Which head steady is your favourite?

Which head steady have you found to be the best?

  • Total voters
    46
robs ss said:
Gee - Les E's offerings are nowhere to be seen! ;)
Click to expand...
Please... I'm not related to the bearded one, but you could/should have added Mick Hemmings too.
His were marketed as Norvil as well. no?
(And TBH with only nine relevant responses to ten possible answers, 'Ludwig's design' notwithstanding, then mathematically someone has to have drawn a blank so far)
 
Last edited:
EstuaryBoy said:
Please... I'm not related to the bearded one, but you could/should have added Mick Hemmings too.
His were marketed as Norvil as well. no?
(And TBH with only nine relevant responses to ten possible answers, 'Ludwig's design' notwithstanding, then mathematically someone has to have drawn a blank so far)
Click to expand...
It all depends if we are talking norvil as in the original norvil head steady
Or the Les Emory norvil shop norvil headsteady
If it's the Les Emory one then I have one but it doesn't fit
It won't clear the inside of my roadster tank
My mate also has an Emory one that fouls the inside of his Interstate tank
 
In all honestly I made a bit of a hash of this poll 🤬

The Norvil HS I had in mind was the 'Burntwood' version, and I'm not sure how that differed (if at all) from Mick Hemmings. It may be the same one?

In any case, I omitted to include the Norvil Factory Racer type.
 
Last edited:
baz said:
It all depends if we are talking norvil as in the original norvil head steady
Or the Les Emory norvil shop norvil headsteady
If it's the Les Emory one then I have one but it doesn't fit
It won't clear the inside of my roadster tank
My mate also has an Emory one that fouls the inside of his Interstate tank
Click to expand...

I was just typing a similar remark, when this came up baz.

I'll pop in Norvil Factory Racer to the options.

*EDIT* I don't seem to be able to make any further edits.
 
Bonzo said:
I'll pop in Norvil Factory Racer to the options.

*EDIT* I don't seem to be able to make any further edits.
Click to expand...


Can you change the "Other" option to Norvil Factory Racer, perhaps?
If not then I may be able to but I don't think I can add another option.
 
L.A.B. said:
Can you change the "Other" option to Norvil Factory Racer, perhaps?
If not then I may be able to but I don't think I can add another option.
Click to expand...
'fraid not :(

It's not letting me make any changes at all (I also wanted to knock out the 'Old Britts + spring' as noted above).

If you are able to access it Les, feel free to make any changes you see fit (cos I cocked it up a little ;))
 
I've changed Other to Norvil Factory Racer.


Bonzo said:
The Norvil HS I had in mind was the 'Burntwood' version, and I'm not sure how that differed (if at all) from Mick Hemmings. It may be the same one?
Click to expand...

Burntwood 'Norvil' (Norvil Norvil?) and Hemmings 'Norvil' are separate copies of the original 'Factory Norvil' steady (and other 'Factory Norvil' parts).
After Mick Hemmings retired, Andover Norton acquired the rights to the Hemmings Norvil parts (Edit: correction, I believe AN's Norvil steady is made to an original Peter Williams drawing) plus there's Norman White 'Norvil'.
 
Last edited:
L.A.B. said:
I've changed Other to Norvil Factory Racer.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much 👍

L.A.B. said:
Burntwood 'Norvil' (Norvil Norvil?) and Hemmings 'Norvil' are separate copies of the original 'Factory Norvil' steady (and other 'Factory Norvil' parts).
After Mick Hemmings retired, Andover Norton acquired the rights to the Hemmings Norvil parts plus there's Norman White 'Norvil'.
Click to expand...
Blimey!
 
I had voted "other" (Home made) so removed my vote as it's obviously not a Norvil.

EDIT : Although I removed my vote ( I thought) I am then prompted to vote for another one and have no option not to cast a vote.
 
Bonzo said:
Blimey!
Click to expand...

Some history.
Quote from the old Mick Hemmings catalogue:
(2010 post)
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/dealers.5480/post-59165


"THE NORVIL® TRADEMARK
On NOVEMBER 4TH, 1994 at the Patent Office, London, the Comptroller General for
the Trade Marks Registry gave judgement that MR. LES EMERY, trading as FAIR
SPARES (Now trading as The Norvil M/C Company) has no exclusive Rights
whatsoever, to the Trade Mark “NORVIL”.
1. It was also his judgement that Andover Norton had not inherited from Norton Villiers
Performance Shop Ltd., any Rights to the NORVIL Trade Mark and thus, in effect,
had no Rights to assign to Mr. L. Emery. (Now trading as The Norvil M/C Company).
2. It was also clear that Andover Norton had never used the name NORVIL as a Trade
Mark.
3. No proof was given in evidence by “FAIR SPARES” that they had ever purchased
from Andover Norton, any so-called “Genuine” Jigs, Fixtures, Tools or drawings for
NORVIL parts.
4. MICK HEMMINGS MOTORCYCLES have been continuously manufacturing
NORVIL parts in the period 1974 to present, with the knowledge and assistance of
both ANDOVER NORTON and NORTON MOTORS LTD.
A FULL COPY OF THE COURT TRANSCRIPT WITH SUPPORTING EVIDENCE IS
AVAILABLE AT MICK HEMMINGS MOTORCYCLES FOR INSPECTION BY ANYONE
WHO WISHES.
®THE NORVIL TRADEMARK IS NOW OWNED BY BOTH COMPANIES."
 
I cast my vote for the Dave Taylor with spring because other than the stock original on my 72 Combat Roadster, it is the only one I have experienced. I had to do a little file work on the frame clamp ( see notch at upper left corner in photo) in order for it to be positioned so the dogbone link sat square across the chassis but to be fair my main frame is a new one from Andover. Perhaps it would not have been needed if the frame was original. Handling is definitely better. It takes up more room in the tank tunnel and I had to re route the harness .
Which head steady is your favourite?
 
Last edited:
cliffa said:
I had voted "other" (Home made) so removed my vote as it's obviously not a Norvil.

EDIT : Although I removed my vote ( I thought) I am then prompted to vote for another one and have no option not to cast a vote.
Click to expand...

Sorry Cliff.

I clearly didn't do the research before I posted the poll.

My round first in August 👍 🍻
 
Back
Top