On a well-known online auction site, there is currently for sale a very tidy looking bike described as a Norton 650SS Domiracer. There are some reasonably good pictures of the bike showing off lots of nice shiny, go faster bits and pieces and the asking price appears very reasonable if this Norton is actually a 650SS engined bike...........but is it???
Checkout the attached photos and see what you think? Better still, find the bike online and checkout all the other photos and description provided by the selling agent.
Non downdraft head
My 650ss has an earlier single carb non downdraft head but it is an 18ss. Bitsa all the same.
My own Dommie racer uses an 88 engine, as was the original idea.
I see there is no long breather tube running upward to the oil tank or the rear mudguard.
Makes me wonder if this bike has been run? But with the conical hubs it looks good.
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Fun or Fraud
Several other Norton owners have emailed me to confirm that the engine in this bike does not look like a 650 motor. Some even mentioning that to convert a standard 99 engine to a 650 requires a good deal more engineering than just fitting a crankshaft.
Unless the crankases are post 1960 they will probably not have the bulge needed to accomodate the 650 crank throw. Corrillo or similar conrods would need to be fitted as otherwise there just isn't the room for the wider 650 conrods to move about.
In the Seller's notes there is no mention of what internal engine changes have taken place. Which is a bit strange considering all of the other new 'go-faster' chunks get a significant airing. Most sellers tend to mention any changes to an engine that might help obtain a sale. Likewise, most buyers would want to know if HC pistons, HL camshaft, port, crankshaft and rod polishing are part of the deal.
So, on this bike, where is the evidence to support the 650SS Domiracer title???
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Non downdraft head, 14 on the cases and wideline frame says it started out as a 99/600.
Could be 650cc if someone has installed a 650 crank and rods into it though.
To me it is a mongrel/bitsa, albeit a nicely put together mongrel/bitsa.
Regards, George