Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Norton, "A fine motorbike."

Driving to work in my jeep, thinking about the day, at a red light a beauitful vintage Norton pulled up beside me. It was cold and foggy but the guy was geared up and appeared to be having plenty of fun. The bike was beauitful. I gave him a thumbs up and told him that was "A fine motorbike!" Thanks Norton guy at Beltline and Hwy. 30 in Garland, Texas for making my day.

Nothing like being surprised by a Norton. Our local undersheriff recently restored a 70's Norton. I keep harassing him to get it out on the road. I'll have to step it up next year. I think Norton owners are even squirrelier than Triumph owners, must be the leather helmet, silk scarf and goggles.

Still looking for a leather helmet in my size .

JH

Yep Jim....Nortons ARE cool.

I rode with a number of 'em this past sunday at the SoCal Norton Owners Club's 27th annual British Motorcycle Ride and Show at Hansen Dam in the San Fernando Valley, and going approx. 85 miles up one of the canyons there, and back down Angeles Crest Highway.

About 500(mostly old, but a lot more of the Hinckley Triumphs are showin' up every year now) britbikes and their owners attended, and most make the run.(one guy even rode a '37 Brough Superior SS100)

The best day(and ride) of the year.(my 12th consecutive year going)

Cheers,
Dwight
(oh and John....when you move to Fathead, maybe they'll have your size leather helmet THERE!.........Oh, I'M SORRY!...that was FLATHEAD you're movin' to, wasn't it?.....never mind then)

Mr Norton truly made one fine scoot !

A well restored one (or even a half fast restored one) does look good. But after reading Peter Egan's 'Leanings', I think they're better left to look at.

Well Friar John,
Now the rest of you guys know how we NATIVE Californians felt back in the day when riding our Nortons(not to mention our Triumphs, BSAs, Hondas, Yamahas, Harleys, Moto Guzzis, Ducatis, BMWs, ) out in reasonably sparse traffic, or out in OPEN LAND that was reasonably close to home, just after the advancing HORDES of every conceivable race, color and creed(yes even white New Yorkers, Chicagoans, Denverites, and yes, EVEN Montanans....and yes, even before this present out-of-control migration coming from south of the border) started to swarm to this place which boasted perfect weather, perfect mountains, and perfect beaches(well, at least they USED TO BE, anyway), that we natives USED to enjoy HERE.

So, how's it feel to be "invaded", buddy???

And, I don't care how much you guys pay for YOUR homes, but it ain't NEVER goin' to come close to these outrageous prices we "damned(native, AND non-native)Californian" pay through the nose for HERE!

But somehow and some way, even WITH all these arrivals since I was a young tike, most people of all those previous mentioned races, colors and creeds for the most part work and play together surprisingly well HERE(believe it or not...and despite what our Media projects out there in "Real America" about "La La Land"), as most people HERE work hard(because, as I said, it costs "lots" a money to live HERE) at 9 to 5 jobs(like most Americans), and have nothing whatsoever to do with that "sinful, out-of-touch" Hollywood crowd.

Now, anything else you'd like to get off your chest about your "high cost of living" up THERE, bud?

No?!

I didn't think so.

Cheers,
Dwight
(oh...and Phil, or any other moderator out there....if you find THIS thread "too political" or "not about Triumphs"[well, I guess NORTONS in this case], OR that this rebutal is "too controversial", and thus will then "smite" this post of mine, then I can only conclude that you guys have "lost it" beyond all reason, and are not the intelligent gents I thought you were when I first "invaded" this site, a few years back)

(oh...oh...and John[Freedom], I'm sorry! I thought that you had changed your mind and WERE going to Flathead.....Man! You really ARE a Democrat, aren't ya, you "flip-flopper" you)

Wasn't so much flip-flopping as I backed out a month ago and my employers kept encouraging me to give it another week, and another week. I did and looked at it honestly from all angles, but couldn't get away from the numbers. Lots of employers are having difficulty getting people to relocate to the "hot spots". I turned down a job 25 years ago in Glacier National Park because they had a no dog policy and I had a legendary dog at the time.

Back to bikes; A little voice kept saying look at the great two lane roads around here and the fact the weather averages 5-7 degrees warmer. Now that's real.

Party Affiliation? That's why the cramped little voting booth has a curtain on it.

JH

A brief anecdote: When were visiting Billings, house hunting in 1981, we were stopped by some people who saw our California plates and gave us a warm welcome. They said they had friends in California. A couple months later we were back in El Toro having a garage sale in preparation to move and those same people from Billings showed up at our house to ask how the move was going. Seems their friends lived in the same neighborhood. As we all know by now, our move was followed by a mass exodus to places like Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Now Californians aren't exactly welcomed warmly, but neither are they strung up at the edge of town as a warning to would be interlopers.

::sigh::

The good old days...

Get a grip on yourself man! You are losing it!!!

Go for a ride, drink some beers, and maybe even take a Valium.....

Sheesh.

OK.... jeez you guys....

to get this back to Nortons....


Here's a pic of a brand new Norton at the Bike show last weekend.


I can't remember exactly what the board at the bottom of the pic says, but it's a racer for next year.

But I've found this on a site somewhere...

Quote:

---

2007 Norton NRV-588 Rotary Racer Norton these days are better known for anti-virus protection. However, the National motorcycle museum in Birmingham have done a one-off revival of the famous motorcycle brand. Norton (National motorcycle museum special) Ron and Leon Haslam will not be riding the bike, but added some racing heritage, not that Norton needed more heritage. The NRV is a one off special that have been finished 10 years after it was started. The National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, England have financed the project and Brian Crighton (Motorcycle restorer and previous Norton employee) have been the driving force. As the museum rarely would be involved in new projects, this is a very special special indeed. The NRV will be raced to or three times in 2007 in Britain and will then find its place in the museum. Details: 588cc twin rotor Wankel, fuel injected. Electric water pump ducted fan air-cooling for rotors, fly by wire throttle. 170bhp @ 11.500rpm, twin spar aluminium frame by Spondon, Ohlins fork and Ohlins long-stroke single sided rear shock, AP racing radial callipers, Dymag 16,5 inch wheels, carbon fibre body work and 130kg dry weight.

---

No Dwight, not me too. I was not even involved until you had your little temper tantrum and decided to attack me and the moderators. Yes, attack. Go re-read your post.

I never had intentions of doing anything in this thread. It was and is about as incendiary as a wet match but because you were angry at FJ, you had to go the extra mile and involve me and now I am a megalomaniac on a power trip??? You got a lot of nerve there my friend.

You know, I really like coming on here and exchanging ideas, knowledge, and the banter. I do NOT like having to read every friggin thread and every friggin post to ensure everyone is playing nice. I have to though because everyone does not always play nice. I have to because I feel it is my responsibility to you and everyone here. That keeps me busy enough that other things that I enjoy are sometimes put aside. Now I have to waste my time defending myself against you? Sheesh....

Rant and rave all you want within our guidelines and do me a favor, keep me out of it.

Is that too much to ask?

Quote:

---

OK.... jeez you guys....

to get this back to Nortons....

---

Man, that is one nice looking Norton. great article you printed about it as well.

Phil,

John[Freedom] sent a very intelligently stated PM to me explaining why some Montanans feel "strongly" about how migration from ALL OVER the country has affected their state. I know the fact that John is one of the more likeable and reasonable people around here won't surprise you...and I hope that he'll understand my reasons for "talkin' outta school" here.

I sent the following response to him, and I'd like to share it with you and Friar John(and I guess...the whole freakin' world now).......

_____________________________________________________

Thanks for taking the time to write this very observant and tolerant..(BOY! Could I use a major dose of THAT stuff now and then....speakin' o' "medicinal cures")..note, John.

You've always been one of guys around here for whom I have major respect, as you seem to "get it"!(whatever the hell "it" is.....HEY! Was THAT a "Clintonism" or somethin'?)

I know FJ's a good guy. AND, so is Phil!

I think the major "stumbling block" here, when it comes to this little friction that those two gentlemen and I sporadically encounter is that I've always felt that when someone here knocks someone else who's to the left(politically speakin' o' course) of them and maybe a "free-er soul"(OH MY GAWD!!! now I KNOW I'm givin' myself too much credit here, for chrissake!!!) that it's always seemed that it's somewhat more acceptable around here(and even slightly encouraged sometimes due to "leanings" of the Mods and Admins) for them to overtly or now, covertly, express their "opinions".

But, these same standards of "behavior" have always seemed tightened slightly when it comes to those of us who may hold a dissenting opinion about their "bold" conservatism.

But then again, I could be wrong about that.(BTW, strangely...a sentence you'd rarely hear uttered from the "bold ones", HUH?!)

As you "may" have noticed, I DO enjoy the repartee.

AND, to Phil's credit, he DID "smite" one of my fellow "blowhards" who started to go off the other day about that "wimpy"(which surprisingly, I actually agree with that guy's assessment about the presumed new Speaker Of The House] Nancy Pelosi.

So, I guess I've just been chaffin' a little bit lately under this.....YOKE OF TYRANNY SHACKLING MY POINTED "HUMOR"!!!!

(oh excuse me. I guess I "lost it" there, for a second)

Cheers,
Dwight
(ya know...maybe Phil's right about THAT???......NAWWWWWWWWW!!!)
_________________________________________________________


So Guys....are we COOL?....(as NORTONS are)

You're kidding, right? Because if you believe that any of us (moderators) are part of some right wing conspiracy; you need some serious, serious help.

I believe the following users would disagree as they've had plenty of posts shot down:

clanrickarde
ladisney
hill8586
HeneryHawk

and I apologize for singling youse guys out. I am trying to make a point.


Dwight, please let it go, OK?

I want to apologize to Jim (Old52) also for the way this thread got hijacked.

Phil,
for the record....I didn't hijack this thread. That was done when someone started "venting" about their real estate holdings in Monatana.(no, not you "Freedom John"...you kept a that "wink-in-your-eye" about it, unlike another John up your way)

And, I said "slightly tightened", not "conspiracy"...my friend.

Now...I'd be happy to "let this go"! In fact, I indeed tried here.(evidently miserably)

But this incessant call of your's that "I need help" because I shared a thought that could OR could NOT be in fact..."correct", is....INSULTING, sir.

And in addition...BEFORE you took "an interest" in this thread, I could tell Friar John was trying to reach a reconcilitory manner with me, and so this whole "mess" could have been further avoided if you HADN'T interfered with YOUR advice.(hence that hyperbolic "meglomanic" crack o' mine)

(HEY! Maybe you and I can get a group rate at the shrink's office, huh?)

NOW....What say we return back to the subject of Nortons, HUH?!
_____________________________________

Hey, people! Ain't it a shame that Kenny Dreer, up there in Oregon, couldn't complete his efforts.

I hope he can find the resources to continue his project.

Cheers,
Dwight

Guys guys!!

Phil got his point across and Dwight managed the last word .. now shake each other warmly by the throat and get this thread back to where it started .........

YEAH! Well...WHO ASKED YOU, ya dern LIMEY!!!

If'n it wasn't for youse guys running that Norton concern inta the GROUND over THERE years ago...we galldarn YANKS would STILL have those fine motorbikes hitting American Highways in abundance OVER HERE!!!

SO THERE!!!

Dwight
(or here, I guess....Geez, now's ya got's me ALL corn-fused!!!!)

I am probably one of the farthest "left" people here, I just keep my trap shut. We actually have a pretty good balance among the mods as far as view points goes, and it manages to run smoothly.

Who asked me??
Funny, I thought Other Bikes was my 'manor' ..... !!!

Started early today, eh?

Take more water with the next one.

Wait a minute ... what does this button do .. ??