List of Norton motorcycles explained
This is a list of Norton branded motorcycles over all periods of the marque from 1908 to the present day.
Model list
Pre-War (1908–1939)
Model | Engine | Years | Notes |
Big Four (Model 1) | 633cc single | 1907–1954 | A 475cc model was also made at some point |
Model 7 (BS) | 490cc sv | 1914–1922 | Brooklands Special |
Model 8 (BRS) | 490cc | 1914–1922 | Brooklands Road Special |
Model 9(TT) | 490cc | 1912–1923 | Belt-drive |
Model 3½ | 490cc sv | 1911–1918 | Side-valve, became the Model 16 in 1919 |
Model 16 | 490cc sv | 1919–1920 | Chain drive |
Norton 16H | 490cc sv | 1921–1954 | |
Model 18 | 490cc ohv | 1922–1954 | Roadster |
Model 19 | 588cc ohv | 1926–1939 | Increased to 596cc in 1933 |
CS1 | 490cc ohc | 1928–1939 | CS stands for camshaft. 1928–1930 were the Cricket Bat Motors. 1930s models were the Arthur Carroll designed motors. |
ES2 | 490cc ohv | 1928–1939 | There is no clear record of what ES stands for. Some say it stands for Extra Sport but most believe it stands for Enclosed Springs, referring to the two enclosed valve springs for induction and exhaust, as opposed to the exposed springs and push rods of the Model 18 | |
CJ | 348cc ohc | 1929–1939 | Junior version of the CS1 |
JE | 348cc ohv | 1929–1939 | Junior version of the ES2 |
Model 20 | 490cc | 1930–1939 | Two-port ohv version of the Model 18 |
Model 21 | 490cc | 1927–1927 | Semi dry sump version of the Model 18 |
Model 22 | 490cc | 1930–1931 | Two-port ohv version of the model ES2 |
Norton International Model 30 | 490cc ohc | 1932–1939 | |
International Model 40 | 348cc ohc | 1932–1939 | |
Model 50 OHV | 348cc ohv | 1933–1939 | |
Model 55 | 348cc ohv | 1933–1939 | Twin port version of model 50 |
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War time (1937–1945)
Post-War (1945–1970)
Model | Engine | Years | Notes |
16H | 490cc sv | 1946–1954 | |
Model 18 | 490cc single | 1946–1954 | |
Model 19S | 596cc single | 1955–1958 | Model 19R only 1955 |
Model 19s | 600cc Single | 1957 | Big Four |
633cc sv | 1947–1954 | 596cc as from 1948 |
Model 500T | 500cc | 1949–1954 | Could also be supplied with a 350cc engine |
Norton ES2 | ES2 | 490cc single | 1947–1964 | |
ES2 MK 2 | 490cc single | 1964–1966 | |
Model 50 OHV | 348cc | 1955–1958 | Popular single with featherbed frame from 1959 popular for Triton conversion |
Model 50 OHV MK 2 | 348cc | 1964–1966 | |
International Model 30 | 490cc | 1947–1958 | |
International Model 40 | 348cc | 1947–1958 | |
Manx Model 30 | 498cc ohc | 1946–1963 | |
Manx Model 40 | 348cc ohc | 1946–1963 | |
Model 7 | 497cc twin | 1949–1956 | First Norton Twin Motorcycle, designed by Bert Hopwood |
Model 77 | 497cc | 1950–1952 | A rigid framed version of the Model 7, supplied only to the Australian market. |
Model 77 | 596cc | 1957–1958 | Built mainly for sidecar use |
Dominator 88 | 497cc | 1952–1966 | Same engine as a model 7 but in a featherbed frame |
Dominator 99 | 596cc | 1956–1962 | |
Nomad | 497cc & 596cc | 1958–1960 | US on/off road model |
Norton Jubilee | 250cc | 1958–1966 | |
Navigator | 350cc | 1960–1965 | |
Electra ES400 | 400cc | 1963–1965 | Enlarged Navigator with electric start |
Atlas | 745cc | 1962–1968 | Norton Atlas Scrambler was an off-road variation |
| 650cc | Nov 1960 – Sep 61 | Export Only First 650cc machines |
650 Sports Special | 650cc | 1961–1968 | Became the Mercury in 1968 (then equipped with only one carburettor) |
Mercury | 650cc | 1968–1970 | |
P11A | 750cc | 1967–1968 | Atlas engine in a scrambles frame, became the Ranger in 1968 |
Ranger | 750cc | 1968- | |
N15 | 750cc | 1967–1968 | The N15 was a Norton engine in a Matchless frame; the Matchless G15 was essentially the same motorcycle. | |
Superbike era (1967–1978)
See main article: Norton Commando. Norton Commando models used "Isolastic" engine mounts (rubber mounted) and had 745 cc ("750") engines up to 1973 when the 828 cc ("850") engine came into use.
Model | Years | Notes |
Commando Fastback | 1967–1973 | Just called "Norton Commando" until 1969 |
Commando Roadster | 1970–1975 | 750cc 1970-73, 850cc 1973–1975. Targeted for the American market |
Commando Interpol | 1970–1976 | Produced for police force use |
Commando Hi-rider | 1971–1975 | Targeted for American market |
Commando Production Racer | 1971- | Special high-compression engine |
Commando Interstate | 1972–1975 | 750cc 1972-73, 850cc 1973-75 |
Commando Combat | 1972 | Came with "2S" cam, shaved head to increase the compression, and was made in both Roadster and Interstate form. Early on there were engine failures which quickly gave the Combat a bad name. Even though those problems were rectified, the press was so bad that the name was discontinued later in the year.[1] |
Commando "Combat" | 1973 | Officially, there was no 1973 Combat, but the engine was still available. This is still confusing today as some parts manufacturers list a 73 Combat, meaning the high compression engine. |
Commando "John Player Special" | 1974 | Limited production 850 styled on the John Player racers | |
Rotary period (1981–1992)
Post Rotary period (2014 onwards)
Model | Years | Notes |
Norton Dominator | | |
Norton Commando 961 SF MkII | 2015–present | |
Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer MkII | | |
Norton Commando 961 Sport MkII | | |
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See also
Sources
- Holliday, Bob (1976). Norton Story. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens Limited.
References
- Web site: GME - Norton Commando ID. gregmarsh.com. 2019-02-20.