Amind of their own?

I guess the reasons are as varied as the bikes we choose to ride. To be totally honest I guess the reason I chose to ride a "kick-start" Norton is that I live in total denial to the fact that I am getting more and more "mature" every day. And one day I will not be able to muster enough strength to kick the bloody beast over. Let's face it if this was not the case, then why the hell do I put myself through the "challenge" of having to get "physical" with "kick-starting" the bike. But there is something "primal" about having "control" over the "monster". I wonder what I'll get for my Norton as a trade on the new electric start BMW or Ducati next year??? :?: :lol: :lol:

gw88 said:

. I wonder what I'll get for my Norton as a trade on the new electric start BMW or Ducati next year??? :?: :lol: :lol:

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well if nothing else the knowledge that you can drive it (insert new bike name) for long distances and not carry replacement parts for what might fall off or break with the old brit bike

:mrgreen:

Hi Deb. If the ignition is off than the kick don't count!
Mikuni lover, Mike

If you think the Commando is difficult to kick over, you should try a 500cc Velocette! A friend in the UK had one with a 10:1 compression ratio. Even using a valve lifter, it was difficult.

On one occasion, the valve lifter cable had broken and he was trying to start it. He was a fairly big fellow, but couldn't even get it to go over TDC. Fnally, he put the bike on its center stand, leaped into the air and descended on the kick-start lever. The pawl didn't engage and he broke his ankle when he hit the floor.

How come nobody has talked about push starting? I find it a great way to bond with a bike. LOL, Chuck. :lol:

Hortons Norton said:

How come nobody has talked about push starting? I find it a great way to bond with a bike. LOL, Chuck. :lol:

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Oh yes, there's no better way to prove your love for the beast.

Funny how Norton Villiers never publicized their LaMans starters on their sales literature like they did about the electric starters when they came out. All the ads seemed to focus around the Norton Girls instead of some of these somewhat hidden features.

I remember a "hazy" night when I actually had to look for a hill for the LeMans option. I remember being very tired and gravity worked well for me.
Mike

Hortons Norton said:

How come nobody has talked about push starting? I find it a great way to bond with a bike. LOL, Chuck. :lol:

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I remember one late evening I secumed to push starting my norton. I realized I was near the base of Connaught Hill Park, a flat toped knoll over looking town. It was about 300' high and the size of 2 football fields on top. I was about 20% of the way up the steep road cut into the side of the knoll thinking "this is how they built the pyramids..." when a police cruiser pulled up. Paranoia struck. I could just imagine what it looked like to him and wondered what violations I might be offending. After a brief conversation he opened his trunk producing a webbed belt which he secured to the cruiser and proceeded to tow me to the top. Ain't that the way it's supposed to be!

JimC said:

"I am somewhat mystified about these numerous posts regarding difficulties starting a Norton."

And to the rest of your post: you're my kind of guy.

Why put up with something distasteful when you don't have to? The many upgrades of the Norton Commando only offset the many design and manufacturing defects that abound with the stock Commando. I applaud those who make the Commando into a good, reliable, less maintenance, form of a motorcycle. As for those who insist on originality, right down to the fasteners; I'll see you at the museum, but hardly ever on the road.

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I think my 850 is pretty close to the way it came from the factory, except for the boyer and the 750 pipes. Not having run since 1985 (as far as I can figure), I counted on a lot of debugging. I don't know how much the average Norton rider rides, so I don't know if 1800 miles is a lot for two months. I do know that a lot of people have seen it, because it goes out quite a bit. I haven't done much more than 150 miles on a ride yet, but then I still prefer the Triumph for longer runs (more comfy at high speed).