Norton frame , bennelli 6 cyl !

Any benefit of the Norton frame for the 906cc-6 over the original Benelli?

for the 750-6:
'...the cycle parts were unmistakably Italian. A neat double cradle frame, Marzocchi suspension front and rear, twin Brembo front disc brakes (the first Brembo brakes to be employed on a production motorcycle), and Borrani alloy rims for the spoked wheels were all top-shelf stuff. The model was unveiled on October 27, 1972..."

"Announced for 1978, the 900 Sei was a completely restyled machine... the Sei was underpowered, a little over weight (254 kg) and expensive, but it was…Italian. Handling was in keeping with the 750 Sei heritage, perhaps better given the up-rated Marzocchi suspension with 35 mm forks, Campagnolo cast-alloy wheels and the latest Brembo dual-piston stoppers up front. In the styling area, Benelli had certainly started with a clean sheet of paper..."
www.oldbikemag.com.au

Benelli 900 Sei: Six surrender - Old Bike Australasia

Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Sue Scaysbrook For Benelli enthusiasts, there is a definite line in the sand in the company’s heritage; in reality, more a deep trench than a line. That is the point when [...]
www.oldbikemag.com.au www.oldbikemag.com.au
 
YukoNorton said:
Any benefit of the Norton frame for the 906cc-6 over the original Benelli?

for the 750-6:
'...the cycle parts were unmistakably Italian. A neat double cradle frame, Marzocchi suspension front and rear, twin Brembo front disc brakes (the first Brembo brakes to be employed on a production motorcycle), and Borrani alloy rims for the spoked wheels were all top-shelf stuff. The model was unveiled on October 27, 1972..."

"Announced for 1978, the 900 Sei was a completely restyled machine... the Sei was underpowered, a little over weight (254 kg) and expensive, but it was…Italian. Handling was in keeping with the 750 Sei heritage, perhaps better given the up-rated Marzocchi suspension with 35 mm forks, Campagnolo cast-alloy wheels and the latest Brembo dual-piston stoppers up front. In the styling area, Benelli had certainly started with a clean sheet of paper..."
www.oldbikemag.com.au

Benelli 900 Sei: Six surrender - Old Bike Australasia

Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Sue Scaysbrook For Benelli enthusiasts, there is a definite line in the sand in the company’s heritage; in reality, more a deep trench than a line. That is the point when [...]
www.oldbikemag.com.au www.oldbikemag.com.au
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Cos then it would just be a boring old common or garden Benelli rather than a BenTon / NorElli …!
 
Apparently Benelli bought the design for the SOHC 500cc four from Honda and added 2 cylinders.
Unlike Laverda who bought a Honda Dream, pulled it apart and copied it for their first big twins.
 
It looks like a nicely built bike, but as with any unit construction engine, looks a bit lost in a frame designed for a pre unit engine/gearbox. As for the handling, I rode a mates 750/6 several times & it was very good, so I doubt the Norton frame would be an improvement. The looks however are much nicer than the Benelli in my opinion.
 
71 horse power through the old featherbed must be quite a handful as I beleive they start to bend and twist at anything between 50 & 60hp :rolleyes:
Beautiful build though 👍
 
Matchless said:
It looks like a nicely built bike, but as with any unit construction engine, looks a bit lost in a frame designed for a pre unit engine/gearbox. As for the handling, I rode a mates 750/6 several times & it was very good, so I doubt the Norton frame would be an improvement. The looks however are much nicer than the Benelli in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Agreed - lots of vacant real estate behind the engine .
 
robs ss said:
Apparently Benelli bought the design for the SOHC 500cc four from Honda and added 2 cylinders.
Unlike Laverda who bought a Honda Dream, pulled it apart and copied it for their first big twins.
Click to expand...
I very much doubt Honda would sell blueprints for an engine in a bike they launched one year earlier!
Actually, I doubt any motorcycle company would want to create competition against its own product line, especially not in the north american marketplace!

The CB500/4 came on the market 1972, while the Benelli 500 Quattro was launched 1974.
According to Wikipedia, it was reverse engineering par excellance.

- Knut
 
Definitely cool!! Impressive craftmanship. Probably actually works well as a cruiser and show bike. It might want to standup leaning into corners due to the gyroscopic nature of that long crank and rotating mass. A stock Atlas would handle better although not be as easy to start.

Revving the engine when shifting into 1st gear from neutral at a standstill is kind of crunchy.
 
mdt-son said:
I very much doubt Honda would sell blueprints for an engine in a bike they launched one year earlier!
Actually, I doubt any motorcycle company would want to create competition against its own product line, especially not in the north american marketplace!

The CB500/4 came on the market 1972, while the Benelli 500 Quattro was launched 1974.
According to Wikipedia, it was reverse engineering par excellance.

- Knut
Click to expand...
Not sure about Wikipedia, my understanding was that Honda licensed the base design to Laverda.
 
Then in 1977 I think it was bike magazine that said Honda announced the cbx 1000 as the "world's first 6 cylinder production motorcycle"
 
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