The next generation

To be honest, as a teenager I had zip interest in motorcycles. Spent a lot of time as a pillion passenger, but no interest in buying one.... Strictly four wheels only!
It was only later when marriage/mortgage/pets/kids and bad weather conspired to make cheap transport a necessity that I finally went with powered two wheelers...
But, despite increasing fortunes and life's other ups and downs, I've never been without one since
(Maybe two when the pension cheques start arriving)

If I ever get asked about my bike by someone younger than me I always take time to talk to them

Time Warp said:

Want more money, work harder and its plentiful.

Click to expand...

Is that all there is to it?

And here I was thinking I worked pretty hard ...

Maybe I should have added, work hard, work smart.

My son has a half restored T140 out in the shop. He seemed very into it then went off to the Coast Guard Academy and that was the end of that. He's out on a 90 day patrol now and between the Coast Guard and his girl will likely never get back to it, so I will probably finish it. My daughter was riding the 250 Yamaha that I bought for them both to learn on and was talking about buying a new Royal Enfield but lately is more into horses than bikes. She got out of Dartmouth and got a job but is working from home in an office we set up on the 3rd floor. Her ex boyfriend is into bikes and maybe the interest went away with him. Neither kid has ever had much interest in fixing things. I'm a pilot and licenced aircraft mechanic and even though it's been a good living I never pushed either towards that career. I only recently bought another light plane having sold my last one once flying for a living 4 decades ago. I've got more disposable income now but rapidly approaching retirement. Flying a business jet now so no requirement to retire at 65 but 70 is my target, another year. What will happen to my Commando after I go is an unknown. They are not bikes for those who won't/can't work on them.

When I was a kid, there were very few 'stop' signs at intersections, but nobody had mobile phones. I had a lovely childhood and survived to talk about it. Motorcycles were the main reason I failed most of my matriculation exams, so ended up studying part-time while working. But seriously, motorcycles have probably been my main motivating influence in my life. I am just happy my kids do not ride them.

acotrel said:

When I was a kid, there were very few 'stop' signs at intersections, but nobody had mobile phones. I had a lovely childhood and survived to talk about it. Motorcycles were the main reason I failed most of my matriculation exams, so ended up studying part-time while working. But seriously, motorcycles have probably been my main motivating influence in my life. I am just happy my kids do not ride them.

Click to expand...

I can relate to that. I took a 15 year break from riding bikes when the kids were little and during that time cellphones became widely adopted and traffic density increased. About 7-8 years ago I started riding again and these days I’m not happy on a bike unless I’m in the mountains. The death threats seem far greater these days from distracted / incompetent drivers. Not sure I want my kids on bikes. The hypocrisy is strong inside me.

Both my sons ride motorcycles. The older one can do his own maintenance, the younger not so much. They have both been interested in motorcycles since they were old enough to climb up on my Norton and make motor noises.

When I die they will fight over my Commando; " you take it, I don't want it!" "No you take it". "No you". "dad liked you best you have to".
Ride On
Dave

I got into bikes because my dad always had them when I was growing up (I am almost 60) I was always a curious kid wondering how things work, so would spend tons of time in his shed tinkering around and trying to figure out what went where and reading Haynes manuals instead of kids comics. Unfortunately, although my dad was into riding bikes he wasn't very mechanical but luckily for me some of his mates were and were always willing to share their knowledge. I have since then been totally hooked on bikes, having owned all sorts and makes, currently having a 72 Commando, a Ducati, a Kawasaki, a Triumph and my dads last bike an AJS 350. Until I read this post I had never considered what I would plan to do with them when I am 6 feet under, my only daughter has zero interest in bikes, so this post has now got me thinking. I will have probably sold the modern bikes by then but I can't see me ever wanting to sell the Brit stuff while I am still alive and kicking, but on the other hand I would not like them just to be put on ebay or some other auction site and sold to someone who just wants ornaments and never rides them or just drains the oil out of them to stop them leaking on the garage floor, plenty of food for thought .....

A Merry Christmas and 2021 can only be better

When I was in my teens my folks said "nothing over 100cc" That was a very good practice. I can think of numerous times through inexperience and foolishness that I should have come to grief. Leaned over hard in a corner with the Kawasaki Trail Boss, edging into the other lane only to see a logging truck coming at me? It still makes my heart beat faster.

seattle##gs said:

When I was in my teens my folks said "nothing over 100cc" That was a very good practice. I can think of numerous times through inexperience and foolishness that I should have come to grief. Leaned over hard in a corner with the Kawasaki Trail Boss, edging into the other lane only to see a logging truck coming at me? It still makes my heart beat faster.

Click to expand...

Nothing over 100 cc. They loved you.
I rent 100 cc. bikes all the time in Asia.
Bigger bikes are dangerous.

Think mine will be alright. I have a 31 year old son and three older sons in law. My son and two sons in law show interest. The daughters not so much. I’ll be 68 in February. No more rebuild projects, but will probably hang on to the Nortons to the end.

Knucles said:

I am a fairly new member here but not to new to nortons , 51 years of liking them .
I have learned a lot here from knowledgeable members and really appreciate it .
looking forwatdto building my 71 project and will need more advise asi get into it.
my thoughts on the amount of knowledge in so many members here comes with experience.
I think experience comes with involvement and age .
I am 68 now , still buying bikes and riding . ( two more sportsters purchased this week )
I think a lot of members here are like me , grey hairs .
so then I think that we , grey hairs have an attachment to nortons because we grew up with them and even today they stand out .
so I I wonder how many norton owners or fans are the younger generation .
to carry on our norton bikes?
do we have many younger individuals in this group .?
we need to pass these bikes on in a good finished condition , not just piles of parts .
I recently just passed two 69S models to my grandson (I bought them new , still origional and running )
he is like me , very interested in motorcycles , especially nortons , and exp aircraft .
I thought he was the perfect guy to get my bikes and he talks about passing them on to his son . Not just selling them .
the other thing I really like to see is women riding bikes and flying aircraft .
a problem with many hobbies is how do you get the younger generation involved and enjoying it ?

Click to expand...

So true. A piece of older machinery kept in good condition by its steward has a much better chance of survival from the scrap heap. Along with the right attitude, readily available parts thankfully are still available to keep these classics rolling along.

I had an uncle who was like an older brother to me. He had a Triumph Thunderbird which we rebuilt together after he had ridden it from Melbourne to North Queensland. His mare used to road race. They took me to the Geoff Duke meeting at Fishermans' Bend in 1954 where I watched the Gileras race the Manx Nortons. For me, that was the end of any sanity I might have had. I was 14 years of age, and in those days people gave you motorcycles for nothing. At age 15, I had an Indian Scout and a side valve Triumph 350. Then I discovered the joy of hotting-up 650 cc Triumphs. I did not race until I was 27 ad had started having near-death experiences on public roads. I have never lost my licence.

My Seeley 850 is so bad that it is good. I simply cannot believe a motor design that bad can be fast enough to be competitive.

acotrel said:

My Seeley 850 is so bad that it is good. I simply cannot believe a motor design that bad can be fast enough to be competitive.

Click to expand...

Sleeve your motor down to a 750
Then you will be amazed what it can do

Rod R said:

In as few words as possible, I think the culture of building/repairing/maintaining your own things has been in rapid decline for a long, long time. In twenty-five years, people building/repairing/maintaining their motorcycles, cars and trucks will be the subject of National Geographic documentaries....... much like the lost tribes of New Guinea...

Click to expand...

Sad but very true

I‘m 40 years old and have owned my ’74 Commando for 20 years. I’ve also rebuilt (with the help of many others) a ’69 Fastback and have had a half dozen other Norton’s pass thru my ownership. I do work on and maintain my own motorcycles including a - ’72 R75/5 and ‘17 R1200GS.

I manage a BMW Motorcycle Dealership in Maryland - Bob’s BMW - which has 5 full-time master certified technicians and a parts team of 8 people. We employ 30 people of all ages and many different levels of experience and engagement in the motorcycle community. In hiring I look for passion over education.

Although I may be a motorcycle outlier in my age bracket, I am seeing more and more engagement from my age group around the country. Especially from people who grew up in the “counter culture“ - punks, skateboarders, etc.

Contrary to the initial post, I would like to comment, that from my perspective, we are seeing a resurgence in participation and excitement from younger and early middle aged folk. Specifically in three areas. 1- Sport Bikes, 2 - Vintage & Classic Bikes and 3 - Adventure Bikes.

I am excited about the future of the industry and although many kids are focused solely on the new video game I believe there is an undercurrent of younger people that want to learn to work on their own bikes, want to experience riding on and off-road, and will help keep this industry alive.

My three cents.


Cheers -

I’m happy to say that my 20 yo daughter wants to learn to ride. I’m doing a full restoration of a Moto Guzzi v50 for her. I have to say that I’m conflicted about her riding on the street. I doubt that she will go so far as to maintain it herself. I’m here for that.