What’s the best none Norton Norton ?

Could that Buell touring model be any uglier?!? To quote a good friend, "Life is too short for ugly women and ugly motorcycles."
 
Kinda remind me of older BMW lite touring models , seems like maybe over the top power for most touring riders ….
 
We should keep this thread alive guys - 2022/23 models out or on their way, with some nice machines on offer. Nothing in comparison to the mighty 961 of course:oops:!!! Hic, ok I’ve been drinking again!

Have to say I’m quite liikin’ the Thaiumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, apart from the price tag! Like the styling (cafe racer ish), nice aggressive riding position without being OTT. Shit loads of power (177 HP) without being in hyper-sports (220 hp) ridiculous, never gonna use it, territory. Less than 200 Kg - Ohlins. Ride all day as a sports bike or thrash around your local track. Nice - and ‘almost’ British!


What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
 
We should keep this thread alive guys - 2022/23 models out or on their way, with some nice machines on offer. Nothing in comparison to the mighty 961 of course:oops:!!! Hic, ok I’ve been drinking again!

Have to say I’m quite liikin’ the Thaiumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, apart from the price tag! Like the styling (cafe racer ish), nice aggressive riding position without being OTT. Shit loads of power (177 HP) without being in hyper-sports (220 hp) ridiculous, never gonna use it, territory. Less than 200 Kg - Ohlins. Ride all day as a sports bike or thrash around your local track. Nice - and ‘almost’ British!


View attachment 95576
Neat styling, and color indeed.
Wish I was 20 years younger to deal with sportbike ergos.
 
My replacement for my long lived Commando …. more comfort , easier to work on, more performance by every measure , better sound and just as good looking ….
What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
 
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We should keep this thread alive guys - 2022/23 models out or on their way, with some nice machines on offer. Nothing in comparison to the mighty 961 of course:oops:!!! Hic, ok I’ve been drinking again!

Have to say I’m quite liikin’ the Thaiumph Speed Triple 1200 RR, apart from the price tag! Like the styling (cafe racer ish), nice aggressive riding position without being OTT. Shit loads of power (177 HP) without being in hyper-sports (220 hp) ridiculous, never gonna use it, territory. Less than 200 Kg - Ohlins. Ride all day as a sports bike or thrash around your local track. Nice - and ‘almost’ British!


View attachment 95576
This bike is really not in the same class as Norton 961 ? Something more like this perhaps :

What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
 
Tony,
I guess the Harley is better suited to a gezzer than the Thaiumph triple, but my god, with that motor, radiator, and all the plastic covers, it sure looks like 10lbs of s**t, in a 5lb bag.
How much does the Nightster weight?
 
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There's something very familiar about that Harley-
It's the exhaust, it's an exact copy of the Stihl BR450 leaf blower.
The Ducati doesn't do it for me either. Something about the back end. And the tank.
Probably both very good motorcycles to ride.

Motorcycles are better today in every way except styling.

Heres the pinnacle, something to aim for



Or this, has to be as pretty as the Triumph. I don't own a Triumph Bonnie( yet) but I do have one of these
The Super Rocket Jerry is restoring is going to be fabulous.
Have a gander at a nice one here-



All a matter of opinion, of course.
 
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Yes , have to agree the arse end is lacking , still I can’t help but see it as a close second in looks to my Commando , where it leaps ahead is in comfort , HP, torque, & braking , the last of which is becoming more important to me as I age , the regular maintenance is also much more straight forward , the sound while different is still music to these challenged ears !
Glen , I would also agree on the 2 beauties you have posted , the BSA , please ….
 
They can't all be beautiful. Someone the other day pointed out that my Vincent Rapide is a " Strange looking motorcycle"
I have to agree. The Vincent engine is very artfully shaped, the rest of the bike, not so much. It looks very much like it was designed by an engineer.

But those 1950s-70s stylists at Triumph, BSA, Norton and Royal Enfield sure got it right - most of the time.

Glen
 
But those 1950s-70s stylists at Triumph, BSA, Norton and Royal Enfield sure got it right - most of the time.

Glen
Right on!
Those machines were designed to be be visually pleasing to the eye, given the accepted aesthetics of their day.
No just well performing.

Today's machines must have performance and reliability first, then the style is applies.
With today's large power plants, liquid cooling apparatus, cats, hoses, etc. there is precious little space to execute attractive styling cues on the whole, and have something that can be called classically beautiful.

Luckily, today most people relate to functional beauty, not classic beauty.
Sport bikes, adventure bikes, touring bikes and others have redefined what beauty means to modern day buyers.
Each style now has its own beauty, even if its only in the eye of its beholder.
 
Are there any differences 68 to 69?
I would be very happy with either.

Glen
 
There's something very familiar about that Harley-
It's the exhaust, it's an exact copy of the Stihl BR450 leaf blower.
The Ducati doesn't do it for me either. Something about the back end. And the tank.
Probably both very good motorcycles to ride.

Motorcycles are better today in every way except styling.

Heres the pinnacle, something to aim for



Or this, has to be as pretty as the Triumph. I don't own a Triumph Bonnie( yet) but I do have one of these
The Super Rocket Jerry is restoring is going to be fabulous.
Have a gander at a nice one here-



All a matter of opinion, of course.

Super Rocket gets my vote - Pay Attention World - This is what a non Norton motorcycle should look like !
 
There's something very familiar about that Harley-
It's the exhaust, it's an exact copy of the Stihl BR450 leaf blower.
The Ducati doesn't do it for me either. Something about the back end. And the tank.
Probably both very good motorcycles to ride.

Motorcycles are better today in every way except styling.

Heres the pinnacle, something to aim for



Or this, has to be as pretty as the Triumph. I don't own a Triumph Bonnie( yet) but I do have one of these
The Super Rocket Jerry is restoring is going to be fabulous.
Have a gander at a nice one here-



All a matter of opinion, of course.

Here's my A10 it's a good alternative to a Norton
 

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