1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

motoalchemist · Dec 17, 2010

splatt said:
[

Nice, are the Interstate pipes a pain, they look very retro smart.Want to build an Interback with the rest of my 850 parts, a bit of a retro sleeper.

No the Interpipe were easy to install......Just need to have the proper brackets off the plates..they have a little joggle in them

motoalchemist · Jan 16, 2011

Gentlemen,
I Have finally pulled an old project Norton from storage. This is the other Norton I had mentioned previously in this thread. This Bike is also a 1971 Norton fastback..also modified.
The project was originally started by an Old friend of mine, he sadly passed away 6 months after I bought it from him to continue (he was a great guy and a wealth of british bike knowledge). That was over 10 years ago and Ive had so many life events since then...But now I am very motivated to finish since my other 71 was completed just a few months ago.
I am going to post some pics of the project and explain then best I can. The bike is in Mock-up mode right now, so i will still post pics as I tear it down and rebuild so everybody can understand the modifications done. But in a Nutshell, here are the mayjor modofications;

1995 CBR1000 front end
1996 VFR rear end
Frame has been gusseted and widened at the swingarm/cradel area to accomodate the VFR rearend
rear sets and linkeage
beefed up front steering neck and custon upper engine stay.
Dustbin fairing, corbin seat and custun undertail exhaust
Posting pictures tonight

motoalchemist · Jan 17, 2011

This is the basic profile of the Norton. The Fastback Tail is missing in this pic

Below are a couple of Pic of the VFR rear end..Its basically a stock unitl. we modified the frame/cradle to fit the swingarm.

Closer shot of swingarm pivot area

Rearset and linkeage

The custom headsteady and frame braceing

motoalchemist · Jan 17, 2011

This is a stock CBR900 front end, graves motorsports clip ons

This is the bike without bodywork. I will be able to run 17" tires front and rear. The engine is hollow and just in place for mock-up. Exhaust is 2 into 1 runing out the right side

This is looking over the rear tire into the shock area.

Battery compartment area

And another shot with a scale so you the widen section of the fram can be seen. Its a little more than 1inch wider than stock
to accomodate the wider wheel and swing arm

rvich · Jan 17, 2011

This is a serious project...you should give it its own thread. Keep it coming.

Russ

KSUWildcatFan · Jan 17, 2011

rvich said:
This is a serious project...you should give it its own thread. Keep it coming.

Russ

+1

Gorgeous interstate, btw. Extremely well-done. I hope mind comes out even half as nice.

-Jordan

850cmndo · Jan 17, 2011

I gotta see this. Staying with the Rita?

askdoctorday · Jan 17, 2011

Very, very nice. I admire the frame bracing not only for the ingenuity and engineering, but for the simple fact that you didn't settle for ugly but chose a gentle arc. I realize that this is also better structurally, but the aesthetic of it is equally important. Really sweet.

bwolfie · Jan 17, 2011

What engine barrel is that? A maney or Dunstall?

grandpaul · Jan 17, 2011

That is quite cool.

...although extra weight apparently doesn't figure into your list of concerns!

Sounds like a great project, definitely "outside the envelope". I'll be watching it on the other thread.

Carbonfibre · Jan 20, 2011

Not sure whether any users of this forum completely understand that fitting relatively rigid modern suspension parts onto not particularly strong MS Brit frames, may well result in rather curious handling?

Was looking at a Trident the other night which had been built into a very nice modern purpose built cro-moly chassis, with hand made sheet alloy swinging arm, Ohlins suspension, and custom made alloy tank and tail section.............I would imagine thats going to handle like a race bike, but obviously cost rules that sort of thing out for most people.

lcgtr · Feb 10, 2011

motoalchemist said:
Hello fellow Norton lovers....this was completly unplanned and I cannot afford this...but just picked up this beauty for $1200.
Numbers match and as far as I can tell the only thing missing is the exhaust. ( seat and engine are in truck cab)
I will post more pictures tonight.
Its a 1969, but will do some research on the number to verify.

Do you guys know I couldn't buy a seized engine here in Australia for $1200

Jeandr · Feb 10, 2011

Carbonfibre said:
Not sure whether any users of this forum completely understand that fitting relatively rigid modern suspension parts onto not particularly strong MS Brit frames, may well result in rather curious handling?

Was looking at a Trident the other night which had been built into a very nice modern purpose built cro-moly chassis, with hand made sheet alloy swinging arm, Ohlins suspension, and custom made alloy tank and tail section.............I would imagine thats going to handle like a race bike, but obviously cost rules that sort of thing out for most people.

You also have to understand that some people do things just for the hell of it, they don't want to go fast, they don't want to out corner or out handle a modern bike, but to have something different than the next guy.

That's all

Jean

bwolfie · Feb 10, 2011

You also have to understand that some people do things just for the hell of it, they don't want to go fast, they don't want to out corner or out handle a modern bike, but to have something different than the next guy.

That's all

Jean[/quote]

That's why i'm doing it. Making my bike my way, ala cart! I don't race or ride that far as it is. But having something that makes people look and wonder.

motoalchemist · Feb 10, 2011

So, yes Gentlemen, I guess the final reason for doing what we do is so we have something different. And when people walk up to ask about my bike and praise its beauty...I dont snicker back with a douchey attitude (like some harley riders and 20K Italian bike owners do). I sincerely thank people when they tell me "nice bike" (sometimes I reply with a heartfelt "nice axx"...just kidding). But really I answer all the standard questions over and over. In the hopes that my enthusiasim for motorcycles rubs off and i help them make the decision to get a project of their own to create.

Rode my Interstate/Fastback again today...4 days in a row, and might do it again tomorrow for a full week of Norton fun. Not one 1st gear pop out either, since all the rework last weekend. see ink belowl

1st-gear-popping-into-4000-t8619.html.

motoalchemist · Feb 10, 2011

post92597.html?hilit=single sided#p92597

KSUWildcatFan said:
rvich said:

This is a serious project...you should give it its own thread. Keep it coming.

Russ

Click to expand...

+1

Gorgeous interstate, btw. Extremely well-done. I hope mind comes out even half as nice.

-Jordan

motoalchemist · Feb 10, 2011

Separate thread I started for the Single sided swingarm Norton. I ll update it on this thread instead

post92597.html?hilit=single sided#p92597

thanks

motoalchemist · May 3, 2011

Hello,
Havent been able to do much Norton work this past few months...Been Riding the Norton alot...My BMW R75 broke a cam chain...so thats been getting any extra money for now.

In the mean time, here are a couple of Videos of me riding the Norton last October on our annual ride around the city of San Francisco

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H0GLtzQ3Tc[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTWPrTQYRcU[/video]

motoalchemist · May 3, 2011

DogT said:
What kind of a license plate is that? 9?

Nice, but you know they painted the chain guards on the fastbacks, I think, but it looks good.

Dave
69S

Yes you are right, the early fastbacks....this is a CNW chaingaurd, looks better than stock

Jeandr · May 4, 2011

motoalchemist said:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H0GLtzQ3Tc[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTWPrTQYRcU[/video]

Nice ride, it is amazing to see how small Nortons look, unless of course you have gorilla blood running in your veins :mrgreen:

Jean

1971 Interstate Fastback restoration

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