Manx Norton

When it comes to vintage racing, few bikes are more iconic than the Manx Norton.

The quintessential British-built road-racers of the 1950s, the bikes started life as Norton Internationals, but were re-tuned from the factory for the singular purpose of racing on the Isle of Man in the Manx TT, the most prestigious race of its time.

The 495cc single-cylinder motor was designed for longevity—the Manx TT was, after all, a 264-mile race. But the motorcycles were equally well-known for their chassis, which were all-welded duplex frames with pivoting rear forks and suspension. Designed by Rex McCandless in 1950, the frame provided the high-speed stability so important to the TT.

So impressed was Norton's Harold Daniels that he described the chassis as offering a "featherbed ride," and the Norton Featherbed frame was born. From the start, the bikes built a reputation for speed and handling that was unmatched in Europe, and Manxes were raced by legendary riders, including Geoff Duke and John Surtees, through the 1950s.

1961 NORTON "MANX". Although eleven years separated the 1961 model "Manx" Norton from the first "Featherbed" type made in 1950, the basic design was almost unchanged except in detail. Instead of being bolted on, the rear sub-frame was welded to the main frame, a modification introduced in 1952, and the fancy tail fairing used in 1950 lasted only a year. But the basic frame pattern was unchanged. It is interesting to note that in this period the entire range of Norton roadster models of over 350 c.c. had been redesigned to incorporate the all-welded racing-style frame, an excellent example of racing improving the breed. The frame was probably cheaper to make than the old lug-and-tube type.

In the intervening period the engine, which had been restyled in 1950 to be slim enough to fit the frame, underwent several major changes, the most noticeable being a much bigger bore, and consequently shorter stroke, which enabled high revs to be maintained without undue stress.

The Norton factory was absorbed into the A.M.C. group in the mid-fifties and a change of gearbox was made on the "Manx" to utilize the same internals as the racers from Woolwich, so standardizing production and spares.
Only detail changes were announced to the design for the 1961 season. Main external alteration was a new oil tank which pivoted and was held against a rubber mat by twin rubber bands. As some trouble had been experienced with megaphones fracturing, for 1961 this highly stressed component was held in a "muff"-type clip. The G.P. Amal carburetter was replaced by the bigger-type G.P.2, of iJJ in. bore.