Retiring from Norton ownership

A friend recently sold an 850 on Bring a Trailer for $12500 US.
It was put together from a $2000 project bike with new funds used very sparingly. Indian tank, offshore cheapie seat and spray bomb frame paint job.
Minimal new engine parts.
I don't know what his total cost was but I know he did very well on that exercise!
The 35ish year old fellow that bought it wondered if my friend would be willing to put together a similar bike for a similar dollar for his riding friend.
The market for Commandos seems quite healthy!

Glen
 
I’ve often said I will keep my Commando forever. When I can’t ride it anymore I’ll polish it . When I can’t polish it anymore I’ll look at it .
But things change , sometimes not for the better .
Interest levels ,interest subjects, financial status -
I have many hobbies/interests . I sold my Honda ST 1300 this summer . Had it for 17 years - a wonderful trouble free machine but I wasn’t riding it much and the distance thing has lost it’s
appeal .
Still surfing at 70 but the mojo is waning . Still love my bikes but maintenance is becoming less appealing. I have a wideline Dommie 99 in lumps in need of restoration but on top of the lowered interest is a lowered income as I don’t want to work much anymore , so I am loath to spend money on it . I love bird hunting but I retired my dog last season. He will be 15 next week and he is battling arthritis.
Hunting without him will be heartbreaking and I don’t want the responsibility of another dog so I am done until my son in law gets a dog . He is on a breeder’s list but that could be a year or more .
I agree with others that you might want to think again before selling off your Norton(s) . Unless you really need the money it’s nice to keep your options open - as has been said , you may have a change of heart .
That being said , when a chapter of our lives closes be thankful for having had the experience. Our world is just chock full of neat things to explore.
If you do sell off I hope you will stay active here - I always like your posts and value your experienced input .
Good luck either way .
Cheers -RT
 
Went out with 3 guys a few days ago on my 99 Norton, the smallest and oldest , we were out for 6 hours speeds up to 80 in the B roads , got home and fiddled with my newest aquisition, another Norton with no electric start. I'm only 78 and I plan to be the oldest rider in the UK. Age is just a number, I keep telling myself.
 
I am not worried about prices and here in Aus the prices I have seen people asking for Norton/Commandos is just beyond me, one member on here and Rat is asking $25k for his Norton, whether he gets it or not, many years ago while out on my 850 Commando/Featherbed when stopped for a feed a very well dressed gentleman was checking out my Norton and going right over it I was watching from a distant then he came over to me and we were chatting for an hour or so telling him the history of my bike and how I got into riding and buying my Norton new.
He knew a bit about British bikes and had a collection of them, he could see what I have done with my build and using as much of my old Commando parts as much as I could on the Featherbed frame, then he threw in a spanner, "would you want to be in selling it" I said no not really then he threw in a price of $25k this was in the days Commandos were going for about $8k here in Aus for a good one, I nearly fell off my chair when he said that offer, but I said I'm not interested to his surprise and we parted our ways after he gave me his number just in case I change my mind.
Found out later he was a very rich Aussie who built and owned Hamiton Island resort and had a big bike collection.
So what they are worth here I am not really interested in and the price of second hand parts for our bikes are going through the roof here, people asking unrealistic prices, no my youngest daughter will get all my bikes when it's time to leave this life, what happens to them after that will be out of my hands, but she loves her bike and hot car she built, my oldest daughter gets my house.

Ashley
 
Onder said:
Just a note: that kicker will not fit if you are using a TTI box. Pisses me off as I could use that extra inch
of lever.
Click to expand...

I bought a TTI 'box and a T160 kickstart lever some time ago and funnily enough just last week attempted to bring the 2 together.
Failed miserably, to the point I called RGM on Friday last week.

TBH I'd already tried the remedies he was suggesting and they didn't seem to be aware that there was a problem, so I'm glad you've posted this, so now I know it isn't just me being stupid.

Anyway I am where I am and as this is an ongoing project (As funds permit.), I'm now committed to the pairing.

They are SOOO close to fitting I'm wondering whether it's just the build up of chrome that is the main cause and so far with use of needle files and various wedges (Ranging from wood through aluminum to steel.), the lever is now 1/2 on.

A real PIA really!
RGM do seem that they might be able to supply an unchromed fitting which I might go for in the end, but for the moment I'll see if I can get it on all the way.
 
Re petrol disappearing. IMO It'll be a long time before petrol/gasoline won't be readily available. Even if every new car buyer from today on bought an electric car, the majority of cars on the road for many years would still be liquid-fueled.

Frankly, despite all the hype, I'm not convinced E-vehicles are going to replace ICE vehicles OTHER than for fairly local/in town use. I just can't see people being satisfied with sitting 45 minutes to an hour for their vehicles to be recharged out on the road, or longer if they have to wait for a vacant charger. Hybrid cars/trucks make more sense to me - ICE at highway speeds, where ICE engines are at their most efficient; electrical at lower speeds. No range issues; no charging station issues.

Elec motorcycles are absolutely useless to me in their present range capability. One they can manage say, 200+ miles at "normal' speeds, that would be a different thing...But I think even then I would prefer a petrol moto.
 
MexicoMike said:
Re petrol disappearing. IMO It'll be a long time before petrol/gasoline won't be readily available. Even if every new car buyer from today on bought an electric car, the majority of cars on the road for many years would still be liquid-fueled.

Frankly, despite all the hype, I'm not convinced E-vehicles are going to replace ICE vehicles OTHER than for fairly local/in town use. I just can't see people being satisfied with sitting 45 minutes to an hour for their vehicles to be recharged out on the road, or longer if they have to wait for a vacant charger. Hybrid cars/trucks make more sense to me - ICE at highway speeds, where ICE engines are at their most efficient; electrical at lower speeds. No range issues; no charging station issues.

Elec motorcycles are absolutely useless to me in their present range capability. One they can manage say, 200+ miles at "normal' speeds, that would be a different thing...But I think even then I would prefer a petrol moto.
Click to expand...
Even if the rich western countries switch to electric, as you say, there are still millions of ICE out there, and will be for decades to come.

But also, there are vast swathes of the planet, like South America, India, Africa, vast expanses of Russia, vast expanses of the Australian interior, where it will be many, many, decades before they have the infrastructure to support EV only transport.

So, petrol and diesel will be required, on a large scale, for a long, long, time.
 
baz said:
I disagree on it being a dip
I believe it's a decline
The bruffs,Vinnie's and maybe a couple of others always seem to gain value or at least remain stable
But I believe the others will not
Take a look at the classic car market
The sale price for any car with running boards has plummeted
I bought my trident from a German collector in 2018
He was selling his classic bikes because of the fall in the market out there
There has been dips in the past due to recessions but I believe this is different
Time will tell
Click to expand...
There is a change in the classic car market. Based on a fear of not being able to run with modern traffic.

My MG ZA Magnette is very much original spec. But even as an owner for 41 years I am considering upgrades I didn't want to do years ago.

But the popular approach for the Magnette, and its sports car sister the MGA, is to drop in a larger engine from a related model going from 1500 to typically 1800 (MGB based, and readily available). Modifications of this sort remain unobtrusive. Some go as far as 2 litre twin cams or V8s, but this poses problems in certain countries like France, or anywhere that road registration rules limit the scope of change.

A related bigger bore 4 cyclinder doesn't affect the looks and does give a more sprightly vehicle, and when coupled with a suitable gearbox and rear axle ratio can make the car more pleasurable at the apparently 'obligatory' 70mph (110kmph) cruise speed. A car with mechanical mods used to have a lower value than an original car, now people steer clear of original spec cars!

Running boards tend to be fitted to earlier cars, mostly pre-WW2 that not only don't cruise at 70, they don't stop that well either, and donor upgrade parts are not really available. Your modern owner is a bit wary of all of this. And unlike a bike, it cannot be considered a suitable ornament for the house! They take up a lot of space.
 
Since I am approaching 70 and seem to have deteriorating health, I do totally understand any other of our number who begins to feel it's time to pass things on.

We need to adjust our lives. Leaving our classic bikes and cars as an inheritance will be welcomed by some of our offspring, but can simply represent a problem to others. I, for one, don't want to leave a whole heap of stuff they don't need in their life for my sons to have to dispose of, with deadlines, in a foreign country. Over time, I will have to address this issue. The first thing is to accept that such action is needed. It has little to do with being able to kickstart a Commando, but that must be considered when appropriate too.
 
norton bob said:
Went out with 3 guys a few days ago on my 99 Norton, the smallest and oldest , we were out for 6 hours speeds up to 80 in the B roads , got home and fiddled with my newest aquisition, another Norton with no electric start. I'm only 78 and I plan to be the oldest rider in the UK. Age is just a number, I keep telling myself.
Click to expand...
I knew a guy who was racing at 85, then parading for a couple more years. There are road riders out there at 90. You have a while to go.
 
since its all speculation, I'll add my 2 cents worth......

I personally, am not seeing the decline of vintage bike prices- maybe even the opposite. As each design gets older, and less units out there, the prices increase. Take knuckles- 50 years ago no one wanted one- look at today. Same with shovels- after the Evo, shovels were dirt cheap. Running bikes could be had for a few 1000. Today, a rebuilt/refurbished engine will cost you 3. And ironheads were, 20 years ago, the red headed step child...now, the chopper cult is going to ironheads (because of the cost and scarcity of pans, knuckles shovels) and the price of ironheads is going up. The local Norton shop, is overwhelmed with rebuilds of vintage BSAs, Nortons, Ducatis as the interest in the real thing has expanded with the demand for retro bikes.

And don't forget the increased income flow today, vs yesteryear- where guys like me were living the life and building as we could, today money is there to have a couple "project" bikes.

And many of the new generation find out working on simple mechanical things, knowing how everything works, knowing how to maintain- is immensely satisfying.

I guess its the difference in being a biker, and a motorcycle rider.

I don't think the sky is falling.....
 
I don't see Commando prices going down any time soon. People are starting to realize that it is really the only classic Brit bike you can use everyday, and the parts supply is way better than it has any right to be! I've had my MKIII since 1977 and it will never be sold. It's used all the time, touring or just putting around. Heck, my 67 MGB keeps up with traffic just fine. Petrol is not going away in my lifetime, so see no reason to even consider an EV.
 
This past weekend I sold a table full of used Commando parts to a 36 year old classic motorcycle lover. He has over 20 motorcycles in his collection and told me he has always wanted a Norton, noting most all of the modern day bikes out there look so similar...think modern day soccer mom auto, can you really tell the mfg. from a short distance?
I am under clear instructions to call him first before selling.
I have had complete strangers walk up and give me calling out "Nice Bike!" and hand over their number asking me to call if i ever want to sell it. Now I may not get the full price I seek (few do) but with the proper offering and sales exposure/technique I can get close with photos and complete restoration records to present as an endorsement of quality claimed.
The market fluctuates as most collector/enthusiast markets do. But with wall streets head stuck in the sand, disposable cash (if any) tucked away, global inflation at work and a recession on the doorstep I would not choose now as a time to sell. The buyers are out there, its just not an aggressive market right now. Once the pendulum begins to swing in some direction of normalcy values will follow.
If you do have to sell now prepare to take a hit on sale price. Any anticipated profit will be minimal at best.
 
Last edited:
this tickled me
I doubt this bloke had ridden a British bike before
And he gets some of the things wrong
But he clearly loves riding the bike
 

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