Norman White restoration manual......

Fast Eddie · Nov 20, 2020

A perfectly reasonable question IMHO.

dangerdarren · Nov 21, 2020

cliffa said:
Unauthorized purchase of another motorcycle ?

Got it in one.

Gadge · Nov 21, 2020

RoadScholar said:
If you are just beginning to, or are in the very early stages, of major work on your Norton the book could easily pay for itself many times over.

When I consider the tuition payments I have made in pursuit of learning the finer (expensive) points of the Norton, finding such a book and this forum have helped me upgrade my diet from pasta and rice...

Best.

Totally agree. My comment wasn't the cost of the book in the UK (which is very reasonable for Norman's wisdom - sorry!) but the increased cost into $ for US folks.

Likewise, the VIP fee for access to this forum is a small price to pay to access to the vast experience here.

SteveA · Nov 21, 2020

Gadge said:
Totally agree. My comment wasn't the cost of the book in the UK (which is very reasonable for Norman's wisdom - sorry!) but the increased cost into $ for US folks.

Likewise, the VIP fee for access to this forum is a small price to pay to access to the vast experience here.

Pretty sure only British members will have identified the pun...!

For your money you can have several pages of genuine wisdom (courtesy of Norman), or many more 'pages', some with undoubted and proven wisdom, and some without a trace of it!

The fun here includes the winnowing!

jan nelder · Nov 21, 2020

SteveA said:
Pretty sure only British members will have identified the pun...!

For your money you can have several pages of genuine wisdom (courtesy of Norman), or many more 'pages', some with undoubted and proven wisdom, and some without a trace of it!

and Norman Wisdom retired to the IOM, where I once spotted him watching the TT, near Ramsey, and was hugely loved for his films in Albania!!

cliffa · Nov 21, 2020

dangerdarren said:
Got it in one.

Been there too, which is how I identified the behavioral pattern.

ZFD · Nov 24, 2020

Norman's book is now also available from Andover Norton.

We helped Norman with some material and he spoke of that book for years. I am glad I lived to see the book in print at last!

And, yes, I have ordered my copy.

DevonNorton · Nov 24, 2020

It's arrived!

Just picked up from my local book shop (for local people).

At first glance it looks excellent. Lots of photos and step-by-step restoration info.

After an intro and preliminaries on finding a suitable bike for restoration, Norman covers 'Workshop & Tools', dismantling the bike and then on through the various component groups, e.g. frame, forks, engine, transmission. All this is very thorough with e.g. spanner sizes and relevant illustrations.

For the section on lubricants, this is obviously Norman's experience. In other words, he is unaware of Jim Comstock's work. Having said that, the engine multigrade he favours is Castrol XL 20W50, which did well in Jim's test.

Assembly of the restored bike is then covered along with maintenance and upgrades.

There is a list of recommended retailers - mostly based in the UK.

Norman has dedicated the book to John Mclaren. An 'ace metal fabricator' (understatement from me).

The book's title is, 'Norton Commando Restoration Manual' and that is exactly what it is. Wish I'd had one when I started on my Norton Commando road in 2015, but very pleased with this one produced now by an expert in his field.

Andy

JOHNO23 · Nov 25, 2020

I was at Normans on Monday dropping off a tank he had lent me and also dropping off a mates fastback. He had just had some books delivered to him(the first ones he’d seen)so bought mine from him which he happily signed and wrote on it that it was the “very first book sold” which was nice. He was genuinely chuffed that I wanted to buy it! I don’t think he realises that these will go all over the world and anyone restoring or just working on a Commando will want to have one of these.

Woody850 · Nov 25, 2020

JOHNO23 said:
I don’t think he realises that these will go all over the world and anyone restoring or just working on a Commando will want to have one of these.

Well I am not quite the world but it's the beginning. Delivery date for me is end of April 2021, now how did Norman know I go into early pension then.

Fast Eddie · Nov 25, 2020

Woody850 said:
Well I am not quite the world but it's the beginning. Delivery date for me is end of April 2021, now how did Norman know I go into early pension then.

If your order is with Amazon (like mine was) cancel it, and order from AN (like I have). They have them in stock...

milfordite · Nov 25, 2020

I just ordered the book from WalMart. Free shipping.

robs ss · Nov 25, 2020

Mine arrived in the mail - ordered 9th Nov - to Australia from The Book Depository. (see link at bottom)
Very nice book - looks very useful!

Amazon.com: Books

Online shopping from a great selection at Books Store.

www.bookdepository.com

wavey_davey · Nov 27, 2020

For UK residents, if you order from Hive.co.uk, you can nominate a local bookshop to receive a share of the profit, which seems worthwhile in these (even more) troubled times for the High Street. Mine came on free standard delivery in 3 days. Looks good!

Norton Commando Restoration Manual

The Norton Commando is a motorcycle with an ohv pre-unit parallel-twin engine, produced by the Norton Motorcycle Company from 1967 until 1977. With over 700 colour photographs, this book ...

www.hive.co.uk

ZFD · Nov 27, 2020

The first lot of fifty sold out, but we are promised more for Monday, plus a few signed copies.
Apologies for those who tried to order from us after noon today. More luck on Monday we hope!

Beezer Josh · Nov 27, 2020

I ordered mine from AbeBooks on 23 November and received an email this morning saying that it shipped from Illinois. Estimated delivery date to Maryland is 13 December.

Chuck_Wagon · Nov 27, 2020

robs ss said:
Mine arrived in the mail - ordered 9th Nov - to Australia from The Book Depository. (see link at bottom)
Very nice book - looks very useful!

Amazon.com: Books

Online shopping from a great selection at Books Store.

www.bookdepository.com

Ordered my copy from robs ss link.
$68 canadian, free delivery world wide.

elefantrider · Nov 27, 2020

Curious to know if photos of my SS made it in the book.
When I was at Norman's some time ago, he requested I send him a few photos of it for the book.

Will eventually pick up a copy, and especially soon if pictures of my bike made it to print.
Glad to see it is out now.

DevonNorton · Nov 27, 2020

elefantrider said:
Curious to know if photos of my SS made it in the book.
When I was at Norman's some time ago, he requested I send him a few photos of it for the book.

Will eventually pick up a copy, and especially soon if pictures of my bike made it to print.
Glad to see it is out now.

Hello
There are some pics of a metalflake red S-type with black (gold edged) tank decal and gold decal on the side panel.
Pages 46 and 47, 156 (side view), 209 (oil tank).
Could that be your bike?
Maybe post a pic.
Andy

elefantrider · Nov 27, 2020

It is a yellow '71 SS with the factory high pipes on both sides. There's a photo of it on the recent Hansen Dam ride thread.

Norman White restoration manual......

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