Retiring from Norton ownership

Correction, they are even a bit less CDN$ than I stated-
Retiring from Norton ownership
 
Fast Eddie said:
That sounds quite good … especially at ‘your’ price !
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Guarantee it will be 'unaffordable' in France! Most things are!

5795$ Canadian is around 4000€, so of course the price in France is 5695€!

The Scrambler is 6395€.

I guess the competition is the Royal Enfield 350! Cheapest of the basic Bullets is 5240€ I suppose an extra 455€ is worth it? But perhaps not against the 'Scram 411' at 5390€
 
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worntorn said:
Those AC Bonnies were heavy reliable lunkers.
The 1200 cc version gives a lot more power and a bit less weight. I don't know why the t120 Bonnies are still so much heavier than the Thruxton 1200. Triumph has the 2023 Thruxton down to 434 lbs dry now, not bad for a 1200 cc motorcycle with 100 + bhp. When I was a young guy 1200 cc bikes were Harley Electra Glides that weighed a ton and had all of 50 bhp.
Some things have gotten lighter and better!

Triumph has a new 400 coming out. This is a very light bike at around 370 lbs curb weight. I believe the performance of it will roughly equal a Triumph Bonneville of the 1960s and of course you get electric start, good brakes, 6 gears, low vibes, minimal maintenance needs, long life engine and all of the other mod cons. Not expensive either, about 6 grand CDN. (3500 gdp)
If I can't get my arm strength back in my damaged left arm, I might try one of these 400s. They are much lighter than the 650 Goldstar or 650 RE, two other old man bikes I've been looking at.
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My 2013 900 AC Thruxton felt top heavy lifting it off the side stand, when I first hopped on my 2016 1200 Thruxton when I lifted it off the side stand I nearly threw it over the other side it felt so much lighter, for both bikes to be near the same weight as each other give or take a few lbs here and there the newer WC Thruxton the weight is more down low than the old Thruxton, not sure how Triumph did that but the feel of the weight differences was a big improvement on the WC Thruxton, maybe the lighter crank on the WC model lol.
The old Thruxton was also harder to throw around in the twisties but the 2016 Thruxton feels so much better in the twisties and can be thrown around without any effort on my part and it feels as good as my light weight Featherbed in the twisties (tight corners), now that's a big statement as my Norton be close to a 300lb bike at a guess as its so much lighter than when it was in Commando form.

Ashley
 
I raced bicycles for years and I believe there are many reading this who did the same. The benefit of riding as a target teaches your entire self to avoid danger. I would encourage any hesitant motorcyclist to grab an off road bicycle with fat tires and hit a local park or trail for a ride. It will build confidence and agility even if it can't keep you from idiots on wheeled couches.
 
If aging riders desire lightweight bikes that have lots of snort, the single cylinder Husqvarna 701 Supermoto might fill the bill. They are very pricey, but at 321 lb dry weight and output of 74 HP and 54 ft-lb torque it would have to be a fun ride. The 701 engine is identical to the engine employed by KTM on their 690 bikes, which is rumored to be nearly indestructible.

https://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en-us/models/supermoto/701-supermoto-2024.html
 
engine is identical to the engine employed by KTM on their 690 bikes, which is rumored to be nearly indestructible.

Funny that. How far we have come that a motorbike engine is about the same as the mill from a tugboat.
 
WZ507 said:
If aging riders desire lightweight bikes that have lots of snort, the single cylinder Husqvarna 701 Supermoto might fill the bill. They are very pricey, but at 321 lb dry weight and output of 74 HP and 54 ft-lb torque it would have to be a fun ride. The 701 engine is identical to the engine employed by KTM on their 690 bikes, which is rumored to be nearly indestructible.

https://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en-us/models/supermoto/701-supermoto-2024.html
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The difficulty for older riders is these kind of machines tend to have seat heights requiring a step ladder.
 
johnm said:
The difficulty for older riders is these kind of machines tend to have seat heights requiring a step ladder.
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So true.
The Triumph 400 is at 31" which seems to be the sweet spot.
To low of a seat results in scrunched up knees, too high and most riders can't flat foot the bike.
What height are our Commandos , 31" or 32"?

Glen
 
It’s not the Commando limiting me. I can start and ride it. It’s as familiar to operate as my own arm after riding Commandos for 50 years. My past riding buddies are either no longer with us or now physically too far away. I tried several times riding 100 miles to the start of a 20-40 mile ride, but……. That’s my fault for moving away from the geographic center of the club.
 
Still you don't need a club to enjoy riding your bikes, a lot of my old riding mates have been a bit slack in our Sunday rides but it hasn't stopped me enjoying my Norton or my Thruxton, I have plenty of mates I can visit or ride on my own, sometimes I take the wife with me but she can only come on the back of the Thruxton as the Norton is solo registered, she use to love being on the back of the Norton, but sometimes I just need that break from her and the bikes look after that side of things.
Been busy with a few projects around the house and money been a bit tight so the riding has been out for just over 2 weeks need to get out very soon before I go crazy, so don't give up on the bikes because everyone has gone in a different direction and doing trips to visit mates is good for the sole, well for me anyway, I don't know what it be like without 2 wheels 50 years with my motorcycles, couldn't live without them, no matter what.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
Still you don't need a club to enjoy riding your bikes, a lot of my old riding mates have been a bit slack in our Sunday rides but it hasn't stopped me enjoying my Norton or my Thruxton, I have plenty of mates I can visit or ride on my own, sometimes I take the wife with me but she can only come on the back of the Thruxton as the Norton is solo registered, she use to love being on the back of the Norton, but sometimes I just need that break from her and the bikes look after that side of things.
Been busy with a few projects around the house and money been a bit tight so the riding has been out for just over 2 weeks need to get out very soon before I go crazy, so don't give up on the bikes because everyone has gone in a different direction and doing trips to visit mates is good for the sole, well for me anyway, I don't know what it be like without 2 wheels 50 years with my motorcycles, couldn't live without them, no matter what.

Ashley
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Indeed , about 95 % of my active Norty riding is solo or with the wife on back who begs me to take her out on it . I'm a member of Ontario Norton Owners and the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group , yet both groups meetups constitute approximately 5% of my total ridings .
Most of the time I'm off to fishing / camping /cottages , or inner city clubs , concerts , shoppings , art shows . Keep riding !
Remember , a Norton chooses you , not the other way around .
 
Most of my riding any more is solo . I have two buddies that occasionally join me but one of them has a non- runner for a bike at the moment ( big moment- all summer )
 
99.9% solo. Safer as you otherwise start ramping up the speed.
"But officer, it was not my fault. My mate was trying to pass me.
And he was on a Honda. After all, we have a reputation to uphold..."
 
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