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

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I look forward to Frank's posts. He is history to us even if they called him kid when he was at Norton.
 
Hi, I am 54 , first commando at 19 , brand new 850 , with my first wages as a sailor in merchant navy, before I had BSA, the change was amazing : power, disc, no vibes.... still on commando since, may be more than fourty pass through my hands, the last twenty during those past five years, now decide to keep only five, my faithfull first 850, my never ending cafe racer project, the 920 built by pete Lovell, the G15 and the Atlas, get rid of the others , too much time consumming.
 
I'm 57... I think?

A friend on mine's cousin lent him a 750 Atlas back on the canadian prairies on which we had the times of out lives riding around in farmers fields. It weaned me off home made mini bikes that we used to build. I would have been about 15 then. I think the sound of that Atlas left a bias in me and when I was 20 I'd saved up enough to buy a 72 combat brand spankin new. My room mates used to race and although I never did, I got hooked on cafe style Nortons. I had 6 - 7 Nortons back then, the last two of which I stored for 25-30 years. I've just this last year dug them out and have slowly begun their resurrections.

I'm looking forward to updating them with some of the many mods and innovations revealed here. Nortons just seem to keep getting better!
 
Hi 61 last August. !st bike at 13 was a Royal Enfield 350 Bullet and it just went from there, so many bikes that I would have to sit down for a long while and try to work it out but not now as its 8.45pm and past my bedtime. I have been lucky to have married someone who is into bikes and never ever said no to a new toy.

Ian
 
Hi, 48 next month. About 8 years rebuilding my roadster, had a fastback before that.
JUG
 
Going on 56. Wanted the new just released 73 850 Commando but the Norton-Triumph dealer just had a 750 in the showroom. Bought it! Got it up to 105 MPH and never realized I became a Ton-Up Boy years later. Sold it to my cousin after 2 years of use. Mid life crisis hit me at age 49 and bought a 72 Combat in 2003. I tried to locate my first Norton but no luck.

When you own one or more of these bikes, it seems you learn to become your own mechanic. Best therapy I get when riding. :D
 
55
Just pulled out my original bill of sale. Ordered in Jan '76, picked up in Mar '76 from Madison Suzuki. $1875 plus tax
 
Hi all,
64, have had my 1973 Interstate 850 since it was about 18 months old, paid £500 for it!
 
JimC said:
If you don't tickle it and kick it it ain't a motorcycle.
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Good tag line. Especially here.
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When I were a lad it was 'tickle and prod' - a much better sniggering opportunity :roll:
In a similar vein...'She asked me for a Double Entendre, so I gave her one' ...sort of thing..... :roll: :roll: :roll:
Anyway, I'm 45, had Brits for 25 years, but only got the Commando this year. Still looking forwards to adulthood :wink:
 
I am presently 51 years old.

My girlfriend (now wife) bought me my first Commando when I was 21 y/o for £420 in 1979. I had it for about 15 years in Roadster, Interstate and JPN trim and changed it from a 750 into a 920cc, put a Norvil disc on etc etc. I sold it to my friend who already had a 920 Commando that I had built him......so he had 2.

I had about ten years on other marques, BMWs , a Honda Pan and a Triumph speed triple before visiting this friend in 1995, and I had a ride on his 920. That was it, I had to have another. I was like an alcoholic who'd managed to kick the habit, but one ride, and that was it, I was hooked again.

I am again (as before) spending too much money on my Norton, only this time around at 51, I can just about afford it, but having had a serious health problem in 1995, have decided that life is for enjoying to the full, and I get a lot of pleasure riding, maintaining and updating, my Norton, and so do. I am also still on wife No.1.
 
I really like being the younger guy seeing all of you old farts :) Im somewhat in awe that many of you have been involved with british bikes as long as I have been alive. Im only hoping in 25-30 years time I can look back and be of some help and inspiration.
 
Hi Friends
There must be a man here in Belgium with a Norton 99SS, he buy it brand new and ride more as 1.000.000 km with the bike, I never meet the guy, but I suppose he must be older as 65
Cheers
yves
 
Vulin said:
I really like being the younger guy seeing all of you old farts :) Im somewhat in awe that many of you have been involved with british bikes as long as I have been alive. Im only hoping in 25-30 years time I can look back and be of some help and inspiration.
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It will happen to you too. Age is not bought or traded, it just happens.

Dave
69 'S' project
 
yvesnorton said:
Hi Friends
There must be a man here in Belgium with a Norton 99SS, he buy it brand new and ride more as 1.000.000 km with the bike, I never meet the guy, but I suppose he must be older as 65
Cheers
yves
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I know exactly who you mean. :) I believe that Raymond has just turned 70. His bike was the 1958 (I think) Brussels show model.
 
DogT said:
Vulin said:
I really like being the younger guy seeing all of you old farts :) Im somewhat in awe that many of you have been involved with british bikes as long as I have been alive. Im only hoping in 25-30 years time I can look back and be of some help and inspiration.
Click to expand...
It will happen to you too. Age is not bought or traded, it just happens.

Dave
69 'S' project
Click to expand...

I would just add that becoming old is unavoidable but growing up is an option that has eluded many of us (too busy fiddling with old motorcycles !)
 
79x100 said:
yvesnorton said:
Hi Friends
There must be a man here in Belgium with a Norton 99SS, he buy it brand new and ride more as 1.000.000 km with the bike, I never meet the guy, but I suppose he must be older as 65
Cheers
yves
Click to expand...

I know exactly who you mean. :) I believe that Raymond has just turned 70. His bike was the 1958 (I think) Brussels show model.
Click to expand...

Yes Raymond is his name, that man must have a lot of souvenirs to tell, he is from West Flanders no?
 
well i'm 62. just started riding 6 months ago. 1st bike, a '72 commando. 1 month later i fell into a 2a project. wish i'd have got into it a long time ago. we live in a throw away society, use it up and throw it away. not many peop[le care about how things work anymore.

i collect and shoot browning a5 shotguns, one of the most elegant mechanical designs ever. today people want benellis as they're simple.

the effort expended in learning how something works richens the experience of using it

my 2 cents from southern indiana where the leaves have turned gold/red and riding the twisties is good.
 
32... most guys I ride with are into Harleys or Sport Bikes. A couple Hinckley Triumph owners... however my bike gets a lot of attention...

Cheers,

- HJ
 
I'm 67, soon to be 68, I hope. My first Norton was a Commando Production Racer that I bought from Dan Gurney back in '72 with less than 500 miles on it. I commuted to work on it for a while, and then started road racing with it in '73, and continued through '90. Since starting, I've owned a number of Nortons, both street and race, and still have some of them. It's clearly an incurable disease. It's street riding only for me now, and the occasional ride at Bonneville on the salt.

Ken
 
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