How do you refer to your favorite Norton?

in order of acquisition and named as:

my combat ( my 2nd norton $225)
dunstall atlas ($1500)
my mark 3 the matching number story ($100)
the 63 atlas
Dave Roberts atlas (66)
the 5 mile MK3
the 70 roadster (replica of my first bike)

the remainder are unnamed projects , parts bikes or incomplete.
 
My 1975 MK2a = BIG RED War Hawk. Now I name by bikes by WW2 Radial fighter/ bombers names.
So I have the 20M3= Wildcat, Combat =Thunderbolt, MK3= B25 Straffer as my street bikes and the Hellcat and Corsair as my race bikes.
 
In the early 90's, I named first Commando "Sir Reginald of Bracebridge". Of course I had no idea in those days that the Bracebridge Street factory had long since been closed.
 
the Norton single in a replica Egli frame is called NegliJ, ( Norton-Egli- J ( my first initial)), and since it is quite skimpy negligee seems appropriate.....
 
One Norton, a few names (dependant on mood, it’s and mine):

1. Trident Hunter (written on the bottom of the reg plate, just to wind ‘em up really... especially Sam)

2. Blue Bomber (coined by a mate, and used when it’s behaving itself)

3. Wallet Emptier (usually used by the Missus)...
 
When young, my 99 was simply called the bike, as I had only one.
Now a bit more complicated. So my favourite, the 40M is called the Manx, the 16H is the warrior. the 650SS is called the project and the ES2 just the ES2. More complicated with the two B44, haven't figured out naming yet. At present the yellow ones. Maybe the yellow Swede and the yellow Californian.
 
One of my friends gets upset when I refer to my Seeley 850 as a 'shit-heap'. I think he likes it too much. It is what it is - a collection of bits. There is nothing genuine about it whatsoever. It just happens to look right.
 
Looks right for a bike that sits in the shed unused, I be putting a stock gear box in it and get it on the road, enjoy it while you can Al.
 
As one of my friends once said ' the reason we have nice old classic bikes is we had them when we were young and kept them'. If I take my Seeley 850 to a race meeting, the young guys usually come around and go all over it. It is not authentic, but it is right for the era it represents.
 
Looks right for a bike that sits in the shed unused, I be putting a stock gear box in it and get it on the road, enjoy it while you can Al.
I have got INTENTIONS. One of my friends has a son in his 40s who sometimes rides his 350 Manx. They are interested in coming to a ride day at Winton. At present it is very cold and we have lockdowns due to Covid 19. But I have not given up. My bike is in bits, but it is easily fixed. I can think of about 12 guys who might like to come up for a thrash around. Most of them have raced regularly and we all have egos.
I could not put the Seeley on the road, it would break my heart to go backwards like that. Everything I have ever done has ben about making the bike faster, on the road it would be absurd. I could not even ride it through the town in first gear without getting booked. If I wanted to do that, I would buy a postie bike.
If you had a heap of money, would you buy a Mclaren and use it on the roads in Australia ? There are no cops with cameras on a race circuit.
 
One thing I have noticed about our current weather patterns is it is usually either too hot or too cold for motorcycles. We seem to only have two months per year of good weather. I want to set up a practice day, and I might have a chance in about August. In October, God turns on the blast furnace. I think next summer in Australia is going to he horrendous, when I look at what is currently happening in Canada.
 
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I couldn't do that Al a week without being on the bikes would give my the DTs, went away for 10 days in the Land Rover and couldn't get home quick enough to take the bike out.
 
I couldn't do that Al a week without being on the bikes would give my the DTs, went away for 10 days in the Land Rover and couldn't get home quick enough to take the bike out.
It's been three months since I have ridden, as my shoulder is still screwed from breaking the collorbone. Only about 60% mobility but getting better. Slowly. Hopefully in another month... DTs are real.
 
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