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[Jon64]

LOL, thanks guys, thats better, cheered me up now.
No the bike has done well in my eyes , my aim is to go for the 100,000 mile
mark, my only regret is that there isn't another digit on the speedo oddometer,
as it will just go back to zero again.
Riggers, thanks for your post to, it's good to know I'm not the only one ; )
I'm sorry re your condition, I myself have athritus
in my big toe, and thats painful enough, hope the pills give some help bud.

Regards to all, Jon

[Les H]

Madmike...Are you saying that you have owned the Norton from new? This will be the only way you would know if any part had not been renewed, especially as you also seem to be saying you have never had to strip it down. Even as a second owner I would not guarantee that the selling info given to you was accurate. If you are the only owner and know it to be original and untouched, 83,000 miles is exceptional and congratulations. The Norton does not have an air filter as standard and for a British single to achieve that figure and still not require a first rebore is incredible....What oil have you been using Mike? I'm gonna start using the same.....BTW Jon64...I can't see why you have felt your post has received negative replies, quite an interesting thread really, it's when you don't get one reply is the time not to bother again.

[apparently lucky eddie]

Like yourself Jon, I've had a number of Enfields and have never, ever broken down at the roadside, I've never busted a piston, a big-end or even a clutch cable, all my enfields having just carried on rattling along until I've part-ex'd them for the next one. Which cannot be said for the kawasaki (big-end),suzukis 2 x big-end)triumphs (all sorts of parts vibrating off along the road) or several ducatis (electrics? wot electrics?)I've owned over the years.
But when it comes to Enfields I'm lucky apparently but there's still a sigh of relief when she starts every day. So don't take umbrage at anything said here, just take it with a pinch of salt as they say (but don't get said salt on your fragile enfield chrome!) and come and add your two pen'orth whenever.

[MadMike]

Les, oh how you impune my reputation (tongue firmly inserted into cheek when I said that) perhaps it should be pistols at dawn down the local rec. LOL. Anyway my Norton was registered in December 1958. It has one previous owner, James Foster of Gosport in Hampshire. Jim and I met as apprentices and became lifelong friends. he used the bike until 1977 as a daily commuter. I bought an Ariel, which I still have, and we both decided to go down the restoration route of our respective bikes. The Norton was finished in 1978, the Ariel took a little longer. Upon completion Jim zeroed the trip meter on the Norton. It was then in regular use although it was not a commuter....cars and all that you understand. He kept the bike and it has won well over 100 concourse prizes in his ownership. Unfortunatel he passed away some 6 years ago and left his bikes including the norton to me. I use it regularly for pleasure. So as you can see I have known the bike for its entire life and am able to say without reservation that its current 83000 imperial miles without being stripped down is correct. I am aware that many bikes do not achieve this, but I have always put it down to 2 things, lack of use and/or poor oil maintenance. Yes it has regular oil changes at 2000 miles and it runs on straight 50. Tyres and a few chains have been consumed but the engine genuinly has not been stripped since the restoration in 1977/1978. Jin was an exceptional engineer with an eye for detail accuracy. For instance all mating faces were lapped to ensure they were flat and mated before assembly....how do I know this.....I lapped them personally at work for him. Some on here saw the bike at MadMikes Gathering in May and it will be at the next one on the 9th September so anybody coming along can come and see the bike. I hope this explains how I know the bikes history and am totally certain of the mileage. I hope that Jon64 achieves his 100,000 imperial mile target and more. There is no sustitute for riding them you know.

[JOHNNY SINGLES]

These Enfields are a pile of crap but that is the way it is and we just live with it. No point in running around shaking your head in disbelief we know how bad they are.

Norm. IS IT THE BIKE OR IS IT THE RIDER.

There are a lot of very happy Enfield owners out there who do not share your blinkered views.

[Les H]

Thanks for your comprehensive reply Mike. It was very interesting. Just goes to show what one can achieve with care and attention and an engine that was well designed in the first place and has an excellent oil pump, plus of course, the benefit of having only 350cc's rather than 500cc. I also use straight 50 weight oil in my Ajay. (Millers) I'll look up the MadMikes Gathering and attend if it's down my way...ish. ATB......cheers.

[Grumpy]

Jon64, don't go. I'm genuinly interested in your bike and the outcome. It does niggle me that people always have to run the Enfield down and bang on about unreliability and how their bike is bigger, better, faster. We know what they are and it seems to me that people have a habit of modifying the bike until it becomes unreliable - then blame the bike! I like my bike because of what it is not despite!!!

[Bullet Train]

Good shout Grumpy. I like my Bullet for the simplicity, sometimes just infuriatingly simple when trying to suss some minor quirk out. But the fun factor I get is worth the occassional aggro and niggles. I've made a habit of replacing bits that have failed, broken or snapped, with better bits (from our host's!) or stronger, home-made bits. Adaptation and a little bit of ingenuity will make most Bullets better and more reliable, just what you need, on both counts, if you're into long distance adventures. Cant exactly call the AA in middle of the desert!

[James BLT]

I am in the habit of naming my vehicles over the years. They too have all been girls except a VW that was called Flash, he was a boy - My Bullet however has still not got a name after nearly 4 years. She is def' a "She" but without a name. - I never search for a name, I wait for the vehicle to tell me it's name, and the Bullet hasn't told me yet, perhaps she never will.

[James BLT]

Oops. I posted my above reply at the end of the first page of this thread before realising there is a second page to it. I see the topic of vehicle naming/gender assigning has taken a back seat and I'm rather off topic now. Apologies. Oh and Welcome John! Don't go! - - - - - On the topic of the quality and reliability of our bikes (I think this has come up before, no? I think we all know the varying and poor quality of our Indian made bikes but their simplicity vs the ovecomplexity of the modern bikes goes a lot way to evening out the balance. Not to mention the cheap costs of replacement bits. Or goog value of superior improved parts from our hosts.