Firing up the Monocoque Norton racer

I think the space frame norton was a better option. It is obviously highly developed. If it was completely rebuilt incorporating the mods, it might not be such a mess, and do much better. It reminds me of an aspect of my own bike that I don't like - the non-standard add-ons. I believe the biggest disadvantage of the monocoque was lack of accessibility, the space framed bike seems a little better. I think it was unrealistic racing the big fourstroke twins against two strokes . With fourstrokes, you reach a development wall fairly quickly. The two strokes have now reached theirs - 500cc, rotary disc valve, and over 200 BHP. Right from the beginning the two types of technology bikes should have been raced separately. We would still have modern classes with Manx Nortons and G50s in them. There could still be modern classes for the old style commando racers if the following 'Thunderbike' definition was accepted :

http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/acotrel/thunderbikes/

Its occurred to me to try a two part chassis linked isolastic compliantly tying boxed sheet metal overlapping frame/sub frame together. To service just pull isolastic bolts, links, a few cables and hoses then splits apart like laid on a bench open. Just initial out loud pipe dream to blow smoke rings at.

Matt, I don't recognize this one at all, what is this beauty?

Anyone got one of those Timing Covers Assemblies spare lying about .? If those are oil pressure lines . . .

J.A.W. said:

OK , Hombre, there only room for onecocque `o the walk in this town, - reach for your provenance!

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Fk'n hilarious!!

http://www.framecrafters.net/show-project.php?id=77

That frame is ugly, the Norton space frame is much better, but has obviously been cut about a lot during development. If the original was put in as jig, and and a new one made with straight tubes used to replace several short bits, the result could be pretty decent. It would be easy to put a seeley frame in the jig to set the steering head and pivot, and then build the engine and gearbox into a new frame, so that the end product looks very similar to the original norton space frame. From the photo, it looks as though the Norton frame was built with Peter William's idea about fitting the swing arm outside the engine plates to get the bike narrower - a piece of stupidity.

Trellis frames are the cat's meow in cranes and bridges but I can get images of the sheet metal boxes or honeycomb plates aircraft and space ships use for a two piece over lapping isolastic connected multi function chassis. Would be like a cute flying saucer with a clunker power plant pilot kick starts.

Please dig up references to how it felt to ride and what it allowed pilot to do that others didn't seem to tolerate in that era.

EEugh.


The Ossa 250 cc monocoque was designed by Eduardo Giró, son of founder Manuel Giró, and had single cylinder, two stroke rotary valve engine and six-speed gearbox producing 30 hp. While not a power machine, the magnesium chassis meant the bike weighed a full 20 kg less than its Japanese competitors, and with rider Santiago Herrero, the Ossa team soon had a few grand prix victories under its belt.

EEugh



The machine made its 1973 race debut at Mallory Park with future world champion Barry Sheene on board and despite the bike being slightly overweight and requiring a different approach from the rider due to the monocoque's inherent stiffness for the period, Sheene found himself in command of the bike's first race. And then the God of Speed withdrew his sanction and part of the material used to line the monocoque's fuel tank dislodged to block the fuel feed and cause Sheene to retire almost within sight of the chequered flag.


AaahhhH .



However , our Intrepid Norton Chassis is thought to be the First ' Twin Spar ' frame extant .



Beauty of course being in the eye of the beholder .

Matt, you have a thing for spine frames, so isnt a monocoque just a larger diameter spine type, becoming an an exoskeleton in J.P.N form, if you will, vs the bare bone overt force lines, spaceframe look? But- either way, better torsional strength to weight-wise than a loopy old featherbred..per...Dr Bauer..Ja..achtung!

As for the twin spar type chassis, Matt... Sorry..old man, but [yep, once again] those Nazi swine already did it back in the `30s, viz - Zunndapp..

Try not to be too superficial .

Its still a perimeter frame rather than a beam frame .

P.S. I find they go faster if you polish or clean them . Try It , for a change .

What, after shaving them? Do you actually polish anything - other than keyboard buttons, Matt?

Impressive archives Matt. Almost wish you'd not shown em or me looking in this thread. I've still got linkages and a drive to invent on Peel now waste time on isolastic two part monocoque with active wings. I wonder if anyone else understands what Peter means by "Two Tire Drifts". A flat tracker is not drifting two tires only the rear as front is dolly wheeling road following actual direction of the drift. I know it takes very far over leans to slide both tires at once and not high side just keep momentum up while re aming for best upright thrust next instant. A truly Neutral bike invites that dynamic balance state but needs power to keep rear loose long enough. What a thriller the Monocoque ride is.

The photo also alerted me to a number things to keep in mind, like the narrowness where is matters but ugh not where is don't. Also see the limits of trying to support engine by top of boxed frame. Is there a more interesting and weird waling dead motorcycle company? [besides imaginary Spragthrope kennel]

I have enough trouble accessing the carburettors and electrics on the Seeley.

Anyone have a pic of Dave Coxford's monocoque lampstand?
For those of you who don't know, it's the bike hr crashed.

Bernhard said:

Anyone have a pic of Dave Coxford's monocoque lampstand?
For those of you who don't know, it's the bike hr crashed.

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Ask Dave, or his son Stephen on Facebook, through the 'Dave the Rave Crox' Facebook group.

I think I saw a photo recently, it wasn't good quality, the photo that is.