I saw a very rare Norton last night..................

lcgtr · Jan 19, 2013

3500 miles from new, suspected to be the only running one in Australia

I saw a very rare Norton last night..................

Sounds like a f1 car (completely stock)

swooshdave · Jan 19, 2013

Great pics.

petejohno · Jan 20, 2013

Its not the only one in Australia. My best mate has an F1 - in fact he rode it to the AUS GP last year. Great bike to ride with no vibes at all and the same power from idle to red line. A real rocketship. Handles like a race bike as well.

Johno

rpatton · Jan 20, 2013

ZFD,

Build them and they will come.

(A misquote from a movie.)

acotrel · Jan 20, 2013

I saw one of those parked in the main street of Benalla about 5 years ago. Very desirable, pity there are not more of them around. It might have been a more sensible direction for Norton, much as I love the old commando. It was never going to be a smooth and reliable commuter bike. It would have been much better as a warts and all sports bike. Everything I do with my Seeley seems to be reversing what Norton did to detune the commando,

gripper · Jan 20, 2013

Nice to look at but not much fun to ride, fraught with overheating problems and transmission snatch. Two on ebay in uk at the moment one for £15,000 and one for £20,000 reckon they'll be there for a while. Spare parts? now there's a thing.

Rohan · Jan 20, 2013

petejohno said:
Great bike to ride with no vibes at all and the same power from idle to red line.

On the face of it, thats a very strange statement !!
Must make for an interesting torque curve, if taken literally....

A quick google mentions an F1 in Canberra too. Related ?

petejohno · Jan 21, 2013

On the face of it, thats a very strange statement !!
Must make for an interesting torque curve, if taken literally....

These are not your normal type engine Rohan. The power is like a turbine and there is no torque curve. The rotary makes totally smooth and consistant power throughout the rev range. As stated, chain snatch around town is annoying, but on the open road its a different matter. White power suspension, amazing brakes and racing developed chassis make this a real weapon. I wish Norton would re-visit the rotary again. And remember, the F1 only displaces abaout 500cc. Imagine a 750 or 1000 rotary. Yes !!!!

Rohan · Jan 21, 2013

I think they are (nominally) 588cc - but there is some discussion about that, since 3 different rotors/seals sweep the same volume, effectively you are getting 3 cylinders in the space of one. However, 588cc is what has been decided.

I beg to differ on the power subject - an engine has to have a torque curve - thats how infernal combustion engines work.
They can have good torque from idle, which is what you are describing ?
But if it had the same power at idle as at full bore...

P.S. Nearly went for a ride on an ex-police one, some years back.
But the bl^&% thing wouldn't start.
Spark plugs and 2 stroke engines, sigh.
And at 22 quid each.....

petejohno · Jan 21, 2013

Your correct about the displacement at 588cc although this has always been a source of conjecture especially in racing circles.

Regarding power and torque. I am sorry for not being more specific - I didn't intend to get into a technical discussion, I was trying to describe what its like to ride an f1. Of couse maximum power and torque would not be available at idle. Imagine the wheelstands when trying get moving. What I meant to say was that the power is directly related to the increase in revs. In other words there is no powerband as such. Just throttle on and the power is consistently increasing as the revs increase. And the torque has no curve as such - on a chart it is a straight line from off idle to the redline. Hope that clears it up.

Johno

grandpaul · Jan 22, 2013

My guess is that this torque curve discussion will not end quite yet...

hillbone · Jan 22, 2013

Hi.

I agree with petejohno. Having ridden an F1 myself his description and experience matches mine. Perhaps in this case, you'd back the voice of experience.
I believe there are three in australia. There was a "blue" one (???) on ebay a few years ago that didn;t get a bid. A reg'd one in Qld and a NSW registered one.

Rohan · Jan 22, 2013

petejohno said:
What I meant to say was that the power is directly related to the increase in revs.

Strangely enough, that is EXACTLY how 'power' is defined.

So you were right, GP..

Anyone got a torque curve for the F1, they must produce one if run on a dyno....