Guzzi sighting at the Norton meeting

[wirespokes]

Look what showed up in this month's local Norton club newsletter.

[dguzzi]

I often ride my Guzzi to the Norton meetings... I just don't take pictures...

[Ratso88]

I have a Norton parked next to two Guzzis in my shop.

I suppose out in the wild it's less common. Nortons being thin on the ground and never far from home these days.

[wirespokes]

It's my bike, but not my photo. The vice pres of the club took the photo and it showed up on page three. Kind of funny a guzzi taking a prominent position in a Norton pic.

It's a long story (well, maybe not that long, but I don't feel like going into it) I've got a 72 Norton Commando Combat basket case, so now I'm stuck picking these guys' brains how to put it back together, plus scrounging missing bits. I've been into airheads since 1990 till the geese took over three years ago. If feels really out of character having a British bike. It's like landing on a whole different planet! On top of that, no magic button and shift and brake on the wrong sides. What was I thinking? And it's not even like I'm lusting after a Norton but now that I'm here I might as well go through with it. Who knows? Maybe I'll fall wildly in love with the thing.

[LesP]

If I had to guess where that picture was taken, based on the bike second in line (which I am willing to bet is a 1974 M2a) I would say Oregon.

1970's Moto Guzzi's and Norton's seem fine to me.

[PeteS]

It's my bike, but not my photo. The vice pres of the club took the photo and it showed up on page three. Kind of funny a guzzi taking a prominent position in a Norton pic.

It's a long story (well, maybe not that long, but I don't feel like going into it) I've got a 72 Norton Commando Combat basket case, so now I'm stuck picking these guys' brains how to put it back together, plus scrounging missing bits. I've been into airheads since 1990 till the geese took over three years ago. If feels really out of character having a British bike. It's like landing on a whole different planet! On top of that, no magic button and shift and brake on the wrong sides. What was I thinking? And it's not even like I'm lusting after a Norton but now that I'm here I might as well go through with it. Who knows? Maybe I'll fall wildly in love with the thing.

Wait till you ride it. Done right its one of the few bikes that captures the essence of motorcyling, feeling one with the machine. Even my short wheelbase LeMans feels slow (steering) and heavy compared with my Norton. The only other bike I have ridden thats better was a hotted up Ducati 900ss. That was better in every way but in its time the Norton was the best.

Pete

[wirespokes]

Les - that's some awfully pretty aluminum. Yes, that's Oregon. Good eye!

Pete - Considering Guzzis and beemers are essentially touring/endurance bikes, what you say isn't surprising. Now that you've said it, I'm a bit more excited to put it all together.

So far I've rounded up rear brake parts and axle, oil tank, seat, coils, carbs, fenders, headlight, side covers and front caliper. Still need wiring harness (probably make one up myself) the rest of the electrical system, tail light, turn signals, controls, master cylinder, and who knows what else.

I'm out of room otherwise I'd start putting it together. Need to do something about that.

[Motormike]

Is it just me, or does that headlamp on the first Norton seem a tad "mis-aimed?"

[blackcat]

Les - that's some awfully pretty aluminum. Yes, that's Oregon. Good eye!

Pete - Considering Guzzis and beemers are essentially touring/endurance bikes, what you say isn't surprising. Now that you've said it, I'm a bit more excited to put it all together.

So far I've rounded up rear brake parts and axle, oil tank, seat, coils, carbs, fenders, headlight, side covers and front caliper. Still need wiring harness (probably make one up myself) the rest of the electrical system, tail light, turn signals, controls, master cylinder, and who knows what else.

I'm out of room otherwise I'd start putting it together. Need to do something about that.

New carbs or old, if old Amals then you might have some problems.  I buy most of my Norton parts from Andover Norton, because even with shipping the prices are better than most state side suppliers.

[wirespokes]

Yeah, I don't know what's up with that first norton next to my goose. Maybe it's an LED?

Interesting you say that blackcat. Andover's prices are certainly good. I got a set of old amals for next to nothing, so we'll see. I figured if they stick, I'll have the slides hard anodized. If they're more trouble than they're worth, I'll invest in a set of Premiers, they're not very expensive as carbs go.

[blackcat]

Yeah, I don't know what's up with that first norton next to my goose. Maybe it's an LED?

Interesting you say that blackcat. Andover's prices are certainly good. I got a set of old amals for next to nothing, so we'll see. I figured if they stick, I'll have the slides hard anodized. If they're more trouble than they're worth, I'll invest in a set of Premiers, they're not very expensive as carbs go.

I have a pair of older Amals that were purchased new by me years ago and after doing all the known tricks to get one of the carbs working right I just went out and bought a pair of Premiers and they work great. The plugs are perfect and I never had clean spark plugs with the older Amals.

Good luck with the Norton.

[wirespokes]

I've read about that. Some of those old original carbs just weren't right. Quality Control sucked? I guess.

Sounds like you've had the bike a long time, blackcat.

[Lannis]

I ride my Norton to Guzzi meetings.   We just don't have Norton meetings around, so I strike a balance that way ....

Lannis

[Muzz]

Funny, in all the many miles I did on my Amal equiped bike, the only problemsI had was that I couldn't get the old remote chamber one to stop flooding.  Never had a problem with the monoblocs that I fitted; must admit to never fitting a concentric though.

[blackcat]

I've read about that. Some of those old original carbs just weren't right. Quality Control sucked? I guess.

Sounds like you've had the bike a long time, blackcat.

I installed the hardened slides, adjustable floats but I just couldn’t get them to work right. If my memory is correct I purchased those carbs around 96-97 and they worked fine except they were always rich, then the bike sat for quite a few years until about two years ago.

Yes, have owned the bike since 1991. 

[JJ]

Wait till you ride it. Done right its one of the few bikes that captures the essence of motorcyling, feeling one with the machine. Even my short wheelbase LeMans feels slow (steering) and heavy compared with my Norton. The only other bike I have ridden thats better was a hotted up Ducati 900ss. That was better in every way but in its time the Norton was the best.

Pete

Agreed 100%!! 

This is me in the early 1990's in the Dallas area on my "restored" 1975 Norton 850 Commando Interstate MK III.

Similar to my Centauro GT...that Commando was "THE BEAST" but very, VERY satisfying on the pipe on a beautiful, clear, sunny day on any back road in the USA!!  

I miss that bike...and would love to own another someday...((*SIGH*)



 

[JJ]

Fancy a nice NORTON to go with your Guzzi?!?  No problem!!  These beauties coming up for sale at MECUM in Vegas next month!!

[blackcat]

I miss that bike...and would love to own another someday...((*SIGH*)

John, nice looking Norton. Was the starter just a suggestion or did it actually work?

[blackcat]

Fancy a nice NORTON to go with your Guzzi?!?  No problem!!  These beauties coming up for sale at MECUM in Vegas next month!!

Those 67 P11’s are fetching a good price. Years ago nobody wanted them, I remember passing on the purchase of a pristine example for $1,000 bucks. Who knew?

[JJ]

John, nice looking Norton. Was the starter just a suggestion or did it actually work?

Stock starter did not work well...at all...so I upgraded to one that fit from a Volvo (BOSCH?) as I recall...

[philwarner]

Agreed 100%!! 

This is me in the early 1990's in the Dallas area on my "restored" 1975 Norton 850 Commando Interstate MK III.

Similar to my Centauro GT...that Commando was "THE BEAST" but very, VERY satisfying on the pipe on a beautiful, clear, sunny day on any back road in the USA!!  

I miss that bike...and would love to own another someday...((*SIGH*)

In college I knew some guys who planned to take a US tour on Motorcycles and they decided they would all buy the same new model so what spares they carried would fit anyone's bike.  The went to a Harley dealer and asked for the price and the dealer said, that model would be $XX,XXX.  They said well what if we buy four and pay cash.  The Harley guy said, "well, $XX,XXX times four is....  They ended up with four new Norton Commandos.

[Gino]

My wife and I are lucky to own Nortons and Moto Guzzis , often turn up at meetings on the "wrong" bike, I think the two makes compliment each other, if you did a poll amongst Norton owners in the UK you'd find a high proportion would also own a Guzzi or two..

[wirespokes]

Gorgeous bike, JJ! Love that interstate tank.

Gino - you're making me more interested in getting mine together and running. I've got a friend who was into beemers. Then one day the beemer was gone and a Commando had taken its place. Didn't make sense to me. Now here I am several years later going down the same path. Weird

[JJ]

Gorgeous bike, JJ! Love that interstate tank.

Gino - you're making me more interested in getting mine together and running. I've got a friend who was into beemers. Then one day the beemer was gone and a Commando had taken its place. Didn't make sense to me. Now here I am several years later going down the same path. Weird

Thanks, wirespokes!!    Those 6-gallon steel Norton Interstate tanks now go for $1000-$1500!! 

If you have a vintage Norton in pieces, you really owe to that bike to put her back together again, and ride her "IN THE WIND!"  You will not regret it in the end...(just sayin'...)

[wirespokes]

That's the idea JJ. I'm still hunting down the missing pieces. I was told it was a good running bike before being torn down to restore. Most everything already is in very nice condition, but the owner died and his heirs weren't into bikes and somehow let some boxes of parts wander off. I got it from a friend of his.

Having never ridden a Commando, it sounds like I'm in for a treat. Too bad my hot rodder racing days are long past. I like going fast and cornering hard, but take it easy on my machines accelerating and stopping. I get the idea these Nortons bring out the hooligan - glad I don't have much of that left, or I could get into big trouble.

[LesP]

Les - that's some awfully pretty aluminum. Yes, that's Oregon. Good eye!

I have a couple of Lucas L874 indicator bodies to drop in the mail tomorrow for one of the Oregon club members (He has a Moto Guzzi also) and recognised the building (followed my the black MK2a) from some of the You Tube video's.

If you have a 72 Combat it would be interesting to know what the main bearings are (If they are original to the bike or back in the day recall bearings)
I think like any old motorcycle, if you put the time and effort in it will be a (reliable) hoot.

[LesP]

The cylinder head in the picture was for my MK2a 850, Jim Comstock did the head for my 750 Fastback and highly recommend him...fwiw.

http://www.nortonmachineshop.com/

[pressureangle]

I'm finding that there is a high percentage of Norton ownership among 'Guzzi enthusiasts.

Mine

[JJ]

That's the idea JJ. I'm still hunting down the missing pieces. I was told it was a good running bike before being torn down to restore. Most everything already is in very nice condition, but the owner died and his heirs weren't into bikes and somehow let some boxes of parts wander off. I got it from a friend of his.

Having never ridden a Commando, it sounds like I'm in for a treat. Too bad my hot rodder racing days are long past. I like going fast and cornering hard, but take it easy on my machines accelerating and stopping. I get the idea these Nortons bring out the hooligan - glad I don't have much of that left, or I could get into big trouble.

Hi wirespokes! Norton parts are readily available:  eBay, NORVIL (in the UK), Baxter Cycle in Marne, Iowa, and many other places.

At 65, my "GO-FAST" days are also long gone...but a well sorted / tuned Commando will give you quite a thrill, even at legal speeds.   Make sure your tires / brakes / suspension are all checked out and good to go.

Your Norton deserves to be "IN THE WIND" once again.  Good luck and keep us posed!

[JJ]

I'm finding that there is a high percentage of Norton ownership among 'Guzzi enthusiasts.

Mine

Does this poor baby RUN?  Looks like it needs a little TLC!