New owner - first 24hrs

So I parked up a few days ago at 286 miles. Hard game of racketball this evening and usually pub it but early game and weather ok so took it out to get it past 300 miles thus moving me onto 4500 revs in all gears. Sunny evening but blimey it was cold. Just hit 300 miles on probably the best bit of road in Northants (Chelveston), some great sweeping bends leading to Hingham Ferrers/Rushden. What a difference 1500 revs makes. It now feels like you're really riding, top end is just under 80mph but taking it to 4500 in the gears just makes so much difference. I think I will get some ear plugs. Lots of midgeys out tonight splattering everywhere and I rode back in the dark fearful of pot holes, badgers, dear and other hazards. Enjoyed a London Pride or two in the man cave and getting it up to 600 miles wont be boring now I am in the new rev range.
 
What a difference 1500 revs makes. It now feels like you're really riding. Lots of midgeys out tonight splattering everywhere
No stopping you now! Count yourself lucky with the midges as we've got great big mozzis here :(
 
No stopping you now! Count yourself lucky with the midges as we've got great big mozzis here :(

Yup - got some divine retribution for singing the praises of my Davida open face. Had a b. big mozzie fly into the ear gap in the helmet. First thought: which bit of the bike is making that noise?

At least it was an entertaining spectacle for the shoppers in the Sainsbury's car park...........
 
Yup - got some divine retribution for singing the praises of my Davida open face. Had a b. big mozzie fly into the ear gap in the helmet. First thought: which bit of the bike is making that noise?

At least it was an entertaining spectacle for the shoppers in the Sainsbury's car park...........


I rocked a bell custom 500 open face for a few years. Year one, stung by a bee that was trapped between sunglasses. Year two, stung by a bee stuck between sunglass arm and helmet. Year three, pepple came up off a car way up ahead. And like slow motion hit me in the nose and I still have a scare. Later in year three got a mirror bubble visor. Year four, heat wave and a traffic jam with no ventilation. Then a heat wave again a few weeks later >> so I bought a bell bullit with flip up mirror visor. Couldn’t be happier.
 
I have matching Davida open face. The first one I had is quite scraped up from skidding down the road on it. I didn't take the new one out of the box yet. Since the law is to reup the helmets every 5 years, I'm done spending a fortune. Bought an open fact Bell 500. Noisy bugger compared to the Davida. And for full protection, the retro Johnny Rocket looking Biltwell Gringo S. Really comfy. Not a great seal so I get a little breeze to the eyes, but I wear sunglasses under the shield. Cheap. Richard, how is the seal on the Bullitt? And wind getting through. I may get one next sale at Revzilla.
 
I have matching Davida open face. The first one I had is quite scraped up from skidding down the road on it. I didn't take the new one out of the box yet. Since the law is to reup the helmets every 5 years, I'm done spending a fortune. Bought an open fact Bell 500. Noisy bugger compared to the Davida. And for full protection, the retro Johnny Rocket looking Biltwell Gringo S. Really comfy. Not a great seal so I get a little breeze to the eyes, but I wear sunglasses under the shield. Cheap. Richard, how is the seal on the Bullitt? And wind getting through. I may get one next sale at Revzilla.

Its not as quiet as a racing helmet. It does have a little wind noise but I cant tell when riding the Norton because the Norton is pretty loud. On other bikes I do notice it once in a while. But unlike a racing helmet, Its great for street. So much visibility. Definitely my favourite helmet. Mine is flat black with mirror visor. I really wanted the brown interior but that isnt an option with flat black. I didnt want gloss black on a gloss black bike. I did almost go for a white gloss helmet though. Maybe next time. My next helmet will be a bullit for sure. I really want the Roland sand edition in Carbon but it’s quite a bit more. And here in canada we have the same deal. New helmet every five years. So sort of a waste to spend all that extra money.
 
Its not as quiet as a racing helmet. It does have a little wind noise but I cant tell when riding the Norton because the Norton is pretty loud. On other bikes I do notice it once in a while. But unlike a racing helmet, Its great for street. So much visibility. Definitely my favourite helmet. Mine is flat black with mirror visor. I really wanted the brown interior but that isnt an option with flat black. I didnt want gloss black on a gloss black bike. I did almost go for a white gloss helmet though. Maybe next time. My next helmet will be a bullit for sure. I really want the Roland sand edition in Carbon but it’s quite a bit more. And here in canada we have the same deal. New helmet every five years. So sort of a waste to spend all that extra money.
Revzilla had the RSD on a close out. About 50% off. I should have made my move. I just want to make sure I don't get that piercing wind right to the eyes at the upper part of the gasket like I do on the Biltwell. With the Davida, I don't hear the bike or people shouting at me at all. Its actually too well built. I love hearing the bike.
 
I just bought a set of the auritec ear plugs, work well, maybe too well, was thinking of getting a new hedon helmet with the visor, the epicurist range, maybe ditch the plugs then
 
New owner - first 24hrs


I slid the ring to the top so that i could test where it would end up after a ride. Bear in mind I'm riding in so not driving it hard with heavy braking. Seems a fair amount of travel to me. Have noticed a very small mark on the mudguard where the bottom of the old cooler may make contact. Only a very small mark though which I will mention when I take back for service
 
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I did the same, similar amount of fork travel for me and small scuff on mudguard. I THINK my oil cooler clearance is just enough now, time will tell.
 
Not sure if you followed this thread WR: https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/front-end-clonk.25054/page-3

Oil pipe routing is the culprit, pushing the cooler slightly forwards.

The factory do know about this, and therefore should fix this as a matter of course on services, but neither Mx’s or mine (done by a dealer) were addressed at first service!

So, I would advise that you CLEARLY point it out to the factory and CHECK it’s been done properly (see pics in thread above, oil cooler should basically remain parcelled to frame down tube).
 
Yes I did follow it and checked my mudguard but the scratch is very light and no denting of the oil cooler. I am not confident to change too many things other than cosmetic, winkers etc and didn't want to mess around with oil pipes and cock it up. I have 600 miles for the 1st service in my mind but then read somewhere it was 500. What did you take yours in at, was it a dealer did you say or the factory.
 
Mine was slightly under 500, can’t remember exactly, got it done at Krazy Horse.
 
Ok, i am on about 324 at the moment, this weekend the weather looks good for me so should get it up to 400, maybe some more Hog baiting at Uppingham, or Triumph baiting in Wellingborough. In Palma all next week but should be ok for Sunday, so wont be too long before I need to book it in. If the weather improves I will ride it there or use my collection guy who I am very impressed with. Hope JC is too tomorrow, how exciting
 
I am going to write to the factory about an issue I had yesterday. I thought about not posting this on the board but I felt that I should raise it here so you guys could implement the safety check immediately and at the same time absolve myself of any guilt if something happened.

When our for a ride yesterday, then was making my way back home through some slow sections of a country road. At about 15 mph, I heard some horrible crunching noise coming from the front wheel so pulled in. I though maybe something off the road got stuck in the wheel. Had a quick look and nothing, pulled off and it was ok for about 200 mtrs then horrible noise again and the front wheel was a bit jerky. Pulled over and got off and knew I had to check it out throughly. I thought maybe something was stuck under the carbon fibre mudguard but nothing. Then looked at the left side of the front disk break and the culprit was staring at me. One of the bolts holding the disk had undone itself and was fouling the fork as it rotated. We checked all the bolts and all were able to be unscrewed by hand.

A guy on an old Honda VF 750 stopped and asked if I needed any help, I showed him and he kindly rode back home 5 mins away and returned with a Tee Bar Allen key. The other disk was ok but we tightened up all the bolts on the problem side.

Checked the speedo, 370 miles. Now either they were not tightened enough or some issue where they need a captive nut at the back or a spring/grip washer that works better. Could be an issue with the new models only, some recent change of supplier or fixing method but they need to check into it.

Guys - please check your disk bolts before your next ride. Moments before, i was carving through some country roads using the full 4500 revs so this ride could have ended quite badly.



New owner - first 24hrs
New owner - first 24hrs
 
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fook fook fook, glad you stopped just in time!!!

Do any of your bolts have the white marker on them? All my bolts that I've checked have been marked.... but not yet checked the disc bolts, didn't expect to have to :eek:
 
Blimey WR, thank goodness you stopped and sorted it when you did.

And you definitely did the right thing by warning everyone on here.

For the record, I just checked mine and they’re all tight and paint marked.
 
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