August 23, 2013
Spaghetti westerner Clint Eastwood took time off in ’68 when filming Where Eagles Dare to enjoy The Big Smokes roads on a latest and greatest Norton P11 Rambler
A trusty A to Z to ensure your destination is gained on the same day, rather than later that week. Otherwise when crossing The Thames ask a bobby instead…
It seems that The Man with No Name liked the twin three quarter litre moto so much that he is later seen on a blue high piped Commando..
Back to that Alistair MacLean adapted adventure war movie. Still one of my favorites; combining Clint with Richard Burton was inspired. “Broadsword calling Danny Boy, come in, over”.
The delightful and beautiful Mary Ure and Heidi Pitt as Allied Agents playing Bavarian Fraulein look on as Schaffer (CE) and Major Smith (RB) sup at their steins of lager. Moments of respite during location shooting allow our Harry Callahan sitting in an Austrian snowfield looking over the nearby Alps.
Let’s have another look over that Norton 750…a popular motorcycle of the time and used to some sucess as a desert sled.
“Well punk? Are you feel feelin’ lucky?”
Posted in Movie, Norton |
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June 29, 2013
Trying to look like some latter day McQueen here’s football star David Beckham taking to the streets, dirt and studio on a variety of two-wheeled motos. First off a classic pose with a knobbly tired Husky, ready for a day in the desert? Needs a bit more grime under the nails I think…
The black and white imagery is nevertheless timeless.
Another ride in the Hollywood Hills with half face lid stylin’ on a Norton. A clean example with open primary case.
Finally, and appropriately for this blog, more of a photoshoot, he’s atop a vintage Triumph. I don’t know if its jeans, boots or even hair product, he’s promoting, but the bike sure looks splendid. Ready for a vintage track meet.
Posh on pillion? Nah, don’t think so!
Posted in Norton, Photography, Tattoo, Triumph Motorcycle |
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June 17, 2013
A threefold contrasting in style. MvR had plenty of marque examples to enjoy viewing and this triad of Norton’s was one such range of look. A clean black ‘n’ gold commando which must enjoy the road. A classic!
Another silver ghost with that swooping name glows in monochromatic pearlescence.
Then finally a superlative custom with the twin barrel’d engine shoehorned into a carefully wrought frame. Rim mounted disc brakes and numerous other carefully though through details add quality to this bespoke moto.
Three for three…
Posted in Norton, Photography |
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April 19, 2013
A bike that’s not quite sure what it is… Norton emblazoned on the tank in golf lettering over a cherry pie red. However a closer spy reveals the Triumph engine… A Triton this is not! Hard tail chopper frame with sweeping seat perches and aped bars atop a lonnng fork.
The Easy Rider Captain America helmet says she’s ready for a cross country trip with a sidekick named Billy, and a soundtrack from the late 60’s.
Perhaps an English remake? Taking a ride from Brighton up to Newcastle… “Whew. Man, look, I gotta get out of here, man. Now we – we got things we want to do, man, like – I just – uh – I gotta get out of here, man.”
Posted in Chopper, Norton, Triumph Motorcycle |
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April 19, 2013
A bike that’s not quite sure what it is… Norton emblazoned on the tank in golf lettering over a cherry pie red. However a closer spy reveals the Triumph engine… A Triton this is not! Hard tail chopper frame with sweeping seat perches and aped bars atop a lonnng fork.
The Easy Rider Captain America helmet says she’s ready for a cross country trip with a sidekick named Billy, and a soundtrack from the late 60’s.
Perhaps an English remake? Taking a ride from Brighton up to Newcastle… “Whew. Man, look, I gotta get out of here, man. Now we – we got things we want to do, man, like – I just – uh – I gotta get out of here, man.”
Posted in Chopper, Norton, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 27, 2013
The Seven Fifty Norton Commando sure look like a nice machine; especially when it is adorned with the high scrambler pipes. The engine geometry, though a twin like the Meridan Moto it has a definite look of its own. Given a modern engineering makeover this ride can be an enjoyable vintage experience.
This example is from Zaps up in Minnesota. Interesting purple color. Me? I like the classic gloss black with gold logo and pinstripe.
Posted in 70's, Norton |
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March 8, 2013
When perfection comes together the outcome is truly sublime. Norton’s decades long experience with two-wheeled racing reaches a zenith with their 500cc Manx. That big piston thumping out power with a rorting boom as it hares around the lanes and circuits of the racing realm.
Need to catch the ferry to Douglas?
Posted in 50's, Norton, Photography, Racing |
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February 22, 2013
The Tau of Life: The echoing O’s of the Norton logo repeated in the speed tipped wheels of this racer creates a strong Moto-image. Force times by its displacement vector.
Horsepower is torque times revs divided by 5252.
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February 19, 2013
That means it’s Dave Aldana time! Racing with the best of ’em back in the seventies on the AMA Grand National Championship. An exuberant and daring style combined with a showy attire garnered him fame and success in a wide range of motorcycle races: flat track oval, speedway, motocross or road racing.
Starting out as a newcomer for the BSA team with the likes of Dick Mann, he cut his teeth on the big Rocket 3 triple; the British Superbike of its day.
Here’s a super line-up L-R: Jim Rice, Dave Aldana, Dick Mann then Mike Hailwood, and Don Emde all making up the ‘Wrecking Crew’. Then Mert Lawwill.
He went on to race smashing looking Norton’s both on dirt…
…or the road (track) the lovely John Player Norton. Truly sublime.
Here he is in good form on that Birmingham Twin. Classic Racing.
To be continued…
Posted in 70's, BSA, Norton, Racing |
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February 2, 2013
Proud? Certainly! Especially when your forearm is the banner for your ride of choice. Make sure the artist has a good hand and eye: a logo that is ‘off’ can look a copy. Like my new Rolax watch? Or my Somy Walkman?
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Norton, Tattoo, Triumph Motorcycle |
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December 16, 2012
You’re nicked sonny! We’ve been catching up on some recent Brit-TV of late; one show in particular has been a fun show to watch: George Gently. Based on novels by Alan Hunter and based in Northumberland and Durham it follows the exploits of London DCI from Scotland Yard relocated up North and dealing with the more backwater crimes of the Geordie vicinity. The first episode had a storyline revolving around a biker gang who tear around the countryside and towns on Triumphs & Beezas. Indeed the ringleader, Ricky, has a beautiful featherbed fram’d, manx-tank’d Norton.
An interesting note: The actor playing Ricky, Richard Armitage, plays the main dwarf character, Thorin Oakenshield, in the upcoming Hobbit film.
Posted in 60's, cafe racer, Film and TV, Norton |
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December 10, 2012
Wartime Wonder – here’s the Norton in military guise: drab green, a stenciled registration, blackout headlight hood, and blackened chrome parts. Pure function to get through traffic for some messenger carrying “For Your Eyes” documents to some secret bunker war-room.
Period photograph of some uniformed bod atop the Norton. Per previous posts this is the moto grandpa George rode in North Africa as a Military Policeman. Good workhorse. Here’s a good link to a 16H owner with plenty of information on this model.
If anyone out there knows of a 16H in need of TLC; I’m interested!
Posted in 40's, Military, Norton |
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December 8, 2012
Here’s a lovely family photo from yesteryear. It’s my mother mother, Edie, sitting astride my Granda’s Norton. This was the family transport for many years; that’s three kids. One of which is propped on the silver and black pinstriped tank: my Uncle Dave. Taken during a summer during the early fifties a pyramid tent in the background denotes the seasonal camp down at Cresswell. I’ve ascertained that this is a 16H 500cc single Norton. Girder forks possibly put it in the 30’s or 40’s. this model was the platform for the wartime bike used worldwide by the British armed forces during WWII.
Posted in 50's, Norton, Photography |
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October 5, 2012
After the sketch artwork a couple of days ago, here’s something with a little more refinement and proportion (though I still love the looseness of the Triumph ledger doodle!). Peter Hutton is the artist here and both the sepi and wash colour rendering add so much life to this technical illustration. The unfinished edges and handwritten manx history round out this visual treat.
Posted in 50's, Motorcycle Art, Norton |
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September 28, 2012
A litre of reborn Norton heavy metal.
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