Nortons In Australia

Here's some further bantering on Aussie racing pecking orders

http://www.classicmotorcycling.com.au/f ... hichpage=2

A 750 Superbike Class, even if run in conjunction with the unlimited class, would solve one of my problems. I've long wondered whether I should convert my Norton Commando back into a 750, or enlarge it to 900cc into handgrenade form. In the olden days (early 70s) the Norton Commando could hold its own with most Japanese 750s. Even the H2 Kawasaki could be beaten with one, provided the Kawasaki didn't have a trick frame (like the H2R)

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Yeah, that was an attempt to be more inclusive, since over 500cc means 160hp Katanas tricked out with aftermarket big cube drag race parts mills.
Or mega-buck unobtanium squillionaire 'home-built' big cube Vincent lookalikes.

Down-under readers might be interested in the current issue of "Old Bike Australasia" which although generally fairly excrucinatin` [due to its moronic Ducati-biased editor] has a pictorial write up of one of the 1st production batch `68 Commandos - a B.R.G. Fastback, natch.

Lookie here for more

http://velobanjogent.blogspot.com/2012_ ... chive.html

In Australia the standardisation committees always have industry representatives on them. The car companies send them there to ensure that their models are not discriminated against under ensuing regulations based on the Australian Design Rules. In the fifties we had Ford motor cars with provision for turn indicators, none were fitted to any cars in Australia by law until many years later. Lobbying is part of politics, and motorcyclists are a minority group in Australia. We don't manufacture motorcycles here, even though we have the world's best competition riders. And our race classes never promote the interests of constructors because the controlling bodies of motor sport do deals with importers. It has come to the situation where we have nothing but production superbikes from Japanese manufacturers to race unless you want to try and resurrect an historic bike. It is an issue about monopolies, competition , manufacturing capability, and productivity, and it applies right through motor sport. It appears to have been caused by the rise of globalism.

Hobot, I believe I wrote that comment about the size to build a commando engine for racing in Australia. This is my latest answer to making a commando competitive :

http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/acotrel/thunderbikes/

At present the bikes shown on my web site race in all sorts of different classes, but rarely together because of our silly historic rules, and BEARS classes. I've had my seeley commando 850 sitting around for years doing nothing, because there has never been a class in which I could anticipate getting a decent competitive ride with it. Racing costs too much to just go there and be part of a procession, and bum around.
There are a lot of bikes which are in the same situation. At our Broadford Bonanza recently I saw three Rob North Rocket threes which I have never seen raced anywhere, also a really hot commando that I'd never seen before. In recent years I've only seen one Seeley Matchless G50 - there is no class for it, and it runs in Period 4 against alcohol fuelled 1100cc CB750 Hondas.
My real problem is that I am getting older, and time is running out. I'm currently preparing my bike for a ride day at Winton Motor Raceway on 25th of this month. As far as I'm concerned they can belt their historic racing, until they change the format.

But what if some idiot wanted to spend silly money on a Yam 850 triple? like use 3/4 of the hot XS1100 tune?

Current Commando retail $ in Australia...
www.classicstyle.com.au
www.antiquemotorcycle.com.au

Does the Yamaha 850 triple engine use aircooled two valve four stroke technology ? If it does, where is the problem ?

If we are going to race Thunderbikes, I'd like one of these :

But isn`t that Laverda a V6?

Local readers might like to check out the current issue of Motorcycle Trader, it has a 4 page article on a newly built [$20K] Domi-racer replica..

More current local [dealer/retail] Commandos for sale..
www.centralmotorcycles.com.au/shop/category/11031

J.A.W. said:

But isn`t that Laverda a V6?

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Nothing remotely V6 about it.

Although what it is is a good question ?
Spaceframe Lavs doesn't ring any bells ??

But we diverge....

Another Aussie seller.. www.britishmotorcycle.com.au

Top blokes there JAW. Helped me out with most of my bits (and tolerated my ignorance).

The link does not work for me ~ ?? ( Should I elaborate more as I get an error message when I try to go further than the home page ~ )

Hey Dave

Where are they ?

I need ( good quality) fork seals for my Commando ~ The current set look like expiring after being there since 1993 ~

So bloody typical ~ nothing lasts these days ~ :shock:

(Ironically the right hand seal has also gone west on the Trident fork, and waiting for delivery on them as well ~ )

Hi Stu,

they're B.J.'s Bikes & Bits Pty Ltd. 66 Deshon Street Woolloongabba QLD 4102 (07) 3393 1978.
They've been very helpful to me and have a great stock of parts.
I usually do EFT direct deposit and most bits I've got within a couple of days.

Say G'day to Marete for me. Hope all's good with your world and I'll try to swing by again next year and have a cuppa. Maybe next time on the Norton!

Maybe next time on the Norton!

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Cheers Dave

Made some small changes since you were here last ~

Mate ~ I would anticipate that Both bikes are on key and we can do a run of sorts ~

Currently they are both Howling ~ ( just some niggly issues ~ )

Merete reciprocates ~

The Central Motorcycles stock of machines is usually imported from the US.