Hello all, this is my first post. Been lurking a long time. I have been looking to buy a Norton again. My last was a 73 commando interstate. I guess my post is this what happened to all the fixer uppers ? In the 80's when I worked at Lawtons, Nortons were 1000-1500 $ They were runners not pretty,but hey they ran. I am kind of shell shocked at prices. Well I will continue to look and thanks for this forum. Chris
Things have changed
- Thread starter wardch
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wardch said:
Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
I like you looked back a number of years ago when bikes were in the $1000+ range. Started looking again about 4 years ago and was a bit shocked. I drove 250 miles to look at a barn find Commando that was missing the tank, seat and side covers. Rusted up and engine froze. Guy wanted $5K...that was crazy but he probably got it eventually.
I paid $3500 for a non running MKIII that was all there earlier this year. Got it running for a few hundred and am now doing upgrades and "restoring"...have to be careful with terminoligy...
Hang in there and keep looking, but expect to pay a little more than you thought.
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Saw a new e-bike moped thingy the other day for 5 K. Bought one shock absorber for my Beemer 2 months back.1 K. Saw a bottle of designer laundry detergent yesterday for $ 19. A nice looking sirloin roast for $ 55. Rock show $ 150. :|
ashman
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Well you should have kept the last one you had, I still own mine that I brought new in 76, the world has gone mad with the prices they are fecthing these days, here in Australia its now comond to pay between $12,000 up to $16,000 for a good Norton and some want even more, I am glad i kept mine for so long and I have no intention to sell it, but when I go then the kids can fight over it.
Ashley
Ashley
As a friend of mine likes to say "Somewhere along the line, and I'm not sure exactly when it happened, a zero got added to everything"
Mcdonalds hamburgers were 19 cents for the basic little pill burger ( place on tongue, then swallow)
I imagine they are ten times that now. And then you can go to the yuppie places and pay fourteen bucks for one that is full of MSG.
Inflation is a lot more than any cost of living index would have us believe. It got to Nortons too, but I happen to think they are still quite a bargain. Dont think in terms of new in1973 price, think here it is forty years later and someone has been storing this thing for me all that time, gotta pay up for that!
Glen
Mcdonalds hamburgers were 19 cents for the basic little pill burger ( place on tongue, then swallow)
I imagine they are ten times that now. And then you can go to the yuppie places and pay fourteen bucks for one that is full of MSG.
Inflation is a lot more than any cost of living index would have us believe. It got to Nortons too, but I happen to think they are still quite a bargain. Dont think in terms of new in1973 price, think here it is forty years later and someone has been storing this thing for me all that time, gotta pay up for that!
Glen
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grandpaul said:
I bought my first Norton, a Mk3 roadster, in 1983 for $1150 - according to the inflation calculator that is $2700 today.
The Norton I have now, a Mk2a, I bought in 1989 for $1600 - which should equate to $3015 today.
But, if you bought a Mk3 brand new in 1975 for say, $1900, then that would be equivalent to $8250 in today's money.
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Ya would'nt get a new Old Commando here in the UK for under $20000 .
The best deal I ever got was in the 70's, I was driving along an industrial road and noticed a chainlink fenced compound with 2 tall poles at the gates with a rough sign spanning across saying "AUTO WRECKER". I don't know why but something compelled me to jerk the steering wheel and turn into the crowed undersized lot before the oncoming traffic. All eyes were on me as I calculated how to park my van out of the way but the 1st obstical I encountered when I stopped to back into a clear spot was a tarp in the middle of the lot with a complete 750 Norton all in parts on it. I parked, went and looked at the bike parts and went into the office and enquired. The boss was angry he hd bought the bike for some relative who begged him to get it and who he didn't think would ever do anything with it. He sold it to me for $350.00 under the protests of the relative but I bucked up immediately and loaded into my van. It had been stolen and recovered and sold at a dealer auction. All the parts were there in excellent shape, other than new paint it hardly cost me a cent to get back on the road.
Follow those premonitions people.
Follow those premonitions people.
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Gas was 40 cents a gallon then. 128.5 a litre this morning. 12 box of beers 5.65 then . Same brand redesigned box 23.95 this aft. Rolling Stones 12.50 ,now starting at 265 + service 12.50. Norton tires 26.50 now 130. Anyone post those old kept receipts ?
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Welcome to the site Chris and keep looking for that elusive wreck, it's out there some where!
$1000 - $1500 in the 80's, they are the same price now (don't forget to adjust the price for inflation of course )
CB
$1000 - $1500 in the 80's, they are the same price now (don't forget to adjust the price for inflation of course
)CB
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dennisgb said:
That sounds about right dennisgb, I bought a brand new Triumph T160 Trident for £1400 here in the UK in 1977. Now they're about £6 - £7000+
CB
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Cheshire bloke said:
Inflation calculator says your £1400 then is £7400 today.
dennisgb said:
In 1976 I believe Leo's was still at it's original location in south Minneapolis. Somewhere around Lyndale and 98th, if memory serves me correct. It was owned by the three Bedeaux brothers.
Back in the day I bought quite a few Norton parts there. Bought a Norris R cam there. Great cam grind.
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