Nortons and BMWs
- Thread starter JimC
- Start date
- Status
also own a K100RT and R80/7 spares bike (in pieces).
Nortoniggy
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2010
- Messages
- 630
There are some days when I'm too lazy, tired, whatever, to kick start my Commando. Especially when the weathers cool & it needs a real substantial kick. For the price of an electric start conversion for the Norton I bought a functioning, reasonably good, R100. It's not as nice to ride as the Commando & doesn't have the get up & go either but it has an electric foot & is pleasant enough. Also my other half says it's comfortable on the back, she doesn't say that about the VFR.
Ian
Ian
I have not had a BMW..... Yet. I keep looking, have several friends with them. I will someday. If I win the lottery, again I would need to play the lottery first, I would get this one......
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage- ... 500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage- ... 500wt_1182
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2009
- Messages
- 593
BMW1200GS - long trips, vibrates like Commando, has character, 51mpg, 105bhp, superb handling, knee down reliability
Ducati Hailwood - feelgood factor, mechanical whiring mass of metal engine, awesome looks, character
Royal Enfield Interceptor Series 2 - just imported from Canada, will let you know....
Ducati Hailwood - feelgood factor, mechanical whiring mass of metal engine, awesome looks, character
Royal Enfield Interceptor Series 2 - just imported from Canada, will let you know....
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2006
- Messages
- 1,082
I've had an R65,R100RS and a GS1150.
R65 is much underated, despite mine having an on /off clutch which even after temporarily curing, returned. It cruised at up to 80mph with no bother. I once took this bike down to Birmingham from Leeds (90 miles) and strapped a fully rebuilt Commando engine (from Pete Lovell) onto the pillion and returned to Leeds with it, touching 100 mph on the M1 just south of Leeds.
R100 RS, great bike but with wooden brakes and a bit gutless. Great 100 mph cruiser though. I used this all year round.
GS1150, another great bike, but the engine sounded awful if you took it above 4,500 rpm....a bit like it wanted to destroy itself, but it never did.
I don't have any BMW's now, but do have a Honda Pan 1300 (I keep threatening to sell this), T160 and 2 X Moto Guzzi Le Mans of which one is about to be re-assembled.
R65 is much underated, despite mine having an on /off clutch which even after temporarily curing, returned. It cruised at up to 80mph with no bother. I once took this bike down to Birmingham from Leeds (90 miles) and strapped a fully rebuilt Commando engine (from Pete Lovell) onto the pillion and returned to Leeds with it, touching 100 mph on the M1 just south of Leeds.
R100 RS, great bike but with wooden brakes and a bit gutless. Great 100 mph cruiser though. I used this all year round.
GS1150, another great bike, but the engine sounded awful if you took it above 4,500 rpm....a bit like it wanted to destroy itself, but it never did.
I don't have any BMW's now, but do have a Honda Pan 1300 (I keep threatening to sell this), T160 and 2 X Moto Guzzi Le Mans of which one is about to be re-assembled.
I've never owned a BMW, but have considered owning an airhead, the thing that puts me off is the shaft drive, I don't like the torque reaction when you wind open the throttle, I guess it's something you might get used to.
I heard somewhere that BMW had copied the featherbed frame for some of their 60s/70s models, I don't know if it's true but there are a lot of similarities.
My modern bike is a 94 Triumph Speed Triple, powerful, heavy and has plenty of character. It needs minimal maintenance which is just as well, it's a pig to work on!
Webby
I heard somewhere that BMW had copied the featherbed frame for some of their 60s/70s models, I don't know if it's true but there are a lot of similarities.
My modern bike is a 94 Triumph Speed Triple, powerful, heavy and has plenty of character. It needs minimal maintenance which is just as well, it's a pig to work on!
Webby
The R100RS can be a handful in stock trim but when modded up--performs very well.
My 78 has reworked dampers --prog springs and brace.
Engine--balanced top end--rods up--Branch ported and flowed heads and 36MM flatslides.
Also lightened and balanced flywheel and clutch assy.
7610's on the rear to balance out the front stiffness.
This is a very fun bike to ride now--and will surprise many moderns from 60 to 110 or so. Right there in the fun zone.
My 78 has reworked dampers --prog springs and brace.
Engine--balanced top end--rods up--Branch ported and flowed heads and 36MM flatslides.
Also lightened and balanced flywheel and clutch assy.
7610's on the rear to balance out the front stiffness.
This is a very fun bike to ride now--and will surprise many moderns from 60 to 110 or so. Right there in the fun zone.
Before the commando I never really owned a bike with a disk brake...
she (yeah, it's a lady) is my modern bike. the duke is in boxes and is a looooong term project. the 2 R75/5 are just fantastic and superreliable* -just not quite as much fun as the commando. The BSA is as reliable as the Commando ;-)
Xt500 is not really mine. it's my other half's. although I am the one doing the polishing and the fixing.
...
*just broke the gearbox of the '71.
she (yeah, it's a lady) is my modern bike. the duke is in boxes and is a looooong term project. the 2 R75/5 are just fantastic and superreliable* -just not quite as much fun as the commando. The BSA is as reliable as the Commando ;-)
Xt500 is not really mine. it's my other half's. although I am the one doing the polishing and the fixing.
...
*just broke the gearbox of the '71.
Me thinks it's a guilt thing: we have so much fun on our Norton that our Judeo-Chritian education kicks in and we have to do something boring like riding a Beemer!? I had a R90/6 dressed as a /5 just because I needed to wear a tie to go to work and thought it was cooler than a Honda... How much I disliked this bike !!! But... Still looking at a R80GS from time to time as a perfect "escape from all" bike!
Philippe
Philippe
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,151
Diablouph said:
actually my BSA is more dependable than my commando......... just way slower!
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2011
- Messages
- 140
Lets see, I have a BMW K1200LT for my road trips and freeway runs. A KTM 450 dual sport for my dirt bike. A KTM 950 Adventure if I want to do anything I want. A 75' Commando that once under way is a nice road bike and great looking. Three vintage Hondas, CB 160, CB 350, SL 100. A 67' Triumph Bonnie because it was the bike I and all my friends wanted in High School. So I guess it's like have tools, you need the right one and you can't have to many!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2003
- Messages
- 3,701
debby said:
It goes back a way. This is my stable in 1985. Norton is a '73 750. I had recently purchased the R100RS a new 1983 model left over. The Ducati is a '77 900GTS electric start. One Ducati and several BMWs later and now the only motorcycle I own is a '72 Commando. It's the only one that really needs me.
- Status
Similar threads
