http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bikes/

Good on you, but i'm afraid that my life is full of unfullfilled dreams and longings, still like a kid, drooling over all the glossy photos for nigh on sixty years

Without a passenger seat I would think they wouldn't sell very good.

gerald.hughes wrote on 11/13/10 at 07:13:56:


Copy that, +1+1+1 !

All they needed to do was provide an optional long/medium/short inseam suspension setup.
But, come to think of it, it can be done at the local shop as well.

1) Figure out your preferred seat height (i.e., leg inseam +/- 1 inch)
2) Fit shorter/longer shock absorbers to the rear;
3) Rise/lower front forks on triple tree as required to keep bike level.

So, all you need is to determine the length of the required shock absorbers (i.e., 2" shorter) and lower the bike's front fork by possibly 1-1.5" on the triple tree.

BUT

Why go through all that cr4p and have to PAY for it, when it should be a Norton engineer who should have come up with the solution in the first place ?

AND

" Engine type: New engine developed by Norton and F1 engine builders, MCT of Oxfordshire,   England. Parallel twin with push-rod valve actuation, dry sump, 3 bearing crank and balancer shaft. "

Stone age F1 technology, or what ??? H3ll, they had OHC engines in the 1920's !!!  

gerald.hughes wrote on 11/13/10 at 09:48:38:


Hi Gerald, actually, once I did exactly the opposite.

My trosty old Moto Guzzi V5o Monza had wonderful Paioli rear shocks, but they were no match for Rome's cobblestones  
As you can imagine, they would throw an oil seal or two, and I would have to rebuild them every winter.

Then, I came across a set of "ignorant" (i.e., hydraulic only) shocks designed for the Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans Mk1.
Not only were they stiffer, they were also some 3 - 4cm. longer.
I bought them immediately, and fitted them...
OMG !!!  
It felt like I was riding downhill even when stationary...

So I asked for some advice, crimped (with wire) two coils together at the middle, set them on lowest compression (softest setting) and the bike rode true for years and years...

Quite simply, the V50's Paiolis were underengineered...

I thot this was a Science thread! I thot the title was

New Neutron


I gotta read more carefully..

Mick,
Hey man how did you get that picture of my cafe project?!!!!!  Just kidding.  Sweet bike and the basis of my project.  got the header done the other day and it is coming along quite nice lately.

Take care man!