Some years ago, I made a mistake. This is so not an unusual event that I probably didn't even remark upon it at the time. I sold the Mk3 Norton Commando I'd originally bought in 1990 or so, bought it while recovering from the Big Bike Crash which has made kickstarting increasingly difficult down the many subsequent years. I bought it because I wanted to ride a Commando (almost always a good move) which would start itself when needed. Those last words are most important: back then I could still reliably kick up an 850 Commando, especially a Canadian export model with the low compression pistons, which mine was. Electronic ignition was the answer, then as (probably) now, but even then the wisdom had it that the voltage drop while the starter motor was operating was sufficient to prevent the electronics from firing the spark plugs. My reasoning at the time was that if I could start it from cold at home, the motor should have a much easier time of it for the rest of the day, when oil was warm and clearances optimal.
And so it proved. Mostly. At first. Any form of electric hoofery was dependant upon the battery, and experience showed that even if I left the battery on an Optimate while the machine wasn't in use, then cold starts were of historic interest only.
Excellent spannery chaps at Norvil rebuilt the bike, fitted a totally reliable modern starter motor and a modern battery and - for the first time since 1990 - the Commando became a reliable self-starter. Of course I suffered some sort of brain failure and sold it. Plainly early onset something, and
