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Fast Eddie said:
What isn't available in stainless for the Commando that should be?
restore cost....ouch!
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What isn't available in stainless for the Commando that should be?
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A mint condition commando has a certain intrinsic value which will increase over time. I notice that you guys all seem to express your values in dollar terms - why is that ? My own benchmarks in historic vehicles are the Type 35 C Bugatti and the P3 Alfa Romeo. Owning one would be like cuddling up to the Mona Lisa. I once had the opportunity of buying a very original 61 model Manx Norton at the time when they had just become defunct. I'm older and wiser now, however the opportunities still exist to buy a near new yet redundant racing bike. If you are now 35 years old, when you are my age you would be the envy of all and sundry when you bring it out and fire it up. My Seeley is a bit like that even though it is very non-genuine in my eyes.
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assuming the rest of your bike is as perfect as is shown, $9000?
And then there is my own category which I suspect has lots of members:
A Commando that just keeps getting improved upon as time and available dollars permit, and without
regard to caring if numbers match or how original it looks......because we own it for ourselves and
have no intention of ever selling it
modifications that make your bike "better" than stock in every way - faster, safer, and better handling
things like Hagon instead of Girling shocks, EI instead of spring loaded AA and points, rod linkage head steady, CNW/Brembo front disc brake system, Boyer Power Box and all new "modern" wiring, Heinz Kegler type swing arm cradle Rings, Corbin Gunfighter seat, Jim Comnuz hydraulic clutch, blessedly dry belt primary, having Buchanan build the new wheels, and on and on
I paid $2500 for my 850 twenty years ago and have put at least another 12K into it since
I don't care that I could never recover my investment if I ever wanted to sell it
Owning and improving a Commando is a labor of love, and is still cheaper than cocaine or a psychiatrist
And then there is my own category which I suspect has lots of members:
A Commando that just keeps getting improved upon as time and available dollars permit, and without
regard to caring if numbers match or how original it looks......because we own it for ourselves and
have no intention of ever selling it
modifications that make your bike "better" than stock in every way - faster, safer, and better handling
things like Hagon instead of Girling shocks, EI instead of spring loaded AA and points, rod linkage head steady, CNW/Brembo front disc brake system, Boyer Power Box and all new "modern" wiring, Heinz Kegler type swing arm cradle Rings, Corbin Gunfighter seat, Jim Comnuz hydraulic clutch, blessedly dry belt primary, having Buchanan build the new wheels, and on and on
I paid $2500 for my 850 twenty years ago and have put at least another 12K into it since
I don't care that I could never recover my investment if I ever wanted to sell it
Owning and improving a Commando is a labor of love, and is still cheaper than cocaine or a psychiatrist
I got into old bikes as they kept me from just sitting in the bar during my time off (working on offshore oil rigs), I have always gone into a resto/rebuild armed with the knowledge that I would never "get my money out of it" but old bikes are still WAY cheaper than drinks at the bar!!
I have committed a major sin with the custom-Norton-project that I am presently working on, I have kept track of every penny and frankly the number is STAGGERING!!
Vince
I have committed a major sin with the custom-Norton-project that I am presently working on, I have kept track of every penny and frankly the number is STAGGERING!!
Vince
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1up3down said:
Yes I totally agree with what you wrote here. My way of thinking is we have the opportunity to bring an iconic motorcycle into the 21st century in a way the original Norton factory might have given the technical advances in the past 35 years.
Even with the new Norton, the original Commando still deserves to be on the road...in my case it will be safer, more reliable with better handling...not as concerned about going fast
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Mark said:
Yes, but customized without losing the original feel and look of the bike. I think the Corbin gunfighter seat belongs on the commando...should have been one of the original seat choices had it been around then. There are a lot of "upgrades" that look better and improve the bike IMO. Nothing against following pure original, but then why do so many "original" restorations have electronic ignition...not following the "pure" theory IMO.
?????dennisgb said:
You must be talking about a different Colorado Norton works than I am.
The CNW bikes that I have seen don't look any where near original.
Not saying that they couldn't build one if they wanted, but their bikes are "street rods" in my eyes.
Mark said:
This is my kind of guy. Except in special circumstances, as in the case of family heirlooms, anyone that does not do all the work themselves aside from some machine-tool work, should not even own vintage British bikes
I have no more respect or interest in talking to those who pay to have a bike "restored" for them any more than for the owner of any new Harley Davidson etc that is strutting around on any given day.
Give your vintage bike to a guy like Mark and go buy yourself a new Jap cruiser.
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Too Right . Its not about money . you wouldnt believe the lengths people had to go to to see you could get a decent British Motorcycle . :wink:
THEN , along comes that chap hitler ; not many people realise he started all the trouble because he hated British Motorcycles . :shock:
He actually banned the import of the things . So these fancy pants can keep to their spiffy clean hondas and the like . or somebody will
be haveing something to say
THEN , along comes that chap hitler ; not many people realise he started all the trouble because he hated British Motorcycles . :shock:
He actually banned the import of the things . So these fancy pants can keep to their spiffy clean hondas and the like . or somebody will
be haveing something to say
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Hi,
I do all jobs myself, but I archieve every bill as well, even the small ones. And when you sum up all these values, you will be surprised when you see the total.
Most guys only remember the big bills and that maybe be the best strategy, because you don't want to know the real total. And if you don't know your wife
won't neither :wink: .
Ralf
I do all jobs myself, but I archieve every bill as well, even the small ones. And when you sum up all these values, you will be surprised when you see the total.
Most guys only remember the big bills and that maybe be the best strategy, because you don't want to know the real total. And if you don't know your wife
won't neither :wink: .
Ralf
beng said:
As we age we can tire of the "thrill" of working on our Nortons. I know I did. After some 40 years of Norton ownership I now have a disassembled Commando in my garage that has been in that state since it flipped a piston top some 4 or 5 years ago. All the new parts are here. Fresh barrels. Head has been reworked by Leo Goff. New Web cam, lifters. New Dave Taylor headsteady. New 3 phase alternator and regulator. All I lack is the enthusiasm to put it together. Maybe someday. Oh ya, I need a new gas tank, as well. I might wait until someone decides to make a decent steel one or go in hock for a Evan Wilcox aluminum tank.
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Matt, your reference to Hitler is interesting. I once worked with a German gent called Alex who rode a BMW sidecar outfit while fighting the Russians. He went out riding motorcycles with a few of my work mates . He seemed to have a lot more endurance than most people. Another German I worked with told me he was a glider pilot in the thirties. He was flying a Stuka over the Mediterranean feeling really great doing his dive bombing stuff with the siren on, until a P38 got behind him and he ended up swimming.
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