[Jeff Higgins]

Kenny Dreer got muscled out by a group of Brits that still owned the Norton trademark. He was down in the Portland area (he used to hang out and display his bike at every Portland International Raceway event - nice guy), then moved down to the southeast somewhere with big hopes of beginning production of his new, updated Commando. Trademark owners quashed that dream. He is, however, consulting with the new owner on what will be the new production Commando, so there can't be much bad blood. I don't think he could have rounded up the backing to get off the ground anyway. The new owner, who purchased the trademark rights from the original holders, apparently can. There was a new bike displayed in Seattle last winter, with promises of production to follow very shortly. It was going to be priced in the mid $20k range, which all of us felt was way, way out of its market range. It needs to compete with the Sportster and Bonneville, not the Ducati 1198. It's been at least a year, and not a peep since. We'll see.

In my circle of riding buddies in the late '70's and early '80's, several had Commandos. I always lusted after one, and kind of "traded" back and forth (for a week or two) with a buddy who had a John Player Special. I would dearly love to find one today but, alas, my long-suffering wife would have me cull the herd to "make room" (I happen to think there is "room" right now...). I actually almost bought a really clean example a couple of years ago. Someday...