The Norton Files (Disconnected Jottings of an English Man)
Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:49 pm
Building a Norton Atlas
2003 The beginnings
I was talking to a friend of mine at work just after Christmas in 2003. I had just finished digesting a copy of either
The Classic Motorcycle
Or
The Classic Bike
I do not remember which without looking in my extensive archives, but, there was a great article on a Triton. It did look really nice, so I started doing research on Norton Featherbed frames. Well, I was hooked and had to have one.
So there I was talking to Terry about Norton’s, wideline frames, slimline frames, engines gearboxes. I suppose I was a little carried away. Anyway, a day later, some photos from Terry appeared in my e-mail. His buddy who lived just down the road from him had a 1963 Atlas that he needed to dispose of. So $800 later; 1 trailer, and a complete Saturday this wreck of a bike took up residence in my garage.
Well this is what I ended up with. It did include quite a few more parts; two fuel tanks, front rear mudguards, headlight, two new pistons and con rods, tank badges (a rarity), and a seat. No exhaust system and of course, plenty of rust.
Well, time to get busy. I could see all the part that were there or missing, and everything sort of fitted together. I poured Automatic Transmission Fluid down the spark plug holes and left it to soak for an hour. Well, I could turn the engine over, but if you look closely at the photographs above, no wiring at all. So I was not going to be able to start it.
I determined the best course of action would be to strip everything to component parts, paint, refurbish, purchase and rebuild. I removed the back wheel, most of the ancillary parts around the engine a gearbox and then stopped.
I stopped for about 3 years.
Other things came along
Summer 2003
Restored a 1969 441 Victor for a buddy of mine, made a nice job of it although it was a bastrd to kick over.
You could pull some tremendous wheelies with it, did not matter which gear. I even fell off the bloody thing once. Thanks for the pleasure Al
2004 and 2005
My neighbor had 2 rather sad motor cycles sitting on his drive; he wanted $300 for both.
One turned out to be a GS850G, 1980, with less than 2000 recorded miles.
The other was a Nighthawk 550 Honda 4 cylinder from 1983
Both were complete.
I restored the GS850 in time for the summer of 2005, and have had a great time riding it.
The Nighthawk proved more of a challenge, and although complete and running, still needs some more work and a paint job.
January 2006
Ok the objective! I want one of these except with my own spin on the whole plot.
This is a rough specification of what I am going to build.
I have three functional objectives:
• Reliable
• Fun to ride (quickly)
• Look great
Cycle parts
• Frame
o The Norton Featherbed frame; I am tempted to paint this red to make it stand out; it is a great looking frame as well as a great handling frame.
• Swinging arm
o Either the standard swinging arm that came with the frame, but I am tempted by the box swing arm that Dave Degens manufactures and sells
• Front end
o I would really like twin disk stoppers on the front end, so this is an open item that needs more thought and research at this time. It has been suggested by Dave Degens that the way to go is use the Roadholder stanchions, Roadholder damping arrangement and triple tree, and use the T140 sliders which I can fit a T140 front wheel and twin disks. Another alternative I am also thinking of using is a set of really modern upside down forks with twin disks (Ducati ST2 may do the trick).
• Wheels
o 17” front 18”rear, as wide as possible, spoke alloy rims.
• Tank
o Alloy tank 5 imperial galls
• Seat
o Racing Seat
• Driver controls
o Rear sets
oClip ons
Engine and box
• Engine
o T110 650cc, with all the modifications that are possible.
o Cams should be low state of tune.
o Twin carburetors.
o Stainless steel fasteners
• Transmission
o Belt drive, probably a Haywood
oGearbox
I was going to use the standard Atlas gearbox, but again Dave Degens advised a T110 unit, which if I can find one has the possibility of fitting a 5 speed cluster to it. So I need to find one of these.
o Gearing
Need to investigate what is the right combination for relatively good acceleration, but at the same time being able to sustain a comfortable 70mph without shaking my kidneys apart.
Electrics
• High output alternator
• Solid state rectifier
• Hall effect ignition system (no points on this baby)
• Hi intensity front headlamp
• Hi intensity rear brake and stop lamp
• Indicators
• Japanese controls
Miscellaneous
• Well, there is probably tons of stuff not yet considered
So on with the project.
Step one: frame.
This is what it looks like before restoration
So next week it is off to the sand blasters, followed bt the powder coaters.
However, here is the big question. What color. As I said, I am favoring red, as close to Ferrari Red as possible. This is a good looking frame, and needs to be highlighted.
Now I am willing to run the risk of a poll, 3 options, RED; BLACK or OTHER. If the polling is successful, I may try this to see what other options carry favor amongst the motorcycling faternity.
2003 The beginnings
I was talking to a friend of mine at work just after Christmas in 2003. I had just finished digesting a copy of either
The Classic Motorcycle
Or
The Classic Bike
I do not remember which without looking in my extensive archives, but, there was a great article on a Triton. It did look really nice, so I started doing research on Norton Featherbed frames. Well, I was hooked and had to have one.
So there I was talking to Terry about Norton’s, wideline frames, slimline frames, engines gearboxes. I suppose I was a little carried away. Anyway, a day later, some photos from Terry appeared in my e-mail. His buddy who lived just down the road from him had a 1963 Atlas that he needed to dispose of. So $800 later; 1 trailer, and a complete Saturday this wreck of a bike took up residence in my garage.
Well this is what I ended up with. It did include quite a few more parts; two fuel tanks, front rear mudguards, headlight, two new pistons and con rods, tank badges (a rarity), and a seat. No exhaust system and of course, plenty of rust.
Well, time to get busy. I could see all the part that were there or missing, and everything sort of fitted together. I poured Automatic Transmission Fluid down the spark plug holes and left it to soak for an hour. Well, I could turn the engine over, but if you look closely at the photographs above, no wiring at all. So I was not going to be able to start it.
I determined the best course of action would be to strip everything to component parts, paint, refurbish, purchase and rebuild. I removed the back wheel, most of the ancillary parts around the engine a gearbox and then stopped.
I stopped for about 3 years.
Other things came along
Summer 2003
Restored a 1969 441 Victor for a buddy of mine, made a nice job of it although it was a bastrd to kick over.
You could pull some tremendous wheelies with it, did not matter which gear. I even fell off the bloody thing once. Thanks for the pleasure Al
2004 and 2005
My neighbor had 2 rather sad motor cycles sitting on his drive; he wanted $300 for both.
One turned out to be a GS850G, 1980, with less than 2000 recorded miles.
The other was a Nighthawk 550 Honda 4 cylinder from 1983
Both were complete.
I restored the GS850 in time for the summer of 2005, and have had a great time riding it.
The Nighthawk proved more of a challenge, and although complete and running, still needs some more work and a paint job.
January 2006
Ok the objective! I want one of these except with my own spin on the whole plot.
This is a rough specification of what I am going to build.
I have three functional objectives:
• Reliable
• Fun to ride (quickly)
• Look great
Cycle parts
• Frame
o The Norton Featherbed frame; I am tempted to paint this red to make it stand out; it is a great looking frame as well as a great handling frame.
• Swinging arm
o Either the standard swinging arm that came with the frame, but I am tempted by the box swing arm that Dave Degens manufactures and sells
• Front end
o I would really like twin disk stoppers on the front end, so this is an open item that needs more thought and research at this time. It has been suggested by Dave Degens that the way to go is use the Roadholder stanchions, Roadholder damping arrangement and triple tree, and use the T140 sliders which I can fit a T140 front wheel and twin disks. Another alternative I am also thinking of using is a set of really modern upside down forks with twin disks (Ducati ST2 may do the trick).
• Wheels
o 17” front 18”rear, as wide as possible, spoke alloy rims.
• Tank
o Alloy tank 5 imperial galls
• Seat
o Racing Seat
• Driver controls
o Rear sets
oClip ons
Engine and box
• Engine
o T110 650cc, with all the modifications that are possible.
o Cams should be low state of tune.
o Twin carburetors.
o Stainless steel fasteners
• Transmission
o Belt drive, probably a Haywood
oGearbox
I was going to use the standard Atlas gearbox, but again Dave Degens advised a T110 unit, which if I can find one has the possibility of fitting a 5 speed cluster to it. So I need to find one of these.
o Gearing
Need to investigate what is the right combination for relatively good acceleration, but at the same time being able to sustain a comfortable 70mph without shaking my kidneys apart.
Electrics
• High output alternator
• Solid state rectifier
• Hall effect ignition system (no points on this baby)
• Hi intensity front headlamp
• Hi intensity rear brake and stop lamp
• Indicators
• Japanese controls
Miscellaneous
• Well, there is probably tons of stuff not yet considered
So on with the project.
Step one: frame.
This is what it looks like before restoration
So next week it is off to the sand blasters, followed bt the powder coaters.
However, here is the big question. What color. As I said, I am favoring red, as close to Ferrari Red as possible. This is a good looking frame, and needs to be highlighted.
Now I am willing to run the risk of a poll, 3 options, RED; BLACK or OTHER. If the polling is successful, I may try this to see what other options carry favor amongst the motorcycling faternity.
