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Voodooo

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Winter is coming and I’m itching for a project. I want to either start building a bike from bottom up or modify an existing bike.
Im a ex tool and die maker by trade and have Bridgeport mills, clausing lathe, metal shaping tools and machinery etc.

Ive always loved the 60s Norton Manx and Matchless G50 bikes and found the frames and parts to build a replica bike.
Or I also like modern Ducati cafe custom bikes.

I’m asking for opinions and ideas of what you’d do?
or would you modify a 961 Commando?

Please share your thoughts. I’m open to ideas. PS, I’m not interested in Japanese or American bikes sorry.
 
Winter is coming and I’m itching for a project. I want to either start building a bike from bottom up or modify an existing bike.
Im a ex tool and die maker by trade and have Bridgeport mills, clausing lathe, metal shaping tools and machinery etc.

Ive always loved the 60s Norton Manx and Matchless G50 bikes and found the frames and parts to build a replica bike.
Or I also like modern Ducati cafe custom bikes.

I’m asking for opinions and ideas of what you’d do?
or would you modify a 961 Commando?

If I had the money, I would buy a WorksNorton Manx engine ( £12.5k) and replica Manx frame (£1800) and own choice of other parts. I have talked to Works boss Patrick, and a standard road box /kickstart is fine for road use, and a neat small alternator and electric decompressor are available, though I suspect a CNW electric leg could also be adapted.
 
A good Manx is a fabulous thing. A road going Manx has to be the ultimate cafe racer.

Then there’s more modern thoughts... like a 1200 Thaiumph engine in a purpose made featherbed replica frame?

Or, there’s something I’ve had on my my mind for a while... I love Rob NoRuth race bikes. I love the looks, I love the crisp sound of a well built triple engine. So, a road going Rob North would be cool.

Then there’s more modern thoughts... like a 675 Triumph triple engine in a purpose made Rob North replica frame. It’d still look and even sound right, could still have Triumph on the tank, but would be lighter, faster, more reliable and way cheaper to build.
 
Winter is coming and I’m itching for a project. I want to either start building a bike from bottom up or modify an existing bike.
Im a ex tool and die maker by trade and have Bridgeport mills, clausing lathe, metal shaping tools and machinery etc.

Ive always loved the 60s Norton Manx and Matchless G50 bikes and found the frames and parts to build a replica bike.
Or I also like modern Ducati cafe custom bikes.

I’m asking for opinions and ideas of what you’d do?
or would you modify a 961 Commando?

Please share your thoughts. I’m open to ideas. PS, I’m not interested in Japanese or American bikes sorry.
I admire your zeal and energy ! Would you consider making some go fast 961 parts for sale ? For example : Velocity stacks , oil discharge tanks , high flow air boxes with side duct scoops , oil tank reservoirs for extreme down hill and braking to combat oil starvation. All of these things would be exclusively for Norton 961 Commando or Domi . You could even develop a list of buyers beforehand . It would be awesome for me anyway if you could channel your expertise into the Norton 961 , we need this .
 
Really depends on your budget. If this is something that you are just getting into, why not start with a 68-77 Commando? Lots of opportunities for building parts (I also have a full machine shop, and build a lot of my own stuff), plus lots of economical parts available, and you can build something that is cool, rideable, and reliable.

My 2p.
 
I admire your zeal and energy ! Would you consider making some go fast 961 parts for sale ? For example : Velocity stacks , oil discharge tanks , high flow air boxes with side duct scoops , oil tank reservoirs for extreme down hill and braking to combat oil starvation. All of these things would be exclusively for Norton 961 Commando or Domi . You could even develop a list of buyers beforehand . It would be awesome for me anyway if you could channel your expertise into the Norton 961 , we need this .

I approve this posting!

Maybe throw in an FCR conversion kit, or supercharger, we need these too.

P.S. I need someone to do work on my MK3, so if you want to travel I have a project for you.:p
 
There was a Rob North type framed 675 on e bay a little while ago Eddie.
 
Geez, all you guys with machine shops and all my drifts are mushroomed with no lathe to fix them so I resort to a file :mad:

If you have a spare 10K and are willing to do the leg work finding parts and you are careful, you can build a 72-75 Commando stock. If you don't care about stock, you can do it for less or more depending on which way you go. For instance painting/power coating rusty footrests and rear brake levers black looks good and saves a lot of money over new chrome.

I prefer Commandos and 67 or later Triumphs so I don't know much about non-Commando Nortons and Matchless.
 
Winter is coming and I’m itching for a project. I want to either start building a bike from bottom up or modify an existing bike.
Im a ex tool and die maker by trade and have Bridgeport mills, clausing lathe, metal shaping tools and machinery etc.

You are posting this in the 961 forum, so I guess you have to aim for the 961. :)
 
If I decided to go with a period correct, as close to a accurate replica as I could get, Manx replica build, would it cost me more to build one than it would to buy a real deal manx?
 
If I decided to go with a period correct, as close to a accurate replica as I could get, Manx replica build, would it cost me more to build one than it would to buy a real deal manx?

That‘s a good question and will need some looking into. I don’t know the answer but I suspect it would be cheaper to build one, but I also suspect there would not be much in it.

I suppose other considerations are things like, what are you going to use it for? Road? Track? Office ornament? Investment?

If you want to use it, especially on the track, I’d definitely go with replica. Don’t forget the originals were GP machines, they were designed to be run for a certain number of hours and then have things replaced, right down to crank cases and frames! They were certainly not designed to be being raced 60 years on...

If you want an ornament or investment, an original bike might be better.

If you want to ride it on the road, you gotta think about how to register / title it legally etc.

You could do a lot worse than have a chat with Andy Molnar... he gets a bad rep from some, but his Manx‘s are simply exquisite.
 
If you want a cheap Manx then look at the Weslake and GM speedway 4V double knockers as the engine. TTI gearbox and fit to your frame of choice.
 
I have lusted for a featherbed International for years but when they do come up for sale they are out of my price range. I have pipe dreams of building one using the all new road going Manx formerly offered by Andy Molnar but he apparently has handed off production to someone else. ( this is also out of my $$ league - but this is a pipe dream , yes ? ) The difficult part as I see it would be the fuel tank . For me it would have to be just like the original Inter tank which is somewhat larger than the standard wideline tank .
In my fantasy I would find one to copy or have someone make for me .
It would also have to have Inter style tinware ( likely made of unobtanium) and pear shape silencer.
I am not likely to ever realize this dream but perhaps you can do it for me ...
 
I like this topic. And I appreciate all the input. I’m nowhere near knowledgeable on the Manx. I do know I always loved them and the Matchless G50’s.
What I want is one I can ride on the road, take to shows, admire it in my garage and enjoy. I do have a track local to me that would be nice to possibly take a few laps around, but my main enjoyment would be on the street.

I would much like to build or assemble as much as possible on my own, but as I said, I’m not a expert when it comes to these bikes. But I’m willing to learn and listen.

Thanks for all the input so far from everyone. Please keep the subject going and voice your opinions.
 
Build a replica Seeley Condor, plenty of frames available. A complete Seeley G50 replica, tidy and running could be bought for sensible money, all the specifications are in Colin Seeley's books for the Condor. Big advantage over a Manx is the G50 engine is more oil tight !
 
Dave Degens is still Mr Dresda, and he is still going. Bit of a different ball game to a Manx though really.

That‘s a 906cc 8 valve Dresda in my avatar, I raced several Dresda’s, also had a couple on the road, so I’m a big fan.
 
Dave Degens is still Mr Dresda, and he is still going. Bit of a different ball game to a Manx though really.

That‘s a 906cc 8 valve Dresda in my avatar, I raced several Dresda’s, also had a couple on the road, so I’m a big fan.
Why don’t you make a modern day equivalent of a Norton Commando with all of the inherent problems ironed out!
 
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