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- Jun 30, 2012
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- 13,193
There is a group of motorcycles which I call 'thunderbikes' - air cooled four stroke singles twins and triples. They usually have torquey motors and frames to suit, so they go and handle really great. Laverdas a good things , but too heavy. BMWs and Guzzis have a torque reaction characteristic which makes them strange t o ride. Ducatis are really great but too expensive. Triumph twins and triples are great too, but nowhere as exciting to ride. Harleys could be good, but you'd be bankrupt long before you got sense out of one. That leaves the Norton Commando in the same market niche, a reasonably priced, functional bike that is totally rebuildable and responds extremely well to tuning. Norton Commandos are a better example of a big thunderbike than most others.
Amongst smaller thunderbikes, Manx Nortons and Inters are unobtainium, but extremely lovable . ES2s and Model 18s are good, but an SR500 Yamaha is a better single in the same niche.
Amongst smaller thunderbikes, Manx Nortons and Inters are unobtainium, but extremely lovable . ES2s and Model 18s are good, but an SR500 Yamaha is a better single in the same niche.