Wondering how old we are (commando owners) (2009)

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An interesting exercise that I’ve never done before!

I may have forgotten something, but I think my score is 31:

Triumph 9
Triton / Dresda 4
Suzuki 3
Norton 2
Honda 2
BSA 2
Vincent / Egli Vincent 2
Yamaha 1
Armstrong 1
TriBsa 1
Ducati 1
BMW 1
Harrier 1
Rickman 1
 
my score is 32, bikes that were legal and running
since 1977 :-
Triumph 8
Rob North 2
Norton 7
Kawasaki 3
Suzuki 4
Honda 3
MZ 1
Laverda 1
BSA 2
Harley Davidson 1
I still have 6 of the above, 3 Triumph, 2 Norton, 1 Honda and soon to have another Triumph.
I've never owned (and never will) any BMW
Also never owned any Yamaha although I lusted after an RD 400 in my younger days
sam
 
illf8ed said:
19 total motorcycles or 19 Nortons?

My score is 23 working, ridden motorcycles from model years 1957 to 2007 having started riding in 1968. Basket cases not included.
Norton - 6
BMW - 3
Bridgestone - 1
BSA - 1
Ducati - 1
Gilera - 1
Harley Davidson - 1
Honda - 3
Rickman - 1
Suzuki - 1
Triumph - 2
Yamaha - 2
Click to expand...
19 motorbikes.
Norton 4
Due to age and bike injury issues I will be keeping the 2 MK 111 models and soon selling the 72 Combat. A younger rider should get the Combat. It's a young(er) man's bike IMO.
 
OK, I'll play.
Officially a Senior Citizen @ 65 and still working.
From what I can remember from my first purchase in 1969. A 1967 CL160.

9- Nortons
8- Hondas
6- Harleys, 2 were specials with S&S engines.
3- Kaws
2- Bultacos
1- Triumph
1- Aprilia
1- KTM
1- BMW

The irony is I don't even like Hondas. Didn't realize I had so many.
Only 2 were street bikes, CL160, CL450, the rest were dirt bikes.
 
MichaelB said:
OK, I'll play.
Officially a Senior Citizen @ 65 and still working.
From what I can remember from my first purchase in 1969. A 1967 CL160.

9- Nortons
8- Hondas
6- Harleys, 2 were specials with S&S engines.
3- Kaws
2- Bultacos
1- Triumph
1- Aprilia
1- KTM
1- BMW

The irony is I don't even like Hondas. Didn't realize I had so many.
Only 2 were street bikes, CL160, CL450, the rest were dirt bikes.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with Hondas you old bugger , only they are not Nortons. Enjoy.
 
I think Frank wins having been paid to ride Nortons.
Frank,
Is it the same joy being a test rider as being a Norton owner?
 
49 and holding here. My old man piqued my interest in the brit bikes when he told me about riding Matchless dirt bikes during the 60's. Although I will say when I picked up the Norton last spring he did say, "Why in the hell are you buying a bike you have to constantly work on when you can get a Honda scrambler and ride the $#!+ out of it!" :D

3 Yamaha
2 Honda
1 Norton
1 Triumph
1 Harley
1 Suzuki
 
Here goes
7 BSAs
3 Suzukis
4 Norton's
7 triumphs
5 Honda's
1 Ducati
1 BMW
2 Kawasaki's
4 Yamahas
Only thing is one of the yams don't count coz it was a fizzy (an unrestricted one tho!)
 
Well, if that's how this thread is going, then:
9 Hondas (1 '72 Trail 90; my first street bike. I rode that thing everywhere!)
4 Yamahas
1 Kawasaki ('78 KZ1000, woof! Scary...)
1 Suzuki
1 Ducati
1 Triumph
1 BSA
1 Norton

That's not counting the 4 that my wife owns/owned. She's more into the car scene...

Nathan
 
I feel pretty good about the swing this topic took because my hoarding lies in other areas, but my scooters are few and well loved with only two true loves remaining: Norton 850 & GL 1000.
Discards: 1950 & 1949 HD, 1960 HD servi-car, 1980 Yamaha 650. Regretfully a 1977 HD XLCR that I didn't really appreciate because of discomfort, but it sure looked good.
I shall be buried with the Norton. Never a love so true.
 
Seems to me it has become a "mine is bigger than yours thing" .... too bad, I was enjoying some of the talk .... sorry , not meant to offend anyone .... just
Craig
 
yvesnorton said:
Hi Friends,
i am wondering how old we are?? I think that the majority of us must be between 50 and 60 no?
I am afraid that once we will disepear ( the group of 50-60 years old) the love of the commando will disepear to.
Or, maybe there must be young commando holders to?? (Thats what I hope)
Let me know your age, that can be very intresting to know
Cheers
Yves
Click to expand...
I'm 70 and have a MKIII that I bought new in 1976. Like a lot of old cars and motorcycles we are the current owners as the machines pass through time. As we pass we can hope the machines will go to someone that will care for them so they can pass through alittle more time with someone else.
 
I'm going to turn 63 this year and have been riding P-11 Nortons since I was 14. I still ride a trusty '73' Commando 750 Roadster, My wife Prefers it to all my other road bikes (God love her, she's 74). I don't plan on giving it up till I can't walk. Most of my riding hours are spent in the woods on a KTM 350 EXC. Sadly neither of my boys ride motorcycles, probably because they were forced to ride off-road as children. But one is going to be willed my Nortons! Oh yea and;
9 Nortons
7 Kawasaki
7 Yamaha
7 Honda
6 Suzuki
6 Triumph
 
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Well now down to four bikes, the 74 Commando, 73 Trident 71 Rickman 69 Enfield.
Most at one time was 10.
Id like to get down to two.
Commando is the go to bike mostly.
 
I suffer that too Onder, the collection grows at times and I have to have a cull.

Some while ago I set myself a goal of keeping to max of 3.

I’m not doing very well at that...
 
I’m 61 now and have been riding since I was 18. There’s never been a time since then that I haven’t owned a bike
1 Suzuki
5 Hondas
1 Kawasaki
2 Nortons
2 Yamahas
1 Ducati
2 Bmws

I still have 1 Norton 1 Honda and 2 Bmws. ( one’s an ongoing project).

Oh yeah, last year was the first year since 1980 that I didn’t have a competition licence. ( Only ‘cos it’s cheaper to get a one-event licence for the few races I go these days.)
 
we are the current owners as the machines pass through time. As we pass we can hope the machines will go to someone that will care for them so they can pass through alittle more time with someone else.

Good sentiment and well put Jackson 5
 
Came across this thread tonight, (turned 63 today) and its interesting because it seems as I scrolled through the posts (not all) but most of us are 50 +. Not much interest in Nortons from the younger crowd. Does that mean the 18 - 20 year olds buying 2018 & 2019 harley's, beemers, and Japanese today will be riding them when their our age? I doubt it.

First street legal & licensed (although I wasn't legal) at 15 - 1968 250 Yamaha.

I bought my first Norton at 17 - a 1973 750 Roadster and my second at 18 - a 1974 850 Roadster (which I'm currently attempting to resurrect).

Three bikes now and lots of bikes over the years - but all the best memories are wrapped up in the 850.

Something about Nortons.
 
illf8ed said:
I think Frank wins having been paid to ride Nortons.
Frank,
Is it the same joy being a test rider as being a Norton owner?
Click to expand...

When you hobby becomes your job, is it still your hobby ? I know Barry Smith who used to ride for Derbi. These days he can hardly even look at a motorcycle. When I was a kid, I could have easily started a business working on motorcycles and selling parts. However I don't think I would have the same level of enjoyment, I now have in my old age.
 
I don't know how many bikes I had when I was a kid. One of my aunts counted 30 in my shed one day, and I think I've had at least 10 Triumph 650s. I had a lovely childhood, but it did not help my studies. I attended my last night class at age 55.
 
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