C.N.W. Cafe Racer

Richard Barks · Jun 16, 2014

Reggie said:
Beautiful job.
Richard, you must be very pleased. Will your bike be making an appearance at any NOC events......such as Devon at the end of July?

NO .................................
Last time I asked to speak to a N.O.C. Official at Stafford show
a woman said to me and I quote " He's far to busy to speak to YOU... Emphasis on the YOU !!!!!!!!

Richard

Richard Barks · Jun 16, 2014

acotrel said:
My mentality is still in the fifties when we didn't have the web to see what the weather is going to be like. What will you do if you are out riding that bike and it begins to rain ? Have you got a butler at home to polish it up again ? - Or a friendly wife ?

I BOUGHT A NORTON FROM MATT A FEWS YEARS AGO IN THE SAME CONDITION AS CAF'E
I SOLD IT IN THE CONDITION IS WAS WHEN I UNPACKED THE CRATE
THESE BIKES ARE EASY TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN AND ARE NOT FOR RIDING IN SHITTY CONDITIONS, COMMON SENSE ALONE WOULD DICTATE THAT ..........
CONSIDERING THE PRICE ( AND I HAVE BOUGHT HOUSES CHEAPER ).
RICHARD

Fast Eddie · Jun 16, 2014

Richard Barks said:
Reggie said:

Beautiful job.
Richard, you must be very pleased. Will your bike be making an appearance at any NOC events......such as Devon at the end of July?

Click to expand...

NO .................................
Last time I asked to speak to a N.O.C. Official at Stafford show
a woman said to me and I quote " He's far to busy to speak to YOU... Emphasis on the YOU !!!!!!!!

Richard

Ha! Plus one on that Richard. I'm not a great joiner of clubs either. I find the bureaucracy of clubs often quite grating. I think such clubs are great, and am not knocking them, they're just not for me. I fully realise that clubs need people who dwell on bureaucracy in order to function, but I personally find it a turn off as I get a belly full of it in my working life!
Jumping on an old bike and blasting around the back lanes is a perfect antidote to it all that for me. Jumping on my bike and riding to AGMs etc isn't! That's why I've never joined the NOC and its why I left the VOC!

olChris · Jun 16, 2014

Richard Barks said:
I BOUGHT A NORTON FROM MATT A FEWS YEARS AGO IN THE SAME CONDITION AS CAF'E
I SOLD IT IN THE CONDITION IS WAS WHEN I UNPACKED THE CRATE
THESE BIKES ARE EASY TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN AND ARE NOT FOR RIDING IN SHITTY CONDITIONS, COMMON SENSE ALONE WOULD DICTATE THAT ..........
CONSIDERING THE PRICE ( AND I HAVE BOUGHT HOUSES CHEAPER ).
RICHARD

House may be cheaper at times, but sitting with the front door opened and the breeze blowing in your face is not quite the same as the wind and noise of the open road.. There are lots of jealous people round here, including me

D.a.n.i.e.l · Jun 16, 2014

Very nice indeed..congratulations!

To Matt - I particularly like the seat on the cafe, and I went on your site but couldn't find it. Could you please let me know a few more details about it (is it made out of aluminium? Is it also available in fiberglass for example?) & what it would cost?

Many thanks,

Daniel

lrutt · Jun 16, 2014

I see the pipes have NO perceptible bluing. Are they ceramic coated internally to prevent that? or has it never run? I coat all my new pipes with a heavy coating of hi heat paint internally and it prevents about 80% of bluing but not 100% like those pipes.

And that is a beautiful piece of work. What's the final wet weight?

lynxnsu · Jun 16, 2014

CNW said:
Thanks for all the great feedback...I really appreciate it

There are some questions about the frame.

When I set out to build this series of bikes (there will be 13 of them, virtually identical) I did want to make sure it had the see through design that I had on the #038 bike that I built back in 2004. On that build I incorporated the oil tank inside the fuel tank but didn't care for how close the hot oil was to the fuel and it also made taking the tank off for service a bit of a chore when having to disconnect all the oil fittings

So I decided I needed to build a frame from scratch and that it was going to have to be an oil in frame design. I am not a frame builder so I started looking around for someone capable to make a high quality frame. This took quite some time but eventually I made contact with Jeff Cole. This is the guy that created C&J frames in the 60's. He is a legend in the industry and built tons of flat track frames intended for racing over the years. He is also the guy that built Ron Woods beautiful race frame.

I told him what I was after and he was definitely interested in the project. So we designed this frame together and it was great to know that he had built so many frames with an internal oil tank and knew exactly what needed to be done to get it working properly. All the return and breather lines are run inside the back bone and I certainly wasn't going to loose any sleep wondering if it would work or not.

I am really happy with the end result. All Chromoly, TIG welded, Just shy of 3 quart capacity, built in battery and electronics trays. The overall geometry is the same as an 850 Commando. In other words, steering neck, shock mounts, engine placement, footrest mounts etc is all the same as a stock frame. The total package weighs 26.3 lbs. A stock frame with a battery tray and oil tank weighs 33.8 lbs. So right at the core we managed to cut 7.5 lbs

I also had Jeff make the oval tube swing arm that's on the bike.

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

where is the breather coming out?
Do like the bike ,a bit too shiny too my taste but that could be helped with some tlc.......(i could do that.........)

Matchless · Jun 16, 2014

Matt,
What make/type are the forks, what is the stanchion dia. & are those a set of your Commando alloy yokes bored to suit.
Thanks,
Martyn.

cNw · Jun 16, 2014

D.a.n.i.e.l said:
Very nice indeed..congratulations!

To Matt - I particularly like the seat on the cafe, and I went on your site but couldn't find it. Could you please let me know a few more details about it (is it made out of aluminium? Is it also available in fiberglass for example?) & what it would cost?

Many thanks,

Daniel

Daniel,

The seat pan (and hump) was made by Evan Wilcox that also made the tank and fenders. The seat was stitched by Don Clancy. The material is leather. Smooth on the side and installed upside down on the top for a nice feel, almost like suede but tougher

As far as price, contact Evan directly at 707-467-3993

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

cNw · Jun 16, 2014

lrutt said:
I see the pipes have NO perceptible bluing. Are they ceramic coated internally to prevent that? or has it never run? I coat all my new pipes with a heavy coating of hi heat paint internally and it prevents about 80% of bluing but not 100% like those pipes.

And that is a beautiful piece of work. What's the final wet weight?

Pipes are 1 5/8, stainless steel. No ceramic coating. There is a second, internal, tuned length of pipe that reduces the inside diameter to 1/3/8 starting at the head.

Bike has been run for quite a few miles during break-in. Over time the pipes will turn a bit golden. Of course, since they are stainless, you can always re-polish to get them fresh looking.

I have not had an opportunity to weigh one of these wet. Still have a few to build, so that is something I intend to find out

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

www.coloradonortonworks.com

cNw · Jun 16, 2014

lynxnsu said:
where is the breather coming out?

The atmospheric breather is underneath the small triangular gussets halfway down the back bone. Its located right next to the return spigot

I also have a second hook up for the crank case breather. This is located in front of the head steady, on the bottom of the tank.

These three lines are all then piped internally to the front of the oil tank, just behind the steering neck.

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

Hobot · Jun 16, 2014

Wonderful to view and contemplate. What is the oil capacity?

cNw · Jun 16, 2014

Matchless said:
Matt,
What make/type are the forks, what is the stanchion dia. & are those a set of your Commando alloy yokes bored to suit.
Thanks,
Martyn.

Martyn,

The forks started out as Showas. They are 39mm.

The triple trees are made for the Cafe specifically. Its the same width as the standard cNw ones but they are thicker to look proportionally better with the larger diameter fork tube. The lower triple clamp has internal plumbing to connect the two caliper lines to the master cylinder

The Showa tubes were cut down and since they are straight tube and I wanted the same look as the standard trees without an upper pinch bolt, I had to make some pretty trick parts.

The red part in the diagram is what threads into the fork tube This part also has internal thread to accept the top fork nut. The orange collar then slides over the tube. This is made with a taper. Then you can slide the fork assembly into the upper clamp and secure it in the taper with the green top nut

The front hub, axle and spacers are all cNw parts as well.

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

cNw · Jun 16, 2014

hobot said:
Wonderful to view and contemplate. What is the oil capacity?

Hobot,

Just under 3 quarts. Runs a std filter set up off the engine cradle. There is also an oil catch can that Comstock designed. This is what's mounted on the right side of the bike, just over the tranny. This catch can returns into the timing chest that due the engine breather virtually runs a vacuum

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

Hobot · Jun 16, 2014

Alrighty 3 qt inside sleek Commando tubes is music to my ears. Even more pleased to know the pressure flow zones are handled like I hoped it would too, whew. Peel's fill bung near stem gets plugged by 3" tall 3/4" bolt that's doubles as post for Scotts steering damper so can just drop a pin in any time someone says I need too to play by their rules. Glad you're still allowed to post about vending upgraded items to us.

kempoyner · Jun 22, 2014

After looking at all the pictures, I wonder why CNW put the horn up front! Everyone knows a Commando has the horn buried under the seat where you can't get to it and no one can hear it. You must have to put the wiring harness in backwards!

worntorn · Jun 22, 2014

So I take it that the 1 3/8" pipe gives proper Commando power as determined many years ago by Dunstall , first on his Dommie motors, and the 15/8" outer pipe is for appearance only?
Does the 13/8" pipe run full length to the muffler?

Glen

olChris · Jun 23, 2014

worntorn said:
So I take it that the 1 3/8" pipe gives proper Commando power as determined many years ago by Dunstall , first on his Dommie motors, and the 15/8" outer pipe is for appearance only?
Does the 13/8" pipe run full length to the muffler?

Glen

Sometimes ya might need to forget what Dunstall and all the other traditional (50-60's) racers Guru's did and just appreciate what is available for the todays market.... Its called a "CNW Cafe Racer" to compliment the look of the built.. IMO it will never ever be raced and was not built to race.. Its an expression of "mechanical art" that is available by CNW by the instruction of owner.

No offence intended Worntorn cos times change........ What your favourite "Rap" video clip ??? ohh WTf you say?................. Same thing....................

worntorn · Jun 23, 2014

I am trying to get an understanding of the use of double walled pipe. It obviously adds some weight, so other than appearance, is there some benefit? The lack of blueing might be another.
The small pipe discovery by Dunstall went against what pretty much everyone else was doing at the time, and many still are , to some extent. When the Commando was being designed, Dunstall was involved, hence the small pipe dia used on Commandos. No harm in looking at the history and design of our bikes.

Glen

lcrken · Jun 23, 2014

The bike is so pretty it hurts my eyes. That's way past my artistic skill level, but I've been around Nortons for long enough to truly appreciate how much work must have gone into this series of bikes. Just gorgeous. Has Jay Leno ordered his yet?

Ken

C.N.W. Cafe Racer

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