I hate to see it but the infection of stupid is becoming more common with Norton commando's, there are at least three on eBay up for sale right now at stupid kids have bobbed. While this is common with other bikes I was hoping Nortons would be saved from this kind of idiocy. Anyone who thinks a swing arm bike looks cool with the half ass bob job is an idiot. The original bobbers looked great but they're hard tails and it's a completely different look. These half ass bobs done to everything on two wheels just look stupid like that incorrectly done choppers of the 70s where guys would just put long fork tubes on a stock frame. That's my rant and I'm sticking to it !!!!
The infection of stupid has spread to Norton Commandos.
- Thread starter gtsun
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Re: The infection of stupid has spread to Norton commando's.
I think of this as customization without the actual ability to customize.
Chopping off the back of a bike is pretty simple to accomplish and leaves the rest functional as all of the other stuff on a motorcycle is "needed".
A hacksaw, a 12 pack, some black spray paint and the desire to personalize a bike is all that is needed.
It's a persons right to do what they want to their motorcycles, but this bobber trend has butchered a whole lot of good frames.
I think of this as customization without the actual ability to customize.
Chopping off the back of a bike is pretty simple to accomplish and leaves the rest functional as all of the other stuff on a motorcycle is "needed".
A hacksaw, a 12 pack, some black spray paint and the desire to personalize a bike is all that is needed.
It's a persons right to do what they want to their motorcycles, but this bobber trend has butchered a whole lot of good frames.
concours
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Re: The infection of stupid has spread to Norton commando's.
Same reason the chopper craze swept, (and is enjoying some resurgence) just to be OUTLANDISH. :shock: Nothing more. Most hipsters on bobbers appear to be barely able to keep up with the minivans and some look frightened doing that. :shock: :roll:
davamb said:
Same reason the chopper craze swept, (and is enjoying some resurgence) just to be OUTLANDISH. :shock: Nothing more. Most hipsters on bobbers appear to be barely able to keep up with the minivans and some look frightened doing that. :shock: :roll:
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Reminds me docking the tail of a dog. Just doesn't look natural. :|
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Well, it does if you're crazy about English Springer Spaniels...
Onder
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Ive never understood choppers. Dont get bobbers. At a loss when it comes to massive Gold Wings.
But then Commandos are pretty silly if you think about bikes as daily get to work riders in a climate
like England's.
So slim mudguards, exposed stanchions, no fully enclosed chain, no windscreen are rather silly
when it comes to actually riding.
Most things depend on where you are standing when you view them.
But then Commandos are pretty silly if you think about bikes as daily get to work riders in a climate
like England's.
So slim mudguards, exposed stanchions, no fully enclosed chain, no windscreen are rather silly
when it comes to actually riding.
Most things depend on where you are standing when you view them.
Frankly I like a well done bobber or chopper done with period correct HARDTAIL frames but no self respecting customizer would take a typical swingarm Norton commando and try to turn it into something that it can never be. This trend is done by kids who don't know what a real bobber or chopper is, where they came from or why they were done in the first place .
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People trying to make a quick buck.
If you follow sales of different bikes you see a lot of old bikes that have been poorly bobbed or chopped and then over priced.
People find a barn bike with parts missing and don't know enough about values...and then destroy them thinking they can make some money.
If you follow sales of different bikes you see a lot of old bikes that have been poorly bobbed or chopped and then over priced.
People find a barn bike with parts missing and don't know enough about values...and then destroy them thinking they can make some money.
Craig
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this line of talk reminds me of when I was kid at local mech. shop listening to the old men lamenting the good old days .... while I respect my Norton and would never do anything radical to it .... I say , thanks to all those before us that made this a free world ... and I applaud any youngsters with the energy to get their nose out of the electro-gadget and actually do something real with their hands .... while I'm not keen on the results , everybody got to start somewhere ....
Craig
Craig
baz
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could we see a photo or two of these bikes? there are some good bad and ugly ones out there ,personally i love custom bikes but to me they have to be done well ie they have to handle well ,stop start well as well as look good etc or would you rather see every single motorcycle exactly as it left the factory? of course some people would i suppose ,i ride a bobber rigid framed bmw r100 rs that i hardtailed in 1991 it handles superbly it brakes better than when it was stock its faster and more economical because you sit very low ,it dosent lift up at back when you accelerate hard it is all round better than when it was standard in my opinion and every body elses that has ridden it ,would i hard tail my commando no because i like it the way it is ,but i would build another bmw bobber in a heart beat cheers baz
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cNw
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Many, many moons ago I had a 10 foot chopper. With a Commando engine and gear box, it was pretty unusual. Denver's Choppers frame, Fury girder, Morris Mags, no front brake and a Grimeca disc in the back. No front fender and a TT exhaust. It was hard to ride slow, really tough when it was raining and didn't really stop but I loved it and put a lot of miles on it.
Then I decided to build a bobber. Cut a Commando frame down and did an extended swing arm set up. Ape hangers. Drum front brake that didn't really work and a hand shift. No front fender on this one either. Modified roadster tank. Felt great
To me it was a learning experience. Countless hours in the garage working with what was available. Get your hands into something and change it up to make something different. Something unique and 'yours'. No, they didn't always work but it didn't matter at the time.
Things have a changed a bit for me but I never regret the seriously modified machines as they were just part of what got me to where I am today....still tinkering with these old bikes
Matt / Colorado Norton Works
http://www.coloradonortonworks.com
Then I decided to build a bobber. Cut a Commando frame down and did an extended swing arm set up. Ape hangers. Drum front brake that didn't really work and a hand shift. No front fender on this one either. Modified roadster tank. Felt great
To me it was a learning experience. Countless hours in the garage working with what was available. Get your hands into something and change it up to make something different. Something unique and 'yours'. No, they didn't always work but it didn't matter at the time.
Things have a changed a bit for me but I never regret the seriously modified machines as they were just part of what got me to where I am today....still tinkering with these old bikes
Matt / Colorado Norton Works
http://www.coloradonortonworks.com
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Those of us who know how the world turns just need to keep a steady hand on the tiller. Leave the fools to their own devices. Commandos were special in their day (Isolastics) and to me and others, still are today. IMHO, choppers and bobbers are things to justify the existence of lesser, inferior bikes. OK for others, not for 'us'
Fact: Commando is best. Believe it. HTH
Cheers, Martin
Fact: Commando is best. Believe it. HTH
Cheers, Martin
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Okay, since Matt confessed, I too have owned some chopped and bobbed bikes over the years.
Here's a bike I picked up last year for a song. Not a Norton, but a close relative.
At the time I thought the engine was worth much more than I paid for it so I bought it. Once I started looking at it, I decided I could improve it and put together a nice old school chopper.
Subsequently I bought a shorter front end for it, a better rear fender and seat and a larger gas tank. I plan to reduce the front rake because it is just too steep...you can't even move it around without the front end flopping over.
I keep flipping back and forth thinking I should look for a Bonneville that needs an engine and sell the rest...but the old school chopper might be fun.
Here's a bike I picked up last year for a song. Not a Norton, but a close relative.
At the time I thought the engine was worth much more than I paid for it so I bought it. Once I started looking at it, I decided I could improve it and put together a nice old school chopper.
Subsequently I bought a shorter front end for it, a better rear fender and seat and a larger gas tank. I plan to reduce the front rake because it is just too steep...you can't even move it around without the front end flopping over.
I keep flipping back and forth thinking I should look for a Bonneville that needs an engine and sell the rest...but the old school chopper might be fun.
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One of our O.N.O. members here in Toronto has hipster image influenced thoughts of getting a second Norton to turn into a Bobber. We went to the Etobicoke burbs to look at one for this cool dude idea 2 months ago . He commented that very few Nortons abandoned in GTA garages come up for sale anymore. This 72 was very rusty with smashed instruments for a firm $3200 Cdn. I know he went home thinking hard about it , but then a storm attacked his house and priorities changed. It would be criminal to lob off the back of a Commando frame , maybe Hamilton Norton people would know of a potential starting point frame with say a bent rear frame loop ? If a buggered frame is available then I would help him continue this search next year, but I would not help or allow him to hurt a good one. Lots of hipsters here downtown.
This thread made me dig this frame out of my bone pile today and take pics.
I rescued it from a guy making a "hardtail" bobber out of it. ( 1968 Yamaha DT-1 - 250cc. 2 stroke dirtbike):
now that I look at it a bit closer........ a sportster tank, wrapped exhaust pipe and flat black paint and it would be totally BADASS ! :roll:
I rescued it from a guy making a "hardtail" bobber out of it. ( 1968 Yamaha DT-1 - 250cc. 2 stroke dirtbike):
now that I look at it a bit closer........ a sportster tank, wrapped exhaust pipe and flat black paint and it would be totally BADASS ! :roll:
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