How can I turn my Norton into a bobber

As a youngster who just jumped right into making a custom bike and making plenty of mistakes along the way, I've finally finished this norton chopper. But having never rode a chopper before, I really don't like the way long-raked bikes handle. And i think the bobbers are alot cooler since they go back to the 50's.

I guess i built the frame with all this rake to accomodate the really nice springer that i got a great deal on.

Here is the problem. I want to keep the hardtail frame that i spent so much time making and are incredibly rare for nortons, but i want to make it into a bobber. Does anyone make front ends that reduce rake so i won't have to start all over again?

I'd love to make it into the bobber look, (big 21 inch front tire, shorter front end, but keep the bottom of frame level.

thanks for looking,

 

nother pic,

The only thing i can think of the easiest way is to get a front end builder to design a front end that has a elbow bend right below where the front end would fit into the neck. As far as i know, it's almost impossible to find people that can change the actual neck rake on an existing frame because of liability. And the only way to do it that way is to put the frame on a jig, which means taking bike completely down which took me a year just to figure out how to wire it.....

 

A shorter front end combined with less rake. You have to cut and take the rake out of 'neck' of your present frame. Shame. Love the look of this set up. Be nice ($$) to have another bike to build a bobber from. There is alot of stretch in your frame too. Study the conservitve bobber's that have realistic ride height, handlebar's height that allow longer distance's without fatigue and tube lenghth of front fork's. Severe rake cause's 'flopper' bike handling and bigger turn radius.

 

what? an elbow bend, so it'll like, look bent and stuff when viewed from the side?

that'd be pretty lame, and you'd end up with an even worse handling (and looking) bike



look, to get that "bobber" look you guess you want, you're gonna have to put some work in, like anybody else would.

short cuts usually just end up with shit



p.s. what's so rare about the frame?

 

crap, that's what i'm afraid of... (cutting neck and changing)

does anyone do that without taking the bike completely apart? don't they have to put the frame by itself on a jig to cut the neck and change it?

what would a place charge to disassemble and do it all?

see i'm full time college student, with minimal time. I mean really minimal.

 

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what? an elbow bend, so it'll like, look bent and stuff when viewed from the side?

that'd be pretty lame, and you'd end up with an even worse handling (and looking) bike



look, to get that "bobber" look you guess you want, you're gonna have to put some work in, like anybody else would.

short cuts usually just end up with shit



p.s. what's so rare about the frame?

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hardtails for Nortons are incredibly hard to find.
sometimes you find an old one from the 70's on ebay but there never any good.

Triumph hardtails are a dime a dozen. I made my own frame because of this.... Although i did find out afterwards there is one man in the country named Horton on the Chopper Underground that has a jig for norton hardtails, but i bet he's the only one.

 

why not take it to whoever did the frame mods in the first place?

or did you do it, in which case i think you'd be able to undo the process?

 

it's going to take alot to make that into a bobber. That bike is cool as is. just leave it alone and build another 'bobber' style bike.

 

hey man,

why dont you sell that chopper and start again? its an awesome looking bike... and maybe to try and make a bobber out of it is just too much in the way of compromises?

Danny

 

I'm afraid you're gonna have to redo the neck - you could gooseneck it, but I think it's stretched too much - better off starting from scratch.

Option 2 - find another frame & modify to suit.

PLEASE change your signature - as much as I love Nortons (I have a Norton bobber project myself), that gigantic pic of the tranny is a bandwidth hog & distracting!

Where are you going to college?

 

I made the frame myself, and the old timer that showed me how to do it does not believe in cutting necks on existing frames, and if he did, he would do it on a jig.

but i've seen alot of old school photos of new englanders that take triumphs with the engine still in the frame and then cut the downtubes and do it that way, but i can't find any shops to do that so far. that's what i'm getting at.. (need to find a shop that will cut the down tubes withi engine in the frame, then adjust backbone and get right neck rake.

 

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hey man,

why dont you sell that chopper and start again? its an awesome looking bike... and maybe to try and make a bobber out of it is just too much in the way of compromises?

Danny

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I was thinking about that. I would love to trade it for a bobber. a good triumph bobber with a big bore kit to be as fast as this high compression Norton. everything is rebuilt or new on it. maybe i could find someone with too many panhead bobbers?

 

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need to find a shop that will cut the down tubes withi engine in the frame

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Why do you want to do that? Cuz that big ol' Norton lump weighs a fucking ton? Try putting it in/taking it out by laying the frame on its side...

You really don't want to cut/weld/rework the frame with the engine in there...too much stress on various parts of the frame.

 

So, Norton you want to keep the same dimensions on that frame and still try to get that 50's style bobber look?
That is gonna be hard to pull off because as a rule, bobbers have stock dimensions. Good Luck.

 

yeah, i guess it would be hard. I'll just ride it until i can sell it or trade it good enough for a nice bobber.

I love the norton, It's so cool looking, and kind of a rarity. It's a long stroke and sounds alot better than a triumph engine.

 

Thanks!

So where you going to school there in FLA?

 

FSU,

and you're welcome,......

 

An outstanding institute of higher learning! Some of the greatest minds ever have come from there. Too cool! Good on ya! Go 'Noles!



PS - Betcha can't figure out where I went!

 

It would be a cryin shame to re-do that bike cause it has nice lines plus a Norton engine---you are nearly a crowd of one. Build another bike if you're dyin' for the bobber 'look'....... BUT, if you're really interested in THIS bike....CHANGE the HANDLEBARS!! Make some WIDER bars!!!That will help more than you know the poor handling characteristics you're gripin' about.

It's all about leverage, my friend

mid-tenn mike

 

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It's all about leverage, my friend

mid-tenn mike

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spoken by a man with an 96" reach

but he's right....even drag bars over the whiskeys would make a big difference

 

Too nice a bike to foul up and I don't think you will be satisfied with the results. Don't even think about using the bent elbow forks. Build a new frame and switch the drivetrain back and forth if you have to.

 

Flat Ernie -- how about some pics of your bobber?

... and Snorton -- How would one go about tracking down Horton and his hardtails? (Sounds like a Dr Seuss story )

 

[ QUOTE ]
It would be a cryin shame to re-do that bike cause it has nice lines plus a Norton engine---you are nearly a crowd of one. Build another bike if you're dyin' for the bobber 'look'....... BUT, if you're really interested in THIS bike....CHANGE the HANDLEBARS!! Make some WIDER bars!!!That will help more than you know the poor handling characteristics you're gripin' about.

It's all about leverage, my friend

mid-tenn mike

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yeah, you're right. I already fixed the handle bars, this pic is about 6 months old, sorry.

let me rephrase... Instead of saying i want the bobber look i should of just said.......... I want to make a short front end and big tire ( i don't want to change anything else like the seat i made, or the tank...)

 

CUT IT!!!!!

 

Thanks Hatch, that's basicly what i'm talking about.

I have photoshop also but i've been busy printing stuff for my brother.

thanks for the help. I could possibly keep this idea in mind if i ever come across someone who might help me.

anyone want to trade?

 

I Like It!!!!

 

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Flat Ernie -- how about some pics of your bobber?

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Not much to show just yet - only pics I've got are when I first drug it home. I've acquired a Triumph (I think) hardtail that I'm going to adapt - I had planned on just putting hard struts in it & removing the rear subframe - kinda like Hatch did on one of his, but the hardtail popped up cheap. Still trying to sort out a front end - the one in the pic is an unknown jap that was cobbled together with goofy spacers in the neck area - got a couple options, but still not settled. Sort of on hold for right now...

 

is that a pre-unit?

 

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is that a pre-unit?

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But of course - it was originally an N15CS - Altas hybrid during the AMC/Matchless years - this one is an early 1966. Standard Atlas 750 engine - pretty much same as Commando, but w/o isoelastic headaches = more vibration!

 

I'm glad this topic was brought up, because I was thinking about turning my 59 Buick into a bobber.

Anyone know where I should start?