99 SS New member

Hi folks
Ive just joined this forum, as ive recently got a 61 dominator 99 ss, and will probably need help and advise along the way!
Im up the west coast of scotland in Glencoe
the bike is fairly original ( i think) and a good runner, i havent decided whether to restore or just give it a good overhaul and keep its original look and ageing! it looks good the way it is i think.
I'm not sure if there were colour options for the 99ss , mines has black frame and silver tank , but im not sure if someone has just done that to make it look like a 650ss many yaers ago. it has all the correct numbers and a cert from the NOC so im quite happy that its correct i'd just like to know what the correct specs and colours were for the originals.
Its also got chrome guards and chaincase which i wasnt sure about.
thanks
Greg

Welcome here.

One of the few pics around of the 61 99SS is this one, which Bonhams sold recently.
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21136/lot/409/

With a 2 tone polychromatic grey and dove grey finish, it looked an unlikely combination to me,
until I looked up the 99SS in Roy Bacons book "Norton Twins Restoration".
There is a similar bike pictured circa 1961 on P49, 2 tone with PAINTED guards, optional tacho fitted, siamesed exhaust (another option ?).
So the chrome probably has been added later, as you suggest, and possibly the colour scheme.
It has been around for over 50 years as you say...

However, it las long been quoted by various authors that a black frame and silver tank has ALWAYS been an optional colour scheme,
and chrome was another option, so don't discard this possibility just yet ?
Spruce it up mechanically and ride it, and contemplate the finish at your leisure, as they say ?

Can we see a pic when its all polished and shiny - 99SS are not exactly a common bike.
As a 1 year only model, a fairly rare beast in fact..

And remember, have fun !

Welcome to the forum, I would do as Rohan suggested, ride it and enjoy it and I wouldn’t be too particular about the colour/chrome. Just try and find out the faults, (if there is any) first.
Rev counter, prop stand and when fitted bottom chain guard e.t.c.were all option extras.

Norton changed the colour scheme just about every year, and classed it as a new model, usually in time for the big bike show, (Earl’s Court , Olympia e.t.c.) when it was the same old, same old, - as did a lot of the other British manufactures.
I see the Bonham’s bike had a chrome front engine plates and top cover this I think was not standard, as maybe the chaincase. The owner will have done his/her own input

These were known to be a very quick bike, not much slower than the 650SS, even though the 99 SS did not get the Doug Hele downdraught head of the 500 Domiracer, while the 650 did.
One test showed the 99 ss just 2 tenths of a second slower in the quarter mile than the " mighty Vincent Black Shadow we tested 8 years earlier"
I will see if I can dig out the info.

Glen

Morning chaps
( well it is here) I'm currently up in the Barents sea in the arctic circle working with subsea ROV's , and using the company computer it blocks photobucket so i dont think i'll manage to get a photo on the forum for a while , unless you guys can advise me of a way to do it.
I did think it was quite a rare machine when i was searching for pictures etc , i kept seeing 650 ss bikes and the like , but no 99 ss variants.
I am quite happy to run the bike in its current condition it looks fine and its condition adds to this i think.
Someone in the past has fitted it with a single Amal , which i believe has been noted before with these models. THe siamese pipe has gone and in its place are dommie type 2-2 exhausts , so i'll search for a correct siamese system.
The only thing concerning me about running the bike is that some forums have mentioned that the engines are a wee bit fragile , in the rod area, is this true or rumour and is there any checks or precautions to adhere with to prevent any nasty failures i'd hate to cause damage to the casings or suchlike.
I will try and get my other half to upload a photo or 2 for you guys to let you see it in the meantime.

thanks for your inputs
Greg Price

Watch that the siamese exhaust was a ( no cost) option, so may never have been fitted. ?
It also produces less torque under 4500 rpm, so for around town is not so good !?

With a single carb, what marks this bike as a 99SS ?
They are less maintenance with a single carb...

Don't know there is any answer to that reported bottom end weakness.
Make sure its all in good condition, and don't thrash it ?
Making sure that any big end regrinds had the proper radius cut is a factor too ?
Knowing that the sludge trap in the crank is clear could also be essential, if the oil change history isn't known ?

Thanks Rohan
I'll have agood look at everything before i start running the bike, I take note of you point on the siamese pipe , the 2-2 set up looks better i think and if provides nicer bottom end torque then thats better practicallity.
I have a cert from the NOC who verified the numbers, ( they also state that it probably had twin carbs on delivery) ,
engine no 98028 14 ss
frame 14098028
shop eng no - 7381
I did wonder when i fist saw the bike with single carb and 2-2 exhaust , but when i saw the numbers and the NOC literature i was happier .
The owner that had it previous to the guy i got it from , included correspondence with NOC that he'd had , i think he originally thought it was a 650ss and when NOC confirmed 99ss i think it came as a dissapointment to him. I just get this feeling reading his comments in the letters. I'm surprised as the 99ss is more interesing in my mind!

PS ive got a TRIUMPH T120 C ive just finished this year , and ive also got a royal enfield crusader trials , ive left it std because there arent many proper trials crusaders about.
cheers
Greg Price

gregrsv said:

I have a cert from the NOC who verified the numbers

Click to expand...

Say no more - its an SS !

We'll look forward to a pic or 2 when its all polished up...