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At 70 yrs old, it allows me to ride it with no worries about kicking it… worth its weight in gold!

Thanks, it was an good ride… rain and all. Cheers!

Misguided? This video and others on my channel are primarily for myself to remember and experience the thrill of riding once I'm past the point I can't do it anymore, which at 70 is coming on quickly. Secondly, it's a great way me and my biker friends to exchange videos of our motorcycles. Lastly, if you look through the comments of any of my videos, you'll see there are many who get enjoyment and a visceral experience from watching a high-quality video, sans the wind noise, of someone riding a bike they once had and for whatever reason don't or can't ride anymore. That was not my intent, but it makes me happy. Look at my other videos, including my MG 850 Lemans video (th-cam.com/video/JnQ7mTOBSKw/w-d-xo.html) which currently has over 47k views... no one is complaining. What really makes me happy is my Norton won 1st place at the Greater Atlanta British Motorcycle Association rally this summer. Outside of the obvious modifications, it's pretty much a stock MK3 with modern electronics... but completely restored to as or better than new condition, and it runs as good as it looks. I answer questions about my bikes when they come up, but don't feel the need to talk when I'm doing a video. However, you can go to www.flickr.com/photos/195241807@N05/albums to see photos of the restoration of this bike and my Lemans. Cheers!

Yeah, I added a bar-end mirror similar to a Napolean style only much smaller and better quality. Looks/works great!

I do now… bar end mirrors similar to napoleon mirrors except much smaller and nicer quality.

You will be waiting a long time Mike. Took years to find a replacement for the one I bought new in ‘78 and another year restoring it. Willing to help you should you find another to build. Cheers!

Of course there is but on my freshly restored Le Mans I thought it wise to take it easy... at least for a while.

USA

Lino Tonti... also designed the iconic V7 Sport. When I was in college, I saw a V7 Sport outside a party and instantly fell in love. Later when I graduated, I bought a new 78 Le Mans which I had for over 20 years and rode over 60K miles touring the US and Canada. At the time, it was perhaps the best cafe style motorcycles around, including the formidable Ducati 900 SS as it matched its power and handling while being more comfortable.

Me too.

Grazie! È meraviglioso guidare.

Thank you kindly

When I bought this bike last year it had 13000 miles on it. It had been sitting for a long time uncovered in a damp garage. I could have just freshened it up and ridden it, but I didn't want to experience perpetual breakdowns and put up with rusty fasteners/parts. Instead, I completely restored it so that I know that every component is reliable and like new. Nothing is put back on the bike until it's been examined, refinished, and brought back into spec. I can't say I won't have failures, it's an old British bike after all, but its safe, and I'm betting it'll have fewer problems. That said, owning one of these that you actually ride requires a detailed pre and post ride inspection and wrenching when needed. Unless you're willing to do this, it'll be an unhappy experience.

Cool, thanks

Hanging out on the Guzzi and Norton forums, you see a lot of people who have both, Ducatis and Laverdas as well. All are great classic motorcycles of our past. I have modern motorcycles but lately with a beautiful Lemans and Norton in the garage, the other bikes are getting much love. Link to my Lemans: th-cam.com/video/JnQ7mTOBSKw/w-d-xo.html

Regarding long trips, depends on what you consider long. On this LM1, I have ridden it about 2500 miles since the restoration last year. That includes multiple 200 mile days in the mountains. That's about the max my buddies and I like to do for a day on our modern sport-touring bikes when we're in the mountains. Today I wouldn't take an LM1 across the country, but I could certainly do 2-3 days at 200 mi/day, and I'm 69. With the Lemans raised clip-ons it's about as comfortable as my Duc SS 939. I have a 32 inseam so my knees are the first to get cramped, then your butt, but my neck and wrists are fine. The LM1 is built for people under 6ft... 5'7 is ideal. Of course by today's standards, the LM1 isn't a touring bike. However when I was young, I toured the US/Canada, 60K+ miles on the new LM1I bought in 1978. In fact my channel picture is me on my LM1 loaded with gear back then along side a road somewhere in CO. As you know , most all bikes of that era, except maybe a HD FLH EG, were naked upright bikes or naked bikes with just a big windshield. With a MG LM1, Ducati 900SS, BMW R90S, maybe a few others, you are tilted forward, feet back, into the wind, and you have a small faring to keep the rain off your chest and tank bag. With a full face helmet, you are pretty aero dynamic with little exposed to the wind and rain. I rode many miles all day in steady rain. Also many 300+ miles when it was nice. With the right gear you power through it. My 2001 HD Road King has a big windshield, and when it's raining, it just funnels water up and into your face. If you ride without it when it's nice, it's hard to comfortably go faster than ~70 due to the wind hitting you in the chest and head. As to the yellow lines, North Georgia, Western NC, and Eastern TN most roads are twisting 2 lane blacktops with not many places to legally pass. We all pass whenever it's clear since there typically isn't much traffic. And of course it's illegal, but it's pretty safe unless you are an idiot... and there are some of those out there.

Thanks, you too!

I just installed the 21T today. Won’t be able to try it for a while, but I’ll let people know how it works out. It’s what a lot of Norton guys run. Should do 65 at 4000rpm.

Think I used to recall it doing 3000rpm at 50mph

Indeed it is!

The video starts at GA 20 & East Cherokee to GA 5 Ball Ground Hwy. Great section of road if you catch it with no traffic. From there I head to the RT 136 overlook on Burnt Mtn via Grand View, then RT 136 east down the mtn to Steve Tate to GA 53. About a 90 mile loop starting in Milton. We are fortunate to live around great motorcycling roads!