what engine would you spec for my project (2014)

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I hope he wasn't offended with my saying his website is poor.....it is.

I use websites as online show rooms...i am not in the position to visit the gent and discuss whats best for performance, budget etc. was hoping for an insight into his business but ultimately i have andover norton about 30 miles away from home it i want traditional expense or Maney etc a few hours away for 1L expense.

i will use the engine, frame numbers and ID in the new build. the frame will be on modern suspension, brakes and geometry. i love the sound and vibe of the norton. i've ridden a few, the rest is a let down.

There is no heritage for me, my dadrode a norton.Im only 42 and i can touch my toes and still see them ;)

For what it will cost to upgrade the junker i have with brakes, wheels, forks shock and frame i can build a decent spec'd bike with a norton soul. And asim in the birthplace of classic motorbikes and innovation, England, i'll guess i'll be starting here.

Thanks for your help and wealth of experience..........back to your starbucks
 
Your bang on the money Micky , just you show them what cash and a clear mind can produce ,not to mention the agility of "peter the cat". Anyway Starbucks sucks, we run our coffee on Alcohol in my neck of the woods.

J
 
john robert bould said:
I would go for a 500 with 6.5 comp.avoid those BIG Vibie motors :wink: one 25mm carb will give loads of mpg :lol:
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Two cylinders? Overhead valves?

You're a fancy Dan.
 
Triton Thrasher said:
john robert bould said:
I would go for a 500 with 6.5 comp.avoid those BIG Vibie motors :wink: one 25mm carb will give loads of mpg :lol:
Click to expand...

Two cylinders? Overhead valves?

You're a fancy Dan.
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A Metisse Sunbeam S7 Deluxe with coffee cup holder and mirrors at 45 degree's so you can see yourself in shop windows safely.
This thread is finally on the right tack. :lol:
 
Micky,

You sound in a very similar position to where I was a year and a half ago.

One thing for sure is, ask 10 Norton folk for their opinions and you'll get (at the very least) 11 different answers!

If you're currently mulling over the various options, you might like to look at the thread I did regarding my build, it kinda plots my own direction taken, and some of it may be of interest to yourself.

engine-build-prep-t18461-90.html
 
Hi Micky

Is Mark Jannink of Mojo Motorbikes doing your frame? Are you going to build to original spec or update it ala Metalmalarky?
The Kawasaki framed Commando looks the biz as does the Laverda one. Metalmalarky did their frame in stainless.
Lots of ways to go. Dont think I would go to modern if I had a KTM in the garage.

Chris
 
micky1 said:
I hope he wasn't offended with my saying his website is poor.....it is.

I use websites as online show rooms...i am not in the position to visit the gent and discuss whats best for performance, budget etc. was hoping for an insight into his business but ultimately i have andover norton about 30 miles away from home it i want traditional expense or Maney etc a few hours away for 1L expense.

i will use the engine, frame numbers and ID in the new build. the frame will be on modern suspension, brakes and geometry. i love the sound and vibe of the norton. i've ridden a few, the rest is a let down.

There is no heritage for me, my dadrode a norton.Im only 42 and i can touch my toes and still see them ;)

For what it will cost to upgrade the junker i have with brakes, wheels, forks shock and frame i can build a decent spec'd bike with a norton soul. And asim in the birthplace of classic motorbikes and innovation, England, i'll guess i'll be starting here.

Thanks for your help and wealth of experience..........back to your starbucks
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Yes, that's my poor website.
Obviously there are other things I would rather be doing than spending time mucking around with a website and no real need to do any serious advertising. Other than that it gives my contact information and I will be glad to help in any way I can. Jim
 
gtsun said:
Is that guy with the EFI Norton/Dyno here? Um, well ya,, that's his website you just insulted !!! Way to befriend one of the key people you'll need to build that thing right.. Good thing he seems to have a good humble sense of humor! That said sounds like a fun project if not lost on trendy kid fashion bike crap!
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Bravo!
 
micky1 said:
i will use the engine, frame numbers and ID in the new build. the frame will be on modern suspension, brakes and geometry. i love the sound and vibe of the norton. i've ridden a few, the rest is a let down.

For what it will cost to upgrade the junker i have with brakes, wheels, forks shock and frame i can build a decent spec'd bike with a norton soul. And asim in the birthplace of classic motorbikes and innovation, England, i'll guess i'll be starting here.
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Kind of makes me wonder how much Norton content it takes to make a bike a Norton ? Is the 'soul' of a Norton the frame numbers ?

Greg
 
Apparently there are only 3 features that make a Norton a Commando that's fits in this forum, the canted engine angle and the shape of timing cover and the Norton Logo. To me its more about the isolastics. Anything Norton Commando on this forum is essentially all smudged away if forks any longer than stock.
 
Chris said:
Hi Micky

Is Mark Jannink of Mojo Motorbikes doing your frame? Are you going to build to original spec or update it ala Metalmalarky?
The Kawasaki framed Commando looks the biz as does the Laverda one. Metalmalarky did their frame in stainless.
Lots of ways to go. Dont think I would go to modern if I had a KTM in the garage.

Chris
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Im doing my frame, i'm a TIG welder by trade and i'll be copying the geo of a ducati> probably use the swing arm, forks etc brakes etc and wheels to start. I will include the engine isolastics to kill the buzz but not have any goey parts in the rear assembly ala commando.

Metisse are skilled guys and i'll be getting a few braising lesson of their boy wonder. reynolds tubing braised and clear coated i hope.

The engine is serviceable on mine except the barrels but whats the point in spending thousands to stand still. so i can build a maney or something and find myself a barrel set and build a second, spare, standard engine along with my untouched frame. In fact i could have 2 bikes on one reggo!
 
Kenny Cummings a winning Commando powered Seeley racer has NYC shop/service to build you any engine maxed out as ya like so don't have to experiment developing your own and can get on with your own one in a row plans.
Btw the green thingy was offered a few times for sale at ~45,000 usd. Likely at some loss on the investment of course.
 
Micky, a Commando engine in a Rickman type frame would make a fantastic bike and I have been tempted to build something similar. Your problem if you want to make a big bore engine on 750 cases is that the cases will have to be bored out too much to accomodate the barrels and will then be too weak. This is why Paul Dunstall only made his big bore kits 810cc. You really need the later 850 cases or a newly manufactured pair. To be honest since your plans don't really require much of the donor bike that you have, you may as well build your ideal Rickman big bore special as a new bike using new parts and restore the 750 back to standard. Since you are sourcing/building a rolling chassis, requiring crank cases and probably crankshaft, barrels, cylinder head etc. etc. the only bits you might use would be gearbox and primary drive, which you could either buy new or source second hand. Your other option is to try to find a complet 850 engine requiring a rebuild to use as a core unit.

Regarding replacing your cracked barrels, if you are having difficulty sourcing a good Commando unit, you can use an Atlas or N15/G15 barrel to replace a Commando barrel if you machine the cylinder head bolt holes to the larger size.

The other thing to consider is that if you mount a Commando engine rigidly in a frame, the balance factor has been set for a frame with isolastic mountings and is not ideal for a rigid application, so it would be advisable to have the crank rebalanced with this in mind.
 
hobot said:
Kenny Cummings a winning Commando powered Seeley racer has NYC shop/service to build you any engine maxed out as ya like so don't have to experiment developing your own and can get on with your own one in a row plans.
Btw the green thingy was offered a few times for sale at ~45,000 usd. Likely at some loss on the investment of course.
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i have bikes to ride when the suns out so this is a project tbh. I have tig welders, tube benders and access to all machine shop machinery i could ever need so investment wise its initial frame parts etc from a second hand duke and then an engine of sorts. the green things ok but a bit stylized for me, to much bling.

i love the Ed Norton bike

what engine would you spec for my project (2014)


so like this, USD forks and disk brakes and mono rear shock with a colour scheme rather than polished ali


its not a bottomless pit so getting a built seeleys not an option, i wouldn't want one either if im 100% honest.
 
dave M said:
Micky, a Commando engine in a Rickman type frame would make a fantastic bike and I have been tempted to build something similar. Your problem if you want to make a big bore engine on 750 cases is that the cases will have to be bored out too much to accomodate the barrels and will then be too weak. This is why Paul Dunstall only made his big bore kits 810cc. You really need the later 850 cases or a newly manufactured pair. To be honest since your plans don't really require much of the donor bike that you have, you may as well build your ideal Rickman big bore special as a new bike using new parts and restore the 750 back to standard. Since you are sourcing/building a rolling chassis, requiring crank cases and probably crankshaft, barrels, cylinder head etc. etc. the only bits you might use would be gearbox and primary drive, which you could either buy new or source second hand. Your other option is to try to find a complet 850 engine requiring a rebuild to use as a core unit.

Regarding replacing your cracked barrels, if you are having difficulty sourcing a good Commando unit, you can use an Atlas or N15/G15 barrel to replace a Commando barrel if you machine the cylinder head bolt holes to the larger size.

The other thing to consider is that if you mount a Commando engine rigidly in a frame, the balance factor has been set for a frame with isolastic mountings and is not ideal for a rigid application, so it would be advisable to have the crank rebalanced with this in mind.
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i understand about bore size as was thinking the maney cases and larger bore kit kills 2 birds. gearbox wise i've seen a harley 6 speeder used aswell as the t140 5 speed box and there cheap enough. i can run custom engine plates etc so not an issue making it all fit....i'm starting with a new frame basicall. the more i think about it i'd rather invest in the engine and do the rest cheaper, i can buy a rolling ducati 749 chassis for £500 as a starter for 10.

i understand the vibration and will mount the engine and box on isolatics, just not the swing arm. i've seen conversions done with hard bushes and the reports are what we are all after in regards of stiffening u the handling without the buzz in the hands.
 
Well......lets hope we can now help....with the change of heart this is the right forum to do that....

....but you may no longer need my personal contributions, even if I am both one of the forum contributors nearest you and someone who actually has a Maney cased/cranked engine with a FullAuto head and an original Metisse frame....restored by Mark Jannink...who is one of the most skilled bronze welders around...and a whole lot of other stuff that cost more than I can afford....

And as for the guys near you who trade as Metisse in Faringdon....sorry to say they may not be as skilled as you think, or maybe as they think...though I am sure Gerry Lisi talks a good story, his biggest problem in recent years seems to have been getting and keeping someone on the staff who can bronze weld.....it ain't brazing, or braising (btw that is what you do with beef).....a contact who has a replica Metisse frame made by the guys in Faringdon, and fitted with a 1007 Maney engine, would be happy to regail his experience if you found him at a race meeting and plied him with beer....

Its a long story.....but I like your keep it Norton route...now....simply because he is close to you...but also because he is one of the good guys.....go to Thruxton and meet Norman White...he is well over 42...like me...but he can still see his feet....be nice to him....he can help you...a lot....

Me...I need to go to the shed...
 
micky1 said:
...............and will mount the engine and box on isolatics, just not the swing arm.......
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I guess it's kinda moot now, but after speaking with someone whose ridden a featherlastic (pretty much what your talking about in the above sentence), he said that there was quite a big rocking moment from the power train when going from under load on hard acceleration to deceleration and engine braking. Made me change my mind about building a featherbed with isolastics.
 
micky1 said:
.............was thinking the maney cases and larger bore kit kills 2 birds...... the more i think about it i'd rather invest in the engine and do the rest cheaper........
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Have you seen the billet engine crankcases made by a company in New Zealand, (SBR). One of our contributors here on the forum got one , really nice stuff and really nice price too, but hey if you're starting with a blank sheet :D Still, compared to how much Harley guys spend on their rides, I think we are pretty lucky in this day and age with the amount of bang we get for our buck.
 
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