1961 Manxman

The Norton Manxman is the finest Motorcycle ever built in Bracebridge Street Works The Atlas was a step to far. that yielded more problems than it was worth . I my book Norton Should have gone a step backward and Built the advanced liquid Cooled 4 cylinder design from 1950 The BRM Four As a 1000cc four, then the Japanese would of had something to think about, we had the engineers and technical knowledge to built the best motorcycles in the world , but we lacked In the Management and the Finances too do so

Previously norman_dickenson wrote:

Should anyone be interested, there is a 1961 Manxman up for auction on eBay Motors in the USA. Don't see these available very often.

well No you do not, And this Machine is well worth restoring and its a steal at the price, as it is one of the Norton manxman's to be Built On November 7th 1960 this one it the tenth to be built on that day, I have Not seen one any earlier than this one you only get one earlier by a few hours, there was 30 machines built on November 7th all Norton Manxman's 650's these were the finest Norton Motorcycle of all time. and they set New boundary in motorcycling The First of the few, later to become the dressed down 650SS but no less a fine machine that won many races over the years this is not one too miss out of, yours anna j

It certainly looks a good deal. Personally I wouldn't bother doing too much to it, it looks better than original as it is.

Norton 4cyl Anna, can you not remember the French Nougier motor in a Manx frame? Gordon you might have to help her out with this one!!

I think I'll keep away from any discussion involving the 'M' word!

Gordon.

The Manxman sold for $2712, that's about £1700. Good price even allowing for the junk frame. I wonder what else on the bike is junk?

Previously alan_johnson wrote:

Norton 4cyl Anna, can you not remember the French Nougier motor in a Manx frame? Gordon you might have to help her out with this one!!

We Know all about the Nougier Engine It need more development, But It was a good idea in principle But the BRM was Better If Norton Had the cash too build it, But all that Happed was Big arguments over it and no one got any were, and this was the biggest failure that Norton Did they did not realize what was to come in the future,

Previously alan_dawes wrote:

The Manxman sold for $2712, that's about £1700. Good price even allowing for the junk frame. I wonder what else on the bike is junk?

Well if you are saying that this Norton is JUNK Then I Suggest you surrender your membership in now, and sell you bike or bikes Because If One Norton is Junk then the rest are as bad, Witch is not the case, Just because The Norton Manxman was not sold in the UK It dose not mean you have to rubbish it, if you had one it would be a different tune, And with out this engine development there would be No 650SS and Atlas or Commando ether and models between so were is the referee for round two !

Previously martin_rowe wrote:

It certainly looks a good deal. Personally I wouldn't bother doing too much to it, it looks better than original as it is.

well you would not get much for it,would you But in standard trim just like it came out the factory will make a lot more as it the tenth to be built, on the 7th of November 1960 the first day of manufacture . and if you owned one you be well impressed like my good friend Geoff in the USA he loves his manxman and goes to many Meets and then theres My friend Anders in Sweden He as had his Manxman from new and will not part with it, one of this bike he loves riding he as 14 Nortons to choose from The Manxman as some real beef and yorkshire pudding , So do not let the High Handle bars fool you or put you off just because most UK Norton have low bars or clip ons , and the baffles knocked out so you can go kill your selfs the cafe culture brainwash Be a individual and different like me I ride my own way, yours anna j

Previously norman_dickenson wrote:

Should anyone be interested, there is a 1961 Manxman up for auction on eBay Motors in the USA. Don't see these available very often.

correction its a 1960 Norton Manxman

Am I the only one thinking you may have some more empty Red Bull cans laying around this evening Anna?

Anna as you posted on the Manxman Ebay page, I assume you have been watching the item. In the Question and Answer section it states, "Q:Hi, when you menton the frame has been de raked, has it been cut and rewelded? And does it have a clear title,, thanks for your time, Nick

A:hey there, the neck was heated up some then they bent it down as to up, but no it wasn't rewelded or cut any, "

So the strange stance of the bike is because the frame has been heated and bent. I consider therefore that frame as it is to be junk. If you are prepared to ride the bike in that condition at the 125mph we all know Manxmen are capable of, you are a very brave woman!

Previously martin_rowe wrote:

Am I the only one thinking you may have some more empty Red Bull cans laying around this evening Anna?

I do not drink red bull !! you may talk Bull

Previously alan_dawes wrote:

Anna as you posted on the Manxman Ebay page, I assume you have been watching the item. In the Question and Answer section it states, "Q:Hi, when you mention the frame has been DE raked, has it been cut and re-welded? And does it have a clear title,, thanks for your time, Nick

A:hey there, the neck was heated up some then they bent it down as to up, but no it wasn't re-welded or cut any, "

So the strange stance of the bike is because the frame has been heated and bent. I consider therefore that frame as it is to be junk. If you are prepared to ride the bike in that condition at the 125mph we all know Manxmen are capable of, you are a very brave woman!

Well the frame had not been touched at all , So there for it was not JUNK!

Not sure how a frame which has been heated and bent could be considered not touched. I wouldn't want to use it and would consider it junk. It's now someone else's problem anyway. Gordon.

I think it was a good buy, put some straight bars on it, a black seat, paint it silver/ black and I would ride it after replacing the frame....

Previously mark_dinsdale wrote:

I think it was a good buy, put some straight bars on it, a black seat, paint it silver/ black and I would ride it after replacing the frame....

hello are you having a laugh or some . these bikes there never painted black and sliver any way and this machine the tenth to be built on the 7th of November 1960 its deserves better than black and silver and a black seat, and a ride and fix up any old how job, it needs resorting properly to factory spec , But you guys have not a clue how to do this, have you, and what are you going to do for exhausts as these machines had there own system and you cannot get them you have to have them made from scratch but then you need a patient one . I a nice pair of original ones on my bike then you need to know how to paint the frame the right colour many top paint sprayers have tried a failed with this one, it took me six months of research and trails to get the paint mix right as its not easy by any means, you may think is just a blue metallic dead easy but you will be dead wrong, its like a flip paint and if you do not know what your doing is failure, but for me it was the challenge of getting the paint mix right and a good eye for detail and hours of hard work. but I could still rebuild a Norton manxman like this one on ebay faster than Norton can deliver you a 961. and I will make the exhaust part my self. this all down to the art of metal bashing , I wonder how much talent we have in this club for the art of sheet metalwork !

Gosh, that's us told. Am I alone in not giving a cuss about precise colour matching, exact exhaust angles, original dismal electrics and what have you so long as the bike is reliable and fit to ride? What use is a gloriously restored bike (which after all is only a mimic of the factory produced item) if it can't be used as every day transport? Gordon.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Gosh, that's us told. Am I alone in not giving a cuss about precise colour matching, exact exhaust angles, original dismal electrics and what have you so long as the bike is reliable and fit to ride? What use is a gloriously restored bike (which after all is only a mimic of the factory produced item) it can't be used as every day transport? Gordon.

I agree, this person has no sense of humour at all ! Also I have seen their Manxman and it is a poor advert for their skills in paitwork etc.

Anna has us believe that the Manxman is the Dogs B's?? so much so I must sell my Inter and P11's and search out and procureone of these mythical beasts.

I agree, complete sense of humour failure. Now must go and sell my Inter as well and re-restore all my bikes as I've not got a clue..

And here was me thinking a Manxman was just a Dommie with high bars, small tank and some strange paint left over from another job.

Can somebody fill me in with what is so special about them

Well theyre blue and theyve got a red seat and theyre more technologically advanced than the Hadron Collider and the exhausts have to be hand made and you can ride them a thousand miles through a monsoon without getting wet and if you didn't know that you don't know anything and you have no business to be in the Norton Owners Club blah blah blah

Previously peter_stowe wrote:

And here was me thinking a Manxman was just a Dommie with high bars, small tank and some strange paint left over from another job.

Can somebody fill me in with what is so special about them

A Manxman in proper colours! I sense a heretic! Fetch the inquisition, a stake, bundles of faggots (the British kind of course) and a box of matches.

Wash your mouth out Chriswith Castrol R! We have been brainwashed by Anna for such a long time that I am sold on the Blue/Red Manxman!!

DOCTOR DOCTOR Help me!!

Previously john_mcnicoll wrote:

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Gosh, that's us told. Am I alone in not giving a cuss about precise colour matching, exact exhaust angles, original dismal electrics and what have you so long as the bike is reliable and fit to ride? What use is a gloriously restored bike (which after all is only a mimic of the factory produced item) it can't be used as every day transport? Gordon.

I agree, this person has no sense of humor at all ! Also I have seen their Manxman and it is a poor advert for their skills in paintwork etc.

just corrected your spelling

Previously Chris Grimmett wrote:

I had an interesting conversation with a highly respected Norton owner and researcher at the Lake Selmac rally in Oregon back in 2005. He specialises in the details of the export Nortons and the Atlas Hybrids in particular.

For what it's worth, he is convinced that not all Manxmen went out in the well-known blue colour and that some were painted in the standard Norton colours of the time. He has one such machine.

well I have first hand information that Berliner motor did do some rebuilds as some machines came damaged so these were made up to sell on , with parts from stock . but these were the last batch of 120 machine your good friend is referring too , you do know I have the Factory record now sent to me by Dave Catton And I have the Bracebridge street Stamp punches as well yours anna j

Previously martin_rowe wrote:

Well they're blue and they've got a red seat and they're more technologically advanced than the Hadron Collider and the exhausts have to be hand made and you can ride them a thousand miles through a monsoon without getting wet and if you didn't know that you don't know anything and you have no business to be in the Norton Owners Club blah blah blah

Previously Peter_Stowe wrote:

And here was me thinking a Manxman was just a Domine with high bars, small tank and some strange paint left over from another job.

Can somebody fill me in with what is so special about them

Well for start when have you seen this paint on other Nortons before 1960 ! And then Question 2 what special about these machine well if you do not know we have to inform you then , Well there engine for a start of was the first of its kind . as the 650 was completely resigned you can not fit 99 barrels on a 650 and the cylinder head was the first down draft head in production the cam shaft was high lift and of racing design and profile and so was the follower and push rods to they were the first push rods of the fat type design . the crankcases were all new type to take a bigger fly wheel the Motor was resigned By Doug Hele and tested by him to and he found the this motor was save to rev to 9000 rpm with out any problems , the major engine parts from the Manxman went into the model 88SS and Model (99SS) And this machine was in a Class of its own , other parts fitted were a breath pipe from the inlet rocker cover domed Nut Via a banjo fitting and the inlet tracks had Sleeves fitted, something Doug Hele was trying out with the carburration this is then reflected in the special type silencers fitted to these machine only So it not just a ordinary Dominator with high bars and a nice paint job , its Much more going on with these machine even the Name Manxman is a name for speed . and believe me they got just that Speed even with 8 inch rised bars witch are very comfortable when riding. even at speed 80 plus or what ever yours anna j

Well thats your pinion Chris But that may be not the case just because you may have just woken up to what going on the Norton owners club web site , yours Anna J