when I was ATGATT in the mid-seventies [only one photograph]

[Brightblade]

I wasn't born yet.  What does ATGATT mean?

[Kiwi Dave]

All The Gear, All The Time.

[Muzz]

be white for a week after ... so year before last Fay and I came down on the Stelvio.   

), so last year I went and got a 1975 Norton Commando Interstate, a proper old Brit, as a gob-stopper for the jealous types (or that's how I 'justify' it anyhow).    Lannis

If I remember ::) correctly, didn't the Interstate have a tank that held about 7 US gallons? I think it was a pretty big jobby anyway.

[Cam3512]

Here's what I wore around '77 when being serious:


On the road, not so much. In '74 I came off a bike wearing denim, and regretted it.

Is your name Seth?

[Sheepdog]

The Norton Interstate tank held 25 liters.

Gosh, I really enjoyed my years with a Suzuki T500. It was as basic as a bike could be, but was as reliable as a four pound maul...

[Tobit]

Here's what the stylish young retro-man of 2006 looks like when ready for a cross-country trip .....



That Suzuki didn't get any better mileage than yours, unfortunately, but the new owner is enjoying it!

Lannis

!!! That is the exact GT500A I bought new in '76.  Blue.  Loved that bike.  I had black BMW RS bars, blue Oury grips, Mulholland shocks and rode it all over Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas.  At 30,000 miles or so it was stored for a couple of years in El Paso while I was overseas, then picked up in '78, top end removed, cleaned up, and ridden for several more years.  Didn't have the fancy logging boots though!  Army jungle boots, denim and a white Bell Star.  No pics.

How many times did you have to repair the front fender stays?  

Tobit

[Lannis]

Good luck on expecting your Norton to be trouble free for 3 days of continuous riding 1 or 2up.  ;D

Well, that's part of the fun, isn't it?    :D

If I wanted "trouble-free", I'd be riding a Kawasaki Concours or something .... And to be honest, my old BritBikes over the years have spent VERY little time on the side of the road waiting for a ride.

But I've got tools and an owner's manual; that's all I've ever needed ....

Lannis

[Penderic]

In the 80's I had to wear a suit at work and during the summer I would use the bike to commute.

Had to compromise, so I went for visibility....

 :D

[Lannis]

If I remember ::) correctly, didn't the Interstate have a tank that held about 7 US gallons? I think it was a pretty big jobby anyway.

It's a pretty big gas tank, 6.6 gallons or so - I'm expecting to get 325 miles or more in range.   I'm running a tank through it now and will run it dry including reserve, and see how far it really gets (with a 1-gallon can of gas on the rear rack to get me to the gas station).    The bike has the original Amals on it and I know from experience that when they're set up right, they really optimize the mileage on an old Brit.

Lannis

[Lannis]

!!! That is the exact GT500A I bought new in '76.  Blue.  Loved that bike.  I had black BMW RS bars, blue Oury grips, Mulholland shocks and rode it all over Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas.  At 30,000 miles or so it was stored for a couple of years in El Paso while I was overseas, then picked up in '78, top end removed, cleaned up, and ridden for several more years.  Didn't have the fancy logging boots though!  Army jungle boots, denim and a white Bell Star.  No pics.

How many times did you have to repair the front fender stays?  

Tobit

The GT-500 was definitely a nice old bike.   Alec is 6'4" 270 pounds and it hauled him around with no problem.   

I used to wear exactly the same kind of Carolina "Linesman's Boots" when I was his age.   I'd wear them today, as they are comfortable and protective, but they take forever to put on and take off and I lost patience.   He likes them, though, and they're his "go to" boot when he's riding ... And that's actually my old "Brooks" jacket he's wearing.   Once I can fit back into it again, I've let him know I'm coming for it .... !

He's riding a Versys now, and the Suzook has moved on a to new owner down in Charlotte, NC who is enjoying it very much .... No problems with fender stays, though.

Lannis