Update vintage Norton to modern rider

Speaking of 1980 I had a ‘80 Honda xl500 rode it year round to work in Nova Scotia, plus fishing etc. , that bike had soul no question ... my daughter remembers eating her breakfast in winter listening to it thump outside warming up , wondering why all the other fathers went to work in cars ..
 
Craig said:
Speaking of 1980 I had a ‘80 Honda xl500 rode it year round to work in Nova Scotia, plus fishing etc. , that bike had soul no question ... my daughter remembers eating her breakfast in winter listening to it thump outside warming up , wondering why all the other fathers went to work in cars ..
Click to expand...

They don'tcall them thumpers for nothing Lol.
 
I like the old thumpers. On a similar note my old BIL has an ancient Yamaha 2 stroke of 4-500cc I've been thinking of taking on for resurrection. Don't remember much except that if you forget the compression release it treats you like catapult shot. It was a mean booger to ride.
 
850commando said:
It seems that modifying and personalizing our mode of transportation is a never ending money pit and obsession, never mind the time spend doing it all. so when one spends even a little time on this site, there is no end of discussion on things to improve & modify. does it ever end?

here is my list of things that pissed me off in 1977 and are the push behind what i am "fixing" on my Norton now .
1. front brake - 12" rotor, 4 pot caliper, & MC
2. Prince of darkness custom wiring and Shendengen R/R
3. handle bar controls - newer UJM items
4. camshaft - it would be nice if they weren't made from ice-cream
5. no more oil leaks - Comnoz PCV

Wants
6. fiberglass tank - replace dunstall fiberglass with welded alloy
7. rims, alloy and wider to fit tire to proper curvature ( oh and 18" on rear)
8. E-start - when my knee fails

At some point we have to accept that our Nortons are the progeny of an antiquated design. how much do you change before it no longer is really a Norton. when is it time to call UNCLE?

and SO whats you list?
Click to expand...

Regarding the soft cam question, I ride a MK3 which is said to be the most likely model for the soft cam problem.
I've never worried about it as the valves only needed one slight adjustment to date, maybe 3 or 4 thou and that's in the 18,000 miles I've ridden it.
Just now I had an awful thought-
What if I do have the soft cam but I also have receding valves? ( along with my hairline)
The rate of valve recession could be the same as the wear on the soft cam so that it's all self adjusting almost like hydraulic lifters.
The cam could be almost round and the valves recessed way down in there, cam going round and round barely lifting valves that are way down in a hole ....

Something to think about as I'm riding along on the Norton tomorrow . We're heading up the Highway 20 Cascade mountain road to Winthrop
:)

Glen
 
worntorn said:
Regarding the soft cam question, I ride a MK3 which is said to be the most likely model for the soft cam problem.
I've never worried about it as the valves only needed one slight adjustment to date, maybe 3 or 4 thou and that's in the 18,000 miles I've ridden it.
Just now I had an awful thought-
What if I do have the soft cam but I also have receding valves? ( along with my hairline)
The rate of valve recession could be the same as the wear on the soft cam so that it's all self adjusting almost like hydraulic lifters.
The cam could be almost round and the valves recessed way down in there, cam going round and round barely lifting valves that are way down in a hole ....

Something to think about as I'm riding along on the Norton tomorrow . We're heading up the Highway 20 Cascade mountain road to Winthrop
:)

Glen
Click to expand...

Thinking to much there Glen lol you will know by the sound when they need adjusting, I haven't even looked at my valve adjustments in over 7 years and 25k miles same as my plugs pulled them out the other day with the same mileage, looked ok and just put them back in.
Dropped around a mate's place the other day on the Norton and another life long mate was there, they both own Harlies now and when I was leaving one mate said to the other lets see how many kicks to start the old girl, I just smiled and still sitting on the seat gave it a quick kick and fired up on half a swing, just love that JH maggie, funny thing my mate's forget they came from old Bristish bikes.

Ashley
 

Similar threads

Tornado
  • Locked
Swapping/Modding Switch Gear to Modern Standards
Replies
19
Views
2,014
Stephen Hill
S
Back
Top