what engines fit featherbed frame

alan hodge · Apr 16, 2022

not sure which category to pose this question in but will start here...what engines will fit a featherbed frame? wheels are turning in my head for a new project

Richard Tool · Apr 16, 2022

alan hodge said:
not sure which category to pose this question in but will start here...what engines will fit a featherbed frame? wheels are turning in my head for a new project

Depends on the plates obviously and I believe at least some of the OHC singles need upper tube or tubes flattened to clear cam box ..
All of the pushrod single OHV engines and Model 7 based parallel twin engines were offered in featherbed frames , both wideline and slimline IIRC

alan hodge · Apr 16, 2022

i mean triumph unit twins, BSA A65, maybe honda yamaha v twins that sort of ilk

Flatspot · Apr 16, 2022

Highly Dangerous will shoe horn in.

baz · Apr 16, 2022

The only triumph engines that will are pre unit ones
An A65 will not fit
Nothing Japanese will fit
No Harley engine will fit
A Norton big twin engine will fit quite well
And an ohc Norton or any big Brit (pre unit) motor with fit with some top tube flattering

alan hodge · Apr 16, 2022

interesting flatspot you mean HD? which one?

gortnipper · Apr 16, 2022

Lots of Norvins about.

alan hodge · Apr 16, 2022

robs ss · Apr 16, 2022

What will physically fit and what looks "right" are two different things.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Cheers

alan hodge · Apr 16, 2022

i'm just thinking out loud swore i would never do another project after finishing commando and 1949 Fergie farm tractor but hands/mind/soul need to stay busy...

Fast Eddie · Apr 17, 2022

robs ss said:
What will physically fit and what looks "right" are two different things.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Cheers

And what works right…

Engine location in terms of weight fore / aft vs sprocket location for good chain run, and height vs good COG means many engines are too short or wide to be ‘right’ in a featherbed.

Its kinda like the difference between a ‘bitsa’ and a ‘special’.

Bitsa’s were built from the bits that were at hand, when money was tight and transport was needed.

Specials are built when the builder makes a deliberate decision to use parts from different manufacturers in order to build a bike that is (to the builder) better than any of the donor machines.

I am a huge fan of the featherbed, but it’s not magic, it can’t outweigh things like bikes built with poor engine location and shoddy suspension etc, etc. A well set up stock bike will always out ride a poorly set up ‘special’ !

Alan, tell us what you have in mind, what you want to achieve, what tickles your fancy, etc. You’ll get more opinions that way. If you’re lucky, some might even be helpful…!

Flatspot · Apr 17, 2022

alan hodge said:
interesting flatspot you mean HD? which one?

I am positive I’ve seen a HD sportster engined Norton. I suppose if you have the ability you can fit anything anywhere if you so desire.

Flatspot · Apr 17, 2022

A quick look on Google found this and there’s more. https://www.classicbikeguide.com/harley-norton-cafe-racer-special-brew/

Triton Thrasher · Apr 17, 2022

Almost any engine can be and has already been put into a Featherbed frame.

It’s a strange thing to ask.

worntorn · Apr 17, 2022

I spent a day last summer riding on the local mountain roads with the light, quick and revvy little 650ss.
It occurred that the best engine in a Featherbed might just be the Norton 650ss!
Obvious bias acknowledged.

Glen

Richard Tool · Apr 17, 2022

worntorn said:
I spent a day last summer riding on the local mountain roads with the light, quick and revvy little 650ss.
It occurred that the best engine in a Featherbed might just be the Norton 650ss!
Obvious bias acknowledged.

Glen

My thoughts exactly - why not just build something with Norton power …

Flatspot · Apr 17, 2022

Richard Tool said:
My thoughts exactly - why not just build something with Norton power …

Do you think that may start a trend?

lcrken · Apr 17, 2022

We had a similar thread here a few years back. I couldn't locate it, but this is a list I made at that time.

Engines Used in Norton Featherbed Hybrids (With non-Norton engines)

Triumph singles, twins and triples.
Vincent singles and twins.
Harley Davidson V-twins.
Ariel square fours.
BSA singles and twins.
Hillman Imp four automobile engine.
Yamaha XV920 V-twin.
Kawasaki triple 2-stroke.
JAP V-twin.
Honda four automobile engine.
Fiat four automobile engine.
VW flat four.
JAWA singles.
Velocette singles.
AJS Singles.
Honda CB72 twin.
Turbocharged Ford Cortina four automobile engine (from RohanB).
Kawasaki W2 (650 OHV twin) (from Charles Lipton).
Yamaha 400 (OHC single) (from Charles Lipton).
Horex Imperator / Zundapp Citation (OHC 500) (from Charles Lipton).
Horex Columbus Regina (either a 500 or 350 OHV single) (from Charles Lipton).
Mini (BMC A-series engine block) (from Charles Lipton).
NSU auto four (home brew Mammut wannabe) (from Charles Lipton).
Buick/Rover aluminum V-8 (from Tom Graham).
Corvair flat six (from Doug McGuire).
Royal Enfield twin (from peterlgay).
Indian Chief (from RohanB).
Excelsior Manxman (from RohanB).
Ariel Red Hunter single (from RohanB).
Yamaha RD400 2-stroke twin (from Triton Thrasher).
Sunbeam 500 single (from Steve aka Mr. Sweetie).
Honda single cam four (from Colin Sharpe).
Honda RFVC single (from Brett ONeil).
Suzuki Savage 650 single (from Brett ONeil).
Fitzpatrick BSA V-twin, two BSA singles on custom crankcase (from Christian Larsen).

Ken

lcrken · Apr 17, 2022

There is this thread on the subject.

V-Twins in Featherbeds

With humble apologies if this has been posted before; http://www.diagnosis2012.co.uk/featherbeds.html V-Twin-Obsession http://www.diagnosis2012.co.uk/vtwinobsession.html

www.accessnorton.com

Fast Eddie · Apr 17, 2022

lcrken said:
We had a similar thread here a few years back. I couldn't locate it, but this is a list I made at that time.

Engines Used in Norton Featherbed Hybrids (With non-Norton engines)

Triumph singles, twins and triples.
Vincent singles and twins.
Harley Davidson V-twins.
Ariel square fours.
BSA singles and twins.
Hillman Imp four automobile engine.
Yamaha XV920 V-twin.
Kawasaki triple 2-stroke.
JAP V-twin.
Honda four automobile engine.
Fiat four automobile engine.
VW flat four.
JAWA singles.
Velocette singles.
AJS Singles.
Honda CB72 twin.
Turbocharged Ford Cortina four automobile engine (from RohanB).
Kawasaki W2 (650 OHV twin) (from Charles Lipton).
Yamaha 400 (OHC single) (from Charles Lipton).
Horex Imperator / Zundapp Citation (OHC 500) (from Charles Lipton).
Horex Columbus Regina (either a 500 or 350 OHV single) (from Charles Lipton).
Mini (BMC A-series engine block) (from Charles Lipton).
NSU auto four (home brew Mammut wannabe) (from Charles Lipton).
Buick/Rover aluminum V-8 (from Tom Graham).
Corvair flat six (from Doug McGuire).
Royal Enfield twin (from peterlgay).
Indian Chief (from RohanB).
Excelsior Manxman (from RohanB).
Ariel Red Hunter single (from RohanB).
Yamaha RD400 2-stroke twin (from Triton Thrasher).
Sunbeam 500 single (from Steve aka Mr. Sweetie).
Honda single cam four (from Colin Sharpe).
Honda RFVC single (from Brett ONeil).
Suzuki Savage 650 single (from Brett ONeil).
Fitzpatrick BSA V-twin, two BSA singles on custom crankcase (from Christian Larsen).

Ken

Well yeah, but what else…

what engines fit featherbed frame

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