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

G'day everyone. I just turned fifty, so I suppose I am average! I am new to this forum. I guess I must like Commando's as I have 4 of them, of which only one is a runner (Combat engined Fastback built from bits). I also have a 1926 Model 18 Norton and 4 other Brit bikes).

captk said:

I just turned fifty, so I suppose I am average!

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Average or not....Welcome captk.

Speaking of average, I'm squarely planted in the average bar at 53 years of age.

So how old are we?

Ah! We are as old as we feel, the old timers would say. I'll be 61 in March, so what, I still ski and teach skiing every day in winter, except for the past 3 days with all that rain. When spring comes I'll start riding vintage trials on my little Triumph Cub. I've been plating 3 bikes in recent years, my trusted Norton Commando, the Honda ST 1100 and a Harley Sportster I bought 2 years ago.

Last year we rode to the Paris (Ontario) Rally on the Norton, followed by Americade Lake George on the ST and then later in the season on the Honda again to the Maritimes to do the Cabot Trail for the second time. The Harley I used in our region with the Hog Group.
Riding is, I suppose, an excuse to socialize with people that share a common passion. Same with skiing I guess.

Hope the Lord permits me to do all over again this summer.

Have a good one, Yves

Well, I am sure people are continuing to age as this post lives on. Since my age group is running a strong second in this survey and even though it is getting new members from the younger group all the time, I thought I would give it a boost. In a few days, I will turn 63 (feel more like 53) and have had my Mk I Commando Interstate for only a couple of years. I grew up always wanting a Brit bike but always yeilded to other priorities. Finally made the plunge and love it.

I started riding in 1962, at age 14, my first bike ever was a 1960 Zundapp Super Saber that I purchased for $40 crashed , it did field duty until it was sold. Did I say that I started working on motorcycles in 1962? My first road bike was a 1937 Indian Chief, a 74 incher; then came the BSA's, Triumphs and Nortons (a 70 roadster--used, a 71 roadster--new with a Combat motor from my brothers '72.

Intervening marriage(s), kid(s) mortage(s)

Stock options, yeah!!!!

Good investments!!!!

INDEPENDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nortons!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Johnnie Walker Blue...

RS

I'm 60 and I have had at least one Norton since I was 20

Jean

L.A.B. said:

As I would guess that the majority of us have to be somewhere around 45-55 years old?

Am I right or wrong?

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You are correct as I ride my fathers' machine :wink:

I'm 48
I watched my schoolmate drive this combat, which he just bought second hand and it was love at first site. That was in 1983 The sound and look just appealed to me...He hum’d&hawd about keeping it so I convince him to sell it… he flipped it for what he bought it…so I’ve been a Norton Nut ever since. Through the years I collected more.
2 Combats. One is being restored now ready for the road this year.
1-74 850 all roadsters.
CNN 8)

I'm 62 and at my age can appreciate bikes of all types and vintage. I have a small collection including some orientals and pre- restorations but the only one I will definately keep is my 74 2a Interstate. My son [ supercross motocross ] can ride it to my wake. Beside the enjoyment and satisfaction I got from restoring it I love the ride it gives me and the ''rock star status'' I get when I park it. At the recent Phillip Island Superbike Championships among thousands of moderns it stood out and got constant attention from passers and lots of compliments. To the other members of this forum I really enjoy reading about your bikes and check it out every day. For those riders yet to get there bikes on the road you have something very enjoyable to look forward to.
Greg

I'm 41 and bought my Norton last year. I only wish I hadn't waited so long to do it. To think of all the years of potential riding I wasted..... , but nothing left to do but make up for lost time

I rode off-road bikes in my juvenile delinquent days, and that was that. Never on fire to get a bike as a young independent man, and if I got one, where to store it anyway? Then suddenly about 5 years ago I started getting the fever for a bike, but not just any old bike. All you ever see are HD's, crotch rockets, and Goldwings where I live. I suppose I fall in the category of people that are attracted by the history of british biking circa 1950's-1970's, but mostly I just love the look of the Norton (Beezers and Trumps too). I know I'm the only guy around riding one, and that's what I wanted. Now that I've got it sorted out, it's dependable as can be, and I couldn't be happier with it.

I recently turned 50.

I got my Norton as a basketcase a year ago, never having seen a Norton closer than maybe 20 feet away. Always wanted one though.

I've had four bikes so far - first was a BSA 650 Lightning when I was 20. That was a real love/hate relationship, as my motorcycle mechanic skills were not very good at the time, and I was constantly being challenged by the 'idiosyncrasies' of the bike.

Sold the Beezer within a year, and missed it as soon as I forgot what a pain it was.

Went to a Yamaha dealer in 1983 to buy an XS650, as I was told it was patterned after the BSA. Ended up buying an XJ650 demo bike for the same price. A great, reliable comfortable machine, that I still have, but no BSA.

Went to a Triumph dealer in 2006 to look at the new Bonneville. Ended up buying a Speed Triple instead. There's a reason several magazines named it 'Bike of the Year' when the 1050 came out. It is the best bike I've ever ridden - docile around town, capable of 150+ (I've never had it over 146 ), comfortable riding position, no leaks, issues (except for a bad stator at 22K miles), or surprises. At looks like a motorcycle, too. Engine, frame, seat, wheels, exhaust. No fairings, no windshield, no wild paint scheme. The Mrs, who names all our vehicles, calls the Triumph 'The Irritant'

I convinced SWMBO a year ago that I needed a project. She thought it would be a great idea, as I would spend the next two years in the garage rather than out on 'The Irritant'. To her dismay, Ed (her name for the Norton) was running 6 months after arriving in my garage.

Now I alternate between Ed and the Irritant. Generally, Odd days are Norton days, Even days are Triumph days. Sadly, no days are Yamaha days. I'm in the process of finding a suitable home for the Yamaha, preferably some college kid who needs cheap, reliable transportation.

I am 43 and very soon 44!
I was into Italian bikes when I started in 1982 and have had Laverda's, Guzzi and various Jap stuff. Never thought of a Brit in the early days as they were ridden by Older rocker types back then (nothing wrong with that but at 18-20 I was into the modern Rd, GPz stuff).
Got my first Brit as a way of slowing down after a lay off from bikes of about 6 years. Bsa c15 (awful) A65 and M21, Then a Honda big1, another guzzi Leman, (Mk 5 and ugly) then 2 Harleys (883 + 1450) then A hinckly triple-lovely bike, and now the Commando.
The big problem for the future of old bikes I think is the age of the enthusiasts, and the older group were probably more used to working on the bikes and can sort things out now, where I rode very reliable, newer tackle and didn't get my hand sdirty much. One big reason why I bought the C15 was to 'learn' on something. The M21 suffered from my rebuild and new top end, piston etc but It was ok in the end and the only reason it had to go was the brakes frightened the life out of me, Especially when i had just got off the big Honda.
Now younger bikers, (less every year?) don't have the mechanical experience and getting work done on older bikes is not always that easy.
I will get my 18 year old into them this year, and will talk him into a 500 triumph if i can, on the basis of the low costs and our old bikes are much cooler than the new plastic rockets/license losers!

Bought my '72 combat new at age 21 - my first road bike - and I'm still riding it. It's my most modern bke and I also have 3 Matchless singles. Still hard to accept that I'm now 57.

This year I have to do something about the stock seat. It is hard as a freakin' rock... Or maybe it's just old age!

I'm 53. I cut my teeth on Japanese and Italian road bikes and continental dirt bikes. I also have an '06 GSXR Suzuki for track days, a Seeley Matchless G50 road racer and a Ducati 450 Desmo that I've owned since college. My 850 Mark 1 (bought in '07) is my first classic British road bike. I lusted after Commandos when I was a student, but their price was way out of my reach then. Having ridden and/or worked on a wide variety of machines since, I reckoned I could graduate to owning a Norton, which stretches one's mechanical ability to the limit! I knew that Commandos had potential and I wanted the challenge of making it into a machine that holds its oil, gets me to my destination and is enjoyable to ride. This forum is helping me to do that.

Sixty-four here. Started riding at twelve. Cushman step-thru. Stepped up to the big time in 1959 with a new Harley Hummer. Series of Triumphs and Nortons after that. First Norton was a 1969 Commando I bought in 1971. Got married for the first time that same year. Marriage and Norton lasted about the same three years. Currently have a 1972 Combat and a 1991 BMW K75 RT.

There gets to be a point where one can no longer ride safely due to advancing years. I fear I'm approaching that point. Unfortunately, the last few years I've become arthritic. I hope I have a few good years left. I used to enjoy touring. Lately I think more about using the motorhome when it comes to traveling. I'm considering going to Barber for the superbike race and museum. It's a tossup whether I ride or drive. Enjoy those bikes in your youth, my friend.

i'm 28, got my commando last year. after years of vintage hondas, i don't think i can go back! like that bike so much, i have since picked up other brit bikes and plan to keep adding to the stable as time moves on.

looks like i'm one of the younger guys on here, someone has to keep the torch lit :lol:

I am 52 , I will be 25 on my next birthday in march, (I wish!), This is my 4th Commando, first one bought when I was 19, I absolutely loved that bike, that bike just ran & ran, I don't thnk it had an oil change or anything done to it but it always started frst time, it was brill, unfortunately it was stolen and is the only bike I 've had that I don't have a photo of!
I have never been without a bike since 1975, I used them 12 months of the year to go to work, hail, rain or shine, when I retired in 2007 I had a BMW R1200ST, (along with my BSA A65 L/C), which was brill for going to work but I wasn't using so much so I sold it and bought a Harley FXDX Sport and didn't really get on with it, (what I should have done was buy a shovel), so I sold it and bought a 2004 speed triple, absolutely barking!!!, as I can work abroad sometimes, if something comes up, I can be away for 4-5months I decided to let that go too, and get something modern when I finally retire, The thing is I tend to go for things that are not mainstream, not one of the masses! I have only ever had 2 Jap bikes, my very first Suzuki TJ 250 hustler, and a 1971 XS1 which I restored as few years ago, got some good pics. I will never restore a Jap bike again, the price of spares is shocking and the metal is about as bad.
Went on a bit there sorry, was going to list my "bikes that I have owned" but I've prattled on enough!, so I'll finish with; I love my Commando warts and all! i've had 4 so there must be something about them!

60. Bought my 1975 E start in 1979; had (still have) a Bonneville before. Rode it to Sturgis in 1981; kept riding it, but less and less as I had kids. Bought a 83 BMW R100RS 4 years ago, rode that a lot; decided to restore my commando. It still ran, but I was nervous about the now 26 year old tires, and I always wanted to remove the "air box" and put on a K&N filter. It will run again soon.

I'm 64, Bought a 75 MKIII new in 77, and still have it. It has 72,000 miles on it and runs fine. It dosen't get ridden as much as it used to as I have 5 other road bikes, but it still gets 3 to 4 thousand miles a year.

Ken G.