Well, My TR6C with the bonnie motor is done, and its.... kinda boring. IDK, I rode it around town, rode it on 'the back roads,' took it on the freeway, did some dirt, ripped across a couple fields. It just doesn't really blow my hair back. I guess it's just not a Norton. I ride the Commando around and I come home smiling ear to ear, I ride the TR6c and I come home and start thinking about for sale signs. Conversely, I'm not gonna pull a full hobot (I'm not that cool) and ride the Dunstall or the roadster up a creek bed, so what? Get a Yamaha? Not likely! Though I do miss my DT-1. But I digress- I have a friend that has a SUPER rough p-11 in a barn. He'd probably let it go easy enough, but is the Norton desert sled worth the year or so work it would take to get this thing functional? I grew up riding 2 stroke enduros, and I'm wondering if I'm chasing something that doesn't exist. Anybody own both and have any input?
P11 vs TR6c
- Thread starter tompkins
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Junglebiker
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My P11 isn't going yet, but I do have an old (1998) Sportster 883 lightly modified into a "dirstster" which I use to get me used to heavy iron in the dirt. Whenever I finally do get my P11 going it's going to feel like a featherweight compared to the Harley. Both have similar power and torque, though the P11 might rev a little higher, not sure. Bear with me, I am getting to my point.
I do currently own and ride a big heavy bike (the dirtster) and much lighter bikes, like a Honda XR400 and a Yamaha IT250 and IT200. They all get ridden mostly on dirt roads, the XR and IT's would be my choice for trails, but all of them make me smile on the dirt roads. I find all of them supremely satisfying in different ways. The Harely is big, heavy, has lousy suspension and ergonomics but also has vast oceans of torque and I like the noise, the XR is capable and does everything I want it to do without fuss--relaxing to ride, for sure, but still capable of releasing my inner 17 year old if I let it. The IT's are, well, they are old Yamaha 2 strokes and that's what I cut my teeth on and I still love them for some reason. They are super light.
Hahaha, I'd probably love your TR6C, too! Maybe I'm not being very helpful.
I do currently own and ride a big heavy bike (the dirtster) and much lighter bikes, like a Honda XR400 and a Yamaha IT250 and IT200. They all get ridden mostly on dirt roads, the XR and IT's would be my choice for trails, but all of them make me smile on the dirt roads. I find all of them supremely satisfying in different ways. The Harely is big, heavy, has lousy suspension and ergonomics but also has vast oceans of torque and I like the noise, the XR is capable and does everything I want it to do without fuss--relaxing to ride, for sure, but still capable of releasing my inner 17 year old if I let it. The IT's are, well, they are old Yamaha 2 strokes and that's what I cut my teeth on and I still love them for some reason. They are super light.
Hahaha, I'd probably love your TR6C, too! Maybe I'm not being very helpful.
she's a looker!
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Junglebiker
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I really like that Bates seat. Too bad they are so expensive, but they don't look like they would be hard to copy. I'd need somebody to help me with the upholstery. For now I have a reproduction original type seat on my P11.she's a looker!
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Junglebiker
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I agree!
I rode a freshly restored P11 once. The light P11 frame amplified vibrations immensely. Maybe this particular engine wasn't balanced correctly? Please ask our member Schwany how he rates vibrations (he runs a tricky engine).
- Knut
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Junglebiker
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Not sure why my location is showing as USA; I am in fact in Papua New Guinea right now.
Elfix
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My G15 shares the engine and transmission with the P11, and its vibration level is less than that of my BSA A65L. Reviews I can find suggest the G15 is friendlier than the Atlas in regards to felt vibration, while the P11 is worse. I hope to someday find out how true this is first hand.
We are all here because we like old and weird bikes, and it’s often surprising which machines are appealing and which are just…. Dull. I’ve had many machines over the years that should have been astounding but which I found uninteresting, and bikes I should have hated that I adored.
We are all here because we like old and weird bikes, and it’s often surprising which machines are appealing and which are just…. Dull. I’ve had many machines over the years that should have been astounding but which I found uninteresting, and bikes I should have hated that I adored.
Schwany
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What I have done to the P11 puts it in the not a typical P11 category. So my perspective is irrelevant as usual.
Vibration is high frequency in the hand grips at hwy droning cruise. The entire bike moves at idle. When out riding and getting on the gas I only notice the road conditions and the vibration means nothing to me, and I don't notice it. It might make some less seasoned and in worse physical condition unhappy though.
As far as the original question goes.... If your wallet is fat and you have the mechanical background you can make either a Triumph or a rigid mounted Norton 750 like the P11 do what you want it to do. I have not touched a Triumph since 1970. I've had the P11 since 1972 or 74 (bad memory). It has only been used on the tarmac.
No recommendation from me since I didn't and wouldn't ride an old twin designed in the late 50's or 60's in the dirt. I did ride a CZ, a KTM, a few Honda's, some Yamaha's, a couple of ATK's and even a BMW Paris Dakar in the dirt. The Norton stayed home where it was safe from the mayhem.
Vibration is high frequency in the hand grips at hwy droning cruise. The entire bike moves at idle. When out riding and getting on the gas I only notice the road conditions and the vibration means nothing to me, and I don't notice it. It might make some less seasoned and in worse physical condition unhappy though.
As far as the original question goes.... If your wallet is fat and you have the mechanical background you can make either a Triumph or a rigid mounted Norton 750 like the P11 do what you want it to do. I have not touched a Triumph since 1970. I've had the P11 since 1972 or 74 (bad memory). It has only been used on the tarmac.
No recommendation from me since I didn't and wouldn't ride an old twin designed in the late 50's or 60's in the dirt. I did ride a CZ, a KTM, a few Honda's, some Yamaha's, a couple of ATK's and even a BMW Paris Dakar in the dirt. The Norton stayed home where it was safe from the mayhem.
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