You really don’t like classic bikes do you?
But in reality you can’t really compare a British bike built in the 60s early 70s, with a bike built in say, the last twenty years. The only things they have in common is two wheels and the production line.
In the 60s the motor industry was still suffering from WW2, all the materials were of a lower standard. Production machinery was old and tired, and there was a distinct lack of investment, which was mainly due to piss poor Management.
In the 50/60s, British bikes virtually ruled the world and the management had their heads stuck up their collective ARRSEs! Even when the Japanese turned up in the mid 60s with their fast twins, they thought “flash in the pan” and refused to take any notice.
The reason Norton Triumph and BSA died, wasn’t because they were shit bikes. It was the human side of management that killed our industry, no imagination, no wish to spend money on investment, shit poor wages so workers didn’t give a shit and the unions making everyone go out on strike. In the last couple of years of NVT, the Triumph factory at Meridan, was struck by around 9 strikes called by the Unions stopping production for around six months.
The last failure of Norton under the management of Stuart Garner, again bad management! And as I write this he’s going to court over his stewardship of the company.
One last thing, bikes were also built strong simple and heavy in those day’s. Bikes were used every day, go to work, go away at the weekend. Once married you’d stick a sidecar on it, cars were out of the average man’s pocket. Today their just a hobby unless your a teenager and mum and dad are skint.
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