In at the (very) Deep End.. A Norton Story.

England-Kev · 11-05-2011, 11:18 AM

So there I was thinking to myself, winters here I could use another project

at that point I should have gone for a beer or something, But no! I went to my PC instead

Now like many of you, I love old Nortons, especially those old Manx style single cylinder race bikes, this sort of thing...

and if it had a fishtail exhaust then so much the better...

But have you seen the price of these things

So I got to thinking, why not build one from scratch, it doesn't have to be perfect, I mean, how hard can it be?

What I need is something like this...

Damn I would be happy if I could make one look as good as that to be fair

So I started looking.....

jbcaddy · 11-05-2011, 12:34 PM

that red one looks a bit like the AJS that I bought. it may be in better shape than mine however

seems like we have similar taste

good luck, Jan

LasseNC · 11-05-2011, 01:09 PM

Oh come on, don't be such a tease!

England-Kev · 11-05-2011, 01:24 PM

So where was I, ah yes, scanning ebay world for a Manx Norton, and would you believe I never found one!
Well about now a sane man would give up and hit the fridge, but me, well you know the answer to that one.

So what do you need to start a project, I suppose a frame would be a good start, well everything hangs off the frame, like a metal Christmas tree.

So I bought this...

Let the fun begin

Now where did I leave my sanity

Cordless · 11-05-2011, 01:50 PM

Time to Rumble a Bimble to the Jumble and Scramble some Crumbles.

Photos much appreciated.

Your Public awaits your choice of engine, suspension, and trim.

killfile · 11-05-2011, 01:55 PM

Kevin,
I know both how you feel and your method of bringing these goals to realization!
I'm just finishing putting together an Atlas that has been apart in and out of boxes for at least 20 years, hoping to kick her over today for the first today. I'm definitely thinking that the next project of this magnitude should be a pre-50 Norton single...

Good luck, and as always keep up the amazing photos!

England-Kev · 11-05-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cordless

Your Public awaits your choice of engine, suspension, and trim.

So a little while back I was at a rally on the IoW (Isle of Wight) and visited a friends place where he had a load of bike related stuff that was dragged from a leaky barn. Well in that pile of rust was a complete'ish Norton 500 pushrod engine, so a quick call today secured that engine for $160. The price gives you an idea of the condition

England-Kev · 11-05-2011, 03:25 PM

Just a thought, if any of you have pictures of plunger framed Nortons, race or street, please feel free to post them in this thread, as I will be looking for inspiration on this project.

jbcaddy · 11-05-2011, 07:37 PM

I sent you a PM, I have a few photos for you, but no hosting account. JB

Rob Farmer · 11-06-2011, 12:14 AM

I don't know about you guys but every now and again I make massive blunders and let bikes go that I should have fought tooth and nail for.

Factory Norton. Never registered for the road and documented as an official Norton trials machine (even pictured in a book) had been in a friends uncles loft for years. He's still got a few old bikes up there.

Fortunately it went to retired machinist (Dave Tyers) who did a sympathetic resto on it and shows it.

Bongolia · 11-06-2011, 12:28 AM

http://www.vintagenorton.com/2010/07...18-norton.html

Hello Rob, lovely bike. If you've not been to that site, it's well worth a visit.

That Norton would be eligible for the Arbuthnot?

Rob Farmer · 11-06-2011, 01:20 AM

Wow!! That's a hell of site. Thanks for the link

Brunow - 007 · 11-06-2011, 01:24 AM

What about some more pic's of the norton progress?

England-Kev · 11-06-2011, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brunow - 007

What about some more pic's of the norton progress?

This is the progress, I only bought the frame yesterday

I don't even have it here at home yet, so you have now seen as much as I have

Rob Farmer · 11-06-2011, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by England-Kev

This is the progress, I only bought the frame yesterday

Well if your going to mess about like this you can't expect us to stay interested

11-05-2011, 11:18 AM	#1
England-Kev ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Berkshire, England. Just off the Beaten Track! Oddometer: 2,572	In at the (very) Deep End.. A Norton Story. So there I was thinking to myself, winters here I could use another project at that point I should have gone for a beer or something, But no! I went to my PC instead Now like many of you, I love old Nortons, especially those old Manx style single cylinder race bikes, this sort of thing... and if it had a fishtail exhaust then so much the better... But have you seen the price of these things So I got to thinking, why not build one from scratch, it doesn't have to be perfect, I mean, how hard can it be? What I need is something like this... Damn I would be happy if I could make one look as good as that to be fair So I started looking..... __________________ http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/ http://motodelcurva.wordpress.com/ http://backstreetthunder.wordpress.com England-Kev screwed with this post 04-04-2013 at 02:09 PM Reason: lost linky

11-05-2011, 01:24 PM	#4
England-Kev ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Berkshire, England. Just off the Beaten Track! Oddometer: 2,572	So where was I, ah yes, scanning ebay world for a Manx Norton, and would you believe I never found one! Well about now a sane man would give up and hit the fridge, but me, well you know the answer to that one. So what do you need to start a project, I suppose a frame would be a good start, well everything hangs off the frame, like a metal Christmas tree. So I bought this... Let the fun begin Now where did I leave my sanity __________________ http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/ http://motodelcurva.wordpress.com/ http://backstreetthunder.wordpress.com

11-05-2011, 03:25 PM	#8
England-Kev ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Berkshire, England. Just off the Beaten Track! Oddometer: 2,572	Just a thought, if any of you have pictures of plunger framed Nortons, race or street, please feel free to post them in this thread, as I will be looking for inspiration on this project. __________________ http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/ http://motodelcurva.wordpress.com/ http://backstreetthunder.wordpress.com England-Kev screwed with this post 11-05-2011 at 03:56 PM

11-06-2011, 12:14 AM	#10
Rob Farmer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire. England Oddometer: 3,734	I don't know about you guys but every now and again I make massive blunders and let bikes go that I should have fought tooth and nail for. Factory Norton. Never registered for the road and documented as an official Norton trials machine (even pictured in a book) had been in a friends uncles loft for years. He's still got a few old bikes up there. Fortunately it went to retired machinist (Dave Tyers) who did a sympathetic resto on it and shows it. Rob Farmer screwed with this post 11-06-2011 at 12:25 AM

11-06-2011, 12:28 AM	#11
Bongolia stop acting Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hong Kong Oddometer: 15,198	http://www.vintagenorton.com/2010/07...18-norton.html Hello Rob, lovely bike. If you've not been to that site, it's well worth a visit. That Norton would be eligible for the Arbuthnot? __________________ A pariah on the farm

11-05-2011, 12:34 PM	#2
jbcaddy Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Oroville & Placerville, California U.S.ofA. Oddometer: 940	that red one looks a bit like the AJS that I bought. it may be in better shape than mine however seems like we have similar taste good luck, Jan

11-05-2011, 01:09 PM	#3
LasseNC XSessive! Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark, Danimarka, Danmark, Dänemark Oddometer: 946	Oh come on, don't be such a tease!

11-05-2011, 01:50 PM	#5
Cordless Two Wheel Addict Joined: Sep 2006 Location: ABQ, NM Oddometer: 1,960	Time to Rumble a Bimble to the Jumble and Scramble some Crumbles. Photos much appreciated. Your Public awaits your choice of engine, suspension, and trim.

11-05-2011, 01:55 PM	#6
killfile 49/50 Joined: May 2010 Location: SF, CA Oddometer: 353	Kevin, I know both how you feel and your method of bringing these goals to realization! I'm just finishing putting together an Atlas that has been apart in and out of boxes for at least 20 years, hoping to kick her over today for the first today. I'm definitely thinking that the next project of this magnitude should be a pre-50 Norton single... Good luck, and as always keep up the amazing photos!

11-05-2011, 07:37 PM	#9
jbcaddy Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Oroville & Placerville, California U.S.ofA. Oddometer: 940	I sent you a PM, I have a few photos for you, but no hosting account. JB

11-06-2011, 01:20 AM	#12
Rob Farmer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire. England Oddometer: 3,734	Wow!! That's a hell of site. Thanks for the link

11-06-2011, 01:24 AM	#13
Brunow - 007 Bantam Fever Joined: Oct 2009 Oddometer: 303	What about some more pic's of the norton progress? __________________ Working on the D14/4 Bsa Daily Driver .

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