Noticed Harley Owners Like Your Norton?

bill · Mar 29, 2012

I like the term for most Harley owners as T-T racers. all most of them do is ride from tavern to tavern :lol:

roqueweiler · Mar 29, 2012

I really don't see that I have anything in common with the owners of bikes designed not to go round corners.

ouch, not fair

My Harley isn't really designed to go fast in straight lines either.............

1up3down · Mar 29, 2012

GrandPaul said:

Next time some HD rider takes an interest in your Britbike, WHY DON'T YOU ASK THEM why they like it?

Ya know, I DID ask a couple of Harley owners who came up to me on my Norton WHY they like Nortons.

They told me that
1) Norton are know for their torque, just like their Harleys

2) Norton are air cooled twins, like their Harleys.

3) They said the Harley magazines they read are always very complimentary to Norton's reputation.

4) They said Nortons are FAST, and SOUND GREAT.

I said you guys can hang out with me and my Commando anytime.

New friends!

Hobot · Mar 29, 2012

Hehe, do I sense some Norton snobbery? I know better than generalize about poor handling Harleys as a good many of em could leave a regular Cdo in the dust after one turn. It takes a serious Cdo and pilot to expect to keep up with the hard riders on DynaFrame with rubber mounting and added rump rod linkage,hehe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV4b9aB59zg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt8qSoTVCy4

Choppper to bagger here hauling ass loose as a goose loops. Let see ya play with these not so nice in a rush hogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibM7QASVIkU

Foxy · Mar 29, 2012

The thing is, if your Dad was anything like my Dad, and MANY other people who would indeed be in thier 80s, you would have been "encouraged" to buy American or British, and "discouraged" from buying Japanese, when the time came to buy a bike or car. My Dad bought American over Asian (vehicles, TVs, whatever) unless there was no other option, then he mostly did without.

Whoever thinks these notions are silly, hilarious, unbelieveable, or whatever, doesn't have a relative who suffered under the Japanese in WWII. i have/had more than one, and I assure you, they never laughed about it.[/quote]

+1 GP Those who forget the past are destined to repeat it!
Heres a link to a book I've read "Knights of the Bushido" all about Japanese war crimes!
http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/knights.html

72Combat · Mar 29, 2012

I took my Norton to work and was out getting some fish and chips for lunch and I heard this noise beside me....a Harley something with a rider all in black with mask on....I knew he was hard core as his helmet was matt black :roll: ( maybe its a New Zealand thing)

I looked across expecting the usual non acknowledgement......
" She's a nice old machine....750 or 850?"
I was impressed by his knowledge of the marque....

he must not have noticed my office shirt and tie under the jacket..... chortle.

rgrigutis · Mar 29, 2012

Booze fighter mc, a SoCal early postwar club made up primarily of WWII vets allowed no japanesen, German, or Italian bikes. From what I understand most mc clubs of that era only allowed us or British bikes. Boozeighters famous for their hollister antics. Righteous dudes who wrenched their own bikes and stuck up for each other

Hobot · Mar 29, 2012

Yes, in my family too with my dad 2+ yrs continuous in Pacific combat. He pissed off an officer making him pay like everyone else for laundry service. Mean shit that lasts a life time and ain't any of the suffering solders fault. Major banksters moved in on Japan and sold us such cheap crap through the 50's and 60's, Made in Japan was worse than Made in China today. Plastic bikes just ain't real American or Brit Iron lasting impressions either.

DogT · Mar 29, 2012

I'm not even concerned about what non-Norton people think, and sometimes the Norton people too.

Dave
69S

swooshdave · Mar 29, 2012

Sigh. You guys are all wrong.

Harley guys respect the Norton for one simple reason. They all remember the Hogslayer. They got their asses handed to them for many years by the Norton. Thus the respect.

bwolfie · Mar 29, 2012

Respect is earned not given.

Guido · Mar 29, 2012

My pops was in Germany liberating concentration camps. He took lots of pictures which I still have.
When he got out and came home he got married, had 2 kids and bought 2 Vespa's.
It's those Vespa's which got me into motorcycling. I'll never forget him giving me rides with me sitting on the floor boards and then me discovering the foot brake.
That was my last ride on the Vespa.
I always admired the motorcycle cops on their Harleys in San Francisco.
I've never rode one but wouldn't mind owning one. Maybe a nice old knuckle or shovel head soft tail.

boz · Mar 30, 2012

I was gassing up one day and this guy and his OL pulled in on a brand new HD. He looks over at my 750 "S" and says I never heard of a Norton who made it?

goo · Mar 30, 2012

79x100 said:
I don't think that I've ever talked to a Harley owner...and I don't think that I intend to start. :shock: I really don't see that I have anything in common with the owners of bikes designed not to go round corners.

you sure you're not a bmw rider?

Holmeslice · Mar 30, 2012

boz said:
I was gassing up one day and this guy and his OL pulled in on a brand new HD. He looks over at my 750 "S" and says I never heard of a Norton who made it?

Funny. I've had this happen too. Several times. And once a dude asked me what kind of a Triumph was a Norton. :shock: Wow.

Brithit · Mar 30, 2012

For the most part, the only notice I get on Brit bikes from Harley riders is the older grizzled veteran types giving me a nod or thumbs up. Most on ironheads or shovels. The "modern" Harley riders don't even so much as wave at me - which is fine. I think the latest Harley fad is on a two-lane is to size up your bike from a long ways away, and if it's not a bagger or something they identify as a Harley, they don't even look your way as they pass. Of course, when I'm on my kick start maggie-fired XLCH, some asshat on an Evo or Twin-cam will call it a "girl's bike". Hate to make generalizations about some of these types of folks, but my observations are quite accurate 9 times out of 10. To paraphrase Dog T WGAFF?

Holmeslice · Mar 30, 2012

Agreed. Not trying to generalize. I have plenty of friends who ride harleys. Just stating facts in my case.

I once had a Norton decal on my guitar amp, playing CBGBs in NYC, and a local chapter HA came up, wearing his colors, and we had a long chat about bikes (he had an Atlas) at the side of the stage. Don't think he would've spoken to me if I had a Honda decal on my amp.

Brithit · Mar 30, 2012

Kenny,

CBGBs? Wow, learn something new everyday! What a historic place. Good story!

maylar · Mar 30, 2012

My Norton is accepted in any crowd - Harley, ricer or otherwise. Classic styling, a great exhaust note and legendary handling have an appeal to any biker. Seems like everyone you meet either had one or knows someone who had one back in the day.

The classic Japanese stuff is starting to get the same kind of appeal - everybody remembers those nasty 3 cylinder 2 strokes that smelled bad, handled bad, and did 12 sec 1/4 miles. It's not just an American / Brit thing - it's the appeal of classics in general that makes our bikes interesting.

A bit of chrome helps, too...

jeffmack · Mar 30, 2012

Harleys like us cause our 40 year old brit bikes leak oil like there brand new 30,000.00 machines do

Noticed Harley Owners Like Your Norton?

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