Spokes and forks on Norton N.15 C.S.

Your question all boils down to what is your frame number and year of the N15CS you own? The N15CS, G15CS models differed from the years they were made. Sothe models years 1963to 1964 to 1965 to 1966 to 1967 to 1968 all changed with different details to their specifications. The 1963 to 1965 models used metal covers over their forks. The 1966 or so onwards would have a rubber accordion boots over the forks. No metal clips were fitted to hold theboot covers to the forks.The fork internals also changed. The fork springs fitted to the 1963, 1964, changed to the ones fitted in 1965. These were the AMC G80CS internals modified for the longer stauntions fitted to N15CS models. The 1966 onwards forks used internal springs, and the dampers reverted to the standard Roadholder type, but were an inch longer. The stauntions being 25 inches in length.

The wheels fitted to all the model years of G15CS, N15CS were WM2 X 19 rim front, and the rear wheel used a WM3 X 18 rim. The tyres were 350 x 19 front and 400 x 18 rear. The spokes for the N15CS would not be of a butted design as when you were jumping large holesin the desert, or racing on the mile of half mile you would not want your wheels to collapse when you landed. Part numbers as per the factory parts books.

The spokes are as follows. Rear wheel spokes, 030433: Long head 5 5/8 x 8GA90LG, 030434: Short head, 5 5/8 8GA90DEG. 021693: Spoke nipple front and rear wheels, 10G X 250. Front wheel spokes 20063:Long head 6x8/10GA80DEG. 20061: Short head 6 1/8 /10X90.

The seat height was 33 inches, wheel base 55 13/32 inches, ground clearance 6 1/2 inches, weight was 400 lbs.

The Roadholder forksthat were fitted to the N15CS used a golden transfer that was stuck onto the lower part of the headlamp brackets,and not a brass plate as used on the other Norton models that used the Roadholder forks. The earlier N15CS models did not have that transfer attached to the lower part of the headlamp brackets. It is all down to the year, and frame number. Therewere three parts books issued, and a suppliement for 1965 for the N15CS, G15CS models. There were also service releases that were issued by the Berliner Motor Corporation, concerning updated modifications for the N15CS, and Atlas, 650ss range.

Hi, I had an N15cs new in Dec. 1969, and as far as I remember it had standard Atlas wheels. the forks were the long Road holder type, it had 3.25 x 19 front, and 4.00 x 18 rear tyres. I had Dunlop K70 tyres, and standard Atlas gearing fitted. It was bought from Gus Kuhn. The transfer was under the yoke. I still have the original sales Brochure. I might still have the original sear and handle bars in the shed. Best regards, Paul

Your number 114964 makes it a 1965 made and dispatched N15CS. The differences between a 1965 and a 1968 N15CS is huge. I worked at Gus Kuhn Motors from 1969 to 1970, and i always went and looked at that N15CS. I was told that it had been bought by an airline pilot. Gus Kuhn alsosold more than the one N15CS. The parts that are different to the 1963,1964 models of the N15CS, can be found in thefor 1965for 1965 Supplementary List. This was just a small paper parts list and stillavailable. A modification was also listed for the N15CS internal forks to stop the forks from topping out on full compression. These areonly shown as an adapter, in the parts list, and does not make it clear what it is really for.

Your 1965 made and dispatched N15CS, would have had the earlier front and rear mudguards, the metal covers over the front forks, a Lucas K2F magneto for theignition, an expander type cap on the petrol tank, the later or secondtype dual seat, the scrambler internal forks components with the outside springs, and G80CS damper arrangement. It would also have had the one piece straight though exhaust pipes with no silencers, a pair of chopped Amal 389 or 1 1/8 Monoblocs, with the corresponding aircleaner. Never make the mistake that because the N15CS is the name that they are all the same. This can be a very big mistake when restoring an N15CS. There is also another salient point. In 1966 the Atlas motor went through allot of internal modifications as well having the oil tank feed to the rockers deleted.In 1967 the N15CS, got coil ignition, Amal Concentric carbs, another different dual seat, different aircleaner, petrol tank as well as the chrome front and rear mudguards as used on the 1966 models.The export N15CS always used a 3.50 x 19 front tyre on its front wheel, as the N15CS was intended as an off road racer, and desert racer. In later year it became more of a street scrambler, and the P11 became the off road weapon of chose for the off road, mile, half mile, scramblers, and desert racers

The N15CS, G15CS, may look like it had the standard Atlas wheels but it did not. It had much stronger spokes on both wheels,so the CS models could be used off road. The standard Atlas spokes would have collapsed under the strain of being used in off road type events. The N15CS, G15CS was engineered as an off road racing machine from the off, but it could also be used as astreet scrambler. That brilliant off road and number one holder,three times on a Norton N15CSin the desert, Mike Patrick was jumping canyons on one that were over 10 feet wide, so landing on an ordinary spoked wheel would not have been an option. I have pictures of him leaping his 1963 dispatched and number one plate holder in District 37, the Mojave desert a good 4 to 6 feet off the ground. This shows how strong the N15CS, G15CS models are and really were. You only count the winners at the flag, and Mike Patrick was a winner on the P11 and his N15CS and one of the truely great desert racers of all time.

There were three types of dual seats fitted to the 1963 to 1967/8 G15CS, N15CS models. The first one used the G15Mk2 type, and between 1965 and 1966 a much slimmer type was used. The reason for the change in the seat, was due to the oil tank and tool box being pulled more into the frame andthis modification required a much slimmer dual seat to the earlier scrmablers.So if your oil tank has a cranked top fixing bracketfor the top of the frame, and your tool box had the top bracket deleted, and uses a spacer, then your 1965 N15CS would have come with the second type of seat in the series.