Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125711
B r- Cl ",' .g NEWS By Ron Schneiders "'en ;: w Roadtesting a motorcycle that you bate is easy, even 'fun, if you're a little bit sadistic. Roadtesting a bike that you W ...J feel neutral about is just a job, a certain U >- amount of work to be done. . But U road testing a bike that you genuinely. like, or even love, subjects one to the terrible terror of choice. Journalistic integrity demands that you report the flaws in this bike just as you would in one that you dislike, but every negative 11"1--'- word that is written hurts. Each feature, I good and bad, causes an examination of '\ conscience. Is this feature (or defect) really significant, or is it my feelings that make it so? Since those who are capable of love are usu3Jly afflicted with integrity, they are prone to be more critical of the objects of their affection . than they are of casual acquaintances, Z wh"h" w:\~ 0' mo'o~,d,,· The lonesome curvey two·line highways of the country are the Norton's natural habitat. ==-'!"Cl Shooting at the Christmas tree. at Lions Drag strip. No drag racer, my times weren't very good l The bike was the Norton ComlJlando Fastback, 1970 version. On hearing the name the first time, I wanted to cringe. It sounded like an sedate American sedan. First sigh t however changed my mind. It was a very attractive bike with a bright yellow fiberglass tank, "fastback" rear fender·seat combination and a simple Norton decal. No gaudy junk sticking out from it'or stuck to it, no excess chrome, just a functional but modern ·styled motorcycle. Almost everyone who has seen it ha~ been impressed and 'has commented on it. Norton also offers the Commando in a more traditional Roadster styling which might just prove ea,sier to live with over a period of years, but I'm not sure. Starting the Norton is simple, if you remember the starting drill and the fact that you're not playing with a toy. It needs a good healthy kick, not a two·stroke dab butit doesn't kick back, and it doesn't seem to mind cold weather. I started it several times when the temperatures were below freeziJ,g and it was always one kick, if I didn't get sloppy. One of the secrets of its easy starting is a manual choke, a device which I like very much. My first riding of the Commando was on the freeway, which is a good testing ground. Generally speaking you can classify bikes tbree ways with respect to freeway usc.: scary and dangerous, adequate but unspectacular, and masterful. To some extent displacement determines the classification, but other things en ter as well, particularly brakes. The Commando is the definite and undisputed master of the freeways. After a very short time you realize that you are much safer on the Norton than you are in a car. The safest way to drive any vehicle is to assume that all other drivers are ou t to get you and drive ~o as not to offer them any opportunities. The Norton would give you a fighting chance even if your assumption were 100 percent correct. I twill out-accelerate, out-brake and out·maneuver almost anything that uses the freeway. It is rock·solid at an indicated 115 mph and none of the varied road surfaces, like ripples and lines, seem to bother it. The one problem that I found was that I had trouble holding the speed down to lawful limits. The lorton seems most happy cruising at about 80 to 85 mph. Vibration is nonexistent when the engine speed is above 3000 rpm, which it is 98 percent of the time. The.re is some vibration between idle and 3000 ~hich caused one fellow who was riding It to remark that he u SOft of liked it," Slim lines are as important to motorcycles as they are to women and cigarettes. Fat motorcycles don't handle. because it reminded him occasionally tha~ he was on ~ snortin' N orton. I guess a btt .of nostalgIc remembrance of things past IS o.k. but for hours of riding I like the lack of vibration just fine! During one of the weeks that we had the bike, it rained every day. This gave me a chance to check the orton's wet weather capabilities. I found that the tires supplied were excellent. They are Avons and they grip almost as well on wet pavement as dry. It's kind of fun to watch people's faces when you go around a comer that is under 6 inches of water well heeled over! I never experienced any brake fade due to water, and never had any water-caused ignition problems though I'm not quite sury why. The coil terminals are right out in the open air and quite exposed. It would seem natural for them to short out in wet weather. However, they didn't. Even so, if it were my bike, I would rig up a more sanitary arrangemen t. While the weather was still wet, a couple of friends and myself went out for a long ride in the mountainous Eastern section of Orange County. They were riding bikes of about the same size, but different brands. On one particular stretch that was alternately wet and dry, they were both complaining that their tires were c'hopping" somewhat, contributing to a feeling of unease. The Norton with excellent tires and suspension, seemed like it was on tracks. After a while we ran out of pavement and started riding a dirt road, heading toward Lake Elsinore. As we gained altitude, th 0. road deteriorated and becam 0. very muddy. Both my companions dropped their machines in the mud several times. The Norton certainly didn't handle like a motocross bike, but its manners were mild and not embarrassing. It is particularly worthy of note that the brakes could be used without fear in the slippery mud. Even though you may never plan to ride your 1500 dollar road machine in the mud, it's nice to know that if it becomes necessary, the effort won't kill you. NEWTOOLS The fast Suzukis and the fas;t Kawasakis use ... " It makes Yamahas go better tool n/1A/~ ~Jd," ~ power booster really wor's nE~~'~UPER fiLM. until supply is exhausted TUl'lgltell 40 pc. Tap & 01, ~, metric o. U.S. 59. Metric 8 PC. 3/8" socklfl seu SI.Bo. Cllck·Handlll torque Wftnehllli S17. Flltgec:!·Alloy 6 pc. combiNltion wre;ndl leU $3.90. Proto Yo" ratchetl $4.70. Loach; 01 ottwr new tooll·Rollaway$, VIles. Itc. 4334 S. Sepulveda, Culver City. EVllfyday 10·5 eJlC1IP1 Sun.