How old are you? Are you still riding?(Poll)

If you are still riding:

  • Less than 40 years old

    Votes: 16 4.8%
  • 40-49 years old

    Votes: 14 4.2%
  • 50-59 years old

    Votes: 41 12.3%
  • 60-69 years old

    Votes: 178 53.5%
  • 70-80 years old

    Votes: 80 24.0%
  • Over 80 years old

    Votes: 4 1.2%

  • Total voters
    333
Well I'm feeling quite young after Tuesday's injections in my neck..... Had the lower done 3 months ago so still good there.... now if could do something for hands and hips all would be well.
 
Old guys on Nortons currently on a flat track is what I was referring to.
I will only admit that I’m a bit past my best before date , can still do the things necessary for a good life ,like ride & service the 2 Dukes left in shed along with keeping my car clean and faster …. Still missing my commando and have started counting the pennies I will need for next one …. I sold everything Norton related to buyer , books , tools , spars ,service supplies etc. next one will have to arrive pristine ….
 
I will only admit that I’m a bit past my best before date , can still do the things necessary for a good life ,like ride & service the 2 Dukes left in shed along with keeping my car clean and faster …. Still missing my commando and have started counting the pennies I will need for next one …. I sold everything Norton related to buyer , books , tools , spars ,service supplies etc. next one will have to arrive pristine ….
Any sellers remorse ? If you could turn back time would you
undo it ?
 
Old guys on Nortons currently on a flat track is what I was referring to.
I don't want to get caught calling Dave and old guy, but yes, he still races the bike I was referring to in the 60+ class. Also Peter Wajda had a modified 750 commando on the track this year and I think he's over 70, and as far as I know Beno Rodi Is still getting after it with the AHRMA races. I'm not calling any of those fellas old though. Lets call them well seasoned and experienced
 
I don't want to get caught calling Dave and old guy, but yes, he still races the bike I was referring to in the 60+ class. Also Peter Wajda had a modified 750 commando on the track this year and I think he's over 70, and as far as I know Beno Rodi Is still getting after it with the AHRMA races. I'm not calling any of those fellas old though. Lets call them well seasoned and experienced
Thanks

That's good to know.

I didn't think anyone was still out there in the dirt with the big old brit twins. I was thinking most of those bikes were museum pieces. :)

We don't have much in the way of pro flat track racing around here. Too far left on the map.
 
Any sellers remorse ? If you could turn back time would you
undo it ?
No ! Had lusted after Ducati GT1000 from moment laid eyes on that first example seen at dealer , that was ‘08 , took much longer to find “the one” than anticipated , no disappointments at all ! … as close to a classic Commando possible , only better brakes and a few more ponies with electric leg , however …..
 
No ! Had lusted after Ducati GT1000 from moment laid eyes on that first example seen at dealer , that was ‘08 , took much longer to find “the one” than anticipated , no disappointments at all ! … as close to a classic Commando possible , only better brakes and a few more ponies with electric leg , however …..
Well that makes me glad Craig -I’ve always been of the mindset that once things have been thought through and the decision made move on because it was the best decision you could have made at the time . I have a great many interests and pastimes and for most of my life indulgence of one meant sacrifice of another . Only now can I afford a little of each .
Hope you find another Commando that fits your requirements.
Cheers - Richard
 
I'm 72, I've ridden 60 years, started on Honda 50 step through and my dad's full sized Brit 500 dirt singles, and I started racing in the late 60's--motocross and road racing, then dirt track and desert--and raced 50 years until I had that one last good crash I promised myself I would quit after. 6 ribs broken through and through, some complications, no doubt this one was a good enough crash to make me stop. And I haven't ridden motocross in a while, knees, but I still ride on the street, but its frustrating because I am like pulling back on the reins hard, to keep the horses from running away, if you get my meaning, I still like to ride a bit hard.

What had changed in racing and made me think the end was coming was, a sort of a dawning lack of intense focus, the thing that keeps you safe. I still have enough for the street, and realistically, street riding is 1000 times more dangerous than the race track. Certainly racing is dangerous, but no one on the race track will hang a left in front of you oncoming when it is too late to respond, or pull out in front of you from the right, or mow you down from behind while looking at their phone. The shortcoming of street riding is that the risk contour or risk balance is all out of shape. Realistically, it's not all that fun, and the risk level is ridiculously high. Racing, the risk is there, but so is the fun of riding on the edge, which makes it more in a balance of risk and fun.

And I have had the same '73 850 Commando since '89. I also had a '72 750 Combat at the same time, but I ran it a little hard and it didn't really work out for me, glad I kept the 73 850. I did it frame up once in 89, main bearings up, trans too, and have never really worked on it in depth again. It has Works Shocks, isolastic top engine mount, 18 inch Akronts both ends, Boyer and electronic regulator/rectifier, AMT anti-sumping mods, stabilized swingarm pivot, on and on, all the refining mods. I have a dozen Brit bikes, and the Norton is definitely in the rotation. Its longer, heavier, with a heavier lazier crank, but really civilized. My Triumphs and BSAs are shorter and more agile, and more fun on a twisty road, but the Norton is more composed, less vibration, more civilized, and it definitely has a place in the rotation.
 
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Then you could perhaps put up another vid of that howling monkey of yours tearing up the road. That bike makes all of the right sounds to raise the blood pressure.
 
This isn't about the rider but the pillion.
My Mum (89) is visiting for a few days and wanted to go for a coffee ride - all up about 30 miles.
She said she really enjoyed it.
Her "engagement ring" in 1954 was a Norton Dominator, as they couldn't afford both.
How old are you? Are you still riding?(Poll)
 
I’ll be 74 in a few weeks and would love to ride my Commando again if and when my motor/trans ever come back from being rebuilt, and assuming I can put it together again. Been over a year now.
 
I know we're supposed to live life with 'no regrets', but I doubt there's a petrolhead alive who hasn't got a few machines filed under the: 'never should have sold' banner....
When I feel nostalgic about machines I’ve sold, I tell myself there was a reason for selling and that probably has not changed. My ‘74 JPN was a cool bike to own. I like to ride what I own and this one is very uncomfortable.
 
When I feel nostalgic about machines I’ve sold, I tell myself there was a reason for selling and that probably has not changed. My ‘74 JPN was a cool bike to own. I like to ride what I own and this one is very uncomfortable.
d*v*r*e :-(
And my little 125 learner would be a handy little runabout!
 
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