I know from reading the featherbed frame used on Nortons was the bomb in the day.
But what was the purpose of installing a triumph engine?
I've owned a tiger and a bonneville and I think my commando engine pulls like a train?
Couldn't a commando or atlas 750 be used?
Just curious and finally got around to asking about it.
Marshal

MarshalNorton wrote:I know from reading the featherbed frame used on Nortons was the bomb in the day.
But what was the purpose of installing a triumph engine?
I've owned a tiger and a bonneville and I think my commando engine pulls like a train?

Tritons were born before Norton came up with the Commando and in those days there was more hop-up stuff available for Triumph engines. Furthermore the identity of a marque probably is linked more closely to "engine" than to "frame" so a Triton would still be more of a Triumph for the Triumph follower, I'd say. And third, why would you build a bike with a "alien" engine? Probably because the original one is gone for whatever reason and then it's simply the availability which counts for Triumph and BSA.

Couldn't a commando or atlas 750 be used?

For a Triton? Err, no, that would actually make it a Norton.....


Tim

At a recent Cadwell meeting, the 500 club were competing. These are small single seaters using JAP or Norton engines and originate from the late 40s/early 50s as a cheap way of racing after the war. Apparently Norton would not provide just engines, so motors were pinched from bikes leaving empty featherbeds which needed filling. Alan

regental wrote:At a recent Cadwell meeting, the 500 club were competing. These are small single seaters using JAP or Norton engines....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_Three

Well, that's where it started. However the number of Manx bought for this purpose is probably a little to small to explain the number of Tritons in total...


Tim

That's the basic story. Britain started a 500cc Formula 3 class after the war, and the Manx 500 was a superior engine to the JAP, but Norton would not sell separate motors. When the first featherbed chassis became available, the Triumph 650 motor was readily available, easy to 'hop up' and worked well in the frame. I don't know how many Tritons were built originally, but there are probably several thousand now. Back in the early 50's, I think Triumph and BSA were the only ones with a 650 vertical twin. Remember, Norton's twin was a 500 til '55, and wasn't a 650 until late 1960.

I don't know how many other engines were put in featherbeds back in the day, but I've seen BSA, Vincent, and Ariel hybrids at shows.


I think an authentic Triton or NorBSA would be a pre-unit 650 in a '50's featherbed chassis, complete with AMC gearbox.

Also, the featherbed Norton ES2 had roadholding far in excess of engine performance. They were a perfect candidate for building a Triton. I've seen more than a few Tritons with 500 pre-unit Triumph engines as well, since they were available, easy to tune, and made good power. Certainly more than the ES2 or Norton Model 50.

MarshalNorton wrote:Couldn't a..........atlas 750 be used?

It was.....

.....it was called the Atlas model.

Thank you everyone who responded regarding the Triton origin.
I learned allot, again from the knowledgeable folks here.
Kinda cool this bike history stuff.
Marshal

Formula Three was limited to 500 cc engines. People learned how to significantly improve the power output of the engine in the ES2, which I think also had the Featherbed frame. Certainly, F3 was responsible for a lot of Norton bikes without engines coming on the market.

MarshalNorton wrote:Thank you everyone who responded regarding the Triton origin. I learned allot, again from the knowledgeable folks here. Kinda cool this bike history stuff.

You might enjoy this thread...

http://www.accessnorton.com/triton-last-t6357.html

With the lightweight pistons and longer rods now available - It makes no sense at all to put anything but a Norton in a featherbed. They make more power, they are smoother (with the light weight internals from wwwjsmotorsport.com) and they fit.

Take those whimpy triumph engines back out and replace them with the real thing.

Jim

As mentioned in several articles there have been many engines housed in the feather bed frame. Speaking of feathers...Norton Indian Chief. Belongs to Allen Goldwater. Pictured at the '82 NCNOC rally, Pincrest, Ca.

Now thats interesting. I had a Bonneville chief once and miss it more than any of my ex bikes.

jseng1 wrote:Now thats interesting. I had a Bonneville chief once and miss it more than any of my ex bikes.

Sorry to interject, but Jim needs a link in his signature to http://www.jsmotorsport.com

C'mon Jim, get with the program!

illf8ed wrote:As mentioned in several articles there have been many engines housed in the feather bed frame. Speaking of feathers...Norton Indian Chief. Belongs to Allen Goldwater. Pictured at the '82 NCNOC rally, Pincrest, Ca.

I really like Alan's bike... ckind of have my eyes on it! remind me of a Munch/Indian prototype done for Clymer... for once it is not like the Triton: the best way to spoul to perfect motorcycles in one go!
Philippe