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Hello to all. I am a newly registered forum member and wanted to introduce myself.

I have owned (and currently own) many different brit bikes over the last 40 years. Mostly AMC machines (Matchless and AJS). I do have a few Hybrids in my collection currently. Plus a couple of Royal Enfield Interceptors, a 1955 Triumph TR5 and a 1956 Triumph TR5R.

Today I picked up a couple of Norton Nomad basket cases (yes, I have an affinity for basket cases -or at least they seem to find me!).

Don't know much about the Nomad's but I like the looks of them and they fit in nicely with my other AMC period bikes.

I know I am missing some pieces and will have a challenge in finding some of the missing parts (that's part of the fun, right?). Luckily the sheet metal parts all seem to be there. I see right now that I will need exhaust pipes for both bikes and seats for both.

Will have to acquire parts books as I have none at present and start making lists of what I need to acquire. I am going to finish one bike for myself and the other will be my brother's (who is my restoration partner).

Am excited about the projects, but currently working to complete my 67 G15 MKII and must get it done first.

Got to quit buying projects! :)

Appreciate any and all help forum members can provide as I am definitely not knowledgeable on these machines.

Sincerely,

Rick T
 
NOMAD said:
Got to quit buying projects! :)

If you find a cure for that, a few of us may be interested to hear !
Although perhaps the cure may be worse than the 'disease' ?

There are a couple of nomad owners on this list, may be a while before they drop in though.
We seem to recall those exhaust pipes being mentioned, the answer was to buy some similar year model pipes and adapt them slightly.
I'm sure they will expand on this.
Have fun...
 
I've always dug the Nomad's. Perfect for haulin ass up fire roads. Well maybe with some Ohlins fitted, lol. Welcome and good luck.
New to Forum
 
Hi Nomad,
I also have a Nomad & have done a great deal of research on the model & am happy to share my info with you. They are a rare bike with very little info in print on them. I would suggest purchasing Norton Motorcycles by P.L.Garratt, published by C.Arthur Pearson Ltd, the fifth edition 1962. It was written by the then Norton service department manager, and it a very comprehensive book for the Nomads and Norton twins in general. A must have for any Nomad owner and the only publication that list any service requirements and specifications for both the 500 and 600 Nomads. I have access to all the original factory records of the Nomads copied from the Science museum in the UK to help you. PM me your engine & frame numbers & I can do a search for you if you wish,
The Nomads looked much like the model 77, but in fact had almost no parts in common with them. Even the front forks that look like typical long Roadholders, had completely different internals & a different steering damper & a different cable clip. The oil tanks & tool box look the same as the model 77, but are also different in depth on the toolbox, and a froth tower was added to the Nomad, where the 77 didnt. The fasteners on the Nomad were chrome plated (unlike any other Norton of the era), if you have an earlier Nomad the front wheel is 21", the later ones had a 19" wheel. Despite what Roy Bacons book says, the Nomad did NOT use a model 77 frame, it used an ES2 frame as can be seen by the engine cradle.
As Rohan said the exhaust is a very special . Not only are the mufflers unique (similar to the AJS/Matchless ones), bit the head pipes were siamesed & one of the pipes goes through a cross drilled hole in the front motor mounting plates !! The foot pegs mount to the frame rather than to the center bolt of the primary chaincase & of course did not use rubbers. These are VERY crudely made, looks like a blacksmith made them . The carbs are also special handed Amal 276 pre-monoblocks (over $700 a pair new), 2 special oval air cleaners mounted verticly & a number of special high performance engine internals. The list of unique Nomad only parts is extensive, but not impossible to come up with, as there are at lest 3 of us Norton owners that are re-producing some of the parts that are no longer available. As far as I know, the NOmad was the only Norton with a white seat, it either was white on top with black sides, or had a black top with white sides, depending on if it was a 500cc or a 600cc. Seems like white was an odd choice for a bike purpose built for going off road.
Anyway, PM me if you need anything!

Skip Brolund
 
Thanks for the replies.

Am excited about these projects, but a little apprehensive on sourcing missing parts.

One bike has correct matching carbs and the other is missing carbs.

Skip, will send you a PM when I can get numbers off of each.

Regards,

Rick T
 
skipsoldbikes said:
Despite what Roy Bacons book says, the Nomad did NOT use a model 77 frame, it used an ES2 frame as can be seen by the engine cradle.

Jist out of curiousity, how are the engine cradles different between a 77 and an ES2.
(Does the 77 have a cradle ?).

I don't know about later 50s bikes, but a few years earlier the Model 7 and the ES2 used an identical engine cradle.
Only, the twins got an extra engine mount low down at the front of the cradle....
 
Hi Rohan, I will get some pics loaded soon, but the ES2/Nomad bottom frame rails look like someone drilled cross holes through the frame & welded steel tubes into the holes, the model 77 frame has a cast piece brazed (welded?) rather than the frame tubes. I have a bare ES2 & Nomad frame I can get good pics of, but i'll need to look for a pic of the M77 frame during restoration.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. Am excited about this project, just concerned about sourcing parts.

RickT
 
If you have the sheetmetal, then those are the really difficult parts taken care of....

Are there more parts you have that are not in the picture. ?
Building 2 bikes out of that will be an adventure, although one may be easy enough,
just paint and renovate what you have.
 
I have second tank, but not oil tank and toolbox.

Have all the wheels for both bikes (not in picture), but that's about it.

Need chain cases, exhaust pipes, and lotsa small parts for both bikes.

Yes, my plan is to get one together then evaluate where I'm at before the second one. I have promised the second bike to my brother as he does alot for me on all my bikes.

Rick
 
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