50th anniversary Cafe Racer

Very handsome machine. Give me a shout when its road legal and not damp & cold (standard weather for Oxfordshire , England), we'll go for a spin.
 
50th anniversary Cafe Racer


I had to be very careful not to show the offensive reflectors :-)
 
Full Ohlins yes, I guess they had to have Ohlins permission to put a badge on like this that suggests it is their suspension.
 
BritTwit said:
That's what I was wonder too.
The badge is cool for sure, but is the patent number for the fork design, or the Roadholder emblem?
Click to expand...


Its really confusing because the patent for the original ROADHOLDER forks are very different than Olhins. Maybe a patent lawyer could look up that number and see what’s up. but here is the same number on the original style. So did Norton update it???? or is it just for retro styling??

https://picclick.co.uk/Norton-Dominator-Ajs-Matchless-Roadholder-Fork-Shroud-Brass-181331343417.html
 
richard-7 said:
Its really confusing because the patent for the original ROADHOLDER forks are very different than Olhins. Maybe a patent lawyer could look up that number and see what’s up.
Click to expand...

Under the Tech specs in the 50th special additional model it says:-

Front Suspension - 43mm Ohlins 'blackline' upside down forks, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping. With 'Roadholder' badges.

In a search for the patent, this link came up: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Roadholder-Fork-Shroud-Patent-No-557982-/282731570611

Maybe its just a badge
 
If the patent number is the same as on the vintage badges then the badges are just decorations, which is still a nice touch anyway.
 
BritTwit said:
If the patent number is the same as on the vintage badges then the badges are just decorations, which is still a nice touch anyway.
Click to expand...


Well that was easy then.
Ohlins blackline is for the harley line up of bikes.

Which is cool for a few reasons. Kenny Dreer used a ton of harley parts for the concept. John Favill who ive met and spoke to on the phone a few times worked at Norton in the engineering dept and then Harley after norton closed shop and is the one who made the EVO engine great. He helped my dad and I fix the oil in the airbox issue as John Fixed it in the Harleys back when he worked there. I put John and Stuart in touch but It unfortunately didnt go anywhere. Would have been cool if John ended up consulting on the 961. Imagine that.

Its crazy how close a relationship Harley and Norton have had and still do.
 
Back in the day Norton and other Brits made their own forks . The sliders, the tubes the internals etc... It would be crazy expensive now and maybe in the end the suspension may not be as good as what is available off shelf.
And I really like the Roadholder Vintage badges. The look is perfect , and at no time did I assume anything other than these badges are for "looks" and a nod to the past. I would love it if my sport had those badges on the forks.
 
TonyA said:
Back in the day Norton and other Brits made their own forks . The sliders, the tubes the internals etc... It would be crazy expensive now and maybe in the end the suspension may not be as good as what is available off shelf.
And I really like the Roadholder Vintage badges. The look is perfect , and at no time did I assume anything other than these badges are for "looks" and a nod to the past. I would love it if my sport had those badges on the forks.
Click to expand...


The link I posted has them for sale.
 
TonyA said:
Back in the day Norton and other Brits made their own forks . The sliders, the tubes the internals etc... It would be crazy expensive now and maybe in the end the suspension may not be as good as what is available off shelf.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree.
Norton should do what they do well, engine, chassis, and overall styling, and not try to bring all component design/manufacturing in-house.
Even the big 4 in Japan out source suspension components from suppliers Showa, Kayaba, etc.
Otherwise, they'd never be profitable.
 

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