What’s the best none Norton Norton ?

robs ss said:
Serious question...
Can the Paul Smart 1000 be made into a comfortable riding position?
eg: Moto Guzzi "riser style" clip ons, more forward foot controls?
Anyone done it? Can it work?

PS: I'm not as young as I once was!! Although I do recall the 1000 katana was very bad on the wrists until about 140kph where the wind pressure lifted your chest. That's my excuse for all those speeding fines anyway.👍
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In answer to your question: no.

The tank is so big and fat that the clip ons are a long way away and are forced at an unnatural angle. You can’t raise them sufficiently to clear the tank issue due to the fairing.

The PSR is a great short journey / track day toy, but no good for mileage. I nearly dropped mine due to numb hands !

It surprised me how much fun it was as a track day toy though…

What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
 
MAK said:
This is by far the most uncomfortable bike ever produced, looks gorgeous though!!
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I loved the look cause it reminded me of the supersport, but the seat pad propped your fanny so high, and the low clip-ons force your wrists to bear the strain of your full upper torso. The riding position made my 999 Duck fell luxurious by comparison.
And the 999 is pretty much a back breaker!
But it does look Bitchin', and I love Ducks, even torturous one.
Many of these bikes had their plastic tanks replaced under warranty due to problems with ethanol "contaminated" gasoline.
 
Owned a 998 Ducati when the model was released in Germany. Not the one below (same setup though) - mine was stolen after a few month and before I got any decent pictures:mad:. As I remember phone cameras were in their infancy back then.

To my memory the Duc was surprisingly comfortable although of course I was muuuuuch younger! Had the insurance payout money in my sticky little mits by time the 999 was released. I’d lusted after the 916 for so long I just couldn’t stomach the leap forward(?) in styling - didn’t purchase. I’ve since come to really like it.

I’ve ridden a lot of sports bikes in my time (as we all have no doubt) but I can’t remember any with a more radical (read uncomfortable) riding position than the 961 Cafe Racer!! High bar conversion likely, before too many more years tick over!

IMG_9619.jpeg

5 reasons why the 999 was better!

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5 Reasons Why The Ducati 916 Is The Most Iconic Sportbike Ever (5 Reasons Why The 999 Was Better)

The Ducati 916 is heralded as the most beautiful sportbike ever. The 999, on the other hand, is considered an ugly duckling, but it's the better bike.
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Fast Eddie said:
In answer to your question: no.

The tank is so big and fat that the clip ons are a long way away and are forced at an unnatural angle. You can’t raise them sufficiently to clear the tank issue due to the fairing.

The PSR is a great short journey / track day toy, but no good for mileage. I nearly dropped mine due to numb hands !

It surprised me how much fun it was as a track day toy though…

View attachment 112334
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Thanks Nigel - that photo of you has done it.
I'm not good for that kind of position now.
Nice idea, but... next!
Cheers
 
baz said:
Nothing
Apart from they are not sports bikes
And that's what a Norton commando was
Hence the title of the thread "best non Norton Norton "
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With interstate, high rider & even mid height sidepipe .variants.
 
Yup! I agree , difficult to get past ugly radiator , for me , only bad from my point of view …
 
speaking of adventure/sporty etc variants, or the commando covering all the bases,

today
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BMW R 1300 GS - Motorcycle of the Year

The BMW R 1300 GS ADV is named Motorcyclist Magazine’s Motorcycle of the Year.
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The Genesis of the BMW R80 G/S​

Exploring the origins of the ADV movement and the history of the original 1980 R80 G/S.
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The Genesis of the BMW R80 G/S

BMW's R80 G/S was the first adventure bike, the mother of a movement, and the savior of BMW's motorcycle division.
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With the R80 G/S, Gerlinger and BMW were prescient. The company could not have known it at the time, but that first G/S was a masterstroke—not just for short-term sales, which kept the company alive, but for the enduring power of the GS line and the thriving category that so many millions of riders would thrill to over the coming decades.

In 1979, Karl Heinz Gerlinger was asked to make BMW’s motorcycle division profitable again. The R80 G/S did just that…and so much more.
 
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