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New here, my first Norton

Hello,

Greetings from deepest Burgundy, France. I have a small collection of Triumph's and Ajs's but also a Norton engine, twin, and frame that has been sitting around for a long time. The frame is a wideline featherbed, the engine numbers match the frame numbers, must be a 1957 model and I have finally decided to re build the thing so I am looking for all the other parts including a chaincase cover, so, if anyone has any idea where I can find bits, roadholder forks, wheels, brakes, oil and petrol tank etc........! It will certainly be a long project ! The engine has 99 stamped on it among it's othe nos. Would this be conclusive proof that it is a 597cc engine ?

Many thanks for any help and best to all.

Krishna Lester

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Bonjour and welcome!

If you post your engine and frame number someone will be able to identify your bike for you.

The club spares a good place to start, click on the NOC shop button on the left, failing that autojumbles, ebay and RGM, Norvil, Andover and Russell motors for new stuff. (other dealers are available!)

Next big autojumble here is Netley near Southampton, not far from the Ferries!

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Welcome

To claryfy a bit, is your intention to build it close to original or as a practical road bike?

Mike

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Hello Mike,

Not sure as yet, it can never be by definition a real original as all the other parts are missing so I am inclined to turn it in to some sort of cafÃ? racer, although I rather hate the term ! I have just, with judicious use of a scriber and a blow torch, found the frame numbers, which do indeed match the engine numbers, making it to originally be a 1957 99. Having said all that f anyone had a 'basket case' with all the bits I might become a purist and restore it to as close to it's original state as possible. The frame and engine were a gift from a non motorcycling friend who found it in the back of his barn which he hadn't cleared out in the twelve years he has been there. I wonder where the rest went and how it got there ?!

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An item of interest to add to this thread. On Ebay, at this moment in time, there is a nearly complete engine with 122 (Model 88, 497cc) cranckases but all the other bits are clearly Model 99 (597cc).

Which shows how you can mix and match many of the Model 7/88/99 and Model 77 parts.

It would help all the helpers if some photos of the important chunks were posted to help with identification.

Attached are a few useful pictures of 1956/57 Nortons.

Attachments
1956%20June%20Model%2099%20Advert.JPG
Norton%201957%20Motorcycle%20FP.JPG
noc-ch

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One thing you might consider, while you are looking for all the right parts, is to use things like early Commando forks and wheels; also consider BSA/Triumph conical hubs and forks. I'm sure they are littering the countryside in France as they are here. If you do this then a running (and good looking) bike can be 6 months away instead of 6 years. You can then retro-fit the right stuff as it slowly shows up.

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Thank you all for your advice and comments. I have the definite impression that this will indeed become a fusion of different races, a sort of mechanical melting pot resulting in something interesting a great to ride. Perhaps the two wheeled solution to a perfect EU ! So, if anyone, and I am sure many of you do, know what mixes easily with the basis I have do post your thoughts. Also any of you in France and especially Burgundy can always count on a glass of the local falling over water on your way through. A bientÃ?t.

ps: a couple or so of years ago we had the Norton Club over here for a weekend. Anyone remember that ?

 



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