Norton Riders? Young? Old? Or somewhere in between?

I narrowly avoided joining the majority...please don't ask again next year... :?

I bought my Mk III at age 17 and I can't imagine ever selling it. And although I seldom post, I've read the forum every day for the past 4? years.

I'm representing half of the 25-35 bracket (assuming it's still 2 votes when this is posted) and last year i would have been in the lowest one, so yes, these bikes do still have at least some fans in the "younger" crowd. It also means that the bike is almost a decade older than i am, so i guess taking care of it is just considered respecting my elders...
I was originally into modern sportbikes (still am, honestly) but in the process of restoring a 73 RD350 for a friend i found out that older bikes are a whole other experience from modern ones both in terms of riding and working on them, and not just from the technological advancement standpoint. Modern bikes are engineered to the point of nearly reducing the rider to a bystander; they perform so well and require so little maintenance and attention that you just start it up and watch as it does it's thing. I have a CBR600 and when i'm riding it i can almost hear it saying "Just point in the direction you want to go and let me do the rest. Keep your inputs to a minimum - you'll just screw something up."
As a rider you have to work with an older bike to get it to move where it should, and in the garage you have to work in it to keep it running like it should. When it's running properly and you finish a good ride it feels like you actually had a part in making it so. You're invested in the experience and everything works, and not just because some team of engineers halfway around the world spent months making the bike as newbie-proof as anything on two wheels can be.
I saw pictures of Commandos with the gunfighter seats and thought they were some of the nicest looking bikes i'd ever seen. They reminded me of old Vincents or a Ducati 916 - yeah, you can tell they're not modern, but they by no means look "old." If i hang parts from the RD all over the garage it just looks like a chop shop (not to say the RD is a slouch...), but hang parts from the Norton (also a 73) like the Z-plates, timing cover, footpeg arms, etc. and instead it looks like an art gallery. I'm all for the whole "beauty in engineering" mentality, but it's just nice to see a machine that doesn't need the blessing from some PHD in aerodynamics to look good.
Plus there's the whole benefit of being able to wax on like this to a group of people that actually understand what you're talking about...

"old man, look at my life, 54 and so much more" i remember when neil young sang that song and 24 sounded old. i thought i had found the fountains of youth with surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, and then found my norton. the fountain continues flowing and riding that bike daily in the seasons i can definately brings me back to my youthful lust for these beautiful machines. it is the only bike i have ever had, the only bike i know. remember friends, age is a state of mind! one more opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all you put into this forum. it has really been a learning experience for this late bloomer. cheers, jerome

I'm the far end of 45-55.

I bought my first Commando ( Mk 3) in about 1982 when I was 24. I sold it to fund racing.
I bought my second one ('72 750 which I turned into a race bike), a year later. I still have the same bike 25 years later.

Projectile said:

Hey Wrench,
apparently there's just something about being 12 and being in awe of the things that influenced us at that age.
Let's hope that we can post somewhere that we fit the 65+ category as Commando owners :lol:

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I agree Projectile. Well put. I think the Norton is a bike that's gets stamped in the DNA at age 12 (and apparently any other age as well). But it was frustrating being so young and not allowed to "have" one. Childhood has its downsides :shock: And yes, let's hope we are lucky enough to join that elusive 65 and over owner's club!

wrench

I bought my 850 new in the Spring of 1975 at age 23. It's the only bike I've owned since, and at each stage of the relationship it has met all my needs.

When it was new it was a "Superbike" of the day, fast enough to toast Sportsters and 750 Hondas. Later it became a touring rider, equipped with a luggage rack and sissybar. I did wish it had a windscreen in those days, but 55+ mpg cruising was nice.

At this stage in my life I appreciate the light weight and narrow profile that lets me maneuver it into my basement storage. And the magnificent classic styling that gets so much attention.

The Commando makes a lovely sound, handles well, and steps out right smartly when called upon. Unless my knees give out and I can't kick the big Brit over any more I don't forsee owning anything else in my lifetime.

Long live the Commando.

Dave "Old Fart"

I am now 49 yrs old, but bought my first Norton Commando (my girlfriend - now wife actually stumped up the readies) when I was 21. This was after lusting after a friends Dunstall 810 Norton which apparently had performance not dissimilar to todays sportsbikes!! Or so I was told and being young, believed!

I spent a lot of money on it (that I couldn't really afford) over the next eleven years having it in various guises such as a 920, JPN, cafe racer etc etc. I was also chief engineer for a friend, who's Commando I also converted to 920cc and did various improvements to. He bought my Norton from me in 1993ish and still has them both and what's more, still speaks to me!

After having some German and Japanese bikes, I was visiting my friend (above) in 2005, and I had a go on his 920 (that I had built all the years before), and that was it, I had to have another, and now have built myself with some help from members of this site, a beautiful 850 MK3.

I just turned 36 two weeks ago and have had my MKIII since November of 2006.

I saw a pic of one and had to own one. The thing is still in pieces but it will be ready to rock and will basically be a new bike by spring 08.

I'm counting down the days as we speak.

Nice to see so many responses, and some pretty interesting reasons for twisting the throttle...won't go into my reasons, as that has already been covered elsewhere, but if I must...will admit to being 58 in a few months...

My only comment to the theme... proud to say, that both of the ladies (wife and commando), in my life, still knock my socks off, even after the well over thirty years I have had the pleasure of knowing them both...

How nice...that some things last for so long... :wink:

Keep the stories coming!

I bought my 1971 commando in 1972 when I was 18.

I now have a 1972 commando and after 35 years it still looks like a motorcycle should and sounds like no other.

I am now 53 and never thought I would live to be this old!

I still love to ride my Norton Commando 750 and have never wanted another motorcycle.

My First Brit Bike

Hello all. Just dropping my name in the hat. I am a long time listener, first time caller as it were. About 13 weeks ago I bought my first British bike. It is a 75 mk3 commando. It came in several boxes mixed in with other brit bike bits. I have to admit, the challenge of this puzzle, especially with its mulitiple incorrect pieces really appealed to my gratification issues. Now normally, I buy a motorcycle, restore it and sell it, these being mainly Japanese bikes. I have always wanted a Norton Mk3. So when the right deal came up, I jumped on it. End result, I now have a show quality bike that will never get trailered to any event. It is the most spectacular riding cycle I have ever experiened. It will have to be pried out of my cold, dead hands before it sells. Anyway, I browsed this forum almost daily for months before taking on this project(part of my research and planning for my projects) and I just have to say you all have to be the most polite and helpful bunch of people I have had the pleasure of dropping in on. Something about that damn bike and everything that goes with it just feels right. Thanks and hope to chat soon. Oh, and by the way, I fit in the 30 something crowd for your pole, LAB.
JD

I have to say that I'm surprised to be one of the "younger" ones at 41!
I started riding later in life when I bought a 68 Triumph Daytona at 20, then I went up to a 750 Bonneville, then for a very short time a Harley Sportster, a 441 BSA, another 500 Triumph and finally my '71 Commando.
These were just the bikes I had licensed and on the road, in between I had two Lightnings, a Bantam, a 650 Bonneville, another 500 Triumph (#3), a Matchless G9, a 250 BSA, a 250 Triumph, a somewhat rare 1969 "R" Commando as well as numerous Japanese bikes.
A couple years ago I made a list for my wife of all the cars, bikes and snowmobiles I had ever owned and at that time it was over 50, by now I must be getting close to 100!

Re: My First Brit Bike

JD said:

Hello all. Just dropping my name in the hat. I am a long time listener, first time caller as it were. About 13 weeks ago I bought my first British bike. It is a 75 mk3 commando. It came in several boxes mixed in with other brit bike bits. I have to admit, the challenge of this puzzle, especially with its mulitiple incorrect pieces really appealed to my gratification issues. Now normally, I buy a motorcycle, restore it and sell it, these being mainly Japanese bikes. I have always wanted a Norton Mk3. So when the right deal came up, I jumped on it. End result, I now have a show quality bike that will never get trailered to any event. It is the most spectacular riding cycle I have ever experiened. It will have to be pried out of my cold, dead hands before it sells. Anyway, I browsed this forum almost daily for months before taking on this project(part of my research and planning for my projects) and I just have to say you all have to be the most polite and helpful bunch of people I have had the pleasure of dropping in on. Something about that damn bike and everything that goes with it just feels right. Thanks and hope to chat soon. Oh, and by the way, I fit in the 30 something crowd for your pole, LAB.
JD

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JD, it seems we almost shared the same experience except my MKIII showed up working and in one piece and now it is in boxes waiting to be reassembled like a big, British jigsaw puzzle.

Coco-
13 weeks- I guess I was on a tear! I dont know how, but it almost seemed as though I would just show up at my shop and more of the bike would be built. I was very fortunate to fin that this Mk3 had good bones when I got it home and sorted through the mess. Other than puting together what someone had taken apart, for a bike I had only read about over the years, it was very friendly going together. Good luck on your "Brit Jigsaw Puzzle"!
JD

I share valentino's racing number

Been riding continuously for 29 years since I was 17, when I had a T140 and then others for many years, bought my first commando in 1986 and still have it although highly modified. They are great bikes with strong motors, available in many styles or can be modelled to suit your own individual taste. they must be good as I have two on the road and two ongoing projects.

Another Baby boomer here ... and I refuse to get old.. but the body tells me so .. @ 55!
Out on the bikes, I feel the years drop off ~ :wink: :lol:

First bikes rides were a 16H and a Gold Flash ~ down on the farm ..

Had a string of bikes.. ES2.. 2 * A65L, Hilda CB 750, T160 , T150V and the Commando ~

I am sure I will be sharing similar company at Caloundra next weekend ~

I'm 36 (and so is my commando) so I have to wait 9 more years before I get to graduate into the 48 percentile. I wonder what ages will be represented then. I hope the younger generations continue to see the value in these classic bikes...

71COMMANDO said:

I hope the younger generations continue to see the value in these classic bikes...

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i just upped the under 25 from 1% to 3%!! haha. anyways, my dad just gave me his 750 commando basket case about 2 months ago, and (about a grand later) i've pretty much got it all assembled, except for the real agonizing bits. i love these bikes!! my dad was the original owner and i'm stoked that he gave it to me. i've always been into the classic british stuff. i cant wait to start turning heads when i'm on the road.

Well, I've just added my vote. I put it in as 25-35 (being as I'm 31) but I actually bought the bike when I was 17 (1993). I bought it off my uncle as a complete but unassembled 1970 Commando 750 Roadster. It was together & running in 1997 (although not restored or ridable). In 2002 it was disassembled by my father (to steel parts for his chopped T120 Bonnie) and has only just recommenced the long road to completion again.

As for riding it? Never have since it was bought, but I can't wait to take the Canary Yellow monster for it's maiden voyage after the rebuild.