01-03-2018, 02:34 AM
US$20,000 for a British twin is a lot of money. All the café racer add-ons really destroy the classic look of the machine. Looks like something someone with a lot of money assembled in their garage.
In the early 70s the Commando was the most handsome of the British motorcycles. It had a reputation of being faster than either the Triumph Bonneville or BSA Lightning. But that really depended on the rider rather than the bike.
The Norton was not a very reliable motorcycle, or I probably would have owned one. The air filter had a habit of disappearing on long rides. The rear taillight assembly would also tear itself free of the rear fender. Not much use anyway because the vibration of the motor usually shattered the bulb filament. Under hard riding fourth gear would shed a tooth or two.
I remember coming back from Mosport (Motorsports) Park when a friend's Commando went sour. Obviously this had happened before because he knew exactly what to do. With the cover of a matchbook he set the gauge of the points. A discarded popsicle stick by the side of the road was used to hold open the spark advance. A cigarette paper was used to set the timing. Five minutes later he was back on the road.
Good movie about a ride on Norton Commando from Toronto to Vancouver on You Tube call [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpyy8EIU8hg]One Week.
In the early 70s the Commando was the most handsome of the British motorcycles. It had a reputation of being faster than either the Triumph Bonneville or BSA Lightning. But that really depended on the rider rather than the bike.
The Norton was not a very reliable motorcycle, or I probably would have owned one. The air filter had a habit of disappearing on long rides. The rear taillight assembly would also tear itself free of the rear fender. Not much use anyway because the vibration of the motor usually shattered the bulb filament. Under hard riding fourth gear would shed a tooth or two.
I remember coming back from Mosport (Motorsports) Park when a friend's Commando went sour. Obviously this had happened before because he knew exactly what to do. With the cover of a matchbook he set the gauge of the points. A discarded popsicle stick by the side of the road was used to hold open the spark advance. A cigarette paper was used to set the timing. Five minutes later he was back on the road.
Good movie about a ride on Norton Commando from Toronto to Vancouver on You Tube call [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpyy8EIU8hg]One Week.