Norton Jubilee
Encyclopedia
The Jubilee is a Norton
motorcycle
made from 1958 and 1966. Named to commemorate Norton's Diamond Jubilee, the 249 cc Jubilee was a break with Norton tradition designed in response to UK legislation introduced in 1960 limiting learner riders to motorcycles of under 250 cc. It had the smallest engine ever made by Norton, and was the first Norton with a unit construction
engine and gearbox.
with main and big-end bearings identical to those used on Hopwood's Norton Dominator
engine ten years before. Having the smallest Norton engine, the Jubilee was also the first Norton with a unit construction
engine and gearbox. The engine dimensions of 60mm x 44mm gave it a short stroke and produced only 16bhp, so it required high revs to reach usable speeds.
Designed around an unusual crank in which the central flywheel has a narrow section but large diameter, the new engine gained a reputation for oil leaks and unreliability. After Hopwood changed the crankshaft material from cast to nodular iron and improved the gearbox layshaft bush, the Jubilee proved more reliable and sales slowly increased.
The new engine was in an old frame and the gearbox from older motorcycles in the AMC Group's
range. The front frame tube was a steel pressing and the lightweight forks, brakes and wheels were Francis Barnett parts. Originally sold as a 'De Luxe' model with a fully enclosed rear end, the Standard model arrived in 1961, continuing in production until 1966. An estimated 5,000 Jubilees were built at Norton's Bracebridge Street works before production was transferred to their Woolwich
factory in 1963.
Norton (motorcycle)
Norton is a British motorcycle marque, originally from Birmingham, founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". By 1902, they had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, a Norton-built engine was added to the range...
motorcycle
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 from 1958 and 1966. Named to commemorate Norton's Diamond Jubilee, the 249 cc Jubilee was a break with Norton tradition designed in response to UK legislation introduced in 1960 limiting learner riders to motorcycles of under 250 cc. It had the smallest engine ever made by Norton, and was the first Norton with a unit construction
Unit construction
Unit construction is a term used to describe the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. The term is sometimes applied to the design of automobile engines and was often loosely applied to motorcycles with rather different internal layouts such as...
engine and gearbox.
Development
Launched in 1958 the Norton Jubilee was named in celebration of Norton Motorcycles' Diamond Jubilee of 60 years of motorcycle manufacture. The engine was a new design by 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:...
with main and big-end bearings identical to those used on Hopwood's 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....
engine ten years before. Having the smallest Norton engine, the Jubilee was also the first Norton with a unit construction
Unit construction
Unit construction is a term used to describe the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. The term is sometimes applied to the design of automobile engines and was often loosely applied to motorcycles with rather different internal layouts such as...
engine and gearbox. The engine dimensions of 60mm x 44mm gave it a short stroke and produced only 16bhp, so it required high revs to reach usable speeds.
Designed around an unusual crank in which the central flywheel has a narrow section but large diameter, the new engine gained a reputation for oil leaks and unreliability. After Hopwood changed the crankshaft material from cast to nodular iron and improved the gearbox layshaft bush, the Jubilee proved more reliable and sales slowly increased.
The new engine was in an old frame and the gearbox from older motorcycles in the AMC Group's
Associated Motor Cycles
Associated Motor Cycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by the Collier brothers as a parent company for the Matchless and AJS motorcycle companies...
range. The front frame tube was a steel pressing and the lightweight forks, brakes and wheels were Francis Barnett parts. Originally sold as a 'De Luxe' model with a fully enclosed rear end, the Standard model arrived in 1961, continuing in production until 1966. An estimated 5,000 Jubilees were built at Norton's Bracebridge Street works before production was transferred to their Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
factory in 1963.