Trippin' in Commando mode

Marty a high compression 750 is a different animal than a clapped out 650 standard... both madness and the Snorton 'splain that to me pretty reglar.
MM yeah you are the "real world" gold standard. The 850 I mentioned dickering on is a factory electric "assist"
there are two US aftermarket e-starts both in the $2500 neighborhood.
The amal tickle and rest of the start drill and they aren't too bad but still one's knee is stressed.
There WAS a top job done with 300 miles on it (now 1500 miles) there's papers but one intake valve is suspect.
 
Marty a high compression 750 is a different animal than a clapped out 650 standard... both madness and the Snorton 'splain that to me pretty reglar.
Yeah! I guess I should have considered that. Even a clapped out Norton v. a fresh 650 isn't the same. Or, a big single!
 
My right knee has had torn cartilage repaired and I broke my right foot rather badly , at work in my last year and it never really healed right. So my kickstart “apparatus “ ain’t what it used to be. Oh I can do it for a while, but if I get a bike that is a cranky starter and requires lots of kicking, my foot especially starts complaining.
 
In the UK the electric conversion kit costs approximately £2000. I wonder if that NZ yellow Commando had the electric start conversion?
 
In the UK the electric conversion kit costs approximately £2000. I wonder if that NZ yellow Commando had the electric start conversion?
upload_2021-1-27_16-13-50.png

You could see here it if an e-start was installed
 
It adds this:

s-l500.jpg


So is that the starter motor sitting on top of the case behind the cylinders? If so then the NZer has not been converted.
 
$25,000NZ....=....$18,000US or $13,000GBP.

Lets say, for arguments sake , the price is a fair market value for the condition. Most of the comments relate to the amount spent on the purchase would mean the bike couldn't be used..........

I ask why, is it for fear of damage, (comment about cant throw saddle bags on it), is it because to use it it would loose its value. or is it because it is an old bike it isn't reliable.

non of these arguments stand up.

Spend, 25-30,000 on a new bike.........loses 5.000 as it goes out the door and in 6-7 years it has lost over 2/3rds its value, This bike wont loose 5,000 unless there is damage done to it. and in 6-7 years it will still be worth the same as the purchase, (at least), price due to the historic value........

Comment about using it and it loosing value............it has done 30,000 klm and still looks good. Headers have a nice even colour on them, (well tuned), and why not saddlebags and a tent.

Reliable. Well we all maintain our bikes and the longer we have them the more confident we are about if it will get us there...........Ask gggGary who done the 1000 miles on his XS........In a day!!!!!

And lastly, more than likely this is going to go to a guy for nostalgia and the weekend ride and if they are real bikers, maybe do a couple of the big bike meets in NZ, Burt Munro challange, Brass Monkey.....or some smaller ones........

As Gary points out about how much this bike is costing to make it a reliable rider of distance..........Ask A couple of others who have done full on restorations $$$ if they are sitting in their lounges looking at the bike in its glass cage..........no they are riding it around and they still look like they have just been restored yesterday not years ago.......and if there is some wear and tear and it devalues it is never going to devalue like a new bike does, to the point gggGary can buy another cheap do-upper
 
Spend, 25-30,000 on a new bike.........loses 5.000 as it goes out the door and in 6-7 years it has lost over 2/3rds its value,
You make a good point. If you buy a bike like that with the intention of riding it like a new one in the long run it could be a better value. If you take care of it and don't put a bunch of wear and tear on it you would loose less than normal depreciation on a new bike. The problem is there is no guarantee it will be as dependable as a new one. With a new vehicle you get a warranty. With a bike that someone has or had someone else restore you are buying a pig in a polk. If it takes a dump you are left holding the bag. I think Gary has the right idea. Buy one in decent shape and make it better. My 650 a few years ago would not run. Now I would take it on most any any trip with out much thought. I've had it down to the frame and back. I still have less in it than a new RE 650. Will I make money on it. NO. Can't make money unless you sell, don't plan on selling. On the flip side you don't loose money unless you sell. So if you never sell a bike you've never lost a dime on them.:confused:
 
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You points don't hold up Greg........Cant just find another early Norton in NZ like you can in the states, so getting that do-upper is rare as tits on a bull.

Classic rego, (40 Years) in NZ is $50.00 per year compared to $519.00 for full rego...........save $470 per year. No mandated service fees to keep warranty going

Don't have to take it in for its twice yearly service, (every 6months or 20,000 klm whichever comes first), without this compulsory service, warranty is null and void.......no idea how much they would be, lets say for arguments sake $200.00 per service, $400.00 per year. Min 3 year warranty, $1200.00

There is near enough to $900.00 per year saving

So for arguments sake the new bike has lost 3 years of resale value + another $2700 in rego and service fees.

The Norton can have $2700.00 spent on regular maintenance, new tyres, sprockets and chain, Hell could spend some money on the motor and still have change......
 
Exactly.........funny because i bought the 82 GS650E and my son took it for a trot down the road then hopped on the 83 XS650 and took it for a trot.........he now says the XS650 is a dinosaur in comparison but loves the XS more as he feels it has more character........I think he is starting to understand what makes the XS the bike it is and why
 
Short Comment ..as I have seen it. Feel free to tell me if I am wrong here

I ask why, is it for fear of damage, (comment about cant throw saddle bags on it), is it because to use it it would loose its value. or is it because it is an old bike it isn't reliable.
non of these arguments stand up.

I have an impression that some buyers in Germany and other places are paying substantially more for perfect condition 2-3 -4 times more
some 10 years ago a tank for an XS650 on e -bay with a dent did not cost over US $ 20 us but a perfect NOS the sky was the limit could cost $ 500 $ 800 ..

I had a Work colleague that in the early 90 ies from Sweden Sold his BMW R69 or something
In perfect condition at bout $ 17500 to Germany I had never heard of those sums for motorcycles at the time.
The same with R90 S
If they are in fine Condition shocking prices

There is one on Mobile.de
BMW R 90 S Daytona im Sammlerzustand
22.990 €


I have the impression that for the mint ones of the more interesting models there is the
Lawyers / Stock Brokers /Business owners / Physicians and so that are not interested at all in a $ 5500
Machine that need work with a dent .. Wont buy it ... Not paying a cent
Dont have the time ..Tools and dont want oil on the garage Floor
So returning to the Norton the price $ 18000 It is there before the tank is Scratched and no dents and so
but those buyers above. wont pay a cent for a rusty .. dented or worse involved in a crash " Not interested "

If they are rich enough they can Buy Porches and Mercedes even Ferrari And haul it to an expert shop ..
It can happen that a Norton pre Dent pre crash $ 18000 attracts more Affluent buyers
That are not interested at all in a $ 5500 bike dented or in worst case crashed on the Summer tour.

They have the money paying 10000 or 20000 not necessary a big issue.
I cant for certain say that it is so but it is an impression I have
An XS 650 typically cost say today $ 1750 to $ 8000 thats it. In Sweden
AN BMW R90S say $ 2000 ( I guess i haven't followed it lately ...to something the same here say $ 9000
But then in Germany it if Mint costs -->$ 23000

Again I am not saying this as a fact .But if so you go on a Tent vacation on a $ 23000 bike and returns
with an $ 7500 bike after you put it on its side
That would be an expensive vacation. Perhaps could spend a Year on the beach in Florida
In the shade with cool drinks with small umbrellas in ...if you sold it before



 
Maybe in Australia, where the sun always shines and they don't slather salt all over the roads, there might be people who spend serious money on an old bike and then use it as intended. But my feeling is that in the UK and probably Germany, Switzerland and USA? the kind of person who invests that much in a an old bike will probably keep it in a heated, carpeted garage and never ride it. Or maybe just one or two short sunny afternoon rides in the summer.

I might well be wrong.
 
This should be fun to watch.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-norton-commando-5/
At $5100 on 1-28 with 4 days to go.
Lots of Norton facts and lore in the comments.

Ok
On the video it appears to run rough on the right side
At idle -- not at all good sounding 0.17 in
Cant notice it on the road
Current owner since 2016 --500 miles and have replaced
Ignition and carburetors.
That idle sound perhaps goes away with different carburetor setup.
maybe carburetor experts here can give an opinion
But otherwise there can be a job to do . But after that it looks god.
 
At 0.32 is a good shot of the starter tucked away behind the cylinders. To avoid the use of a Bendix mechanism the electric conversion utilizes a Sprag clutch. Don't you just love that long sweeping side stand...
 
Marty a high compression 750 is a different animal than a clapped out 650 standard... both madness and the Snorton 'splain that to me pretty reglar.
MM yeah you are the "real world" gold standard. The 850 I mentioned dickering on is a factory electric "assist"
there are two US aftermarket e-starts both in the $2500 neighborhood.
The amal tickle and rest of the start drill and they aren't too bad but still one's knee is stressed.
There WAS a top job done with 300 miles on it (now 1500 miles) there's papers but one intake valve is suspect.

Yes Sir
Ladies and Gentlemen a quick kick start of a 920 cc 11:1
Norton Commando
Including Telling small children to " Shut up "
It is not a small lad Either trying
I doubt any Experienced Enthusiast can watch this without laughing ..

 
:wtf:
I've been kickstarting bikes all my adult life and never had a problem ... and never made such a song and dance out of it like that. Admittedly, my Commando was a 750 as was my last Triumph, not a high-comp 920. But hell, it's all down to technique .... which he wasn't exhibiting. If he stalls that in traffic he'll be fucked!

Oh, and in the UK it's 'rare as rocking-horse shit' :D
 
I like the advice from the child, "Why don't you sit on it properly?"

It's my guess this guy has been previously bitten by that kicker...:hump:

Yes Sir
If you watch at 0.17 it is a bit of Breakdancing going on as they say in Boxing ... sometimes after a solid hit ..hes is going down
Lost in action.
The ignition does not seem to be spot on For heavens sake if that thing kicks back Ouupp ... puhh ..hh might end up in the
Aeroplane section or if it hits the heel or the calf Ougghhhh..hhh
But I give him credits for this upload honesty ... Its real . and it is difficult . I could not start 850 in the 70 ies
And if you look at the Norton Links .Rather quick there is the electric starter coming up as a subject
As the little girl also notice.
I remember people talked about " High Compression Pistons " and landing in the treetops ( jokingly ) .
Perhaps he Bought a little to large motorcycle ..But he is not the first one in History .
Learning by doing
 
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