set, though, it has been a great enjoyment (I run it 2-4 times a week, about 800 miles a month).

Alex,

It all depends upon how much grit you have, whether a Norton would be a good choice for you. None of us were Norton experts to start with, not that I am now. We all had a learning curve to ascend. More steep for some. You are entirely capable of doing the same. Having a good mechanical aptitude is essential, as well as the tools and a place to perform the work. Beyond that, a big desire and a fair amount of money to spend on the Ol' Norton. I would guess the average investment for good looking, good running Norton is usually in excess of $10,000 US. I would tell you, in all likelihood the value of the Norton will only increase with time. Needless to say, not so with the latest new maintenance free and oh so fast sportbike .

You are showing wisdom by asking questions first. What ever you decide will be correct, for you. You mentioned weekend and longer trips. Someone suggested the older airhead BMWs. Not a bad choice. You won't be "stylin" like the Norton, but probably have less disappointments, not to mention cheaper to buy and maintain. Whatever you buy, get trained to ride first.

The Norton is a fantastic bike and I will keep mine until I can't start it anymore, then I will give it my grandson. He is now 3 weeks old. But Commandoes do have issues, and it worries me that you say you have little mechanical experience.
If you do get a Commando get an 850 in standard tune.
I thought for a while and I suggest you get a 1950's Triumph Thunderbird 650 with a Iron cylinder head. Prefferably with twin shocks on the rear for touring comfort.
It will cost a lot and need to be in top condition, but these bike went to the moon and back.
They are also a really gorgeous bike.

Wow!

Thank you for all the advice given...Having read all your suggestions and as painful as it is to say i think i will start by getting a modern classic and start to get familiar with the workings of the bike and get my hands dirty wherver possible. I think the suggestion to start meeting up with the local norton owners club is correct and will allow me to gain more knowledge about the bike and whether its right for me. I am prepared to get my hands dirty and i think its all part of owning a classic bike. But if im being honest I dont have a hige amount of time to devote to tinkering around with that quarter turn of a screw and my current knowledge of commandos isnt enough to know which screw to turn!

I will take a look at the guzzi v7 and the hinkley triumphs and see where that gets me.

Im sure i will be back on here in a few years with a commando on my hands and a huge smile on my face looking for more advice!

Thank you all so much for the help and advice

Best

Alex

MichaelB said:

The Norton Commando can be one seductive, tempremental mistress.
Very soothing and satisfying one moment, and a complete PITA the next.
It doesn't expect but DEMANDS attention.
The more you give it, the more satisfying it becomes.
Not everyone can keep these things running sweetly. Which is part of the allure.

Click to expand...

That's why I call mine "The Ho".

Beautiful to look at. Takes all my time, attention and money. And I keep comming back for more.

alex, you sure this "mechanic" was talking about a Commando? this bike is one of the most reliable of classics....period.
but as the others say, you'll still need to be able to handle a wrench or ratchet at some point. I don't bother bringing my Commando to a shop anymore. if you are mechanically inclined and have tools then you'll learn the bike. Find a Commando owner in your area and have a peek. One thing about us Commandophiles is that we like showing off our bikes and talking about them.

about part sourcing....I believe that parts are generally NOT anymore expensive than any other bike out there. Go price a swing arm for a big new Honda and a Commando...I bet the Commando is about the same or even less expensive.....have you had a look at what custom swing arm kits cost for an HD? in the thousands $$?

i use the swing arm as an example, since I just did an overhaul of mine....i didn't need to replace it but I did price it.

anyhow, good luck....and stay away from that mechanic friend of yours......he's probably into Triumph's anyway

Eric

That's a pretty good selection. If I were going to buy a new bike today those would be on my shortlist.
When a lot of us bought Commandos they were new bikes with a warranty.
To me personally I have Goldwings for every day riders and the old Norton for that lovely day in the nearby hills. I bet a new Triumph could do both purposes fairly well.
Years ago I rode my Commando to work or the movies, or I hate to say it bars. Then on a nice weekend day I'd be off to cruise up the coast.

MichaelB said:

The Norton Commando can be one seductive, tempremental mistress.
Very soothing and satisfying one moment, and a complete PITA the next.
It doesn't expect but DEMANDS attention.
The more you give it, the more satisfying it becomes.
Not everyone can keep these things running sweetly. Which is part of the allure.

Any Jap bike will run further, longer with less attention.

A Ducati or BMW may be a better choice. (R90 / R100's are very cool)

Pick your poison. It's all good.

Click to expand...

But a Jap bike may need less attention but a good Commando is more FUN and most of the work can be done by some one willing to learn/read this forum/get to know other owners...its a very simple engine..,to work on IMHO

Remember as was once said though, "Riding most other bikes after the Norton, was like being forced to have sex with a condom after enjoying the real thing." Quoted from Dave Crutchly in his review of Dunstall Commando 750.

Dave
69"S"