Norton legacy

I always hoped he was well-compensated for the 961, which S. Garner claimed was "completely different" from Kenny's.

I think it was more of a "Kenny got to re-fill some of the hole in his pocket" deal...

Quite frankly , I think if he was ' Norton ; it wouldnt be a kawaski he was drag racing .

If Norton have use a couple off M104 Merc cylinders , theyd have had the SEVENTY FIVE Cossy DFV specs + 50% Stroke ( & strength ) and it mightve been worth riding .
Totally proven by the million .
Non Unit is definately superior , long distance & L S R .

the 961 was basically a tarted up dishrag . The price wasnt good . Amougst other things .

Ive worked for a week doing a drawing for a nerd . The next , deadly accurate , mor work and two hours. It pays to know what your doing . The poms specialise in mental blockages ,
their national pastime use to be complaning . Whingeing , snivling , manipulating and the art of tigyness . I obt theyve a clue what theyre up too still . Now .

" Competition Proven " PSHAAW .

Without him the name was likely up for grabs for NOTHING .

A short circuit manx tank & funny ducks arse dont make a twenty first century COMMANDO
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In a brawl itd finish where ? As for development A Dreer . Sorry - ZERO .

75 Works 750s & the DFV were way beyond anything there he created .

By 80 a good Ducati or a 1000 GS were a worry to a Commando .
Essentially anything that wont clear a 1100 Katanas a joke , these days . if the word ' performance ' is in the vocabulary .
BUT IT SHOUT WORK ON UNSEALED ROADS TOO .

seeing a 55 T100R Triton ( custom ) could hold off those for a few laps in a open hampionship race , and had to wait
half an hour before nailing it in the hairpin to let the next four through , I dont think its a big ask .


( about the same power to weight , lighter , better braking , better manouvreability . & on low comp & valves to tight )

So I dont see any bike over 400 lbs or better , 360 , being much use on any tight rough circuit or road , letalone unsealed .



Some of these did get out , despite the goverments and meridans worst efforts . A decent set of pipes and head work
will see 120 or 130+ .

Woul be a better bike than the current royal oilfield , built on modern tooling with material updates , and Routt did a 800 barrel . Long Rod Twin .
needs the 32 cabs , 750 valves ( may have em ) W&S springs , decent zorst & probly earlier cams . Much earlier . If it wont do a 12.5 its buggered .

" They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war

And the young people ask, "what are they marching for?"

And I ask myself the same question "

Any similar photos with a K D providing the action ?

even the bids in their pictures looked like hookers .

Matt Spencer said:

" They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war

And the young people ask, "what are they marching for?"

And I ask myself the same question "

Any similar photos with a K D providing the action ?

even the bids in their pictures looked like hookers .

Click to expand...

Loving those photos!

Funny how none of the naysayers lifted a finger or opened THEIR wallets to try to resurrect Norton...

Yeah, funny is the right word.

grandpaul said:

Funny how none of the naysayers lifted a finger or opened THEIR wallets to try to resurrect Norton...

Yeah, funny is the right word.

Click to expand...

Yeah Kenny. I was a gnats hair from sending my 850 to him when I was in Seattle way back when. But my first kid....or my second...or the third...

SG didn't open his wallet, he had his hand in everyone else's.

Why do so many people want Nortons to be something they are not ? A 650SS is an excellent motorcycle when you use it in the way the designer intended. When I built my Seeley 850, I never really believed in it. However I do now. I have never raced with a better motor. It does everything right.

acotrel said:

Why do so many people want Nortons to be something they are not?

Click to expand...

You can flash back to the poll regarding what "stage / level" is your Commando (from OEM to total custom build), and see that "so many" is probably MOST people. (only 21% voted OEM or very nearly so) Very few people are into keeping old bikes EXACTLY bone stock. Why should you, when there are better shocks, light, and tires than were available in the 70s?

I don't recall if I ever ran a poll asking what "genre" or major use of your Commando members are into? I think I'll do that...

Matt Spencer said:

" They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war

And the young people ask, "what are they marching for?"

And I ask myself the same question "

Any similar photos with a K D providing the action ?

even the bids in their pictures looked like hookers .

Click to expand...

Yes, Love these old photos. Brings back memories.
Several years ago I was on a job walk with a Plastering contractor.
He saw a motorcycle magazine in my truck and mentioned,
"You like motorcycles?? My uncle used to race, maybe you've heard of him, Dave Aldana.....

MichaelB said:

Yes, Love these old photos. Brings back memories.
Several years ago I was on a job walk with a Plastering contractor.
He saw a motorcycle magazine in my truck and mentioned,
"You like motorcycles?? My uncle used to race, maybe you've heard of him, Dave Aldana.....

Click to expand...

Heard of him? I raced with him! '08 Sandia Classic in Albuquerque in AHRMA VMX 250 Sportsman class. He lapped me like on lap 2, but I still came in 2nd.

grandpaul said:

Heard of him? I raced with him! '08 Sandia Classic in Albuquerque in AHRMA VMX 250 Sportsman class. He lapped me like on lap 2, but I still came in 2nd.

Click to expand...

@MichaelB That's a true story, I have my award. At Sandia, they call it "Getting Stoned" because the award is a little 4x6 block of stone with an engraved plaque on it. I got REALLY stoned because I took 3rd in both Formula 500 races that year.