Norton 650SS
Encyclopedia
The 650SS was a Norton motorcycle
made by between 1962 and 1967 at Norton’s Bracebridge Street works in Birmingham
. Developed from the Norton Dominator
, the Featherbed frame
was altered so that the top rails were closer together to create what became known as the 'slimline featherbed'. A 650cc twin carburettor engine was installed which was capable of 110 mile per hour. The 'SS' stood for Super Sports and the 600cc models were discontinued to concentrate on production of the 650SS, which quickly earned a reputation as the best of the Dommies.
as the main export model.
The 650SS was developed from the model 99SS
, with the stroke increased from 82 to 89mm. Fitted as standard with twin Amal Monobloc carburettors with the intakes angled downwards. Twin exhausts replaced the 99SS two-into-one and the headlight nacelle was replaced with a modernised speedometer and tachometer. The 650SS was finished in a black frame with silver fuel tank and optional chrome fenders.
In February 1962 Motor Cycling
magazine achieved a best one-way speed of 119.5mph at MIRA
with a 650SS, more than 10mph faster than the rival Triumph Bonneville
tested the previous summer.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
made by between 1962 and 1967 at Norton’s Bracebridge Street works in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Developed from the Norton Dominator
Norton Dominator
The Dominator is a twin cylinder motorcycle developed by Norton to compete against the Triumph Speed Twin. The original Dominator was designed in 1947 and 1948 by Bert Hopwood, who had been on the Speed Twin design team at Triumph....
, the Featherbed frame
Featherbed frame
The featherbed frame was a motorcycle frame developed by the British Norton motorcycle company to improve the performance of their racing motorcycles around the twisting and demanding Isle of Man TT course in 1950. It was considered revolutionary at the time, and the best handling frame that a...
was altered so that the top rails were closer together to create what became known as the 'slimline featherbed'. A 650cc twin carburettor engine was installed which was capable of 110 mile per hour. The 'SS' stood for Super Sports and the 600cc models were discontinued to concentrate on production of the 650SS, which quickly earned a reputation as the best of the Dommies.
Development
Norton produced a touring 650 in 1961 for export, sold in the US as the Manxman. In 1962 the 650SS was developed for the home market and in the same year Norton launched the 745cc Norton AtlasNorton Atlas
The Norton Atlas was a Norton motorcycle made by between 1962 and 1968, until it was replaced by the Norton Commando.-Development:The Mark 1 Atlas was launched as the 750SS in the early 1960s. Designer Bert Hopwood’s 497cc Dominator engine was bored and stroked out to 745cc, via 600cc and then...
as the main export model.
The 650SS was developed from the model 99SS
Norton Dominator
The Dominator is a twin cylinder motorcycle developed by Norton to compete against the Triumph Speed Twin. The original Dominator was designed in 1947 and 1948 by Bert Hopwood, who had been on the Speed Twin design team at Triumph....
, with the stroke increased from 82 to 89mm. Fitted as standard with twin Amal Monobloc carburettors with the intakes angled downwards. Twin exhausts replaced the 99SS two-into-one and the headlight nacelle was replaced with a modernised speedometer and tachometer. The 650SS was finished in a black frame with silver fuel tank and optional chrome fenders.
In February 1962 Motor Cycling
Motor Cycling (magazine)
Motor Cycling was one of the first British motorcycle magazines. Launched in 1903, its green cover led to it being called "The Green 'un" to distinguish it from its rival publication The Motor Cycle. The editor, Graham Walker, was a dispatch rider in the First World War and had a successful racing...
magazine achieved a best one-way speed of 119.5mph at MIRA
MIRA
MIRA may refer to:* Margin Infused Relaxed Algorithm* Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia* Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy* Movimiento Independiente de Renovación Absoluta* Motor Industry Research Association...
with a 650SS, more than 10mph faster than the rival Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
tested the previous summer.