Norton Atlas
Encyclopedia
The Norton Atlas was a Norton motorcycle
made by between 1962 and 1968, until it was replaced by the Norton Commando
.
’s 497cc Dominator
engine was bored and stroked out to 745cc, via 600cc and then 650cc versions, to appeal to the American market and initially was only produced for export. The styling was also aimed at the US market with high-rise handlebars, small 2.5-gallon petrol tank and valanced chrome mudguards and chain guard. The look was completed with a heavy-duty WM3-18 rear wheel and a Lucas Competition magneto was supplied as standard.
The engine had lower compression than the Dominator (at 7.6:1) and was fitted with a single 376 Amal monobloc carb giving 55 bhp at 6500&nbps;rpm. However the design also produced excessive vibration at high revs, so the compression ratio was reduced. The Atlas shared many cycle parts with the last of the Domminator twins and had Norton’s four-speed gearbox and heavy-duty clutch. Electrics were 6-Volt and it had Roadholder forks, adjustable Girling rear shocks and a slimline Featherbed frame
.
In 1964 the Atlas was upgraded to 12-Volt electrics, gained an extra carburettor and wider yokes. A UK version was launched with flat bars and twin instruments. The Atlas continued to be built until 1968 but by then the Norton Commando
had taken over.
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 1968, until it was replaced by the Norton Commando
Norton Commando
The Norton Commando is a British motorcycle with an ohv pre-unit parallel twin engine, launched by the Norton Motorcycle company in 1967. Initially a nominal 750 cc displacement, actually , in 1973 it became an 850 cc, actually ....
.
Development
The Mark 1 Atlas was launched as the 750SS in the early 1960s. Designer Bert HopwoodBert Hopwood
Herbert "Bert" Hopwood was a British motorcycle designer. He helped with some of the most influential designs for the British motorcycle industry and worked for Ariel, Norton, BSA and Triumph.-Motorcycle design career:...
’s 497cc 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....
engine was bored and stroked out to 745cc, via 600cc and then 650cc versions, to appeal to the American market and initially was only produced for export. The styling was also aimed at the US market with high-rise handlebars, small 2.5-gallon petrol tank and valanced chrome mudguards and chain guard. The look was completed with a heavy-duty WM3-18 rear wheel and a Lucas Competition magneto was supplied as standard.
The engine had lower compression than the Dominator (at 7.6:1) and was fitted with a single 376 Amal monobloc carb giving 55 bhp at 6500&nbps;rpm. However the design also produced excessive vibration at high revs, so the compression ratio was reduced. The Atlas shared many cycle parts with the last of the Domminator twins and had Norton’s four-speed gearbox and heavy-duty clutch. Electrics were 6-Volt and it had Roadholder forks, adjustable Girling rear shocks and a slimline 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...
.
In 1964 the Atlas was upgraded to 12-Volt electrics, gained an extra carburettor and wider yokes. A UK version was launched with flat bars and twin instruments. The Atlas continued to be built until 1968 but by then the Norton Commando
Norton Commando
The Norton Commando is a British motorcycle with an ohv pre-unit parallel twin engine, launched by the Norton Motorcycle company in 1967. Initially a nominal 750 cc displacement, actually , in 1973 it became an 850 cc, actually ....
had taken over.