- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
- Messages
- 18,978
Commando history to know
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obitu ... 33656.html
Brian Stark of Barber's Museum said Mr Hooper was later hired by Harley.
With this new frame design, the Commando's engine, gearbox and swing-arm assembly were built as a single unit that was completely isolated from the main frame tubing which consited of a single 2.25 inch (57mm) top tube. Harley-Davidson would eventually use a similar approach on their larger touring models.
Also some Norton heritage from Hooper in Evolution engines,
http://www.sump-publishing.com/norton%20commando.htm
And it worked. Moreover, isolating the engine from the rider effectively liberated a lot of otherwise inhibiting power. Suddenly that old Atlas engine, now canted forward at a racy angle, became a viable powerplant capable of carrying Norton forward until a modern (i.e. non pushrod) engine could be developed to see off the threat from (primarily) Japan and (secondarily) BMW.
Home site wonders
http://users.breathe.com/prhooper/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Commando
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obitu ... 33656.html
Brian Stark of Barber's Museum said Mr Hooper was later hired by Harley.
With this new frame design, the Commando's engine, gearbox and swing-arm assembly were built as a single unit that was completely isolated from the main frame tubing which consited of a single 2.25 inch (57mm) top tube. Harley-Davidson would eventually use a similar approach on their larger touring models.
Also some Norton heritage from Hooper in Evolution engines,
http://www.sump-publishing.com/norton%20commando.htm
And it worked. Moreover, isolating the engine from the rider effectively liberated a lot of otherwise inhibiting power. Suddenly that old Atlas engine, now canted forward at a racy angle, became a viable powerplant capable of carrying Norton forward until a modern (i.e. non pushrod) engine could be developed to see off the threat from (primarily) Japan and (secondarily) BMW.
Home site wonders
http://users.breathe.com/prhooper/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_Commando
