Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
3rd July, 2024 13:00
1966 Norvin 1000
Prize winning Rapide/ Featherbed special
Estimate
£27, 000 - £33, 000
Registration No: LYK 21D
Frame No: M471555
MOT: Exempt
The 'Devils Ride' Norvin Rapide/ Featherbed special
Owned and developed by the vendor since 1979
Featured in magazines, supplied with a current V5C
The 'Norvin' is the ultimate expression of the 1960s fashion for blending together the legendary Norton Featherbed frame with engines from other manufacturers, the engine in this case being from the equally legendary Vincent 1000cc vee twin. Nortons Featherbed frame was initially developed for racing, eventually making its way into the road bike range a few years later and setting new standards for handling with its basic geometry still used as the benchmark today. Unfortunately, the original Norton engines were not that reliable so an obvious answer was to replace it with something better, starting a whole industry in handmade specials. The Vincent story began with Phil Vincents purchase of the HRD name in 1928, initially producing bikes using proprietary engines in his own chassis. Always the innovator by the mid-30s he had developed his own 500cc single and 1000cc twin-cylinder designs that survived until the company's closure in 1955. The big vee twin was the fastest motorcycle in the world but was seen as more of a sports tourer, the obvious marriage of the best handling frame with the most powerful engine created one of the most desirable 'specials' of the day.
This Norvin was bought by the vendor in 1979 and has been an ongoing project since, going through a few incarnations in its time to perfect the handling and performance. He now feels he has arrived at the ultimate specification which includes Suzuki GSXr1100 forks with K-Tech internals, Bandit 6 pot calipers, Armstrong wavy disc, Brembo rear caliper and tailor made Ikon shocks. The engine has Alpha crank bearings, Mk3 camshafts, 8:1 Omega pistons in replacement cylinder liners, heads polished and ported with new valve trains, 32mm Amal Concentric carbs and a multi plate clutch all powered by a Pazon Smart Fire ignition. The bike abounds with bespoke hand made fittings including the underbraced swinging arm and the stainless steel rear brake, gear change and footrest hangers. The classic Norvin look is completed by a small nose cone fairing, a Dow short circuit alloy fuel tank, a bespoke seat unit combining the oil tank with a recessed filler, one off exhaust, gold anodised hubs and wheel centres. On a recent trip to the IOM TT it recorded 127. 3 mph on its electronic speedo and always draws a crowd wherever it goes. Nicknamed the 'Devils Ride' it has won awards at many shows and has been featured in Back Street Heroes and Cafe Racer magazine, copies of which are included in the sale. It will be given a new 12 months MOT shortly before the sale and comes supplied with current V5C.
