1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

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splatt said:
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1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


Nice, are the Interstate pipes a pain, they look very retro smart.Want to build an Interback with the rest of my 850 parts, a bit of a retro sleeper.
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No the Interpipe were easy to install......Just need to have the proper brackets off the plates..they have a little joggle in them
 
Gentlemen,
I Have finally pulled an old project Norton from storage. This is the other Norton I had mentioned previously in this thread. This Bike is also a 1971 Norton fastback..also modified.
The project was originally started by an Old friend of mine, he sadly passed away 6 months after I bought it from him to continue (he was a great guy and a wealth of british bike knowledge). That was over 10 years ago and Ive had so many life events since then...But now I am very motivated to finish since my other 71 was completed just a few months ago.
I am going to post some pics of the project and explain then best I can. The bike is in Mock-up mode right now, so i will still post pics as I tear it down and rebuild so everybody can understand the modifications done. But in a Nutshell, here are the mayjor modofications;

1995 CBR1000 front end
1996 VFR rear end
Frame has been gusseted and widened at the swingarm/cradel area to accomodate the VFR rearend
rear sets and linkeage
beefed up front steering neck and custon upper engine stay.
Dustbin fairing, corbin seat and custun undertail exhaust
Posting pictures tonight
 
1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


This is the basic profile of the Norton. The Fastback Tail is missing in this pic

Below are a couple of Pic of the VFR rear end..Its basically a stock unitl. we modified the frame/cradle to fit the swingarm.

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


Closer shot of swingarm pivot area

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


Rearset and linkeage

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


The custom headsteady and frame braceing

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration
 
This is a stock CBR900 front end, graves motorsports clip ons

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration



This is the bike without bodywork. I will be able to run 17" tires front and rear. The engine is hollow and just in place for mock-up. Exhaust is 2 into 1 runing out the right side

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


This is looking over the rear tire into the shock area.

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


Battery compartment area

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration


And another shot with a scale so you the widen section of the fram can be seen. Its a little more than 1inch wider than stock
to accomodate the wider wheel and swing arm
1971 Interstate Fastback restoration
 
This is a serious project...you should give it its own thread. Keep it coming.

Russ
 
rvich said:
This is a serious project...you should give it its own thread. Keep it coming.

Russ
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+1

Gorgeous interstate, btw. Extremely well-done. I hope mind comes out even half as nice. :)

-Jordan
 
Very, very nice. I admire the frame bracing not only for the ingenuity and engineering, but for the simple fact that you didn't settle for ugly but chose a gentle arc. I realize that this is also better structurally, but the aesthetic of it is equally important. Really sweet.
 
That is quite cool.

...although extra weight apparently doesn't figure into your list of concerns!

Sounds like a great project, definitely "outside the envelope". I'll be watching it on the other thread.
 
Not sure whether any users of this forum completely understand that fitting relatively rigid modern suspension parts onto not particularly strong MS Brit frames, may well result in rather curious handling?

Was looking at a Trident the other night which had been built into a very nice modern purpose built cro-moly chassis, with hand made sheet alloy swinging arm, Ohlins suspension, and custom made alloy tank and tail section.............I would imagine thats going to handle like a race bike, but obviously cost rules that sort of thing out for most people.
 
motoalchemist said:
Hello fellow Norton lovers....this was completly unplanned and I cannot afford this...but just picked up this beauty for $1200.
Numbers match and as far as I can tell the only thing missing is the exhaust. ( seat and engine are in truck cab)
I will post more pictures tonight.
Its a 1969, but will do some research on the number to verify.
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Do you guys know I couldn't buy a seized engine here in Australia for $1200
 
Carbonfibre said:
Not sure whether any users of this forum completely understand that fitting relatively rigid modern suspension parts onto not particularly strong MS Brit frames, may well result in rather curious handling?

Was looking at a Trident the other night which had been built into a very nice modern purpose built cro-moly chassis, with hand made sheet alloy swinging arm, Ohlins suspension, and custom made alloy tank and tail section.............I would imagine thats going to handle like a race bike, but obviously cost rules that sort of thing out for most people.
Click to expand...

You also have to understand that some people do things just for the hell of it, they don't want to go fast, they don't want to out corner or out handle a modern bike, but to have something different than the next guy.

That's all

Jean
 
You also have to understand that some people do things just for the hell of it, they don't want to go fast, they don't want to out corner or out handle a modern bike, but to have something different than the next guy.

That's all

Jean[/quote]

That's why i'm doing it. Making my bike my way, ala cart! I don't race or ride that far as it is. But having something that makes people look and wonder.
 
So, yes Gentlemen, I guess the final reason for doing what we do is so we have something different. And when people walk up to ask about my bike and praise its beauty...I dont snicker back with a douchey attitude (like some harley riders and 20K Italian bike owners do). I sincerely thank people when they tell me "nice bike" (sometimes I reply with a heartfelt "nice axx"...just kidding). But really I answer all the standard questions over and over. In the hopes that my enthusiasim for motorcycles rubs off and i help them make the decision to get a project of their own to create.

Rode my Interstate/Fastback again today...4 days in a row, and might do it again tomorrow for a full week of Norton fun. Not one 1st gear pop out either, since all the rework last weekend. see ink belowl

1st-gear-popping-into-4000-t8619.html.
 
Hello,
Havent been able to do much Norton work this past few months...Been Riding the Norton alot...My BMW R75 broke a cam chain...so thats been getting any extra money for now.

In the mean time, here are a couple of Videos of me riding the Norton last October on our annual ride around the city of San Francisco

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H0GLtzQ3Tc[/video]


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTWPrTQYRcU[/video]
 
DogT said:
What kind of a license plate is that? 9?

Nice, but you know they painted the chain guards on the fastbacks, I think, but it looks good.

Dave
69S
Click to expand...

Yes you are right, the early fastbacks....this is a CNW chaingaurd, looks better than stock
 
motoalchemist said:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H0GLtzQ3Tc[/video]


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTWPrTQYRcU[/video]
Click to expand...

Nice ride, it is amazing to see how small Nortons look, unless of course you have gorilla blood running in your veins :mrgreen:

Jean
 
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