Hey, so where would you buy a Norton Featherbed frame?

[HenryDorsetCase]

because this bike:

http://www.bikeexif.com/triumph-triton

seems like the perfect Triton to me.

and there's a Bonnie being wrecked on tardme at present and the motor and loom and stuff is all intact.

[Voltaire]

http://www.manxnorton.co.nz/

[HenryDorsetCase]

Stupid me. Of course.

Plus I can just send them the motor and say: Fit it. The cycle parts I can do (18 inch spoked alloy rims, AP Lockheed disc and carrier, bit of faffing with the fuel tank and away I go.

It'd be on the road for $10k dear (thats what I would tell her knowing it would owe me $20k finished)

[Motu]

Ken McIntosh used to make featherbeds that are legal for classic racing, he probably still churns them out.

(edit)Oh, I see Voltaire's link was to McIntosh.

[neels]

It'd be on the road for $10k dear (thats what I would tell her knowing it would owe me $20k finished)

There's always unexpected costs in a project, but once you've started you're just wasting the money you've already spent if you don't finish it

[Voltaire]

Is this the one..... sounds like a can of Thai worms to me....

[HenryDorsetCase]

Is this the one..... sounds like a can of Thai worms to me....

Its way too dear even now that one. Plus the head casting is cracked.....

better off picking up a whole bike for $8k and selling the un needed bits. Plus you'd get live rego etc. Cut off the headstock with the vin plate on, bada boom, bada bing, done.

[GSF]

British Spares had new Commando 750 and 850 frames for sale a while back, maybe check with them and see if they have a line on Featherbeds?

That Triton is nice looking! Only thing about the Hinckley motors I don't like are the cam covers... nothing wrong with them, but something about them just doesn't work visually.

[jellywrestler]

you'll find the frame in the first piccie with the modern triumph engine is a recent design just for those motors so people can make modern tritons.
custom made so it can bolt in, but you can't get the rocker cover off with the engine in situ, you gotta take the whole motor out, not a big hassle if you're an enthusiast though

[Motu]

Try taking a Norton head off in a featherbed - a Triton was a breeze in comparison....easier than in a Triumph frame.

[Bender]

Lookee lookee - be cheaper than a new frame. Depends how good it is I suppose but also a few spares to sell off to defray expenses.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-527637660.htm

[Johny Brando]

Stupid me. Of course.

Plus I can just send them the motor and say: Fit it. The cycle parts I can do (18 inch spoked alloy rims, AP Lockheed disc and carrier, bit of faffing with the fuel tank and away I go.

It'd be on the road for $10k dear (thats what I would tell her knowing it would owe me $20k finished)

Yeh..... your not wrong I recently built my period Classic Cafe Racer ground -up . Went a bit deep & it ended up a years work & owe's me $15000. Aussie Dollars that is . Good job I built it to keep aye .....heh, no regrets though .Maybe not every one's Cup of Tea but I luv it & the thing is it's part of me now & theres only one SR-500 like it . Cheers buddy.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Holy crap, thats awesome. GREAT job.

[Winston001]

Always nice to have a project but it can wear you out. Be aware of that.

I lusted after a Norton Commando for many years. In fact I still do lol. But by the time I could afford one, memories of mates in student days who couldn't reliably go for a long ride on their British bikes, hiring trailers for the rescue, fiddling and tinkering to get the damned machines to start...a Norton just seemed too much worry.

Of course you are looking at a modern engine etc which changes the game.

I've always thought a Honda CX 500 would make an interesting project and there are some interesting examples.

Personally if I bought another bike and thinking along the same lines as you HDC, I'd get a 916 Ducati. Pin your ears back power, classic machine, complex motor, and sex on a stick.

[Grumph]

To get back to the original question...Ken's good but no one can deny he's expensive. There are two sources in the South Island for featherbeds. A guy in Nelson has been making them for some years but he had his jigs up for sale on trademe last year so i have no idea whether this is still an option. There is another in ChCh - not me for those who know me,lol - if you're serious PM me and I'll give you his contact details. Last time I saw him he told me he'd been asked by a rep for one of the m/cycle trade wholesalers to do a batch of them.I don't know if he went ahead, he was reluctant to commit that much time. One offs with a longer time scale are easier to fit in around a full time job.....

Ken also used to have some rules around what you could have....International copy rather than Manx for certain end uses to comply with the Register rules.....