Oh dear.... How sad.... Never mind....!

The more cultured amongst you will, of course, recognise the above line oft quoted by Sgt Major Williams to belittle people's problems in the fabulous "It ain't half hot mum" !

He would definitely use it here...

I can't be the only motorcyclist constantly 'stressing' about what to buy next surely!?

I'm 50 next year (well, will be so long as I'm still here) and wanted to treat myself. Plans to buy a '68 Bonnie, restore it and fire it up on our joint 50th look less likely as time runs out to do the necessary.

Hence my not irregular questions on the 961 pages asking about these bikes. A nice '68 reg Commando would be an ideal treat to commemorate 50 years since being born in '68! But as you can detect from my posts, I'm not 'enthusiastic' enough to be prepared to buy myself into a load of stress and hassle and disappointment. So, I'll keep asking and probing on that idea for a while yet.

Or, and keep quiet at the back, should I just admit defeat and go and buy that 103" HD Street Bob, or Softail Slim, that regularly show up on my radar for short periods!?

A properly maintained, or refurbuished, ore restored '68 Bonnie should be every bit as capable and dependable as any other classic Britbike of the era.

I know I can hop on my '67 and ride all day, but I'm not going any further than across town at highway speeds; it'll fall apart! My '69 (mostly) race bike has been 98% reliable (had a muffler fall off on the penultimate lap in a race at Barber's, and a shorted coil terminal (to gas tank) at Willow Springs. Other than that, it is good to go at max throttle and stop with max brakes, repeatedly, till it runs out of gas. My '70 Bonnie is a one-kick starter every time and good to go anywhere, but is buzzy above 70MPH to the point of being tedious on anything over 100 mile days.

How about having CNW build you a nice 68 Commando?
Jaydee

Norton 650ss

Makes me chuckle ever time I flip it round a corner like a ten speed bicycle. And again when it rips thru the gears in a hyperactive way.
Now that the vibes are sorted, it can cruise down the freeway at 80 mph if needed, but it really shines on twisty country roads.
When Bruce MainSmith tested the 650ss in 62, he was blown away. At the MIRA test track, the 650ss topped out ten MPH higher than the Triumph Bonneville tested earlier. And then there's the Featherbed handling.......

I can recommend.



Glen

s1233.photobucket.com/user/worntorn1/media/157%20248%20St_AL_032217_KDW_192_zpsgwvt8qi3.jpg.html] [/URL]

Thanks for the recommendations chaps... However... I'm desperately trying to narrow down my choices rather than expand them...!

I just don't know how a Norton man , already converted from Triumph, can look at a Bonnie without considering the bike that outperformed the Bonnie for both handling and outright speed.
As far as looks- - both are very pretty engines, but the Featherbed frame wins because we instantly know what those frame curves mean for handling.
The 650ss might cost a bit more and be a littler harder to hunt down, so more fun there too!

But.......nevermind :wink:

Glen

A nice '68 reg Commando would be an ideal treat to commemorate 50 years since being born in '68!

like my 68 dunstall atlas...or 68 mercury....sorry... done up as a 650ss

So I have almost a 1950 model 7, 1952 was as close as I could get to 1950.
gonna be 67 here and still kicking a combat :mrgreen:

I really like your thinking, but I'm not sharp enough to get a similar math equation to work in my case. In 2018 I turn 75, which certainly rates an EXTREAMLY nice prize to myself, but I sure as Hell don't want any 1943 vehicle. Is there a way to manipulate the numbers to bump the year up also to 1968, and like you, treat myself to a nice Triumph? I'd just need a little extra room to carry around my friggin' walker in.

Nigel, Instead of a new motorcycle build, why not take your norton on a summer trip somewhere... Maybe to a place where they speak another language, ... like Scotland :lol:

o0norton0o said:

Nigel, Instead of a new motorcycle build, why not take your norton on a summer trip somewhere... Maybe to a place where they speak another language, ... like Scotland :lol:

Click to expand...

Steady now, you'll incur the wrath of the Scots...!

Am hoping to do a bit of a road trip actually. Still got that space in the shed staring at me though!

worntorn said:

I just don't know how a Norton man , already converted from Triumph, can look at a Bonnie without considering the bike that outperformed the Bonnie for both handling and outright speed.
As far as looks- - both are very pretty engines, but the Featherbed frame wins because we instantly know what those frame curves mean for handling.
The 650ss might cost a bit more and be a littler harder to hunt down, so more fun there too!

But.......nevermind :wink:

Glen

Click to expand...

Now your just trying to be logical!

What's that got to do with owt...!

If logic ruled, we'd all be riding Honda's ... : :wink:

jaydee75 said:

How about having CNW build you a nice 68 Commando?
Jaydee

Click to expand...

I have considered that at length. Numerous times!

Bottom line though is:

A) I just ain't rich enough

And

B) I certainly ain't rich enough (in cash or space) to have two bikes (nearly) the same.

With so many bikes and so little time... It's gotta be something else...

BTW... My problem may just be resolved... Will report later...

I reckon it's a Bonnie!!

Good guess (many thanks to Sam)!

I'm in Japan for a few weeks though and will report and post pics when I'm back...

Can't wait !!

A late 60s Bonneville is a very good bike, and the 5 speed Triumph gear cluster fits it. - If you haven't got the gearbox, you haven't got the bike. I rode Tritons in the 60s when the unit construction Bonnevilles arrived. They were much better. They handle and go fast and there are still plenty of second-hand parts. As a commuter the Commando is probably better, but if you want something to give you a thrill, I'd buy the Bonneville. A 650SS would be superb, but at what cost ?
A friend of mine died a few days ago after a heart operation. He has been trying to race a 650SS without much success - the cost was becoming prohibitive - just because of the little things. Great bike, but In Victoria, there was only one dealer who ever sold Nortons in the 60s and he did not sell many. The cheapest close ratio box costs about $1000 and how can you race without one ?