JalCoEng_Jimbo
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 2026
- Messages
- 2
Hi there! My name is Jimbo and I am new to the forum and, to some extent, Norton motorcycles. I work at a classic car and restoration garage.
I have a 1967 Norton Atlas cafe racer project that I inherited from my late father. He was an Engineer and avid modifier. He often lamented turning this “donkey into a racehorse”.
This bike hasn’t run since the 90s and was taken completely apart a few years ago when he cashed in his pensions and went on a spending spree. It was then we discovered it’d eaten its camshaft.
I’d hoped to get it to the point of being a “roller” and get it flogged on but in the process of lobbing the bits together, I’ve kind of fallen for it. It don’t think it’s worth that much anyway because of its un-originality. In that vein I think I’ll continue in its theme and do a kind of resto-mod. Maybe it’ll upset some purists but it’s my bike and my money to burn. The frame had already been chopped and welded about.
Apparently this is an ex-police bike. I seem to remember that Dad said he went to some engineer or ex-race in Huddersfield and had the ports and valves done. I think it also has some commando bits in the engine, maybe the pistons? The primary drive is now a toothed belt and it’s running the dry clutch. I couldn’t find any info on the aluminium oil tank, according the Gemini , it was a mail order part from back in the day.
I am aware that I’ve installed the forks backwards lol. I typically work on Japanese stuff.
Anyway, I thought I’d document the build and use this forum to ask for help when I need it. Sorry if I’ve put this thread in the wrong place.
Pictures to follow. I’m still working out how to upload them
I have a 1967 Norton Atlas cafe racer project that I inherited from my late father. He was an Engineer and avid modifier. He often lamented turning this “donkey into a racehorse”.
This bike hasn’t run since the 90s and was taken completely apart a few years ago when he cashed in his pensions and went on a spending spree. It was then we discovered it’d eaten its camshaft.
I’d hoped to get it to the point of being a “roller” and get it flogged on but in the process of lobbing the bits together, I’ve kind of fallen for it. It don’t think it’s worth that much anyway because of its un-originality. In that vein I think I’ll continue in its theme and do a kind of resto-mod. Maybe it’ll upset some purists but it’s my bike and my money to burn. The frame had already been chopped and welded about.
Apparently this is an ex-police bike. I seem to remember that Dad said he went to some engineer or ex-race in Huddersfield and had the ports and valves done. I think it also has some commando bits in the engine, maybe the pistons? The primary drive is now a toothed belt and it’s running the dry clutch. I couldn’t find any info on the aluminium oil tank, according the Gemini , it was a mail order part from back in the day.
I am aware that I’ve installed the forks backwards lol. I typically work on Japanese stuff.
Anyway, I thought I’d document the build and use this forum to ask for help when I need it. Sorry if I’ve put this thread in the wrong place.
Pictures to follow. I’m still working out how to upload them
