Tips for Norton Featherbed identification?

A friend tells me he has a Norton "Slimline featherbed " frame and Roadholder front end he was going to trade. I really don't need another project but for the right price (?) it may be worth playing with. Are there some easy ways to determine what this frame is & what year? What are a few things to look for?

gtsun said:

Are there some easy ways to determine what this frame is & what year? What are a few things to look for?

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Look on the L/H gusset plate just above the swingarm pivot of the frame?
There should be a vertical 6-digit frame number, with a horizontal model code number stamped just above it?
Those numbers should identify both the production year and the original model type.

http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Maint ... umbers.htm

Thanks for the great link L.A.B. That should make it easy to date & I.D. on the spot. I don't really need it I just want to help them find out what they have and if it's worth anything to me to buy it.

On a "Wideline", the two main horizontal rails under the tank are equally spaced all the way back.

On a "Slimline", the two main rails start out wider apart at the front, and angle closer together toward the rear.

Thanks Paul, I didn't have time to look at it yesterday. I will today. I hate to see it sitting unloved in the corner of a Triumph shop. Better to watch it rust away in my garage as I grow old and feeble thinking about building that great Domiracer or Atlas based cafe racer I have always thought were so cool. I love Triumphs & think the pre units are some of the prettiest motors built but I know I could never build a Trident that was anything even close to less than average & I would rather find a unwanted Domi or Atlas motor to bring back to life & do up a fun bike to ride. I'm more inclined to find out what would have been in the frame & put that back in. For 30 years Ive read stories of talented people putting Sqaure Fours, Vincents , Triumphs or whatever in Featherbeds but I don't have the skills to do it right. I'm not a machinest capable of doing a great (correct) job of fitting some odd motor in although I know of an old Indian twin & it would be SO cool in a Norton frame! I'm sure I would have it done in about 20 years!!!!

I would definitely pick up the frame,there is an assortment of engines you can use to build a spiffy hybrid,or could easily sell for a profit.Personally I would build the hybrid.In any event you will not beat the handling with that frame,slim line or wideline.I ride a 68 750 Atlas,and used to own a 650SS (the better of the two).Good luck Buddy.

Hi guys nice site,I am new and it is great to see how every one gets on and tries to help each other out.I,m a retired toolmaker and have been riding and doing my own work for 50yrs,and no I don't know it all.I follow any type of road racing I can.And Rossi (the goat) is the man.
See ya

Welcome, pistonrod.

If it's of any interest, if the right hand top tube has a 'flattened' section on it's inner side, the frame is from an ES2 model,
Dave.