Norton is one of the great names of British motorcycling. It was formed by James Lansdowne Norton, known as "Pa", at 320 Bradford Street in Birmingham in 1898, and it became a symbol of handling and racing success.
The milestones
- The Manx Norton. The racing single with overhead camshaft, long-stroke in the 1946 to 1953 form, which became a legend on the track. The last Manx Nortons were sold in 1963.
- 1949, the Dominator. A pushrod 500 cc twin designed by Bert Hopwood, which took Norton into twins.
- 1950, the Featherbed frame. Developed for Norton by the McCandless brothers of Belfast in January 1950, it became a benchmark by which other frames were judged.
- 1967 and 1968, the Commando. The prototype was shown at the Earls Court show in November 1967 and production began in 1968. Its Isolastic frame used rubber bushings to isolate the engine from the rider. 750 cc and 850 cc versions followed, and the Combat engine of January 1972 gave 65 bhp.
What to know when buying
- The Commando's Isolastic mounts. The rubber isolation is part of the design and must be in good condition and correctly adjusted. Ask what has been done, and ask the owners' club what a correct set-up feels like.
- Which engine. The 750 and the 850 and the Combat engine are different, so check the year and the engine number against the model sold.
- Featherbed specials. The Featherbed frame was widely used for specials with other engines. A bike in a Featherbed frame is not automatically a Norton in the factory sense.
- Racing bikes. Manx Nortons and Manx replicas change hands for high prices. Documented history is essential. See papers and proof of ownership.
Parts and community
Norton has a strong club and specialist scene, especially for the Commando. See clubs and federations, finding parts and the buying checklist.
