Why no Electric starter til 1975?

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I ride with some modern bikes that don't even have kick start levers! What silly machines!

Russ

PS - as for riding a Commando to grab a bit of my past. I disagree. I just haven't found too many bikes that make me smile that much. It would be like claiming I drink bourbon because of my heritage! When you find something in life you like, I say ride it!
 
I like commandos simply for what they are. I was brought up in the era of the old technology, and the commandos were the ultimate extension of it. - 'Some things are so bad that they are good'. I've seen a few really immaculate Mk3s at some of our historic race meetings, and they always give me a buzz. I get the same feeling when I look at some modern Ducatis, however not from many other bikes. I rarely get the feeling that I would like to jump onto a modern bike and wring its neck. Who in their right mind would buy a modern Ducati ?
 
'99%+ of the times a kick off is the best way to feel good about self and Cdo to get going, but stalls in rainy city intersections and stalls that leave me dead at bottom of deep dips or in creek bed hi centered so no kick swing room, guess what I wish I had then, not counting times one leg or the other pretty much mangled so modern medicine would install a artificial leg too. If you ain't man enough for self starting for what ever reason, well ya beg for help or just don't ride. For best efficiency lack of starter mass and cost is beneficial. I 'm glad my '38 JD tractor and my cages don't need me to start.
 
Slow evolution realizing electric starter competition . Young whippersnappers with extensive tatoos searching out really neat junk in my city now to be hipsters. They $pend more on tatoos first and leathers ...then the bike.
 
Torontonian said:
Slow evolution realizing electric starter competition . Young whippersnappers with extensive tatoos searching out really neat junk in my city now to be hipsters. They $pend more on tatoos first and leathers ...then the bike.
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So very true, But they do have a desire to ride the old bikes and they do wrench on them.
I have heard it said that real motorcycles don't have electric legs, Could this be true???
 
Real motorcycles have spark plugs ya can change from the saddle and pilot must be healthy enough to start by their own power and skill so the ES 850's have a foot and a thumb in the appliance side of motorcycle scale. Appliances are definitely better-easier to live with but don't make ya feel as alive is all.
 
JimC said:
Here, in the U.S., we older folks had to walk five miles to school. Uphill, each way!
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Nah, it was only three miles, but was over a hill so uphill both ways. Don't forget in a snow storm :)
 
1. Keep the dogma simple. Make only 1 or 2 points.

2. Be forthright and powerfully direct. Speak only in the telling or ordering mode.

3. As much as possible, reduce concepts down into stereotypes which are black and white.

4. Speak to people’s emotions and stir them constantly.

5. Use lots of repetition; repeat your points over and over again.

6. Forget literary beauty, scientific reasoning, balance, or novelty.

7. Focus solely on convincing people and creating zealots.

8. Find slogans which can be used to drive the movement forward


Adolf Hitler was a monster. The revolution he spawned changed the world landscape forever. But have you ever wondered how he did it?


http://brainblogger.com/2008/11/04/hitl ... -coercion/

First is appeal to emotions rather than REASON .


ELECTRIC STARTER . It Adds Weight , obviously . And your obviously incom petant if you cant start it in one kick . :lol:
Then theres the 110 Deg. in the shade , day .
And the All dressed up for the COLD , and the ?#^<^ Wont Start , trick . 8) :eek:

I suppose if youre over 20 , you MIGHT be allowed a Electric Start .
But all those bits weigh extra , so youre gonna be slower . :D :p :twisted:
 
Torontonian said:
Slow evolution realizing electric starter competition . Young whippersnappers with extensive tatoos searching out really neat junk in my city now to be hipsters. They $pend more on tatoos first and leathers ...then the bike.
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How true.
 
Yep, born in the late 40's or early 50's was a great time for all those reasons mentioned. That is, unless you were one of the 58,286 US dead,and 1,645, US MIA who never made it back from the rice paddy. Ride what you like, kick it or push the button, WGAF.

MF
 
Amazing how a simple question on Norton history can turn into such a philosophical discussion. Perhaps the best way to continue this thread would be for the moderators to lock it and all future postings be hand written on parchment with a quill pen, postings then mailed via Pony Express to moderators, and then transscribed onto the forum.
Sorry, but I can't help but think thoughts like that when discussing the merits of "old" versus "new" technology via what will probably prove to be the most signifigant development of the 20th century, surpassing even the internal combustion engine and atomic energy (for whatever purpose) :)
FWIW I've put a lot more miles on my Commando this summer than my modern "everyday ride" Suzuki, not real sure why but I just like it better.
 
This discussion has clinched it for me. Recovering from spinal fusion and a right knee replacement. My 70 Fastback is getting the next Alton E-start that will work for a belt drive. I miss riding too much to feel bad for being a button pusher!
Mike
 
No one of us would want to use a car with crank rather than an electric starter, yet our early cars all had to be cranked to start them. I am old enough to remember when practically all motorcycles were of the kick start variety. There were times I wish my Norton had an electric starter. When I've been waiting for the light to change and the old Norton loses its fire just before the light changes to green. I certainly wish for a button rather than a lever when that happens.
 
Wussies!
man up and kick your old bike to life!

Stalling it at a light????? tune it better, OR figure out how to slip that clutch off the line.

Too much work???? Sell the Norton, buy a Goldwing and be done with it!
 
Mark said:
Wussies!
man up and kick your old bike to life!

Stalling it at a light????? tune it better, OR figure out how to slip that clutch off the line.

Too much work???? Sell the Norton, buy a Goldwing and be done with it!
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I'm certain the same was said when cars first were equipped with an electric starter. No doubt Mark has all hand crank cars and/or trucks. Anything with a starter would be less than manly.
 
Would you buy a Model T and then convert it to say maybe a 2.0 OHC, fuel injected, auto trans. rig?

I just think that all of us bought an old bike because we wanted an old bike,
Well, guess what......now you got an old bike.
Sure, It ain't got all of the conveniences of a new bike, that's because it's old!
What next? complaining because your 1969 T140 didn't come with heated grips?

I think that if a person can't start their old motorcycle....... maybe they bought the wrong bike.
IMHO - of course!
 
JimC said:
No doubt Mark has all hand crank cars and/or trucks. Anything with a starter would be less than manly.
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I posted earlier that I've had my MK3 for 20 years and used the ES only a handful of times.
........gots a starter on his bike, doesn't use it........ go figure.
 
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