Topic: Norton

[ken65]

As Terry pointed out, those Norton bring a stack of cash here. A mate of mine just payed over 17K
for his.

[Terry in Australia]

Will have to remember that when it comes time to sell it!

I know from time to time I get a rash of buyers for parts, but assumed that was due to changes in exchange rates.

Yeah mate, up until a couple of years ago the Aussie dollar was worth more than the greenback, and we all went mad buying cheap bikes and parts from the US, but now we've dropped well below parity, the interest was waned. If the US economy goes down the toilet again soon, I'll be over with a U Haul trailer to collect me some Nortons............

[jas67]

71

Meh, this thing is stone axe simple compared to the Hondas that I am used to.

Yeah, my '66 Ducati is stone axe simple compared to 70's Hondas, but, no where near as reliable.

[jas67]

....There are so many better bikes around that cost so much less, but that's just the way it is with those old oil distributors, buyers bid with their hearts, not with their heads...........

Same goes with bevel-drive Ducatis, especially the twins, but also the singles like mine.      My old BMW's and Hondas are way better bikes, but, the Ducati is SO sexy.    I really want a bevel twin, esp. a round case, but, they're priced way above my pay grade.

[jas67]

Was just at MidO, one of the largest vintage Motorcyle swap meets in the states.
At least four people there loading up trucks to ship over seas.
They actually effect the prices too!  They pay big money here and sell for huge money where every they get shipped out.

Odd but I see some stuff in Europe that I want to ship to me though!

Japanese stuff is getting shipped over seas too.     Several vintage Hondas that I've sold in the last year or so have ended up going to the UK.    The buyer has a warehouse in Michigan that he fills up, and then has 'em all loaded into containers and shipped over there, where he sells 'em for a huge profit.    He pays decent prices.   He says that the scramblers are the most in demand with the British hipsters right now.

[Terry in Australia]

....There are so many better bikes around that cost so much less, but that's just the way it is with those old oil distributors, buyers bid with their hearts, not with their heads...........

Same goes with bevel-drive Ducatis, especially the twins, but also the singles like mine.      My old BMW's and Hondas are way better bikes, but, the Ducati is SO sexy.    I really want a bevel twin, esp. a round case, but, they're priced way above my pay grade.

Don't do it mate, I owned a 1979 Ducati 900SS, and it was the biggest pile of #$%*e I've ever owned. Back in those days I was very fit, so if the Duke wouldn't start, or would only run on one cylinder, I'd ride my ten speed to work instead.

Now I'm too old and fat to own a "Classic" Italian motorcycle, so I've got 4 Jap bikes, a BMW and a modern Triumph, and the 10 speed gathers dust in the garden shed.............

[jas67]

....There are so many better bikes around that cost so much less, but that's just the way it is with those old oil distributors, buyers bid with their hearts, not with their heads...........

Don't do it mate, I owned a 1979 Ducati 900SS, and it was the biggest pile of #$%*e I've ever owned.....

Don't worry.    If I had the money that they go for, I'd likely be spending it on a new bike for a daily driver.
I'm already having enough vintage Italian "fun" with the single-cylinder 250.    It's a pretty bike, but, yeah, pretty much a pile of  #$%*e compared to my vintage Hondas, which are as reliable as any modern bike (if not more so).

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, one of my few regrets is that in 1977 I had a choice of a Yamaha TX500 or a Ducati 450 "Silver Shotgun", for the princely sum of 450 dollars each. I took the Yamaha.............. 

[jas67]

Yep, one of my few regrets is that in 1977 I had a choice of a Yamaha TX500 or a Ducati 450 "Silver Shotgun", for the princely sum of 450 dollars each. I took the Yamaha.............. 

Oh my 

EDIT: I just did a little research.    I'm familiar with the Ducati 450's of the early 70's, but, hadn't hard of the "Silver Shotgun" model.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-italian-motorcycles/1971-ducati-silver-shotgun.aspx?PageId=2#ArticleContent

They were the ultimate single cylinder Ducati.  450cc Desmo engine, cafe bodywork + rearsets.   Other upgrades over the other singles included Borrani 18-inch alloy rims, Grimeca double-sided, single-leading-shoe front brake with air scoops, and 35mm Marzocchi forks (replacing 31.5mm Ducati items).

Wow!   If you only knew, right?

It looks like the majority of those shipped to Oz, which why you were lucky enough to get a shot at one.
Very few made it to the US or the UK.

[MoMo]

Yep, one of my few regrets is that in 1977 I had a choice of a Yamaha TX500 or a Ducati 450 "Silver Shotgun", for the princely sum of 450 dollars each. I took the Yamaha.............. 

Wow................I also had the misfortune of owning a TX500 when I could have had just about any other Yamaha or Honda from the shop where I worked . At least it wasn't Yamaha's worst model ever made......................................................................TX750...Larry

[Terry in Australia]

Oh my 

EDIT: I just did a little research.    I'm familiar with the Ducati 450's of the early 70's, but, hadn't hard of the "Silver Shotgun" model.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-italian-motorcycles/1971-ducati-silver-shotgun.aspx?PageId=2#ArticleContent

They were the ultimate single cylinder Ducati.  450cc Desmo engine, cafe bodywork + rearsets.   Other upgrades over the other singles included Borrani 18-inch alloy rims, Grimeca double-sided, single-leading-shoe front brake with air scoops, and 35mm Marzocchi forks (replacing 31.5mm Ducati items).

Wow!   If you only knew, right?

It looks like the majority of those shipped to Oz, which why you were lucky enough to get a shot at one.
Very few made it to the US or the UK.

Yeah mate, that's the sucker, and it was in about the same condition too. To be fair I rode them both and liked the TX500 better, but whereas the old Yam's now worth about a dollar per square foot, that Ducati vibrator is worth it's weight in platinum......

[jaguar]

Already bough another one.
Pick it up this weekend.



Actually working a deal on an 850 now too.  That one might get sent down under though.....

[Retro Rocket]

That looks like a model 99.?  What year..?

[jaguar]

Listed as a 62 Manxman.
Thought 62 would make it a 650SS.

[Stev-o]

Some heavy patina on that bike, Jag.  You got your work cut out for you with this one.

[Terry in Australia]

Already bough another one.
Pick it up this weekend.



Actually working a deal on an 850 now too.  That one might get sent down under though.....

Sweet! It's even got those very rare clear header pipes! Nice pick up mate, I'm saving my bikkies for an American V Twin right now, or else I'd make you a ridiculous offer! Cheers, Terry.

[jaguar]

Comes with an NOS exhaust and the correct bars!
Even has an nos set of fenders?

Never seen a green one though.

[BPellerine]

very good find jag,the frame is the star on this one!bill

[jaguar]

Never seen a green one!

Triton build?

[BPellerine]

they make engine plates to put almost any engine in those bikes,dont remember any green ones myself but does not mean there weren't any,really piss the Norton guys off and put a sohc in there haha.bill

[Gene]

Always wanted a 52 Norton . . . still do.  gosh - beautiful bikes- all of 'em.

[martin99]

If I had a sky-blue bike with a hideous red seat I'd probably want to paint it green too

It'll be interesting to see if there's any trace of another colour once you start taking it down.

If the NOS exhaust that came with it is genuine manxman, the right hand header should be kinked to allow a rev counter cable to pass without hitting the exhaust. Rare as rocking horse sh1t over here, there are people who would  give you as much for the exhaust as you probably paid for the bike!

[jaguar]

Cb750/Norton would be funny.

I wouldn't hack this bike up though.

[BPellerine]

just having a laugh,jag the smaller Norton twins were more pleasant to drive than the atlas,but not as powerful,my buddy had a 650ss nice!but at the time he could not get pistons so he was running a 750,I had a matchless g15 csr at that time,find one of those!atlas engine in a matchless frame.bill

[jaguar]

I think by the end of next week I will have bought another commando too.
Need to figure what one I really want.
Something seems sweet about the featherbed.