Nortons

[Motu]

There's a Norton rotary in Auckland,I could find out who's got it,but that would be telling secrets.MOTAT has a horrible Spuzuki rotary - I passed one up for a good price once,good move eh?

Somewhere I have an old magazine telling the story about it's development - seems some guy had a shed out the back of the BSA factory doing the development work,it was first put in an A10 frame I think.In all dramas as the place went down the gurglers this guy was forgotten - 2 rolls of toilet paper a week and a bottle of milk charged out went un noticed.One day someone opened the door to his shed and said - oi,wot's this then...ah,I've built a new bike,take it for a spin.

[FROSTY:Me]

YA know ive often wondered what would happen if ya took modern engine management systems and applied em to one of tthose rotaries how well it would go.

[James Deuce]

YA know ive often wondered what would happen if ya took modern engine management systems and applied em to one of tthose rotaries how well it would go.

They are absolutely unreal. The new RX8 sports version puts out as much HP and slightly more torque than the old RX7 turbo, without a turbo. They've done this by moving the inlet and exhaust ports to the edges of the casing, so the inlet and exhaust enters and exits in the same plane as the rotor is turning, improving scavenging and breathing tremendously. The old fuel consumption bugbear is largely fixed by this method and the engines are supposed to last 250,000 km without a rebuild.

I think the technology was slightly immature when it was released. Improved bearing and seal technology have turned it into a real alternative as a powerplant but because of 30 years of teething dramas it is very hard to get manufacturers to commit.

[nedj]

Thank you ladies and gentleman. Your responses have been very intresting.
I will without a doubt visit the some of those bikes when oppertunity arises. Though I imagine curators would not to be happy with allow you to take the bike for a quick test drive. :disapint:
The latest rotary motor that I was aware of was the norton used by the police force in the UK in the (not 100% sure) 75's somewhere.
Does anybody know of any more recent designs of rotary motors for motorcycles?
As you have said, with newer technology the results ought to be impressive.

[White trash]

Norton had that 600cc John Player Special thing. Bloody sexy machine.

[James Deuce]

Thank you ladies and gentleman. Your responses have been very intresting.
I will without a doubt visit the some of those bikes when oppertunity arises. Though I imagine curators would not to be happy with allow you to take the bike for a quick test drive. :disapint:
The latest rotary motor that I was aware of was the norton used by the police force in the UK in the (not 100% sure) 75's somewhere.
Does anybody know of any more recent designs of rotary motors for motorcycles?
As you have said, with newer technology the results ought to be impressive.

Norton was racing and winning with rotaries in the late 80s/early 90s. The big problem with them is how to measure capacity. Do you measure the entire swept volume or just the firing chamber? Still bedevils race organisers this question.

[White trash]

Here it is,

[Jackrat]

Here it is,

That looks just like the bike I saw at Pukekohe.
93-94 maybe?????

[rodgerd]

YA know ive often wondered what would happen if ya took modern engine management systems and applied em to one of tthose rotaries how well it would go.

Well, the RX8 gets a smidgen under 200HP/litre from a normally aspirated engine, while still producing enough torque to be a viable car engine.

[pete376403]

Norton was racing and winning with rotaries in the late 80s/early 90s. The big problem with them is how to measure capacity. Do you measure the entire swept volume or just the firing chamber? Still bedevils race organisers this question.

The norton race engine was environmentally very dirty, the rotor was cooled internally by passing air through it (a vacuum connection to the exhaust helped pull the air through) however this picked up a lot of oil mist from the crankshaft. That was the main reason this engine didn't directly convert to the street. The road motor was internally oil cooled, like mazdas. More weight, more complexity, less power. That and a whole lot of other things meant that it was a case of too little, too late to save norton

[pete376403]

go here http://www.monito.com/wankel/motorcycles.html

[Kickaha]

Norton had their first victory at the Isle of Man since 1961 on a Norton Rotary in 1992 ridden by Steve Hislop I can remember watching the race and the unique sound of the bike,he beat Carl Fogarty to win that one even though King Frog set the fastest lap.

http://www.scottishbiker.com/Writeups/NortonRR.html

[nedj]

That is intresting the article you pointed out. I never new the norton won the Isle of Man.
Makes you wonder if Norton ever branded there product correctly what the outcome would have been.
None the less I see the Norton Rotary lives on in Ultralights/microlights. Flying motorcylces

[pete376403]

Nothing wrong with the Norton branding. The problem was with the Norton management.

[boris]

1977-78 Hercules W2000. west german made .350lb did about 100mph top speed,294cc swept volume,what ever that is
suzuki re5 japan 114mph 506lb 497cc. both very ugly motorcycles,and drank gas like mad.