Should I buy an antique Norton Commando?

[breakdirt916]

huh...I was never one to really care what other people, let alone aficionados would think...and I never owned one growing up...I guess I just don't get it!

when I was in highschool, I think JohhnyV was the only one I knew with a bike...and it was a ninja 250!

well no...also Chris Rice had a bike...but it was a GS450...man did Visser and Rice look like bad asses when they rode away on bikes from my house at night!

[jwm2k3]

Im gonna buy a new Norton Commando Cafe Racer....20k and sexy as can be... now I just need the 20k....

[Paul_E_D]

huh...I was never one to really care what other people, let alone aficionados would think...and I never owned one growing up...I guess I just don't get it!

when I was in highschool, I think JohhnyV was the only one I knew with a bike...and it was a ninja 250!

well no...also Chris Rice had a bike...but it was a GS450...man did Visser and Rice look like bad asses when they rode away on bikes from my house at night!

You DEFINITELY don't get it. But that's OK, enjoy your bikes!

[PhilB]

Just the question makes me feel a bit old. My first big-bike experience (I was mainly a scooterist for several years before that) was custody for a couple months of a friend's 1970 Commando 750. What a great bike, and really an archetype of what a proper motorcycle is. I still want to get another one, for my own this time.

When I bought my Monster, what I was trying to find was basically a modern Commando -- a two-cylinder sporting bike with no fairings, but more modern because I knew I was going to be riding it every day and put a ton of miles on it. It is possible to do that with a Commando, but it takes a lot of work and maintenance.

Beautiful machines, though.

PhilB

[Garandman]

And I'm told I can get a bumper sticker that says, "The parts falling off this bike are of the highest British hand-made quality."

[Garrett]

Someone mention BSA?
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/mcy/4124933400.html

[whynot]

Someone mention BSA?
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/mcy/4124933400.html

Looks like a project for CRM -- Chopper Rescue Mission.

[Garandman]

I was expecting to hear some horror stories about parts availability or parts leaping off the bike.

You guys might cost me some money....

[nhbubba]

My guess is that few active posters have experience with these machines. I couldn't pick one out of a lineup myself.

You guys might cost me some money....

I know the feeling.

[kumpy]

awesome video, truely a great story!

[PhilB]

I was expecting to hear some horror stories about parts availability or parts leaping off the bike.

You guys might cost me some money....

Parts availability is astounding; you can get anything you need or can even imagine.
Parts leaping off is a bit of a concern, but that's any older bike. Any bike of that vintage or older requires that you go around and tighten the fasteners on a regular basis.
The only "horror" is that considerably more maintenance is required than a modern bike, including things like tightening and aligning the Isolastics, and so on.
If you keep up with that stuff, there's no reason it can't be ridden as much as you like.
If you're the sort of person who complains that he won't buy a Ducati because of the high maintenance, then a Norton is not for you.
There are a few judicious minor upgrades (Superblend bearings, etc.) that you might want to make if you intend to ride it a lot; the interwebs has all the info you need for that.

PhilB

[Stromper]

It is a famous historic motorcycle

Unfortunately just remember that I am sure even a ninja300 might out run it

It will be pleasant and draw some admiring glances

If you do nice work you would get every penny back so as a hobby, not so bad.

Modern OIl and electronic ignition upgrade will make it reliable*

Some where there is a $40 GM part that functions as a scr conversion of the point to act as trigger not power

[Slyder]

Funnily enough, a Vincent popped up on Craigslist today. Not a Black Shadow, but a Rapide is pretty awesome too.
http://burlington.craigslist.org/mcy/4131846953.html

Anyone have 65 grand I could bum?

--mark

Rode through Strafford last weekend (132 closed on the Sharon side, lotsa dirt. Lotsa funny looks from the locals and the cows alike when some nut case on a gixxer 1k goes sailing by at 50 on a dirt road). Nice though. Never knew something like that was so close. If I had seen that last weekend I might have called the guy and asked if I could check it out.

I wonder if my fathers friend knows that fellow, he use to live in S. Strafford and had a 75? I think Bonneville 750.

[Chippertheripper]

http://www.commandospecialties.com is right down the road in Plymouth. He's a curmudgeon too, rides a 950/990, and that's about all I know. Met him a couple times, and he sort of faded away. The business is still there though.

[tsorfas]

My comment was more aimed at the "It's a bike you buy for yourself." And there is no better reason.

I really don't get that statement. I assume it's a generation thing.
I didn't buy my gsxr for nobody but myself. I knew exactly what I wanted and I looked at over 150 bikes before I bought te one I did. 4 years later I can never picture selling it.

[Garrett]

Triumph
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/mcy/4137431916.html

[Garandman]

Triumph
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/mcy/4137431916.html

WTF?

1964 Triumph 650 twin cyl single carb

Has been stored indoors, motor turns freely, has good compression Bike is rough best for parts or project Good Frame, good forks, Harley sheet metal

$750 or BO call Bob for more info

(978) 640-0964 leave message

[sdog30]

Funny enough, I just took my buddies Norton for a spin last week.

Surprisingly fun. A little weird to get used to the shifting. He warned me of the vibrations, but thing was smooth as silk compared to my Ducati and Harley.I kept it over 4k the whole time, too. Good amount of power for an older twin.

[gregp]

My answer to Garandman's original question is: Yes! Anybody who has it in their heart (and wallet) to buy, restore, and/or care for a classic bike, should do it! While I do not own a classic bike, other than my 1974 Can-Am, I believe that the more of these bikes that can be saved, and actually ridden, the better off we all are. From purely a spectator perspective, I love seeing these bikes on the road, or parked as they are used in daily runabout duty.
Seeing a true Classic Bike like a Norton is really something special to me.

[Rambunctous]

http://www.michaelsmotorcycles.com/1...RAcer1013.html

[FAST GSXR750]

Without a doubt buy one. I would sell my left nut for one. But that's just me. Love the "Parts leaping off" comment, hell parts leap and fall off my 81 GS650 once in a while. Good luck and hope to see it!

[Garandman]

I passed on the one I was looking at in ME as it was a '72 and I didn't want to deal with the reversed rear controls.

So I bought a 2012 wR250R from a guy in Maine who wants to adopt a child. The guy lives near Sebago Lake and a ton of woods trails: I wanted to stay!