Rebuild Paranoia

Put in perspective. It's 50 years old or almost that now. There will always be something to fix or tweak, but that's the nature of the beast. Rarely do they ever totally break. You can't really own one without being mechanically inclined, so just take it out and enjoy it on a good day. Whatever happens, if it does, you know enough about it to figure it out.
I think that parts falling off or electrical/ ignition failures are the most common things that will strand you.

"I think that parts falling off or electrical/ ignition failures are the most common things that will strand you" As an old Norton friend used to say, "Safety wire is your friend! But don't go overboard, only use it on the parts you want to keep!"

Don’t feel bad! I too grew up on KZ/Z1s, oil boiler GSXRs and dads many Honda’s. My Speed twin is great but my Commando feels like no other bike I’ve ever owned...love it. It does leak oil and I have to have a valve guide fixed but no big deal. I too was nervous about noises and clicks etc...but it went away.
The Gents on this chat room are a “great” source of support and knowledge. Go enjoy the bike and the looks of something other than all the plastic out there.

I only thing I use safety wire on is my chain joining link lol, have never had anything fall off and over the 46 years of owning and building my Norton have only lost a rear exhaust mount bolt and the top nut off my gearbox mount, had 2 EI boxes fail Lucas Rittar and a Boyar but that only failed because of the major fire back in the 80s after converting the Norton to the Featherbed frame running volicity stacks and no air filter and a leaking fuel tap, we all learn by our mistakes lol.

Ashley

Please don't drink anything with alcohol before heading out, it may numb your anxiety to some degree, but it will also numb, to a degree, your judgement..

The what-ifs you are experiencing aren't unique; you and the machine have to develop mutual trust. I spend years with my builds; when the day is done I get a glass of seltzer, light up a smoke and talk to my Norton, sometimes it tells me what it wants next. If you have seen the movie "Days of Thunder" you'll remember Robert Duvall building a NASCAR racer for Tom Cruise; he speaks to it, he becomes part of it; a Norton should be your friend for your life and its future depend on becoming one when riding.

Nortons have soul, they are, virtuall, all hand made; no two welds are the same.

So, sit back and take pride in your handiwork. Take short rides so you and the Norton can get to know each other. When you de-clutch and change gears and it becomes as natural as breathing you're on the right road.

Go smooth then go fast.

Best.

I would carry a plug spanner and spare plug and spare fuse . Bits do not fall off a Norton Commando - the worse thing that happened tome was running out ofpetrol on a motorway and then pushing the bike for 10 miles

Hey Dan,
How is the bike running?
Are you enjoying it?

YING said:

Hey Dan,
How is the bike running?
Are you enjoying it?

Click to expand...

I drive the thing the day before a long trip to test it out , fuel top up , chain freshly oiled , grease on teflon cable ends , etc. If I feel very confident I wake up early to load up the camping and fishing gear and Alma on back.
Toronto to Manitoulin Islands and back last season with zero problems.
This season the same.
CAA , Cel phone , ask for help if need be.
We got invited into many parks and homes because we drive a show winning Norton Commando.
2021 will be Manitoulin again. Prince Edward County. Fergus and Elora. Feel confident my friend. Ask for help if need be and make new friends all along the route.

When I built my Seeley race bike, I never believed in it because of the 850 Commando motor and gearbox. I was wrong I think the Commando must be better than any 650 or 750 Triumph ever built in the 60s or70s. The Honda 750 does not count - it is never a sports bike - a Commando will run rings around it. A lot depends on what you want - excitement or a quiet life. With anything which really goes, except a modern Japanese bike, you can expect to always have to keep at it. A Honda 750 does not output the same amount of torques as a Commando 750, and the power delivery is smoother - so you break less bits.
In the 1960s there were Mods and Rockers - the Mods rode motor scooters. A Honda 750 is designed for that sort of person - no oil leaks or nasty noises ?