Norton getting dirty

The reasons :

1) xs 650 is more competitive

2) Norton gets collectible

3) owners ( like me ) less sportive anymore

I myself use my outfit for the road, waiting for someone to convince me to fix the perforated platform and the competition exhaust again......

I use a 500T in classic trials andpeople often tell me not to spoil it the dirt: no !

It's purpose is to produce gooseflesh on the spectators skin.

Actually a Yamaha v twin (early chain driven virago?) was doing the business! but I'm more suprised that I dont see Nortons in the solos. Collectability isnt the issue there's some pretty rare stuff on the start line!

So why are Norton owners less supportive than BSA, Triumph, Velo, AJS CCM etc? Or were there less competitive nortons back in the day?

I still intend to get my Jubilee/Navigator out in the dirt shortly!

Dan

PS goosebumps were delivered!

Well I do believe there was a ISDT Norton 500 twin built in 1951by Dick Clayton and a feather-bed Manx frame at that and a some one built a Navigator light weight side-car for the welsh mountain trails way back in 1962 And in 1958 Bernal Osborne took the first 600 Nomad on its first Scramble outing and Geoff Duke joined Norton as works Off road rider well before He got on a Manx I have photos of him on a special built Big 4 built for trails riding

well nice to see a machine like these at work , yours anna j

Hi Dan,

Lovely pictures. It will be nice to see your Jubilee/Navigator when you get it into action - assuming you can take some pictures whilst riding it.

I believe that a Jubilee did finish ISDT but maybe I'm imagining that. I have a feeling that the frame was badly out of line by the finish though. Norton's competition image was primarily the Manx as a road racer. I don't think Joe Craig would have approved of offroad events - a bit like taking a McLaren on a club autotest -it gave the wrong image.

Patrick

The featherbed wasn't popular with the scrambles crowd, though I have seen a heavily modified one in action. Maybe seen as a bit on the fragile side for great leaps?