The Power Choice brochure

texasSlick · Nov 6, 2021

Ash, you have a nice shed, .... more like a man cave.

Slick

Alan L · Nov 6, 2021

ashman said:
Alan I was the same when I was 17 years old and after riding my mate's 750 Commando/Featherbed for the day I was hooked, 2 weeks later I went looking to buy a new Norton Commando so my mind was already made up, all my friends were buying new Honda 750 4s at the time, I did my home work and decided on the 74 850 Roadster, at the time there was only 2 74 Commando's in Brisbane at 2 different shops and both at the same price one was the white with blue (JPN colour) and the other one at Morgan and Wackers was the black with gold PS, that's the one I went for and put a deposit on it, that's when they gave me all the brochures so I could dreull all over them and was to pic it up on Saturday morning.
Because it was old stock the 74 Commando was at the back of the show room and all the 75 M111s were in the front as well the Trident and they also had a JPN M111, I went for the 74 as it was near $500 cheaper and 45lbs lighter, total cost for me was $1999 on the road, my dad went garranteed for me as it was my first ever loan and had to get a loan for $1100, I had the rest, I told none of my mates I was buying a new Norton and they only found out when I asked my mates to drive me up to Wackers on Saturday morning their busyest day of the week, we arrived at 9am and my new Norton was sitting right beside the front door inside, I jumped out of the car right in front while my mates parked the car.
The shop was crowed with harden bikers mostly Harley owners as Wackers was also the main Harley dealership at the time, the salesman came straight over to me and while most people in the shop were there waiting to get served for part they were all look at me a skinny 17 year old and a salesman showing me over the Norton and explaining everything and how what to do to fire it up, by this time all my mates where watching in shock I think, not sure as my excitement was running high, then it was time for me to jump on had my helmet already on, I didn't even have a leather jacket just a sweat shirt, jeans and bloody gym boots well dress for the big day lol.
Well the whole shop stopped to watch this skinny kid kick start his new 850 Commando and it fired straight up and before anything I had it in gear and straight out the front door and I was off, but only been riding Honda dirt bikes since I was 15 the gear change was all new to me being on the right side and around the other way to what I was use to, nearly came to a big craunch on the Breaky Creek bridge just around the corner from Wackers, a bus stopped in front of me and I went to hit the brakes and hit the gear lever instead but lucky had time to swive around it into the left lane, sh.t that was so close, I was real careful after that and only took me a few days so get use to it, that was over 45 years ago, I still own the Norton but I followed my mate and converted it to the Featherbed frame way back in 1980, I bought the Featherbed frame off my mate in 79 off my mate Don who got me started on my British bike life, we are still good mates and some of my mates who came up to the shop that day are still around , the driver of the car that drove me up to get my new Norton was killed in a bike accident over 30 years ago just down the road from my place, I will never forget that day way back in June 76 and that brochure sits proudly on my shed wall.

AshleyView attachment 82611

Great story

Alan L · Nov 6, 2021

Great story Ashman
so similar to mine, including using my father to guarantee the loan.
My slightly used But immaculate T160 cost $2000 in early 78. Interestingly Burling and Simmons still had old stock T150s for the same price and new T160s for $2700, fabulously expensive. Around that time Frazier’s had NOS early Ducati GTE 860 (I think, squarish tank, predecessor to the GTS, does that sound correct) for around $1200 and they couldn’t give them away. I think a Commando was about $2000.
Anyway, as a teenager, life was so much newer and brighter. A ride in the country, a beer and a pub lunch were as good as it gets. We will never be able to recreate the early thrills of rolling the throttle on riding a high performance bike, discovering the wonders of female anatomy or the freedom of learning to drink with mates around a campfire at night with your bike parked in the firelight. ‘Oh youth, you are wasted on the young’.

ashman · Nov 6, 2021

texasSlick said:
Ash, you have a nice shed, .... more like a man cave.

Slick

Slick I have lived here all my life except running away a few times in my younger days but always came back home, this shed I built in 91 to replace the small shed I had and over the years have made and set it up for my Norton and my other bikes, been retired now for 8 years and I still can't find the time to do all I want, my bikes, shed and all my things are my life, I spend most of my time up the back, have my music, beer fridge and now the snooker table life couldn't be better for me and next Sunday I turn 63 so big weekend planned, Friday night a few mates over and Sunday I will be starting early lol
I haven't had a drink for a few weeks but am going to make up for it next weekend I can tell you that for sure, I have a fire pit out the front of the shed so a bit of BBQing will be on the cards as well, I have never classed it as a man cave, just my shed for bikes only and with this virus its safer to stay put and have enough things to keep me busy as well my gardens, I always have something on the go, I no longer build others bikes now for anyone, just my own been burned to much and no long worth the troubles.
My wife leaves me alone when up the back and now the kids have left home is even better, I might not be rich but I own everything and have always lived a simple life, I don't worry about things, never stress out so life for me couldn't be any better, life is to short to have problems and I have been like this all my life.

Ashley

ashman · Nov 6, 2021

Alan L said:
Great story Ashman

Anyway, as a teenager, life was so much newer and brighter. A ride in the country, a beer and a pub lunch were as good as it gets. We will never be able to recreate the early thrills of rolling the throttle on riding a high performance bike, discovering the wonders of female anatomy or the freedom of learning to drink with mates around a campfire at night with your bike parked in the firelight. ‘Oh youth, you are wasted on the young’.

Alan, nothing has changed with me I am still doing the same things I have done since I was a teenager, I still ride my bikes hard, still go bush, still do trips on the bikes, go for runs for weeks at a time, by myself or a few mates, but the mates are all hen pecked now and can't get away much, but that hasn't change me, I have a very good understanding wife who I have known since we were kids, her father and my dad were best mates and the wife is the oldest of 9, her oldest brother is also a long time mate of mine, I still hang with mates who I grew up with who we all got into motor bikes as soon as we left school at 15, I have always had my freedom even being married and kids, it was one of the rules when we got together, the bike are number one and will always come first as well she trust me to behave, silly girl lol, but she knows when I need to get away from life problems and it works out for her as well as we both need our breaks as I don't think I be the easiest person to live with lol, she has her 5 other sisters as well our oldest daughter who is so much like my wife in everyway, my youngest daughter is so much like me and she is very independant in everything she does.
When I hit 40 years old I said I am not going to go up in age but down so next weekend I might be 63 but I will be back to 17 just don't tell the body lol.

Ashley

BERT · Nov 6, 2021

ashman said:
Alan, nothing has changed with me I am still doing the same things I have done since I was a teenager, I still ride my bikes hard, still go bush, still do trips on the bikes, go for runs for weeks at a time, by myself or a few mates, but the mates are all hen pecked now and can't get away much, but that hasn't change me, I have a very good understanding wife who I have known since we were kids, her father and my dad were best mates and the wife is the oldest of 9, her oldest brother is also a long time mate of mine, I still hang with mates who I grew up with who we all got into motor bikes as soon as we left school at 15, I have always had my freedom even being married and kids, it was one of the rules when we got together, the bike are number one and will always come first as well she trust me to behave, silly girl lol, but she knows when I need to get away from life problems and it works out for her as well as we both need our breaks as I don't think I be the easiest person to live with lol, she has her 5 other sisters as well our oldest daughter who is so much like my wife in everyway, my youngest daughter is so much like me and she is very independant in everything she does.
When I hit 40 years old I said I am not going to go up in age but down so next weekend I might be 63 but I will be back to 17 just don't tell the body lol.

Ashley

I saw the picture of your new snookertable and I don't see any dogs under it. There is a scene with dogs all playing pool and smoking cigars in a picture somewhere and I'm guessing there's a herd of cattle loose and your heeler is out helping out.

ashman · Nov 6, 2021

BERT said:
I saw the picture of your new snookertable and I don't see any dogs under it. There is a scene with dogs all playing pool and smoking cigars in a picture somewhere and I'm guessing there's a herd of cattle loose and your heeler is out helping out.

My 2 cattle dogs were near and when we are playing pool or snooker they are always under foot, in fact I am always tripping over the blue dog she is always with me, her mother the red dog is never far, both are very loyal to me as well the wife and the kids when they drop around and will always let me know when friends or strangers are at the front gate, no one get in the front gate without me knowing.

Alan L · Nov 6, 2021

G

ashman said:
Alan, nothing has changed with me I am still doing the same things I have done since I was a teenager, I still ride my bikes hard, still go bush, still do trips on the bikes, go for runs for weeks at a time, by myself or a few mates, but the mates are all hen pecked now and can't get away much, but that hasn't change me, I have a very good understanding wife who I have known since we were kids, her father and my dad were best mates and the wife is the oldest of 9, her oldest brother is also a long time mate of mine, I still hang with mates who I grew up with who we all got into motor bikes as soon as we left school at 15, I have always had my freedom even being married and kids, it was one of the rules when we got together, the bike are number one and will always come first as well she trust me to behave, silly girl lol, but she knows when I need to get away from life problems and it works out for her as well as we both need our breaks as I don't think I be the easiest person to live with lol, she has her 5 other sisters as well our oldest daughter who is so much like my wife in everyway, my youngest daughter is so much like me and she is very independant in everything she does.
When I hit 40 years old I said I am not going to go up in age but down so next weekend I might be 63 but I will be back to 17 just don't tell the body lol.

Ashley

good one,
I think I’m similar, certainly the same age and with an extremely tolerant partner of nearly 45 years.
To compliment pommie bikes, twenty years ago I discovered the joys of sailing and getting away on our 28’ trailer sailer.
Totally different but in some ways quite similar. One day we might catch up for a beer and reminiscing
Al

ashman · Nov 6, 2021

Al I grew up with boats and fishing and owned a few tinnies as well my 27' Bay Cruiser you can see the pics of it in the other pics of my shed, I live 1km away from Moreton Bay and Bald Hills creek where my Bay Cruiser shared a jetty with my mates river prawner was only a short walk away, my dad was a stocker in the Merchant navy during the war and my brother was in the RAN when he left school so salt water is in the blood.
If you are ever up in Brisbane you be always welcome as is anyone that has a interest, friendships is very important to me same as if any members from OS is visiting here is always welcome as well, I own a small house but always find room.
Pics of my dad's ship during the war.

Alan L · Nov 7, 2021

ashman said:
Al I grew up with boats and fishing and owned a few tinnies as well my 27' Bay Cruiser you can see the pics of it in the other pics of my shed, I live 1km away from Moreton Bay and Bald Hills creek where my Bay Cruiser shared a jetty with my mates river prawner was only a short walk away, my dad was a stocker in the Merchant navy during the war and my brother was in the RAN when he left school so salt water is in the blood.
If you are ever up in Brisbane you be always welcome as is anyone that has a interest, friendships is very important to me same as if any members from OS is visiting here is always welcome as well, I own a small house but always find room.
Pics of my dad's ship during the war.View attachment 82620 View attachment 82621

Thanks Ashman,
If im ever up your way I’ll look you up, if your ever near the Snowy Mountains please do the same
Al

ashman · Nov 7, 2021

Alan L said:
Thanks Ashman,
If im ever up your way I’ll look you up, if your ever near the Snowy Mountains please do the same
Al

Love to get down that part of the world one day, have never experienced snow and like to once in my life, Sydney was the furtherest I have been south on the bike my oldest brother lives at Blacktown but that was way back in 85 when I traveled to the Easter bike races at Bathurst, spent 2 week at my brother's place that was enough for me, haven't been back since I was on my 81 Triumph Thunderbird, Sydney is to crowded and everyone is in a hurry and the smog that stuck to my face when riding around Sydney on the bike, no thanks, but one day who knows.

Ashley

dorteerts · Nov 9, 2021

ashman said:
Love to get down that part of the world one day, have never experienced snow and like to once in my life, Sydney was the furtherest I have been south on the bike my oldest brother lives at Blacktown but that was way back in 85 when I traveled to the Easter bike races at Bathurst, spent 2 week at my brother's place that was enough for me, haven't been back since I was on my 81 Triumph Thunderbird, Sydney is to crowded and everyone is in a hurry and the smog that stuck to my face when riding around Sydney on the bike, no thanks, but one day who knows.

Ashley

Reading Alan's and Ashley's experiences brings back many memories. Lives so distant yet so similar in many ways. Must be a Norton/Aussie thing! We are really lucky here. Ride all year, have garages/sheds full of great stuff, dogs, snooker tables, fishing, beer, barbecues, mates and of course an increasing collection of bikes.
I lived in Sydney for the first 50 years of my life, the last 18 up inland from Newcastle near Maitland. Used to ride my bikes from the Northern Beaches to the CBD everyday in the early and mid 70's. Loved it until the traffic just got too much. Started with a Suzuki 250 trail, then a T150 Trident and then a little later sometimes I would ride the Z1R in. Fast forward to now and I have some of the bikes I always wanted before marriage, kids and home ownership stepped in. Went on regular Tuesday ride today on the Roadking. Most enjoyable. I have ridden all the bikes since the end of lockdown and get equal pleasure out of all of them, despite many differences. Enough dribbling................
By the way I have always loved that Powerchoice Brochure.

The Power Choice brochure

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