What are Norvins going for these days?

willh

willh

Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
438
Country flag
I have a friend that dropped by today and told me that he was considering selling his Norvin and asked what I thought he could get for it. I told him I'd look into it for him. This is a little outside of my league. Any Ideas or pointers to others that have sold recently. The bike is a twin in a '52 Featherbed. I'll dig up some photos and more details on engine year an model on the weekend.
 
Vincent engines have some serious value, even in this economy.

Featherbed frames are desireable, but i think that's a very early model and not as popular as the late "Slimline".

Pix would tell a lot.

Pretty hard to ballpark. A wild guess is that the engine (if in very good condition) is worth over $10K USD.

A rolling Featherbed chassis is probably worth $3K with decent wheels and bodywork.

The running bikei definitely looking for a niche audience to fetch it's best price.
 
I have a Norvin and another in progress. They vary greatly, some are put together fastidiously for show, others are put together to ride (mine) and some are real hack jobs, though most of those earlier efforts have gone by the wayside. I have seen top notch Norvins fetch over $40K, average ones around 20-30. A Vin twin motor alone goes for upwards of 10K in need of rebuild, Black Shadows more.

What are Norvins going for these days?
 
bently said:
What are Norvins going for these days?
Click to expand...

Mercy sakes, what a BEAUTY!!!!!

Close ups of both sides would be greatly appreciated!

VERY nicely done, especially the pipes.
 
What are Norvins going for these days?

The only picture I have on file. I'll get him to send me more with the details on the weekend.
 
Very clean bike.

Wouldn't suprise me if it fetched upwards of $30K USD.

It appears to be mothballed in that photo.
 
willh said:
What are Norvins going for these days?

The only picture I have on file. I'll get him to send me more with the details on the weekend.
Click to expand...

Awesome. That's a beefy bike! Looks mean lol
 
These would appear to be a combination of the best thought-out chassis and most powerful motor to come out of the classic era. Does the power and weight of the Vincent motor work well in a Featherbed? I wonder about flex in the swingarm pivot, and if the Roadholders are up to the task of keeping the front wheel straight in a turn with the increased weight and frontal weight bias of the big V twin. I would imagine, like any other classic bike or car, it's worth as much as someone's willing to pay for it.
 
In about 1972-1975, a friend, Greg DuVall, owned one here in Los Angeles. Twin Lightening heads, Amal GPs, Ceriani forks, Munch Mammoth front brake, Britsh Racing Green. IMO that machine was the greatest street motorcycle I ever encoountered. I rode my 1971 Commando in his wake on many a ride. I watched that machine humble 750 Hondas and even chambered 500 & 750 Kawi triples.

I'd be interested in your friend's Norvin. LMK
 
OK, the details,


De Norvin.....sitting since 1998 , when I put 700 miles on it . I then

parked it and there it sat. Engine is an HRD 1949 , which has been built to

lightning specs. New INA bottom end, with ' 0 ' run-out on fly wheel. New

spindles and followers , new MK 3 cams and spindles , new bearings &

main shafts , new push rods ( stainless ) , rockers, valves , guides , upper

and lower , springs .... I'm getting tired. 9.0;1 compression pistons + .020

new primary chain and shock absorber parts.... on & on... Runs fine.

Frame is 1954 featherbed, bolt up rear section , in chromo , front

end is 1951 Manx Norton forks , with Magnesium conical hub , backing plate

and wheel . Stainless spocks frt. & rear , on alloy wheels frt & rear...

New manx seat , fibreglass fenders and tank , stainless hard wear

through out. It is on 6 volt system , with original magneto, and Amal concentric

Mk 1 32mm carbs. THIS IS ALL FROM MEMORY, as it has been under cover

for over 20 years .

More photos will follow this week.

xbacksideslider said:
In about 1972-1975, a friend, Greg DuVall, owned one here in Los Angeles. Twin Lightening heads, Amal GPs, Ceriani forks, Munch Mammoth front brake, Britsh Racing Green. IMO that machine was the greatest street motorcycle I ever encoountered. I rode my 1971 Commando in his wake on many a ride. I watched that machine humble 750 Hondas and even chambered 500 & 750 Kawi triples.

I'd be interested in your friend's Norvin. LMK
Click to expand...

I'll let you know if he decides to sell and get you contact info in that case.

Will
 
Details continued,

Along with new fork tubes, bushings and springs, a SPECIAL dresda light

weight bottom triple clamp and new cast alloy top clamp followed buy alloy top

nuts, that are very special. New Koni Alloy racing rear shocks . New Chronometric

speedo, and all new cables, brake clutch carb....

All engine parts that could be polished ...were. I can remember placing one of

the connecting rods on the shelf, and using my reflection to shave ! All my friends

laugh , until they saw the rods...then they continued ...

.....to be continued
 
willh said:
What are Norvins going for these days?

The only picture I have on file. I'll get him to send me more with the details on the weekend.
Click to expand...

That one brought a tear to my eye. To be honest, If i had the cash I'd dump my Commando in a heart beat for a well sorted Norvin.
 
Careful coco, don't say that too loud or your poor little bike will get it's feelings hurt. Then it will start to cry & dripp tears all over your drive way.
 
A little update,

The reason this has been asked is my friend finds himself semi-retired with far more time to ride and less interest in wrenching. He now yearns for a modern fuel injected bike to push the button and go. He came across a new RC-8 at my local dealer and has fallen in love. He's sold a TRW and a first generation M-G Lemans but is still short for the new KTM and is wondering if he should let go of the Norvin to pay for the new orange bike. He has too many bikes but the newest is/was the M-G so something new can definitely be justified.
Sorry for the lack of photos, I've returned to work after taking a year off and am finding it hard to do what I have to do never mind getting done what I want to do. Maybe this weekend I'll be able to make it down to take some more shots.

Will
 
I seriously couldn't imagine being fortunate enough to own a norvin let alone think about seliing one to help finance a new bike that will loose 50% of it's value within a year. Actually I couldn't imagine selling off a TRW to finance a new bike. I know, not my bikes, not my money, not my decision, but it just seems a shame. Can't you talk some sense into your friend. Certainly there has to be some cheaper modern bike that will satisfy his start and go needs. In my opinion a norvin is worth considerably more than an RC8, especially his.
 
willh said:
What are Norvins going for these days?

The only picture I have on file. I'll get him to send me more with the details on the weekend.
Click to expand...
IMHO that's about as good as it gets. Good gracious. AMAZING machine. :D :D
david
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top