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 Norton - 500 model 7/1
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Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
6602

Capacity : 500
Model : model 7/1
Production : 1949 - 1955
Category : (R) Street Bike

NORTON

500 Dominator Model7 ·1949

Following the fashion

Just after WWII, the fashion for parallel-twins -started in 1937 by the Triumph Speed Twin designed by Edward Turner- had spread to all the British makers.

Flattering by Imitation

Triumph had just won the TT with its sporty Tiger 100, and Norton- along with other British marques such as Ariel, AJS/ Matchless, Royal Enfield and BSA- built a machine with a similar specification, attempting to do as well (or better) by copying TriumphÂ’s example.

Too Heavy Â…

Norton entrusted the design of its twin to Bert Hopwood, who had worked at Triumph with Tumer. Because of the postwar restrictions on metal supply, the cylinder head of the Norton was in cast-iron rather than light-alloy like the Tiger 100, and Hopwood's main worry was to counteract overheating. Consequently, he used a very wide angle between the valves. Most of the twin's testing was carried out by a young rider named Geoff Duke, who later became one of the major stars of the post WWII period. The Model 7 Dominator was launched at the 1948 London Show. It was too heavy and did not have the acceleration expected of this type of engine, though it did possess a reasonable turn of speed. Joe Craig, who was then in charge of the Norton racing team and a bitter rival of Hopwood, was put in charge of its development, but the Triumph was still unbeatable. It was not until1951 that Norton - with an improved engine in a Featherbed frame- had a Dominator Deluxe that could really rival the Triumph.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 497cc (66x73mm) air-cooled 36odegree parallel-twin four-stroke; dry-sump lubrication

Power Rating: 29 hp@ 6100 rpm

Valves: overhead

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: orton 4-speed gearbox, chain final drive

Suspension: "Roadholder" telescopic forks (front); plunger (rear)

Brakes: 7 inch drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 21 inch (front); 19 inch (rear)

Weight: 412 lb

Maximum Speed: 90 mph

 

The Dominator Model 7 was Norton 's first twincylinder model since the Peugeot engined V-twin.

 




Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.