Interesting Norton 750 exchange ride

[AK ducati]

So one of my work colleagues and I finally exchanged bikes for a longish ride.  He has a 1972 Norton Commando.  The experience was...different.  Apparently the kickstart isn't a question of effort (I was sweating in 5 minutes fully geared up trying to get it going), but directing the effort.  Then came the relearning for the damn brakes and gearshift on the opposite sides!  Add to that a bad idle that kept killing the engine.....followed by more kickstarting.  Insane vibrations and even worse wind hammering than the monster, if that's possible.  Have to admit that thing was a hoot to ride once I got used to it!  It was funny having to actually downshift to overtake, but that seemed half the fun.  Best compliment at the end of the ride-this from a grizzled older Norton diehard:  "Man your 620 felt like it was on rails! I haven't grinned this much in a long time.  If you ever sell that bike I'm going to slap you upside the head!"

At the end of the ride, he was debating picking up a ducati....I pointed him in the direction of a 900ss/cr  

Edit: I should add I only pointed him in the direction of the 900ss because there aren't any used monsters in this neck of the woods.

[MadDuck]

In 1971 I had a  '69 750 Commando Fastback.  It was great at the time but, of course, can't hold a candle to more modern bikes. I don't understand the vibration part unless just when idling or at low rpm's. Mine had the Isolastic suspension where the trailing arm was attached to the transmission/engine and all hinged up on the front down tube of the frame. Once you hit 2800 rpm it turned into electric motor smooth. BTW, mine did not leak oil and would kick start on the first or second try even if it was sitting out in the rain.

[SpikeC]

 Sounds like his isolastics were either shot ot way out of adjustment. Those things will screw up the handling as well as making it vibrate if they are not up to snuff.

[AK ducati]

Just read about the isolastic vibration damping.  I was about 5000 rpm for most of the ride, and there was a fair amount of vibration...and it does leak oil!  He's been meaning to take the bike apart and rebuild it but is still working on his other 850 rebuild.  But from what I read, seems like these bikes were prone to heavy vibrations?  Fun bike though!

[SpikeC]

 I rode a friends 850 Commando years back, and it was like an electric motor. The engine quivers like a palsied chicken, but the bike is smooth as silk when set up right.

[AK ducati]

Sounds like a pretty slick bike.  I'm sure his rebuilt 850 is probably that way, and he's going to take the 750 apart this winter.  I might have to ask to ride his 850...after I ride the 750 some more and get used to bizarro world bike controls    No offense meant to anyone!