norton kneeler

Home Manufacturer Contact

Classic Bikes Custom Bikes Designs Individual Racing Bikes Technical Twitter Video

AC Schnitzer Adler AJP AJS Aprilia Ariel Arlen Ness ATK Avinton / Wakan Bajaj Bakker Barigo Benelli Beta Big Bear Big Dog Bimota BMS Choppers BMW Borile Boss Hoss Boxer Brammo Britten BRP Cam-Am BSA Buell / EBR Bultago Cagiva Campagna CCM CF Moto Confederate CR&S Daelim Derbi Deus DP Customs Ducati Excelsior GASGAS Ghezzi Brian Gilera GIMA Harley-Davidson Harris Hartford HDT USA Hesketh Hero Highland Honda Horex HPN Husaberg Husqvarna Hyosung Indian Jawa Junak Kawasaki KTM KYMCO Laverda Lazareth Lehman Trikes LIFAN Magni Maico Mash Matchless Matt Hotch Megelli Midual Mission Molot Mondial Moto Guzzi Moto Morini Mr Martini MTT Münch MV Agusta MZ / MuZ NCR Norton NSU OCC Paton Paul Jr. Designs Peugeot Piaggio Revival Cycles Rickman Roehr Roland Sands Royal Enfield Sachs Shaw Speed Sherco Sunbeam Suzuki SYM SWM TM Racing Triumph Ural Velocette Vespa Victory Vilner Vincent VOR Voxan Vyrus Walt Siegl Walz Wrenchmonkees Wunderlich XTR / Radical Yamaha Zero

Norton 350 "KNEELER" 1953

1953 NORTON "KNEELER". Although Norton's policy throughout their many years of racing has always been to race models more or less the same as the "production racers" they sell, they have tried many experiments which did not subsequently go into oroduction. Most of these were smallish items, but one complete machine stands out clear of the pack as a really revolutionary model—which didn't quite make it.

It was the "kneeler"; a machine based on the 350 c.c. "Manx" but embodying complete streamlining, front and rear, and a near-prone riding position. It made its debut in the hands of Ray Amm at the 1953 North West 200 meeting in Ulster where, after a bad start due to a flooding carburetter, he made fastest lap of the race on his second tour, getting into second berth in the process—and then stopped with engine' trouble. The model appeared fleetingly in the Isle of Man during a practice period but was not raced there.

Although the down-tubes and steering head of the frame followed normal "Featherbed" practice, the top-tubes did not, for they were splayed out behind the head to pass on each side of the cylinder-head, mating with the bottom rails just over the swinging-fork pivot. From these points smaller-diameter tubes, braced by others below them, swept upwards and rearwards to form top anchorages for the rear spring units. A variety of other tubes provided a carrying frame for the streamlining and pannier tanks and also mounting points for the gear-change and brake pedals.
The low pannier tanks made it necessary to use a pump to raise petrol to the weir-type carburetter. This pump was driven from the inlet camshaft and a similar pump was also fitted to some of the orthodox "Manx" models (to return the overspill from the carburetter, in this case).

SPECIFICATION
Engine: single-cylinder 350 c.c. d.o.h.c; light-alloy
barrel and head; shaft and bevel drive to camshaft
gear train. Ignition: Lucas magneto. Transmission: chain via four-speed gearbox. Frame: modified "Featherbed"-type duplex cradle with
swinging fork rear suspension, pannier tanks and
nose and tail fairings. Forks: "Roadholder" telescopic.