Noticed Harley Owners Like Your Norton?

Neither my 73 Commando nor my 06 Harley Softail Deuce (which was a whole lot less than $30K new, BTW - well under $20K, actually) leaks oil.

A knuckle, pan, flattie, or shovel that leaks - okay. Evos and Twin Cams - not unless there's something wrong with the bike and/or its owner. Commandos don't have to leak either, given the proper parts and setup.

Brian said:

Commandos don't have to leak either, given the proper parts and setup.

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true, and a one way breather valve and a dry belt primary go a long long way to eliminating all pesky leaks!

What telltale signs of irony did I miss, Francis?

88cid Knuckle cafe I played with a bit but feel more like a tractor than light footed cafe'.

hobot said:

88cid Knuckle cafe I played with a bit but feel more like a tractor than light footed cafe'.

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Sure looks like a shovelhead to me....

Ugh, ok a Shovelhead then. Pulled real good and of course as loud as the paint.

I put my 1973, 750 together out of the crate when I worked for the dealer after school and on weekends while in school. I was the first one to fill it with it's fluds, put the battery in it, fill the tires with air, clean off the cosmolene and kick it to life for the first time (on this side of the pond). During that first summer we rode nearly 14,000 miles together, camped on the roadside in Laconia, Carved the curves of the Adirondaks, the Bershires, The White mountains and the Green Mountains. Riding to school, taking my Girlfriend out and posing for my Mom in my Cap and Gown with one foot on the peg, smiling like the proverbial Cheshire Cat!

This Norton and I have had our share of trials, tribulations, happiness, sadness, anger and melancholy.... growing up and maturing together in those New York hills and valleys. A better summer I cannot recall than that Summer of '73.

Well, here it is 39 years later and I finally have her back to the original Royal Fire Flake Blue as well as the rest of her totally restored. While discussing this restoration with Frank Diehl of Classic Cycles, who did the majority of the work, he wanted to know if I wanted to remove the Battle Scars. The right front corner of the front fender, scars on the tachometer case, as well as some other cosmetic "imperfections". I nearly told him yes, as my original thinking was to get her back to as perfect as possilble.

Then, I thought NO. Let's leave some personality, some memories I can share with those who may inquire about those little reminders. I have absolutely no regrets.

I feel the same way about "patina". Graceful aging. Since I have shared many stories with interested on lookers, those that come out of the bar to take a look, listening to all the oooooohsssss and ahhhhhhssss of the throngs of Harley riders. While hearing, "I remember those! They were Hot". "Wasn't a Harley around in those days that would even come close to one of those" as he points with the slender end of his long neck. And my personal favorite (taking place duing the Harley week here in Myrtle Beach) "Of all the Hundreds of Motorcycles in this parking Lot, Your's is the only one I would want to take home."

Smiling, I took another draught from my own longneck, thinking I am happy I left the Battle Scars.

Shee-ite. I have a couple of friends who bought their first Harleys in the last year or so. They sit around and talk about how I should leave the crotch rockets to the kids and how I should learn to act my age. Comically they are the ones sitting around with Harley patches on their jackets and ride with no helmets cuz it is cool. I stay out of the conversation because I know they are just trying to get a rise out of me and sadly they think they are serious and showing how much they know about the world.

What I love is when someone walks into the bar and says "Who owns the Norton?". Someone will point to me and I can see my "friends" getting ready to say something smart assed when the next comment is usually "Nice bike". I figure I am trying to help these guys grow through their mid-life crises, but some days it is hard.

Russ

"What I love is when someone walks into the bar and says "Who owns the Norton?". Someone will point to me and I can see my "friends" getting ready to say something smart assed when the next comment is usually "Nice bike". I figure I am trying to help these guys grow through their mid-life crises, but some days it is hard."

Well put. Well put.....

LOL! An early first experience I had with pre-Peel, an un-restored, off road dusted weedy and 14 leak grimed b/g Combat, was coming across a Bike show in a local parking lots - parked near by the roped off area and started walking to the show, to see about a dozen judges and photographers walking past ropes and past jaw dropped show bike owners, that proceeded to surround the Commando so tight it was hidden from view except for the many flashes and nice sounds arising for the huddle.

On 7th day of owning and wheelie injury I think I gave a 90 yr old gas station attendant in the woods his last youthful gleam, as he eased him self off a stool to shuffle out to far side of pumps to get a close look of my open header Combat, after a few seconds remarked, Nice Bike youngman. I was 49 at the time on shattered R knee, now 60 w/o a gimp. Antique shows to sports bike our Cdo's can go everywhere.

Old joke is good girls go to heaven, but bad girls get to go everywhere else.

The summer of 74, riding through California wine country on my brand new Blue Strip Commando. I spotted about 20 mean looking dudes in my rearview mirror all riding assorted Hogs with ape hanger. I had not seen any other traffic for miles, nor was there any in sight, knew I was a dead man riding. As they got closer, they widen their group and commence passing me in pairs, one on each side. They all look the Commando over close and gave me a thumbs up, then went about their business. I believe each one was smiling beneath their abundant face fur. Have always had nothing but friendly dialogue with Harley riders. I never bothered to ask why or what they appreciated about Nortons, just enjoyed the conversation. A couple of months later the Commando was stolen.

Perhaps one good reason:

"Lotta Torque About Norton" sign prominently displayed at AMA Grand National Dirt Tracks

Harley owners flat respect twin cylinder four stroke torque, and Nortons were well known for this

Harley guys likely had no idea Norton dominated for decades European road racing

But they knew those Nortons were faster than their Harleys. and they weren't Japanese

I took the Ranger out to a local hot rod night last week - got a lot of comments.

-What is it?
-I had a Triumph like that
-What year is it?
-'Ranger 750', huh? How big is the motor?
-This is the bike with the rubber-mounted engine, right?
-Love those old 'featherbeds'
-I Like that old American Iron

I parked next to a guy with a '48 Chief, and he got a lot of similar comments.

There were some who knew what it was, and one guy told me about his days in California in the '60s when he lived down the street from Dick Mann.

i have noted that the Harley crowd always seems fascinated by a kick starter. Maybe because it takes more effort than pushing a button??

Next time among a Harley or any modern-ish group, and you've just kicked yours off one shot, watch the waves of reactions as ya idle by so sweetly sounding bigger than it should. "Ya Know Thumb Commensors are known to lower One's IQ" ... VarrrRROOMM....

Or next time you see one of those Harley-types check out your bike... ask them.

i'm way late to this topic, but when i first started talking about getting my dad's norton on the road a few years ago, it came up at a local garage, and one of the big bearded mechanics who rode a harley said "i remember those, i was chased by one once, rode my ass off and when i looked back in the mirror he only had one hand on the bars and was right on my ass"

the norton guy probably just wanted to ask the harley guy,

"hey buddy, do you know how to get this thing out of 2nd gear?"

Only just seen this post. Here in UK my experience is that Harley riders take no notice of you whatsoever as they are generally sat posing on a corner with a bandana looking at themsleves in their mirrors. They are the only riders who don't wave or acknowledge you, most sports bike riders do. I am not against Harley's but I would need to live in America somewhere with a better climate to own one.