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

So there I was thinking to myself, winters here I could use another project:eek1 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 :eek1

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.....

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

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

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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.

http://www.vintagenorton.com/2010/07/markuss-1926-model-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?

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

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

This is the progress, I only bought the frame yesterday :eek1

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

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

Exactly! shame it is all early stuff, just before the plunger frame style.

Time for some inspiration

That's Beautiful, Kev.

As we seem to have a bit of time to kill :

I've developed an unhealthy obsession with older Nortons over the last couple of years (the singles, not the twins). Can you guys recommend a good dealer or source?