Classic Bike Experience & Kickmagic

06/14/2026

Seventy participants gathered on a Sunday in May for the Burlington, Vermont edition of the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, raising $8,411 through 135 donations in support of men's health initiatives worldwide.

"It's a little bit like a family reunion," said Jack Manning, owner of the Classic Bike Experience. "People might have different bikes, they might have a little grayer hair, but they like to get together, and it's just a nice vibe."

Seventy riders joined Vermont's 2026 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, raising $8,411 for men's health initiatives through Movember and bringing the event's ten-year total to more than $53,000.

06/08/2026

Day 7 at Andover Norton. For those following along, this is technically Day 6 at Andover Norton since I wasn't able to get into the shop on a Sunday. I was actually a bit disappointed in that, but it all worked out well in the end. I made my way into London and spent the day wandering around. I posted all about it on my personal page, but lets just say that by the end of the day I wish I had more time to spend there - specifically for the National Gallery. I'm not an Art Historian, nor any great art enthusiast, but it would be hard NOT to enjoy spending the day looking at such historically important and world renowned paintings. Just amazing.
Anyways, today was more of a paperwork day at the shop for me. I did some CBE housekeeping, and then spent some time speaking with Ashley Cutler about some Norton motor design and specifications. He is VERY knowledgeable - both about the technical aspects of the motor as well as about some of the history around why things were done the way they were. While it is so much fun just listening and learning - it gives me a much better understanding of the *why* some things are the way they are on the Commando. This information will definitely help me back home as I repair, rebuild, and/or restore these beautiful bikes.
Another thing I had the privilege of observing was the taping of one of the "FAQ Monday" episodes. I watch them every week when they come out, so it was interesting to be standing behind the camera and seeing what is going on outside the "shot".
I will leave you with a few photos I took of a 1975 MKIII that has only 211 original miles on it, and a beautiful '74 Commando that is just an absolutely beautiful and well done bike. (Yes, I took a good look at it so I can fix anything on MY bike that isn't quite right - like the missing cover for the ignition!)

06/06/2026

Day 5 at Andover Norton Part 2.

Despite the cold and rain throughout the day, there was still a very good turnout for the annual Andover Norton Open Day. I spent much of the day having wonderful conversations with people from all over the Norton community, many of whom were genuinely happy to hear about our efforts at Classic Bike Experience to help keep that community alive by bringing in the next generation of riders and mechanics.

What stood out most was how much common ground there was. So many people shared the same feeling that these bikes shouldn’t just be preserved as objects, but kept alive on the road. There was a real appreciation for Nortons being rebuilt with respect for how they left the factory - with "common sense" upgrades that make them safe and dependable enough to be ridden and enjoyed regularly.

I know I said there would be more photos to follow, but I was so busy talking to people that I didn't have a lot of time to take photos. However, "Social Simon" was on the ball and got the job done! Here's a link to todays Andover Norton post. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1bnVXCuioG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Be sure to visit and like the photos!

06/06/2026

Day 5 at Andover Norton. It’s a wet & rainy day, but that hasn’t stopped people from coming out to the Open Day! Some people have braved the elements and ridden their bikes, while others wish they still could! I’ve met some great people - I call them “great” because of their enthusiasm for the Norton motorcycle. I’ve also had the privilege of meeting some of the movers and shakers of the Norton Community, such as Mick Duckworth, Mike Jackson, Angela Hemmings, and of course, Joe Seifert. It’s been amazing to listen to the stories, or even just their casual comments about something during a discussion that makes you stop and think “Wait, you were THERE?!?”
More photos to follow later this evening.

06/05/2026

Day 4 at Andover Norton saw us removing the swing arm and cradle for damage. On close inspection we found that both parts had been bent when it was hit. Karl asked me if the cases had any damage and I told him I wasn't going to look, for fear of what ELSE I would discover! (Will checked, they were ok).

I made the mistake of mentioning to Will that while I had rebuilt a few gearboxes, it was still a "weak point" in my knowledge because Jack did most of the rebuilds. Well, that is no longer the case - for the rest of the afternoon he had me put the internals together and take them apart until I didn't have to have the gears layed out in order before installing them. I ran into different problems with each assembly - Will calmly explained that each one was one that he had experienced before and showed me the resolution. Very helpful, and at the end of the day it took me less than 5 minutes to have the gears installed "from scratch". (10 minutes if I didn't line the gearbox quadrant up correctly).

Tomorrow is the "Main Event" - the Andover Norton Open Day. The weather forecast is not looking favorable for a nice sunny day, but I have a new umbrella, will dress warmly, and have a smile on my face! From the sounds of it, some "big names" in the Norton World will be in attendance, and I look forward to meeting them. I mean, I *did* come to England for the history! 😎

Shoulder update: I think I could probably drive a manual shift car now, even though I would have to use my left hand to shift. I also sat on a bike and was able to pull the clutch lever and turn the wheel with no pain, so I could *probably* ride one of the bikes! 😏

06/04/2026

Day 3 at Andover Norton. Another great day of learning about the MKIII! I think (hope) Karl & Will are still happy to have me around, even though it seems that with every part I remove I find another issue to talk about. For example, I needed to change the rear sprocket, so I started to remove the clutch basket. Before I even touched it I noticed that the gearbox sprocket nut was split. I showed Will, and by the time we removed it it was in 5 pieces! The last person who was in there must have really torqued it down - I suspect probably to line up the screw holes on the gearbox sprocket lockwasher. Ok, we got that off. We then noticed that the threads on the main shaft sleeve gear were damaged because of the over torquing. Will declared that it needed to be changed - so now I was going to take apart the gearbox. (Remember...this part of the job was to just check the sprocket!) Long story short(er) - 2 gears needed replacing as well as a few other parts. Including the camplate, which somehow went through some serious heating!
Another example: Will pointed out that the rear suspension bushings were shot and needed replacing. Because the bike had been rear-ended, I asked if we should change the bottom bolts as well, since we had to take them out. Will examined them and discovered that they're bent, so we're now also replacing all the rear suspension bolts. And, since we have to replace the swing arm spindle AND we had to remove the primary AND we gutted the gearbox AND we found the bolt damage, I removed the gearbox today and will be taking the cradle out tomorrow to do a thorough cleaning and check for damage. I'm kind of afraid the do that...next thing you know I'll notice something questionable on the cases! I think if THAT happens Karl is going to kick me out! 😅
The shoulder is holding up ok. A bit sore still, but no sharp pains. Well, my hand *did* start getting pins and needles when I tried to hold a tool in position, but it went away as soon as I let it go. No harm, no foul! 😎

I finished the day off by taking a walk around the Marlborough Lines British Army Installation. Little did I know that this is the most senior headquarters in the British Army! Marlborough Lines was built on the site of the former RAF Andover airfield, which provided integral support during D-Day. It was also where the testing was done for the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. This makes sense now - I was wondering if there was a connection when I discovered the hotel I am staying at is located on Hawker Siddeley Way!

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

06/03/2026

Friends: "How was your trip to England?"
Me: "Great!"
Friends: "What did you do there?"
Me:

06/03/2026

Day 2 of my 2026 visit to Andover Norton. It was great to walk into the shop and be greeted by everyone like I was a long-lost friend. This trip is going to be different from last years trip, since I separated my shoulder 10 days ago - so no riding any of the fun bikes this time!

Yesterday, Karl asked me how much wrenching I would be able to do. I said I would do as much as I could with 1.5 arms! So today I helped Will take apart a 1975 Norton MKIII. I didn't do any heavy lifting or wrenching, so my shoulder handled it well. It was a great day - especially when I learned that the "Stuck Part Struggle" is universal! Sometimes it just takes heat, a hammer, and a big wrench to get the job done.

So, stay tuned for updates of my trip. I'm going to visit some of the "touristy" places on Sunday, but that's only because I won't be able to get into the Andover Norton building! 🤣

01/29/2026

Feast your eyes on this! The Speed Twin 1200 Café Racer Edition is a distinct, limited-edition model, with just 800 motorcycles produced worldwide.