NORTON MOTORCYCLES

Norton is celebrating its 125th year, and London Concours is paying tribute with a line-up of historic machines that tell the rollercoaster story of this beloved motorcycle marque.

It all began in 1898, when James Lansdowne Norton – Pa – started building motorcycles in Birmingham. Nine years on, the firm was both making its own engines and celebrating its first Isle of Man TT victory.

After contributing to the war effort, Norton returned to selling customer bikes and winning at the TT. In 1924, Alec Bennett took the first victory averaging more than 60mph – Nortons would top the podium for the next ten out of 12 years, before withdrawing from competition.

With the onset of WW2, the firm again stepped up, making nearly a quarter of all British military bikes. Once hostilities ceased, the brand again made its mark at the TT, winning every year between 1947 and 1954. It also returned to civilian production, most notably with the 1949 Dominator twin. The competition grew fierce, but Norton would again reclaim top status with the Featherbed frame used by the Manx Norton.

By the 1960s, the brand was in trouble and passed through several owners, although the arrival of the 1967 Commando was a highlight – it was more powerful than its Triumph and BSA rivals, and used a novel Isolastic frame. More turmoil came, although Steve Hislop’s 1992 TT win was a highlight.

Now under new management, Norton has returned to what it does best – analogue, back-tobasics bikes with the renegade TT spirit coursing through their fuel lines. The Commando 961 pays tribute to the model that helped forge the Norton legend, while the V4SV and V4CR bring hardcore immediacy and raw thrills to the sports-bike sector. Here’s to the next 125 years.

1902 ENERGETTE: Incredibly rare, and one of the oldest Nortons in existence.

1916 MODEL 1: A favourite of Pa Norton; a photograph of one of these is on his grave.

1921 MODEL 1: Another rare favourite, this bike was marketed as a vehicle for professionals such as doctors.

1929 JE350: A very rare saddle-tank race bike, one of fewer than six in the world.

1930 SPEEDWAY BIKE: One of only four complete bikes left; race bikes were gifted to accomplished racers.

1940 MILITARY 16H: Built under army contract for World War Two.

1950 500T: Iconic trials bike, this one outfitted for competition.

1950 MANX 30M: Purpose-built race bike, with full race engine.

1956 INTERNATIONAL FEATHERBED: Restored bike with the legendary Norton Featherbed frame.

1959 88 DELUXE: Another rare bike; most discarded the plastics at the time, so few remain.

1963 ATLAS SCRAMBLER: Very rare off-road version of the 745cc Atlas.

1966 JUBILEE: A 249cc twin created for new UK learner laws.

1968 ATLAS POLICE BIKE: Used in royal protection, this example escorted Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and (the then) Prince Charles.

1969 MERCURY 650: The last Featherbed Norton built to fend off increased competition from Japan.

1988 ROTARY CLASSIC: Limited run of 100, and the only one never road registered.

1990 F1 ROTARY: I conic John Player Special livery, this one belonged to Steve Spray.

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