Norton 880 long-term project
- Thread starter grandpaul
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grandpaul
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Sure, thanx for the bits & bobs, but they "ain't no good" without additional play money to keep stuff happening!
The list of stuff posted on 12/17 will SLOWLY be knocked down, between bouts of paying work.
I should be posting photos of the flat slide carbs and starter motor any day now, Kenny mailed them out last week.
The list of stuff posted on 12/17 will SLOWLY be knocked down, between bouts of paying work.
I should be posting photos of the flat slide carbs and starter motor any day now, Kenny mailed them out last week.
That's how I look at my current Norton. I may occasionally shuffle Hondas in my collection but I'll just keep the old Norton. I reckon she will improve a bit every year.
With my wife laid off I won't be buying many bike bits for a while but next year will come.
With my wife laid off I won't be buying many bike bits for a while but next year will come.
Yup,
$377,000 loss on one of my three houses alone. I think the others have not been hit so badly, and I'm in Mutual funds that have dropped but not like some. I really feel for the folks who had been close to the financial edge.
Motorcycles are my main hobby so that means rather than buying something I'll be going through my old stuff and making do with something I can adapt. A case in point was the other day when I needed a test fuel tank to tune the old Norton. I found a water bottle and my fitting collection yielded a high pressure air valve. Two or three fittings later, a few holes drilled and I have a one pint test tank.
It is more trouble to do things this way, and it sure would be easier just to buy another test tank, but we certainly can make do.
$377,000 loss on one of my three houses alone. I think the others have not been hit so badly, and I'm in Mutual funds that have dropped but not like some. I really feel for the folks who had been close to the financial edge.
Motorcycles are my main hobby so that means rather than buying something I'll be going through my old stuff and making do with something I can adapt. A case in point was the other day when I needed a test fuel tank to tune the old Norton. I found a water bottle and my fitting collection yielded a high pressure air valve. Two or three fittings later, a few holes drilled and I have a one pint test tank.
It is more trouble to do things this way, and it sure would be easier just to buy another test tank, but we certainly can make do.
Yup,
Currently all my losses are paper only except for my wife's income. If I wait long enough I should recover, maybe not all, but a fair amount.
The frustrating thing is that I'm near retirement and I plan to move to New Zealand so that will alter my plans, I'll probably have to work a few more years.
I visualise myself in Kiwi in a few years with a frame up Norton on the table I can take ten years to do with no trains interfereing.
Currently all my losses are paper only except for my wife's income. If I wait long enough I should recover, maybe not all, but a fair amount.
The frustrating thing is that I'm near retirement and I plan to move to New Zealand so that will alter my plans, I'll probably have to work a few more years.
I visualise myself in Kiwi in a few years with a frame up Norton on the table I can take ten years to do with no trains interfereing.
My wife is from Timaru so I think South Island, I lean toward the Marlborough area. We have a place in Auckland in the DBD, but I don't want to live there when we are old. She has mentioned Hamner Springs but that is too much like Maine for me.
This is an ongoing family discussion which may require a trip to Kiwi and looking at property to settle.
Christine doesn't drive so she will require public transportation and I want a separate shop like I have here in San Mateo. I'd like room for some older machine shop equipment, at least a lathe and drill press. I'd like to have more equipment but that may not be possible.
Just room for maybe three bikes, at least one has to be a sidecar outfit though.
The good thing seems to be that Norton stuff seems quite available over there from what I've seen. These days with the web everything is available, and Kiwis can make anything anyway.
This is an ongoing family discussion which may require a trip to Kiwi and looking at property to settle.
Christine doesn't drive so she will require public transportation and I want a separate shop like I have here in San Mateo. I'd like room for some older machine shop equipment, at least a lathe and drill press. I'd like to have more equipment but that may not be possible.
Just room for maybe three bikes, at least one has to be a sidecar outfit though.
The good thing seems to be that Norton stuff seems quite available over there from what I've seen. These days with the web everything is available, and Kiwis can make anything anyway.
Grandpaul,
You never know that just might be an answer to what I do with them. I view this stuff with old bikes as we are temporary custodians of a piece of history.
My Chinese police bike already has been accepted by a museum, I just have to finish it. That may be slowed a bit by finances but it is nearly done.
I think the family Norton is the only one I'll bring to Kiwi with me. I'll hope to also find a Commando to restore similar to the one I rode for so many years. An electric start may be the best choice though, perhaps one of the last 850s?
By the way that's why I think it was so great that you did such a wonderful restoration on that one that had been chopped GP. If some of these bikes are not preserved the era of beautiful British bikes will be lost.
And on the next trip to Kiwi we will be running from visits to friends and relatives all over both islands. I'm sure a bit of time can be spared to drop in and say hi to a Norton guy.
You never know that just might be an answer to what I do with them. I view this stuff with old bikes as we are temporary custodians of a piece of history.
My Chinese police bike already has been accepted by a museum, I just have to finish it. That may be slowed a bit by finances but it is nearly done.
I think the family Norton is the only one I'll bring to Kiwi with me. I'll hope to also find a Commando to restore similar to the one I rode for so many years. An electric start may be the best choice though, perhaps one of the last 850s?
By the way that's why I think it was so great that you did such a wonderful restoration on that one that had been chopped GP. If some of these bikes are not preserved the era of beautiful British bikes will be lost.
And on the next trip to Kiwi we will be running from visits to friends and relatives all over both islands. I'm sure a bit of time can be spared to drop in and say hi to a Norton guy.
