A Streetfighter For The World

As featured on the #1 custom bike website www.bikeexif.com/nyc-norton/ In early 2014 we got a call from an overseas number on the shop phone.  On the other end of the call was a pleasant voice with an unidentifiable accent who introduced himself as "Joe".  He was calling from his home in a small country nestled in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.  He had just purchased a pristine Norton Commando in the States and asked if we could add some performance and reliability mods to it before ultimately shipping it across the seas to him.  Sounded easy enough.  This was the humble beginning of a relationship that has circled the Earth many times.  Having already in his stable a bone-stock Commando, as well as other vintage bikes of various marques, Joe wanted this Commando to have a bit more "oomph".  This is our specialty and we were very happy to [...]

2024-02-25T17:56:31-05:00October 7th, 2015|builds, commando, nycNorton, street|

Racing 2014

Barber Motorsports Park in October is the pinnacle of any classic motorcyclist's schedule and the highlight of the US vintage racing calendar, but in turn feels a little bittersweet, simply because it punctuates the end of each racing season.  The event itself is huge, with 65,000 spectators visiting over the weekend, each year growing more and more.  And just when you think it can't get bigger, it does.  NYC Norton's representation has also expanded over the years and this year we had 11 bikes under the NYC Norton canopy.  And with all that's going on, we rarely get a chance to leave our compound and see all the sights.  It's a black hole of laughing, swearing, and sweating.  This year was no different.  And the intensity that Barber brings started in the shop right after we got home from Miller. Three NYC Norton G50s up on the lifts getting [...]

2024-02-25T17:56:32-05:00January 17th, 2015|nycNorton|

Racing 2014

For years our closest race on the AHRMA calendar was Grattan, MI, clocking in at 750 miles from NYC.  So when the announcement came in last year that we would be racing in New Jersey we couldn't believe what we heard.  The notion of being able to load up and get to a track in 2 hours (125 miles), spend a weekend chasing the racing jones, and make it home to our own beds by Sunday evening was such an alien concept.  Because the track is centrally located to NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, the organizers have worked hard to target the eastern seaboard motorcycle world (not just racers) and make it a cornerstone event smack-dab in the middle of our racing season, picking up where Mid Ohio left off.  There are vendors, a swap meet, bike shows, bands, etc. and each year it grows in stature.  Plus, the Thunderbolt track [...]

2024-02-25T17:56:32-05:00December 31st, 2014|commando, G50, nycNorton, racing|

Pack It Up

We've been tardy at posting one of the biggest announcements in our racing times... the invitation to compete in the Island Classic at Phillip Island, Australia, January 24-26, 2014.  The Australians have graciously extended their hand to a select few Americans, inviting them to compete in this huge event, and we are most flattered to have been included.  There are 2 groups of American racers heading over; a West Coast group headed up by Dave Crussel, and an East Coast group, arranged by Bob Coy (USCRA).  Our little sub-group - Dave Roper, Maurice Candy, our filmmaker friend Don Lange (who will be capturing the whole event - more on that in another post later), and me (Kenny Cummings) - will be departing from New York, flying into Sydney, doing a bit of sight-seeing, then meandering our way down to Phillip Island. The Aussies are a tough lot - competitive and [...]

2024-02-25T17:56:34-05:00January 4th, 2014|G50, nycNorton, racing|
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