[joeclarke]

The Norton was unreliable and uncomfortable for any kind of meaningful distance. And that was when both it and my body were new and relatively new, respectively. Norton bragged about the smoothness of the 850 commando (they had a reputation for roughness with the 750), but I remember my legs were like rubber after even a short highway haul.

Mine got cranked into a retaining wall (squeezed out by an unobservant car driver) and sat for years in parts in my parent's basement thereafter. Somehow the Commando had and has retained a legendary following - I'm not really sure why. Back then the Japanese performance bikes were just so much better.

IMHO the Norton was outclassed but many other marques in the cruiser catagory too. But then as a classic bike maybe they've finally found their stride! Certainly don't avoid them just on my say- so!