13 Hours and 340 Miles on the Commando
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- Опубликовано: 15 май 2024
- I ride into London for the morning to check out some of Belstaff’s new motorcycle gear.
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The bike: 2023 Norton Commando 961
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You can pick up our Libertatia tool rolls here: www.thelibertatia.com
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Locations and Contacts:
Ipswich
Southwold, Suffolk
Cromer, Norfolk
Well Next the Sea
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Other channels:
You can also find me on the @tuesdayatdobbs RUclips channel for weekly motorcycle chat.
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My personal motorcycle: 2010 Triumph Bonneville 865cc (the base version)
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Video editing: @monikameraki (Instagram)
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Music:
T-Asco - Rainy Cloud
Boheme - Farewell for Now
Morning Star - Warm Waves
Alon Peretz - Along for the Ride
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Some affiliate links may be used. You won’t be charged a penny for clicking on them, but I may get some commission from any purchases
Fred’s videos make me so happy.
Thank you Tony:)
@@FreddieDobbsLoved the Norton clip.And love the bike.Would definitely go a ride on one.
Well done, Freddie, 13 hours on the Norton, incredible. You deserve the "Hard Arse" of the year award😂
As an Australian who has never been to England and watching you guys walking the streets of Southwold it looks like an episode of Dad's Army in 2024. Walmington on Sea. Magnificent!
I go to cromer all the time that is exactly what its like
Don’t tell him Pike
Beautiful Great Britain
The dedication and devotion to the art of motorcycling can only be painted by Freddie with total honesty. Words cannot describe the appreciation for everything Freddie does as it is incredible. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
I hope the 400 Triumph encourages young/new bikers into motorcycling.
It looks like the Caballero.
I'm new to motorcycling and I do have my eye on upgrading to that now.
@@CornerSpeed tbf, Triumph looks like a wannabe scrambler in comparison with the Caballero
The Triumph 400 should not be compared to the RE 350’s they are completely different bikes for a different market.
@@hughphillips1427do you mean age wise?😊
Sunday ride out a day after buying my new commando SP.
14 hours and 435 miles. Lincolnshire through Yorkshire to the Cumbrian coast and back again. Seat pad was essential. Bike was awesome. What a feeling. 👍👍🙌
Anytime I do a 10+ hour day of riding it takes me back to those first months of motorcycling when I would take such trips often just to spend as much time as I could on the bike. It makes me nostalgic for a younger back, more energy, and the novelty of riding not having diminished in the slightest. Looking forward to the San Francisco DGR this Sunday and a full day on my Bonneville. Cheers Freddie!
The Two Magpies bakery does the best (and most expensive) sausage rolls in the world. Coffee’s pretty good, too. You’re covering some of my favourite parts of the world on this ride, Suffolk AND Norfolk. Truly big sky country.
You deserve the "iron butt" award for that ride. I own a bunch of different bikes and I am so glad that I have a Burgman Maxi Scooter for longer rides as its like riding on an EZ chair, twist and go. Soon, I will be considering a Can Am F3 as Father time is catching up. Thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to hearing your final summary of the bike Freddie! Love Cromer and Southwold me - next time borrow my GoldWing and take Monika ;0)
Hey Freddie, just wanted to say that since my parents live in Cromer, watching this brought a real taste of home from all the way out here in Maryland, USA. Thanks a lot, mate! I really miss home, so it was quite a surprise!
A glorious day of riding - if only you had your rejuvenated Bonneville for this superb day of riding fun...At 71 YO, I can't get much more than 2 hours in the saddle before the pains begin...It will only get worse as you age out Freddie...Hang in there.
I once did a ride from Sydney to Adelaide and return on my 78 Ducati 750 Super Sport, a spare pair of undies and my wallet in the seat pocket. 2800 klm.
45 yrs later I’m still paying for it in hip and other aches and pains. Freddie I feel your pain.
At seventeen I, with several mates rode from Mackay, Queensland,1000klms north of Brisbane to Adelaide and back.What an adventure as a 17 year old kid,sore arse and all.
i dont know what it is but i think you could also make videos about the love life of the butterflies and i still would watch every single episode 😀 you are a brilliant entertainer Freddy! come on you guys from TV, get this guy a proper offer!!!!!! damn! he deserves it! 😲
Your Bonneville. Next Sunday. Don’t be late. 👍👍
Bring your marketing tool wrap😂😂😂😂
Hey Freddie, congrats on sticking to it and making the trip. This is the perfect experience for you to have had leading up to taking delivery of your bike. Think of how much more you will appreciate the Bonneville now that you've had to suffer the long road on an exotic bike.
I'm really looking forward to the video when you finally see your restored Triumph again!
Videos like this make me feel like I'm on a biking holiday. Thanks for the vicarious escape Freddie & Monica. Keep up the amazing work.
I felt for you Freddie, especially when you were stretching next to the bike and you could hear the cracks from your body!
Have a good long bath!
Thanks for sharing the real life sagas of motorcycling!
I know a true story of a man who bought a new 1955 Triumph and road it coast to coast in the USA. I bet this Norton feels like a cream puff by comparison.
Ohh Freddie, you & Monika must be so looking forward to your summer! Will you both be staying home to enjoy the brand new Bonneville back in your hands? It looks incredible! Joe & Emily have done such a masterpiece of art. So looking forward to seeing it at the DGR!
Enjoy!
Aside from the discomfort, it looked like a wonderful time. The UK was really showing out that day!
You’re so lucky to get the keys to the Norton Commando, Freddy. There are not all that many of them being produced, and those cost a pretty penny. They are not offered at all here in the USA. I would sell all 3 of my bikes and take a risk financially if I could have a Norton Commando for my last bike go-round but there is no chance of that opportunity even being available. At any rate, I am thankful that Norton chose to put you, one who is so eloquent and enthusiastic, on the bike to convey the essence and spirit of it to us all.
Thanks for that post! My husband and are also in the US and have been trying to find out if the new Nortons are sold anywhere here. Now we know. What a shame! Lovely bikes.
There's always a chance they'll get exported to the US in the future. I'd be very surprised if any major manufacturer doesn't have that as a goal.
I did the RBLR1000 a few years back on a W800 after only about 4 hours sleep. To be honest one of the most painful things I’ve ever done, the only thing that kept me going was a ton of ibuprofen, standing on the pegs for a while to get my blood flowing back into my arse and the thought that if our service men and women can do what they do for us the least I could do was sit on a bike for a few hours for them. Won’t be doing it again tho lol!
@@amygardiner2278 They're barely being sold in the UK, and not being sold anywhere else. Just very low production.
@@sh4nds1 It wouldn't be any kind of a touring bike, but for a few hours out, a bite to eat, then back home it would be wonderful. Freddy put in a 13-hour day on the bike - that's not what it's made for, in my opinion. I'm 70 years old - I reckon Freddy to be around 30 years old. But still, I'd be happy to have the Commando at this point.
Biker, gentleman and a boxing enthusiast. Man of good taste
What a beautiful seaside setting this area has.
Perfect for motorbike riding without a doubt!
The problem with riding painful bikes and persisting is that eventually the pain doesn't go away. Been there, done that.
Sorry Freddy i did chuckle, been there got the tshirt mate. I did 1400 miles on my harley D in 36 hours.. i loved the first 50 miles....
I absolutely love this bike and think it is by far THE best looking retro bike ever produced in this era. If I had the money, I would buy one.
Love watching your vids fella and hope the side businesses are doing well. Keep up the good work. 👍🏿
Totally agree- it’s the best looking in my eyes, too. Thank you for the kind words- the business is really fun- we’re hugely enjoying it!
@@FreddieDobbsComment from Australia.Youll enjoy the Bonneville as much as i enjoy my 76 t 140 Bonneville when i totally rebuilt it from front to the back and from bottom to top.Enjoy Freddie.
Brilliant video Freddie seaside countryside this is what biking is all about.After 50yrs of biking I’m to old and sore to continue but these videos bring it all back.Thank you Freddie.
Same boat
I've done 60+ years and still bombing around on my Bonnie.
You're never too old if you're able.
One of the best bike videos. Thanks for showing how the UK can be special.
Brilliant camera work and music and editing. Fabulous work Freddie. Well done.
Hi Freddie. You sound like I felt on a recent trip to Belgium. Set of at 0530 minus 1 degree to ride 300 miles to Dover. My son his new 1250 gs rally. However much I didn’t look forward to this part of our dad and lad adventure my super meteor 650 ferformed way above expectations. 70/75 mph no probs no butt ache,one of the best bikes I’ve toured on. Bearing in mind I’ve done this for 58 years
Freddie, we saw you at Southwold on Monday coming out of the bakery and went across the road to look at the Norton. Great to see you back in Suffolk. X
You took one for the team Freddie I really enjoyed that!
The Norton is not a touring bike, then! My local Norton dealership is in Prestbury, Cheshire, co-located with a Porsche showroom. This is an area domiciled by wealthy entrepreneurs and Premier League footballers, no doubt the target market who will ride them occasionally and keep them as ornaments in their plush houses. Stunning bike.
I doubt premier league footballers have contracts that allow them to ride motorbikes so that’s one luxury us mere mortals have over them!
They are also selling them down the road in Northwich at Christopher Neil (Morgan & Lotus garage).
Thank you for taking the pain ! May the force be with you! 🤘😂
I feel my joints swelling as I watch this. Good job, Freddy
*Roads less travelled*
Last Saturday I rode from South Warwickshire to The New Forest.
South of Oxford the A34 was closed forcing me to "seek an alternative route". With no satnav I followed my nose and WOW! What a selection of country lanes I encountered, the pick of the choice being the B4494 between Wantage and Newbury. I finally ended up in Brockenhurst, and after a break to stretch my legs I continued on to Lymington Quay...what a fabulous place to watch the world go by for an hour or two. Heading home I took a circuitous route back through The New Forest taking 4 hours to get back home, but again, what a fabulous ride.
Incidentally, my Honda NC750X returned a mighty 91mpg over the 318 miles I covered.
You should turn right to Marlborough after the M4 before Newbury. Via Rashbury and Ogbourne St George. Next time try it mate! I used to leave there, it’s fantastic!
@@Dimitris_1987 Many thanks for the tip. I enjoyed my trip so much I fully intend to make the whole area a destination to explore in its own right.
@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne you can continue to Bath after Marlborough. The other fantastic route is if you go from Newbury to Brighton via Winchester but avoid all the large roads. I’ve done it once, it was magnificent.
@@Dimitris_1987 Again, many thanks for the tips....most welcome.
Nice to see you exploring my neck of the woods, Freddie. Norfolk roads are indeed biking heaven and those coastal areas are my own hunting ground. I've wanted a Norton for a long time now but thanks to your experience, I see it would never work as my only bike; better as a prized jewel, only to come out on dry days and for short trips. I recently did a Moto camping trip on my RE Classic 350 (only about 300 miles odd) and I couldn't fault the comfort on that. Only the power to overtake was lacking. Horses for courses, eh? 👍🏻
Reminds me of my first ride out of town on my R Nine T, from Savannah to Brunswick Georgia USA. Only 160 miles total, but just after the turnaround my legs and hips were useless. Eventually I swapped out the seat and lowered the pegs, life was better afterwards.
This like all your videos put a grin on my face! 😅. Especially this one prompting me to get up and stretch after sitting down at work for to long 😂
Atleast it wasnt in the cold, haha can always be worse. Did not expect the boxing reference at the end, I too have been going through Usyk's recent fights. Cant wait for the weekend :)
Your videos are always so evocative. Love them. Keep the great content flowing!
Thanks Phillip!
The Commando seems like a great touring bike.
Thanks!
Thank you for a very nice video and you truly made me homesick since leaving the UK in 1979. Thankfully, I still get to visit once a year. Sorry for the painful experience, but can fully understand as my bottom end anatomy does not work well for most OEM seats, so I end up spending thousands of dollars for customized seats.
Brilliant film Freddie 👍🏼. As someone from Lincolnshire now living in Cheshire, it was so lovely to see the old haunts on the North Norfolk coast. Happy times and so beautiful as you say. I hope you have now fully recovered and able to enjoy the DGR on the Bonneville on Sunday. All the best to you both.
Brilliant Video Freddie, love your honesty and style. That beautiful looking bike certainly has a sting in her tail.
Kind regards.
Nice to see you in my neck of the woods in Cromer. Great video Freddie. Myself and mates are off on a ride to Aldeburgh tomorrow, can’t beat a ride along the coast.
Freddie, the stretching part was hilarious 😂
Makes me appreciate my Harley even more! When you are young you can do anything. Get to my age and comfort trumps power and performance. Thanks Freddie.
After riding the Norton for about 2 hours I feel your pain. It was a option to buy for me. But I went with the Z900RS I need my comfort.
I like that you tell it as it is Freddie. Nice one.
Sorry about your pain but I enjoyed the video. The bike looks and sounds awesome. I guess an owner could easily improve the comfort with a custom seat and either bar risers or different bars. Interesting to the triumph scrambler update. I bought a trident last year but would have consider a 400 if they were available.
The clarity of the videography, sound and production is now incredible. The clarity in this one is like I am there. Never been to South Wold truly English in a country battered by the media. I am in awe of you riding that bike, why would anyone want one?so many bikes as good and much better with comfort. Just nostalgia imo. And I am of that era but hated British bikes of the day when I started riding Japanese bikes. Dead right about size of bike for uk roads. Light and nimble and thrash a small motor, same with cars. Not seen Monica for a while hope she’s well. All the best so excited for the bonny. Now that’s a British bike I would have after Joes done that you lucky devil.
Can’t wait to see you guys doing the Rallye!
Love your videos! Always an adventure to go on from my desktop! 🙂 safe travels...
Been to Cromer and enjoed a fresh crab from the fish shop. Later went to Wells, I belive the smallest Cathedral City in the UK. Try not to think about the saddle Freddie, it's far out weighed by the scenery, ride out and of course the good weather.
One word Freddie.
Cycling undershorts 🙂👌
That last 2 hours must have been tough... I love a day ride. But usually only about 250-300km for me. An hour on "b roads" 2 or 3 hours in the forest, dirt tracks, ferns and mud.. then an hour home... And that last hour can be tough (on the new old RE scram 411)... 13 hours on a Norton! Well done indeed. Muzatron from Geelong Victoria OZ
Brilliant video Freddie, you’re always a pleasure to watch! Thanks a lot
Needed something good to watch! Bought my R18 bobber after your review. Stunning bike. Extra special with the bobber kit and Vance and Hines exhausts.
Unbelievable bikes, the R18s! Delighted you’re happy with yours. I can imagine the sound with the exhaust🎶🎶
Well done. It’s awful when you can’t get comfortable any more. When you said 2 hour’s left I immediately broke it down to 4 x 30 minute stints.
A great video, thanks Freddie. I don’t know that part of the world at all but it’s on my wish list now.
A masterpiece. I had to laugh quite a bit! Thanks for another great video, one of your best!
Airhawk seat pad. Next time you do that distance on the Norton. I’ve used one on my Benelli tornado. 3 k miles in 9 days. I’ve also just bought the Norton, and come the winter the seat will be going to Tony Archers for a refurbishment and gell pads.👍Awesome video as always.
That's the ticket. The seat as delivered looks great, but there is very little padding there. No way could I do a 13-hour day on it like Freddy did, then he gets home and is going to stay up to watch a boxing match.
You would think Nortonwould make the seat comfortable at 33k. However the seat is not really the problem. It’s the cafe racer style. It meant for shorter blasts and I think Freddie is just the wrong shape for the bike.
Freddie, what I find funny is that my1973 Norton 850 Commando is very comfortable and does not vibrate at speed. I did consider a 2013 961 but at sitting on it for 2 minutes I knew that I could never ride it for more then 1 hour but very beautiful.
admire your honesty and enjoyed the music thankyou
Thanks Freddie, beautiful video and thoughts shared. You should come out to California and go up the coast and visit the National Parks. 👍
Oh god, I feel that. The point at which you really don’t want to get back on and everything screams for mercy 😄
We still do it again though.
Love your content. The strain to not just lose it when complaining about the comfort in that scene where you are reduced to stretching out on the ground was hilarious. Nicely done it would seem the Commando, for this purpose anyway, is fashion over function. Could probably easily be resolved with a seat substitute if you owned the bike.
Freddie you always talk about having adventures on bikes and how big should those bikes be, I just saw a story from RUclipsr Grease and gravel a south African biker and his wife they took their Chinese made 250cc city bikes from South Africa to Egypt fantastic video and not only did they cross deserts and bush through mud and rocks they had minimal wear and tear to their bikes on their journey. Then they took their bikes home by boat and for years used them as commuter bikes. You should check the video.
Always my go to videos for lunch/supper
Aww Freddie what a shame the Norton was so uncomfortable for you....going to be some fight Saturday ,they both look in great shape !! Going to go for Fury .....catch you and Joe, Sunday morning 👍👍
I know that pain when you still have hours to go. Went to the Island last year from South Coast on the 996 SPS, that was also not built for comfort and it rained all the way back.
Great to see you so loose and relaxed on the bike and hanging off a bit in corners. It will help the bike stability mid corner if you position your head above the hand on the inside of the turn rather than what most people do is position the head on the opposite side.
You deserve a medal young man 😮
Bet Norton are loving this!😂
Insta 360 is a riding content GAME CHANGER! I feel lucky to have started following you pretty much when you just got it. LOVE your content, I’m just dreaming of my first motorcycle, and I was actually looking at the 400x scrambler and voila! Hope you’ll get to ride it and give a review soon!
You say what many viewers including myself think when we see these styles of bikes but almost no other RUclipsrs dare to say. Well done Freddie 👍
Comfort is everything for longer rides and especially touring……The Norton looks incredible, but horses for courses as they say. Bravo Freddie!
Brilliant video
Soon be back on that king and queen seat Freddie 👍😆 I know on Sunday when I open the garage and look at the Bonny and Tiger, will maybe look for the more comfortable bike to do 3 hrs on motorway Sunday morning 😂😂
I toured on a TL1000S. I recognise those relief seeking contortions! Top pain. Top effort sir.
Try a TL1000R. I can manage 3 hrs max without a stop.
Great review the Norton is a work of art seen two in the last month your lucky to get one cheers
Just realized again how beautiful Britain is.
Next I’ve you do this circuit I suggest you go to Blakeney, many great eateries there & real old Norfolk vibe! There are no chiropractors there as far as I know 😉
Well done Freddie. I thought you might give in and head for a hotel. Respect.
2:45 - What an amazing shot! Modern cameras are amazing. Edit. I wrote amazing twice, which is amazing.
Amazing!
It's a May thing.
I feel your pain Freddie when you were doing your stretches & joints popping & I was waiting for you to lose your Brit charm & just say that this bike is such a literal pain in the a$$! 😂 You had me
& my wife laughing! As a retired U.S. Army veteran I have my bad days when I ride sometimes, but I've been more intentional about how long my travel days are & Im consistently stretching when I ride to stay loosened up. But as you mentioned before you left, if you have to think twice about riding your bike because it's extremely uncomfortable then it takes any joy out of the adventure. Cheers from across the pond
Hahahaa the jungle rest part is so funny 😂😂 I am glad too see the humour part of the ride ❤
It really does look nice.
There’s a brave chap on the Norton Unofficial channel who’s just completed a 1200 miles tour of Northern Europe on a 961
Just finished watching. 😊
Waiting for another Morocco trip but this time with the Commando.
Ha ha Bring a chiropractor 😂😂
@@LtD973 camper van full of chiropractors. Never enough for a Commando ride! 😂
Bro nice vid and love how u do it. ❤
I feel your pain Freddie, I once rode a Harley 883 flat tracker replica from Bilbao on Spains north coast to Nerja on the south coast, 750 miles in 13 hours. The pain and discomfort becomes all consuming.
Excellent work Freddie Norton & speed triple are extremely good looking build for short rides & speed not for comfort unfortunately your triumph bonville is a lot more comfortable than Norton
liked and commented for the suffering. i just bought a speed 400 and love it. god bless your back! 🙏
I did NY to Cape Cod (about 4.5 hrs) on a TT600 once and it wasn't too bad. I didn't have to ride back the same day though. :)
ALWAYS INTERESTING VIDEOS.
After spending the day in beautiful Southwold and Cromer it must be a wrench going back to londons concrete jungle. If someone of your age and weight finds a day in the saddle excruciating then theirs no chance you'll get me on that bike that's for sure.
This year I was in a bike show where some guys on Honda GoldWings showed up and I asked them, how about long distance riding on those. Their answer did not surprise me - they said that it's uncomfortable to sit on same sport in one position for prolonged time no matter the bike. Some bikes are worse in that respect but even most luxurious bike seats does not make 10h ride an easy one, since it's still sitting on a spot and not moving much. For me that's not a problem because I can concentrate and pay attention to traffic only for 3-4 hours, ride becomes dangerous sooner than butt starting to hurt.