Watch this space!

[Reveeen]

http://www.nortoncanada.ca/splash_page.html

Product:

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

With some luck, Lucas, the prince of darkness, has been given a LONG holiday.

[Weldangrind]

The 961SE is 16000 GBP, or $36350.00 Canadian or $30891.00 USD. 8O

Lucas or not, that's a lot of cash. Still, I'm interested to see the bikes close up at the motorcycle show in the new year, along with the Canadian price point.

[Reveeen]

The sport is : £11,995, but that is "ALL IN", knock by at least 1/3 for export ( £9000) $15571 Canadian.

I fondly remember a 850JPS, but that 850, like a 961 vertical twin, will not be fast at building revs, it will go like a freight train, but unless you ride it at "the pin" it will be slow accelerating. (claim of 80bhp)

They (being Norton) are talking about a limited release of the rotary for idiots like us. That would be "the one" to buy (I can only guess at the HP, 120?).

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Reveeen

They (being Norton) are talking about a limited release of the rotary for idiots like us. That would be "the one" to buy (I can only guess at the HP, 120?).

8O

Rotary engines are hairy enough in old Mazdas. I can't imagine a rotary bike.

[TurboT]

That's a neat idea in a motorcycle though. Instant RPM response, lighter, less likely to seize during a overheat etc.

Probably less efficient fuel wise, but it'd be small enough in a motorcyle to be minimal.

Probably much too much power for ME though, but interesting concept.

[Q]

Norton made a rotary engine bike back in the 70s. It wasn't very reliable or very fast and didn't catch on. Suzuki also made one.

Back in the early 70s I had a Norton Atlas. The thing was very fast for the time but the vibration would shake the fillings out of your teeth. Couldn't ride it for more than an hour at a time.

Q

[Reveeen]

Originally Posted by Q

Norton made a rotary engine bike back in the 70s. It wasn't very reliable or very fast and didn't catch on. Suzuki also made one.
Back in the early 70s I had a Norton Atlas. The thing was very fast for the time but the vibration would shake the fillings out of your teeth. Couldn't ride it for more than an hour at a time.Q

Norton has been making rotary bikes since the '70s. (they never stopped) Their current race bike is a twin rotor liquid cooled about 588cc (rotary displacement is different than piston displacement, each rotor has 3 combustion chambers, but you only consider 1 at a time, the current race bike is about 160hp, de-tuned for the street I guess about 120hp).

The atlas was a bone shaker (and a crankshaft breaker), the improvement, in the Commando, was a rubber mounted engine/transmission/swing arm, and, of course, more displacement. These big old twins, to be ridden fast, HAVE to be run "to the pin", combined with a close ratio transmission, it wasn't hard work, but you had to work at it. Properly set up, they handled like they were on a rail, NO surprises.

I "ate" many a Honda (750), or 4 cycle Kawasaki (900), on the street with my Norton.

BTW: Lucas is no more, they were bought by Bosch, probably employ many of the same people though!

Ah yes: