I'm not sure any Mk3 Hi-Riders were ever officially produced, but 'who knows what went out in the final years'. The only such models I've ever seen have been from either the USA or Australia, as in this case.

I recall reading at least one add which stated that the Hi-Rider was to special order only, which may have meant that a standard Roadster or Interstate was modified in the dealers workshop.

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Update: The following was E-Mailed by Chris Ghent, on 11th September 1999.

Cruised through your archive briefly today...  noticed the pic of the hi-rider. The bike belongs to a NSW NOC member.  A couple of notes on the bike... It was imported from the US about 7 years ago. When purchased it was very low mileage and sported all the MKIII bits, including bean cans. Arguments have been put forward that it was not originally a Hi Rider. There is however a compelling argument in favour of it being original. The seat does not hinge like a MKIII. If you think about it, with all that paraphernalia it would be awkward to  have the seat hinge. It must have been a MKIII, that would be hard to disguise. And yet it has this departure from spec which helps it to be a Hi Rider. And it is not an after-salejob.

The picture was taken at our Norton Day in 1995 in Sydney.  There is a sad chapter to relate however. In early 1998 the bike caught fire while starting and was burnt out. Luckily none of the Hi Rider paraphernalia was on it at the time (it was cross dressing as a Roadster). Restoration is now well under way...

Thanks for posting the pic of Pirsig. Never seen one before. His attempt to rationalise what he calls Classic and Romantic thinking had a special meaning for me. After I read it I was no closer to understanding the dilemma with a view to solving the equation, but I was happier knowing I was not alone.

Regards

Chris Ghent

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