Norton Riders? Young? Old? Or somewhere in between?

Hello Everyone. I am new to the forums.

I am 28, and have been on a Norton for 28 years. My father who is now 74 has had his Norton since new in 1974. He picked it up from the factory in England when he was stationed in Germany.

When I was fourteen I got my own bike, a 1958 Triumph Tiger Cub. I now have that, my '70 Daytona, and I just recently was able to pick up one of my dream bikes. It is a 1971 Commando! It is a bit cafe'd out, but it is only the seat, tank, rearsets, and front fairing. I am looking to eventually get all of the orginal parts and have both sets for whichever mood I am in.

Welcome ebowling81,

It's good to have another younger member aboard.

I'm 67, just slightly past the 45-55 range. I ride my '75 MkIII on the street, and once in a while a Norton on the salt flats at Bonneville. I bought my first Norton, a slightly used 1971 Production Racer, from Dan Gurney in 1972, and went roadracing. I've been racing, riding, and working on Nortons ever since.

Ken

That interesting, Dan Gurney had a summer house in Greenville Maine while I was growing up. He was nice to everybody and we kids thought he was super cool.
I'm rapidly heading for my 59th birthday in May.
I've had several bikes for a bit, they would be one of those odd little Harleys with a sportster type tank, and just passing though my hands were a Harley 61, Matchless 600 twin if I recall correctly as it promptly broke the crank. I wish I still had the 600 Norton single. I'm sure I'm forgetting one or two.
As to real bikes that ran regularly my first one was a G15CSR which I got at 17 if I recall correctly. That was followed by a Commando that I can't remember whether it was a 70 or 71. I had that one through a couple of frames and by the time I gave it away many years later I'm fairly sure that it had the original head and crankcase but not much else. I wish I had both of those bikes back.
Now I just have the bikes in my signiture.

I'm 56 and I've been "riding" since before I was born! I'll explain. My dad owned a Triumph when he was young. Courted my mum who later became pregnant with me. Money was scarce back in the 50's, so the Trump was their only transport. Regrettably, he traded it in on a Hillman when mum became too big. So I reckon that that's where my love for Brit bikes really started. They say that an unborn child can hear, smell, feel everything the mother can. And there is nothing that can compare with the unique smell of an old bike starting up. The vibration coming up from the seats and handlebars. The torque pulling from every gear change. And most of all, that unique combination of sounds and resonance coming from the clicking tappets, whirring chains, and thumping mufflers. What an orchestra! It really does start the heart pumping. Even tho' I don't rely on the Commando for daily transport these days, I get really depressed when I go longer than a few days without riding it. It'll be interesting to find similar stories like mine. Post some to share! Cheers and thank you everyone for making this a fantastic forum!

I was distressed that I had to check the next to the last box..... 56 here.

In the last two weeks I have gotten the 71 basketcase ready to put on the road. There is something very cool about the rumble coming from those upswept pipes and the way , when Idling, that it twitches like a big cat getting ready to pounce....

I wasn't allowed to have bikes when I was growing up, so when I was on leave from boot-camp I bought my first bike. a Yamaha dirt bike. Then. as soon as I got to my ship, I bought a 68 BSA lightning and then almost immediately thereafter, traded it for a 500 Triumph Daytona. I took that bike on every road in southern California and have regretted selling it when I went back overseas.

Fast forward to around 2000. I was telling my buddy that I was really pining for an old British bike to tinker with. He sold me this Norton (in rusted pieces) for $150 bucks! And now it's back on the road..... I checked 56+ but on the bike I feel 25(ish)

Karl

25 here, as of Jan. Hahaha have my Norton Motorcycle Club card dated Aug 19 1967 though, so I guess I'm ahead of my game?

My first Norton was my father's first Norton, but it currently is Triumph powered till I can raise the cash to rebuild the engine, then I'm going to build an early Commando Fastback from Parts using the Atlas engine.

Mentally or physically? 57 or 21 :lol:

45 here, is the first Norton I've owned. I was lucky to find it at a price I could afford. They've always seemed really expensive to aquire!...Mind you it's a pretty dog eared example....But that's ok, as I really wanted a project bike to work on, in my spare time.

Today, I introduced myself on this forum, see:

http://www.accessnorton.com/norton_commando3658.html

It's nice to notice in this topic that there are quite some young people who are Norton bikers but also that there are many enthousiastic owners who are getting on in years but still young enough to enjoy their Nortons.
This is really encouraging.
Oh yes, I'm 54 myself.

Greetings to all of you !

I figured I'd weigh in on this thread now that my bike is finished and back on the road. Purchased it 31 years ago (1978) from the PO when I was 23....OMG, was it that long ago?? :shock:

No use in trying to fool the math....puts me at 54.

Chip