22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england

Thanks mate! Not fun when the tank tries to empty its self as fast as it can haha while you are trying the different bits.

Yep over the moon with how they look just seems right seing them on there cables took a bit of faffing with found the issue with that though amal hadn't fully machined out the notch for the cable on one side lol noticing a pattern here haha.

Last time I modified the cable, so ended up re using that part gonna fix the twist grip properly though should be easy enough to do. Got the new fuel tap to go on yet but I'll do that after the setup is finished as the tanks full lol. If Amal get the new parts to me hoping to get out on Friday as I fixed my uncles gt750 kettle with him over the weekend.

Just wish this rubbish weather would stop. Need to squeeze a trip to Pete's in at some point as well with the next lot of Commando bits.
Just lucky I had that other carb :)

Gotta find a decent chromers so I can get the rear mudguard I got from noc done an fitted then shes pretty original
 
Got my brand new 376 Amals fitted on the 650SS and did a short test ride yesterday after sorting a fuel leak due to a dodgy float needle seat. Hope you all enjoy just need to find a decent chromers now for the replica rear mudguard I got from Noc least shes ready to ride now in time for this hot weather

 
Yep initially the setup was alot faster it seems to be starting first kick every kick easier to. I'd say more midrange grunt what impact the inserts in the manifolds are having on that could be a big bearing. Feels very smooth through the rev range an will idle on one carb happily where the premiers struggled with that until I swapped the jets and feels eager an she sounds throatier as well really happy with the choice to fit them :)

The ss just seems happier although I've only gone round the block a few times so we shall see on a longer ride.

It's funny when you lean the bike on idle an the revs go up or down lmao but dont really notice any issue when cornering on my lil test route.
Initial thoughts I prefer the Monoblocs :)
 
norton_rider said:
It's funny when you lean the bike on idle an the revs go up or down lmao but dont really notice any issue when cornering on my lil test route.
Initial thoughts I prefer the Monoblocs :)
Click to expand...

When one corners at speed, the float level and fuel surface remains the same relative to the float chamber as it is when stopped and bike is vertical. This is similar to the ball in an aircraft turn and bank indicator. If you were in an aircraft, in a proper turn, and had a glass of water on your seat back tray, the water surface would be parallel to the floor of the aircraft, regardless of the bank angle. The water surface in the glass would be in the same relative position as when the aircraft is level.

Slick
 
Last edited:
Ah thanks Slick Great explanation makes sense when you put it in that situation. Got to go in a spitfire trainer back when I was younger at a museum that was amazing can only imagine what it feels like to really fly. Although these Norton's sure get a move on would love to take my 650ss round Mallory Park one day. Miss riding on track but I sure do love the freedom of the open road.
 
Yay!! Making some progress with the monoblocs shes running nice clips on the way to visit a friend one step closer to being my daily rider :)

This was after a full day of plug chops and fixing her.

 
Just got home from the ride out 100+ miles done an the 650 SS did me proud! In love with riding her :) she kept pace nicely as well considering the kettle an gsxr750 I was riding with the chassis really shined on the corners very grunty as well!!
Lots to smile about after a few hard years

Thanks for all the advice everyone cheers!

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
IMG_20190825_100806_925 by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
68930820_10219592546908681_4466945831005585408_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

Gonna be plenty of footage once I edit through it all this week :)
 
Last edited:
Hi Slick its a retrofit the previous owner did it :) it was squeeling a bit under heavy breaking so gonna pop the wheel off an have a look apart from that she ran great on the whole one issue I did have was her going from 3rd to neutral an missing 2nd on the downshift only did it a handfull of times but think that was more me :)

Was one epic ride today fueling felt brilliant at a variety of altitudes and riding bumpy roads fast downhil corners she just lapped it up

might look into a grip change though as the ones that are on are doing 0 for the vibration
 
Just been through the ss clutch cable had stretched a bit so just re adjusted that no oil leaks so that's good all in all all seems ok plugs arn't a million miles away getting used to what they look like now with the chopped carbs in different situations.

Gonna go back over the idle tomorrow as I'm cleaning the Commando head up at the moment

Dad said he reckons my riding was really confident on the 650SS even more so than all the modern bikes. The handling on the 650SS is so amazing that's for sure.

Editing a clip over the next few days from yesterdays riding an gonna try get another ride in tomorrow when it's a bit cooler!

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
20190826_133446-04 by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
20190826_133400-02 by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
20190826_133446-01 by norton.rider, on Flickr
 
Got bored an it was nice so decided to go to the Cat and Fiddle ride this evening. Was super tranquil and peaceful an first time out on her by myself to! Without dad a a Gsxr full of tools haha! Not that we have ever needed them on the 1967 Norton 650SS touch wood one things for sure the handling is utterly spot on and I've rode a lot of different bikes I'd say she's totally my number 1 handling wise!!

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69111071_10219595738908479_3411883799028432896_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69075863_10219595739188486_582233922788655104_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
68608947_10219595739548495_1041586413172162560_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69206594_10219595740508519_350509265959518208_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
70006151_10219595741348540_4848391961146556416_o by norton.rider, on Flickr
 
Sorry it's a bit late everyone here's the footage from the ride out to Monyash yesterday on my 67' 650SS Norton had such a great conversation with a few people about Norton's! Bit of everything some fast roads some country roads some back roads.
Actually caught one of the conversations on my GoPro didn't realise it was on so left that in the footage :)
Hope you all enjoy the footage
Covered about 150+ miles in total.
It's interesting after spending a year solid on my RD250LC that I've now sold to fund more of a career break I'm massively impressed with the handling on the 650SS I'd always heard about the fabled handling of the featherbed frame but never got to experience it myself until now simply speechless at how super she is!!

One thing I am curious about a few times I'm sure I can hear a whine probably most noticeable on the dual carriageway towards the end any ideas or do they all do that?
22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
:) Can't really compare to the commando as that wasn't running anywhere near right.

 
Last edited:
Thanks mate :) the conversation's with everyone in Monyash really made all the effort an mad hours + burns haha worth it! I feel humbled an proud to own a few Norton's an be learning to work on them an actually finally to be getting out on them.
 
Your 650's engine sounds great. She's a beauty.

*You might want to put at least one mirror on the bike. Many people these days who are old enough to drive don't even know there's such a thing as hand signals for turning and changing lanes. At least a mirror gives you a clue what's in your blind spot. My '70 commando wasn't legally required to have directional lights because it predated the law requiring them, but I got so paranoid about other drivers not recognizing my hand signals, I eventually put directionals on my commando. Be aware that drivers expect to see a flasher... so be demonstrative with your hand signaling so people see you.
 
Hi mate yep I am considering them 99% of the time dads out with me riding wingman on his gsxr with our sena headsets on to be honest hand signals are fine over here + doing life savers is easy if I need to see what's behind me, an I guess its the same principal as what they teach at race school's its up to the person behind to concentrate on whats in front :) an the person in front to concentrate on where they are going.
 
Thanks mate alas all is not well with her.

Never rains it pours!!

Got a bit of a shock when I took the end caps off to get at the head bolts first rocker spindle I came to was out of position

Norton 650SS rocker spindles have been spinning round an round by themselves were loose to the touch same as the commando gonna fit upgraded end caps an new rocker spindles while i sink all my money into the commando I'll be happy then I might strip the SS after that if she needs it. Gonna go drop the oil now and see what oil pump is fitted if its a 6 start to match the plain spindles.

Found out when I went to check the head torque an seen one outta position least I found it now utterly gutted but fingers crossed the upgraded caps work.

If I can just replace them an fit the upgraded caps with the grub screw an keep her running while I rebuild the commando then I can look at getting the head machined.

Thought it was going to smoothly haha!

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69238172_10219600894917376_5810696477785194496_o by norton.rider, on Flickr

22 year old and my first norton 650 ss :) from england
69318718_10219601981824548_1855924955661729792_o by norton.rider, on Flickr
 

Similar threads

Patrick M
  • Locked
My new 850 and my first Norton
Replies
15
Views
986
SquareHead
SquareHead
Back
Top