Spare $39500 (USD) for a Norton Cafe, Anyone?
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For what those guys do, that price isn't far off. A regular CNW Commando rebuild is around $20,000 plus the price of the donor bike. Figure in the extra $4000 for the Evan Wilcox alloy work and all the extra bits like dual front discs, fuel injection, CNW's new electronic tach and speedo and the list goes on.
If I had a spare hunk of cash between the mattress, I'd buy one but my Commando is on a similar path so i don't have to, although mine isn't a 920 but merely an 850. :wink:
I speak to Matt at CNW regulary (they are rebuilding a motor for me at present) so he usually gives me updates an what they are doing and even tells me some stuff that they have not revealed yet. The mount of work that went into the original #038 is mind boggling and you guys should check out the build photos on the CNW site.
If I had a spare hunk of cash between the mattress, I'd buy one but my Commando is on a similar path so i don't have to, although mine isn't a 920 but merely an 850. :wink:
I speak to Matt at CNW regulary (they are rebuilding a motor for me at present) so he usually gives me updates an what they are doing and even tells me some stuff that they have not revealed yet. The mount of work that went into the original #038 is mind boggling and you guys should check out the build photos on the CNW site.
Patrick Godet sells these for about $60,000 ea and has two years worth of orders ahead of him at present. http://www.godet-motorcycles.com/
I can't see why the CNW Norton is worth any less, so perhaps it represents good value.
Patrick started out selling these bikes in the $40,000 range but quickly found he coud not make a profit at that level. He builds about ten bikes a year and now offers a 1330CC version.
I'll take one of each (Vincent & Norton) please, that way it won't get boring!
I can't see why the CNW Norton is worth any less, so perhaps it represents good value.
Patrick started out selling these bikes in the $40,000 range but quickly found he coud not make a profit at that level. He builds about ten bikes a year and now offers a 1330CC version.
I'll take one of each (Vincent & Norton) please, that way it won't get boring!
Agreed that CNW is a first class operation. And nothing wrong with offering a sublime unit for whatever the market will bear. But the price is a bit stunning to this ole farm boy from Iowa. I know it shouldn't be, with all the prices I'm seeing on various vintage bikes. I just saw a set (four) of original Ducati Conti muffler clamps go for $700 on FleaBay a few days ago. Crazy. They'll probably go on a pristine concours bike, most likely an SS Bevel Ducati, but still.... they remain muffler clamps nonetheless.
I'm guessing Matt will have a waiting list for his custom bikes at this price, and good for him. Was just pointing out the 'wow' factor. And Coco, keep us informed when your motor comes back and you have the bike back together. You are building a first-class machine and doing it right at every turn from what I've read.
wrench
I'm guessing Matt will have a waiting list for his custom bikes at this price, and good for him. Was just pointing out the 'wow' factor. And Coco, keep us informed when your motor comes back and you have the bike back together. You are building a first-class machine and doing it right at every turn from what I've read.
wrench
wrench said:
You as well with that Ducati project as I'm curious to see that when it's finished.
The MKIII is coming along. CNW still has the motor so I've given up on having it ready for this summer. The hydraulic clutch mod seems to be taking a while for the parts to arive. It's almost August and our riding season stops at the end of October up here. I don't think I can get it together by September when my motor shows up sometime in August. I figure by November it should be good to go. Just in time for the snow! I'll just sit on the bike and make some "vroom" "vroom" noises.
I see those rub's up here buying Road King's for $40,000 including all the billet crap they swap out, so what is so crazy about a $39,000 custom Commando?
Just bought a beautiful old 650SS for a fraction of the price of those customs. I bet I'll have as much or more fun on it than I would on any expensive custom. The truth is I would rather have an old original dragster like the SS than any custom.
All of the local oldtime Norton fans have come out of the woodwork, they are even more excited about the arrival of this bike than I am. They remember great feats of derring-do and near impossible speeds set by early 650SS pilots screaming around the now paved over Westwood racetrack. There is much talk of a much modified 650SS that set the course record in 66 and was clocked at 143MPH, then turned in an 11.18 second quarter at Mission dragways. Seems quite a feat from an old Dominator twin, but maybe with a small supercharger and some nitrous...
Not sure this bike will be terribly quick, probably in reality it will be quite a bit slower than my 850, but it really is pretty, looks like a motorcycle should!
All of the local oldtime Norton fans have come out of the woodwork, they are even more excited about the arrival of this bike than I am. They remember great feats of derring-do and near impossible speeds set by early 650SS pilots screaming around the now paved over Westwood racetrack. There is much talk of a much modified 650SS that set the course record in 66 and was clocked at 143MPH, then turned in an 11.18 second quarter at Mission dragways. Seems quite a feat from an old Dominator twin, but maybe with a small supercharger and some nitrous...
Not sure this bike will be terribly quick, probably in reality it will be quite a bit slower than my 850, but it really is pretty, looks like a motorcycle should!
Coco said:
It is always surprising how long it takes and how expensive it can be to put an old machine together properly. On the BevelHead list I'm part of, I remember mentioning that I hoped to have my Duc on the road this summer. You could almost hear the collective guffaws of the group who were kind enough to humor my intentions. How right they were. I'll be lucky to have the bike together by winter, even.
And dead on, so many folks have no problem spending $40,000 for a chromed-up ill-handling Harley (more for a custom chopper). If you have that kind of cash to burn, why not at least buy a proper bike? ;-o
wrench
wrench said:
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones... A Commando is fine as a bike, it looks like one and performs like one, but don't expect one to be any better than the latest offerings from Japan, Europe or even a Buell. Time marches on and time is very hard on machinery. Throwing money at a Commando will not make it into a modern bike just like Kenny Dreer proved with his adventure. I hate to sound negative but I think old bikes should be seen with different eyes, the money spent on getting one to your liking is done in the exact same way a chopper rider does to get his bike to his liking. If it's to parade a few miles each year or to just sit and watch it from different angles or ride it like it was meant to be, the result to me is the same, money well spent. It's unfortunate, but some have more to spend than others so they do things we think are stupid like buying a muffler clamp for $700 or drinking an expensive bottle of wine, port or scotch.
Jean
Jeandr said:
People who built their houses out of straw are probably in worse shape when the the big bad wolf comes 'round. And if your stone hits the target the first time, nothing wrong with living in a glass house. Enjoy the views it provides, I say.
I never really met anyone who thinks their Norton will perform "better" (a rather nebulous term, to be sure. It depends on what you mean by it) than the "latest offerings" out there. But I do so admire the spirit of curiosity and drive and love of making one's Norton perform better, look better, last longer, ride longer, handle better, etc., etc. To me that is part of the joy of all. Of course you can have a conservationist's approach, just keep it stock and don't monkey-around with it, fine. But to deny the spirit of improvement and joy it brings, whatever standard one is shooting for, is limiting to the extreme. I applaud those who try to bring their bikes up to their own standards, whatever the standards may be.
Kenny Dreers "adventure" was an admirable one in my book. It failed because of lack of funds, simple as that. Not because his bikes failed any kind of modernity test. Again, an admirable attempt on his part. Maybe he should have just stuck with curating a classic bike show?
Again,, I would suggest that most - if not all - of us here aren't as naive as you seem to suggest. They bought their "old" machines for valid and varied reasons. They aren't looking at them through rose-colored glasses and seeing a modern super bike. That's a fairly diminutive view of Norton owners in my (not so) humble opinion.
So some scotch costs more than others? Wine, too? Now that IS crazy! I was actually rather thrilled and excited that the muffler clamps were going for $700, as I have the same set on my bike. Didn't think it was a crime to profess a bit of surprise over it, though. And I think we all reserve the right to express opinions about such matters, just as you (and I) have done here. To me it's part of the fun of old bike ownership. A group of folks with generally similar tastes working on the bikes they love. Their will always be fuddy-duddies and those who build straw houses in hurricane prone areas, but that's part of the fun, too.
I think CNWs new cafe race-inspired Norton is well worth noting, that's why I hav no regrets posting it here. It's part of the interesting mix of enjoying on an older bike. It keeps one thinking, wondering, enjoying all aspects of vintage biking. It's merely a different approach. Maybe not for everyone. But it is fun to talk about and look at and consider and even - gasp! - possibly learn something from.
wrench
No offense meant
Don't take it personal Wrench, I just found the term "proper bike" in a Commando forum to mean "get a Norton instead of a chrome boat".
If I had ~$40,000 to put on a bike, it would probably be a Vincent, which I would probably dearly regret because I don't know anything about them. To stay on topic, my next choice which would be a lot better logicaly, it would be a Norton rebuilt as a café by Colorado Norton Works, I least I know what I am getting into and his workmanship is second to none.
Kenny Dreer went a long ways in his adventure, lack of capital was indeed a killer, but maybe, just maybe his market research was a bit shallow, there is no way he would have sold enough bikes to recover developpement costs (at least that is what I think). Mainstream buyers want V-twins and every manufacturer makes them close enough to an HD you have to get up close to see what they really are. Modern old bikes would never sell as many copies, I think Kenny should have done like CNW and build a few bikes a year like he used to do.
Also I find nothing wrong in modifying a classic to make it to my taste nor do I find anything wrong in making one just like it left the showroom floor, what I find objectionable is thinking that throwing money at an old bike will make it as good as a modern one. I will post pictures soon of a Norton with an 80° crank, the guy spent a lot of money on it to make it smooth and he bitches about it too, I see it as a waste to think it will be as smooth, as cheap or as reliable as a UJM. My reply may have been tainted by this very person and his Norton, so my apologies if I have ruffled your feathers.
Jean
Don't take it personal Wrench, I just found the term "proper bike" in a Commando forum to mean "get a Norton instead of a chrome boat".
If I had ~$40,000 to put on a bike, it would probably be a Vincent, which I would probably dearly regret because I don't know anything about them. To stay on topic, my next choice which would be a lot better logicaly, it would be a Norton rebuilt as a café by Colorado Norton Works, I least I know what I am getting into and his workmanship is second to none.
Kenny Dreer went a long ways in his adventure, lack of capital was indeed a killer, but maybe, just maybe his market research was a bit shallow, there is no way he would have sold enough bikes to recover developpement costs (at least that is what I think). Mainstream buyers want V-twins and every manufacturer makes them close enough to an HD you have to get up close to see what they really are. Modern old bikes would never sell as many copies, I think Kenny should have done like CNW and build a few bikes a year like he used to do.
Also I find nothing wrong in modifying a classic to make it to my taste nor do I find anything wrong in making one just like it left the showroom floor, what I find objectionable is thinking that throwing money at an old bike will make it as good as a modern one. I will post pictures soon of a Norton with an 80° crank, the guy spent a lot of money on it to make it smooth and he bitches about it too, I see it as a waste to think it will be as smooth, as cheap or as reliable as a UJM. My reply may have been tainted by this very person and his Norton, so my apologies if I have ruffled your feathers.
Jean
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I'm new to this world of Norton owners. I have only had my 71 commando for about 8 months. I owned alot of modern bikes during the last 30 years but after giving up my bmw k bike for the Norton i can honestly say that i know what fun riding is all about. These old Nortons are great bikes as stock or pushed to the limits of ones pocket book. Just remember we as Norton riders are a rare breed. We chose to ride a piece of history. These new bikes are just a way to carry on the history. Ride safe guys and girls!
grandpaul
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Just SLIGHTLY off topic, but in response to some thoughts that are flowing around here, I think the electric start retrofit that Old Brits is showing may be a good step in the right direction to "modernise" some of these old Nortons, especially for folks with knee & back trouble, and just general onset of geezerhood (looking in mirror).
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