1957 Norton Dominator

[Jeff Higgins]

What kind of music am I listening to today?

[Eric Hahl]

Oh that sounds great!

[Superman]

Glorious! I rode motorcycles through high school and college. In my second year of college, living in an apartment complex, a guy across the courtyard had a black Norton 850 Commando. I have never been so infatuated with a motorcycle before or since.

[Steve F]

Love it!!!

[Jeff Higgins]

Gotta love those old Smiths gauges as well, the way the needles on them notch up and down to fixed positions. No sweeping needles such as we are used to on more modern gauges. I could watch and listen to this stuff all day. Preferably from the saddle, but at this point, I just don't think an old Norton is in my future. My old Sportster is as close as I will ever get. Lots faster, more reliable, actually better handling (if you can believe that...), with parts still readily available... but nowhere near the charm.

I've followed this guy's channel for some time. I remember when he damaged the motor on this thing a few years ago, and it took him years to round up and even fabricate where necessary the replacement parts. It's certainly a commitment, but he stuck to it, and got it done. He's a younger guy, a German. Deep into the whole Cafe culture, the "Ton Up Boys" of the old Ace Cafe out of London, and all of that. One of those sorts or young men that give us aging riders and gearheads some hope for the future...

[speeder]

A thing of beauty, thanks for posting! Nortons are awesome, especially the vintage race bikes. I really need to add a Norton to my collection soon but need to finish the Triumph project first. I will have some updates on that today.

Here is one that really hit me in the feelers recently:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1952-norton-daytona-manx/

[Yorkie]

[QUOTE=Jeff Higgins;11334626] I remember when he damaged the motor on this thing a few years ago, and it took him years to round up and even fabricate where necessary the replacement parts. It's certainly a commitment, but he stuck to it, and got it done.

I can actually get literally every single part for my Norton's in 48 hours from brand new cylinder heads, seats, fenders, gears, you name it. There is a company in the UK, Andover Norton, who manufacture everything and the parts availability is truly amazing. That and the online knowledge through owner forums sure makes ownership of these cantankerous beasts easier than a lot of more modern bikes. Early Kawasaki triples and Z1s have a similar aftermarket.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

I can actually get literally every single part for my Norton's in 48 hours from brand new cylinder heads, seats, fenders, gears, you name it. There is a company in the UK, Andover Norton, who manufacture everything and the parts availability is truly amazing. That and the online knowledge through owner forums sure makes ownership of these cantankerous beasts easier than a lot of more modern bikes. Early Kawasaki triples and Z1s have a similar aftermarket.

That is awesomely good news. I wonder why Ton Up Division struggled so. Is this a recent development? Or has it always been this way?

I had the great good pleasure of living just about two hours north of Kenny Dreer. I remember when he started his Norton restoration business. At first, he could get everything. After awhile, the supply dried up and he was forced to start re-popping parts. He eventually had enough tooling and capability to produce every single part he needed, in fact enough to build the entire motorcycle. So he did, and began selling them as new.

Then some crotchety old Brits, apparently still holding all manufacturing rights, rang him up - threatened to sue if he didn't knock it off. Interestingly, after a somewhat confrontational beginning, they hired him as production manager and began building new Nortons of essentially his design. I'm not sure at what point and how Stuart Garner weaseled his way in, but you know the rest.

Anyway, I spent what time I could drooling over Kenny's stuff. At that time, there was nothing available for Nortons unless it came out of his shop. I'm happy to hear that has changed. Maybe I need to rethink whether or not I can actually ever own a Norton... one of my top couple of "dream" machines, for sure.

[BK911]

Cool bike.
But almost sounds like a whoopie cushion!

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by Superman

Glorious! I rode motorcycles through high school and college. In my second year of college, living in an apartment complex, a guy across the courtyard had a black Norton 850 Commando. I have never been so infatuated with a motorcycle before or since.

Pretty much the same here as far as riding goes. In 1969 (I think), when I had my 600cc AJS, I passed by a dealership that sold Nortons in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. I stopped and took one for a ride, and "I have never been so infatuated with a mororcycle before or since."

In the '80s, many days driving to work I'd see a guy riding a Norton also going to work. He wore a leather skull cap with those old round motorcycle googles, & classic old leather jacket and boots. Livin the life!

[herr_oberst]

Wow. Perfect - day, bike, road, traffic, noise.

[Tishabet]

Is a stock 1957 Norton up to the task of taking corners like this guy is taking in the video? I guess so seeing as how he is doing it! I have modern motorcycle experience, and antique scooter experience, but not antique motorcycle experience... antique scooters of this era (Allstate, Vespa, Cushman, Lambretta, etc) you're lucky if you have more than a sprung "pogo stick" suspension on the front, if you have a dampener of some sort you are already in the rarified air... hit a bump in the asphalt while you are pushing into a turn on one of those machines and you will have to be both lucky and good to hold your line.

[speeder]

Grant, I can only speak to Triumphs but even the old ones handle really great if everything is top notch, i.e. tires/suspension/etc.

Of course they do not perform like new sport bikes but my ‘60s Triumphs have all been “turny” and as easy to ride as a bicycle.

[steve185]

I like this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXY1PgvdzrU

[Chocaholic]

Love that Monza gas cap. Added one to my R9T recently.

[Jeff Higgins]

Being a 1957, this should be a Dominator 99 (someone correct me if I'm wrong). It was a 600cc parallel twin housed in the famous "Featherbed" frame, generally regarded as one of, if not the best handling of its day. It was so good, as a matter of fact, that many riders mounted other makes of motors in the Featherbed, creating some very interesting motorcycles. So, yes, if any motorcycle of that day were ever up to being ridden in this fashion, the Dominator certainly is.

Here is a pic of a representative example. Not his, but one just like his:



Classic combination, a "Triton", Triumph motor in the Featherbed frame:



Or, how about a "Harton", a Sportster motor in a Featherbed:

[Bill Douglas]

Not mine. I saw it parked up at a cars and coffee sort of event. Must be a 911 owner's bike

[LakeCleElum]

Jeff - Just followed a Norton that looked a lot like this on our Vintage MC Club Spring Opener ride last month. I enjoyed the music following him up the Ben Howard Road. About 1/4 mile from Sultan, it shut down and he coasted off to the side to wait for the Chase truck.

A fun day with over 70 old bikes on the ride.

[Jeff Higgins]

Was that a VME ride? I've completely lost touch with them in the last year or so. Almost like we were all locked down and not allowed to ride together or something. Are they meeting again?

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Was that a VME ride? I've completely lost touch with them in the last year or so. Almost like we were all locked down and not allowed to ride together or something. Are they meeting again?

Jeff - Yes, meetings started up again at "Slim's" in South Seattle....I only get over once or twice a year, but always a great group.