New Norton Commando....

[California Joe]

I don't know what the performance is going to be like, but you got to admit it's a sexy old school kinda bike....if you can get past the headquarters being in Oregon....

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/images/961/961_01.jpg

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/images/961/961_06.jpg

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/images/961/961_20.jpg

[hell]

I don't know what the performance is going to be like..

Should be pretty good:

Displacement: 961 cc

Dry weight: 415lbs

Thats about 100 more pounds than a Honda Rebel 250cc, with over 3x the engine displacement. Should be a blast to ride.

[Hellfish]

Not bad for a crotch rocket.

[mudbunny]

Kinda nice to see Norton jumping back into the ring. They really put out a quality product back in the day. I'd like to hear the opinions of professional riders after they get a chance with it. I'm not gonna buy one, but I'd like to know if Norton is still putting out quality as opposed to quantity.

[dacanadianbomb]

Boy you know your a It admin nerd, when you see Norton and think Symantec has createds a new application in the Norton series.

[California Joe]

Looking at their website it looks as if a company in Oregon bought the name. Much like what's happened with Indian etc. I really like the looks of it. The old ones certainly had style and this one seems to be paying homage to it. If Flagg starts selling them you'll know they're good.

[Royal]

Old skool kool...

but I've always fancied one of these

http://divingin2memphis.com/images/Brough%20Superior%20SS1001.jpg

90mph on 1920's roads - yeeeeeehaaaaaaaa

[California Joe]

That's what T. E. Lawrence said too....:)

[Royal]

That's what T. E. Lawrence said too....:)

Just before he clipped a kid on a push-bike....

[Uncle Sam]

I like...I buy...No...Yes...Noooooo...Precioussssss

[Hellfish]

After reading the dude's travelogue in this http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=81082 thread, I'm seriously interested in getting something like a tour bike.

[scrybe]

Hmm, very interesting. Woulda been a little cleaner looking with a single rear spring, but the doule springs is definitely playing homage to the old design. Good looking theme bike.

[California Joe]

You can't pull chicks with a touring bike. Jeez. If you had any hair I'd tell you to bleach it, spike it and get that Norton. I would get one except for that whole, wife not letting me cause she thinks I'd kill myself and she's a controlling bitch thing. Gawd I hate her.

Stupid real life.


p-)

[Hellfish]

I bet Bridget would go for me if I was on a touring bike.

[California Joe]

Nu uh.....

[Hellfish]

What do you know?! HUH? You're the one that got suckered into a marriage and kids. What to you know about lust, passion and raw ****** energy?

[Uncle Sam]

What do you know?! HUH? You're the one that got suckered into a marriage and kids. What to you know about lust, passion and raw ****** energy?

Take your pill man....

[California Joe]

What to you know about lust, passion and raw ****** energy?

Only what Maine Finn tells me.

[Hellfish]

Thats what I thought. Word.

[Clete Torres]

I can't see Hellfish riding anything except for maybe a Huffy Sun Country Ladies 3-speed classic.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2204/asdasdsadw9ly.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Hellfish]

You hurt me with your words, Clete.

[Clete Torres]

That Huffy has got a sweet basket on it. You could put your ADD medication in there when you're riding back from the pharmacy.

[Hellfish]

I hate you.

[Macs.]

Old men shouldn't ride bikes like these.

[mudbunny]

Awfully tempting. I ride a rigid frame right now so those springs would save some serious wear and tear on me a$$. Mmmmmmmm......shock absorbtion.

[mudbunny]

I can't see Hellfish riding anything except for maybe a Huffy Sun Country Ladies 3-speed classic.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2204/asdasdsadw9ly.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

very strange. The first thought that comes to mind when I see that bike is, Benny Hill, and I have no idea why.

[GeraldDuval]

thats hot. damn i love old school nortons and triumphs...

[Flagg]

Old skool kool...

but I've always fancied one of these

http://divingin2memphis.com/images/Brough%20Superior%20SS1001.jpg

90mph on 1920's roads - yeeeeeehaaaaaaaa

Brough Superior......sweeeeeeeet!

That beauty was the Fireblade/RSV Factory/R1/Duke 999 of it's day.

[Flagg]

Looking at their website it looks as if a company in Oregon bought the name. Much like what's happened with Indian etc. I really like the looks of it. The old ones certainly had style and this one seems to be paying homage to it. If Flagg starts selling them you'll know they're good.

A couple of my peeps will be in the area in July, so we're going to have them take a closer look(bloody baby due means I can't go!).......hopefully it's the real deal.

The weight is bloody good, good torque, they're using Ohlin bits, and the power's not bad.

It certainly has potential.

If the price is right, and they're as good in the flesh as in person, I'll stick my hand up for a heap of them.

But a lot of people got burned bad by the last incarnation of Indian. They couldn't reach their production scale "break even" number before their money ran out...hopefully the new Norton fairs better!

[California Joe]

I think its dreamy. But you're right, if they can't meet production goals it's useless.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

On the Norton - I read an article somewhere last week - the company is having serious money problems. The head guy promised that they weren't closing the factory, but that he was going to have to secure new financing to build any more bikes. :-(

[Hellfish]

That is a nice bike, Kev.

[Macs.]

I can only laugh...

That is no bike... THIS is a bike...

http://www.kurbrunnen.de/Boss-Hoss-Bilder%20gr/02absteigen%20gr.jpg

http://www.kurbrunnen.de/Boss-Hoss-Bilder%20gr/08kiste%20hinten%20gr.jpg

[scrybe]

haha, Boss Hoss. Those come with a Chevy 350 V8 in them.

[scrybe]

My roomate has a Triumph TT 600. I have to walk by this thing everytime I leave my apartment. I want one dammit but I don't have the funds:

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/8644/665032107l9an.jpg

[Flagg]

I can only laugh...

That is no bike... THIS is a bike...

http://www.kurbrunnen.de/Boss-Hoss-Bilder%20gr/02absteigen%20gr.jpg

http://www.kurbrunnen.de/Boss-Hoss-Bilder%20gr/08kiste%20hinten%20gr.jpg

I've ridden one, ONCE.

Great fun in a straight line, but turning, and especially turning a 180.....not fun.

It's the f104 Starfighter of the motorcyle world, incredibly fast, and even more dangerous ;)

[Flagg]

I like things with 2 wheels that might kill me and I want one of these, there’s a guy goes past were I live (i suppose on his way to work) rides a Royal Enfield and every time I see him I give serious consideration to robbing him for it


Royal Enfield Bullet......still being made in India.

VERY affordable(as far as motorbikes go), likely the cheapest NEW classic bike in the world.....not sure about quality since I haven't seen any in the flesh.

It might make for a good hobby bike, but it's performance(brakes and suspension most importantly) would not equal much more modern models.

[Flagg]

On the Norton - I read an article somewhere last week - the company is having serious money problems. The head guy promised that they weren't closing the factory, but that he was going to have to secure new financing to build any more bikes. :-(

If you could scare up where you found the article I would very much appreciate it.

[Macs.]

I've ridden one, ONCE.

Great fun in a straight line, but turning, and especially turning a 180.....not fun.

It's the f104 Starfighter of the motorcyle world, incredibly fast, and even more dangerous ;)

Thats too cool. woot

Must be like sitting on a rocket.

[Hellfish]

I'm actually checking out one of the Royal Enfield Bullet's right now. Very, very tempted. Pretty affordable too, if I wasn't about to leave the country for three weeks...

http://www.royalenfield.com/app/US/Products/BulletMilitary.asp

drooooooool

http://www.royalenfield.com/Content/US/images/downloads/military800.jpg

[Hellfish]

I like the way you think, Kev. Damn I want one of these suckers.

[Hellfish]

BTDT - still drooling over the military model. I like the panniers. Good for weekend trips.

[Laworkerbee]

Boy you know your a It admin nerd, when you see Norton and think Symantec has createds a new application in the Norton series.

I feel like a **** for entering this thread thinking I was going to find out about some new Symantec product :cantbeli:

[2Sheds_Jackson]

ooop found the link to the story what I was talking about

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=90

[California Joe]

That sucks. I'll probably never get to own one anyway.

I guess I'll start working on my handlebar molestache and collecting Victoria Crosses to wear when I get that Royal Enfield....

[EvanL]

Man that is one sweet ass bike.

[GeraldDuval]

holy sh*t, that royal enfield bullet military is ungodly hot...

[Flagg]

ooop found the link to the story what I was talking about

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=90

The last we heard was everything was rosy.......I think the ONLY company in the industry that doesn't lie/cheat/steal 24/7 is Harley.

Well, looks like a waste of time to plan a visit.

My guess is that IF they find an investor it will be Chinese.

Benelli just got bought by the Chinese.......they've got about 100 rogue motorbike manufacturers, some with VERY deep pockets that are desperate to "get on the radar".

Buying a great brand name and a bike almost fully developed would be a quick and easy way to go.

[scrybe]

The last we heard was everything was rosy.......I think the ONLY company in the industry that doesn't lie/cheat/steal 24/7 is Harley.


Ha, hahahaha. They got the government to take care of all of them for them.

[Flagg]

Ha, hahahaha. They got the government to take care of all of them for them.

Harley was insolvent.

Harley was given help by the US government in putting a tarriff on motorcycles displacing over 700cc(as Harley's SMALLEST motorcycle was 883cc) due to the fact Japanese manufacturers were dumping product in the US BELOW COST specifically to kill Harley(not exactly "fair"). This was done to give Halrye enough breathing room to compete on a level playing field.

Due to these unfair business practices the US government put a tarriff on Japanese made bikes in excess of 700cc(hence the odd displacement bikes for a few years).

Harley got their collective sh!t together and PROACTIVELY ASKED THE US GOVERNMENT TO END THE TARRIFF EARLY to make sure the playing field stayed level and didn't favour Harley infairly....that was the 1980's.

20 years later, Harley now sells more large displacement motorcycles in JAPAN than Japanese manufacturers do.

That's AFTER dealing with Japan's many nebulous restrictions designed in partnership with Japanese manufacturers to impede ANY import competition in ANY industry.

I've dealt with EVERY major motorcycle manufacturer in the worlds directly and personally.

Trust me, Harley is the only one in the world you can do a deal with based on a handshake.

The motorcycle industry is like a pack of rabid, starving hyenas.

[GeraldDuval]

I looked into the Royal enfield bikes because I'm damn near drooling over the look and the price...

apparently they are reliable and rugged off and back road bikes as long as they're treated with care. They need a hell of a lot more work than modern bikes, but as long as you know a bit about engines and dont mind tinkering, they'll last.

Due to the low top speed they can make it on the highway, but aren't reccomended for it. this is strictly a brit bike, windy back roads and trails...

[Flagg]

I looked into the Royal enfield bikes because I'm damn near drooling over the look and the price...

apparently they are reliable and rugged off and back road bikes as long as they're treated with care. They need a hell of a lot more work than modern bikes, but as long as you know a bit about engines and dont mind tinkering, they'll last.

Due to the low top speed they can make it on the highway, but aren't reccomended for it. this is strictly a brit bike, windy back roads and trails...

Sounds about right......if you DO buy one, just brake earlier when stoppping, and grit your teeth harder when going through potholes and she'll be right ;)

There's some outfit(s) that does REALLY scenic trips through India/Nepal, etc on Royal Enfields for quite a reasonable price.

If it wasn't for a conflict of interest I'd buy a Royal Enfield or one of them Russian/Chinese Urals(rip off of a BMW):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/M72-750cc-Red-Army-Motorcycle-w-Sidecar-Old-Ural_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80765QQitemZ4635234360

[Royal]

I guess I'll start working on my handlebar molestache and collecting Victoria Crosses to wear when I get that Royal Enfield....

You'd better work on the tan. There aren't many caucasian VC winners left...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/AP/more/30344340.jpg
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/04/28/images/beharry1.jpg

[GeraldDuval]

hot ***... those urals are just as nice as the royal enfields, and the sidecar looks cooler too. Any idea how they run?