Classic Bike Guide: King of the cafes - 1955 Norvin Superbike

[@jimcockburn4652]

I first saw a Black Shadow more than fifty years ago and the exhaust note it produced has firmly rested in my memory ever since, The note from this Norvin is a great reminder and took me back to a more simple time.

[@paulnic7190]

Never heard of that mix. I’m a expat Left UK a long time ago. It’s a great looking bike. My wife’s uncle had a Vincent and G50 Matchless which he used to race. Don’t laugh when I say that our last bikes were Yamaha T W. Great for desert riding.

[@375GTB]

Well Done, lads... Well done... I missed my chance to build one up from a roller Domiracer frame Whilst working at Lovengreen's Cycle Savage, Tampa, FL... Winter of '69-'70 John Lovengreen talked me out of it.... thinking about the future.. PARTS, etc... It was MY choice.... ( We had both a Lightning and a Rapide engine, in crates, and several ex-Daytona rollers out back) Ended up with a Ducati Diana 250 with my cousin, which we raced in AMA club racing...around Florida And a '67 250 H-D Sprint for the road... Light and nimble.... Italians! But a NorVin is STILL my dream.. at age 69... Cheers! J.C.

[@liarliarliar6495]

That, my foreign friends, is a real old British classic, a genuine Yorkshireman (bike's not bad either!).

[@nealebradford6417]

what can one say, fantastic.

[@rover100bunson]

what a machine! thanks

[@375GTB]

Instant start on a Vinny! Oh, MY!

[@ElBretonAndaluz]

J’ai passé mon permis moto en 1968 à Saint Nazaire. À cette époque il n’y avait pas de moto école et on devait venir se présenter avec notre moto, donc on venait avec notre moto en roulant sans permis. L’inspecteur nous disait de partir et de faire le tour d’un pâté de maison et nus regardait démarrer, donc j’ai tendu le bras droit pour tourner et ensuite l’inspecteur ne me voyait plus jusqu’au retour. Je l’ai passé avec ma BSA 350cm3. Il y avait un autre gars qui était venu avec une 1.000 Vincent mais le pauvre n’a jamais réussi à faire démarrer sa moto donc pas de permis. C’était la première fois que je voyais une 1.000 Vincent et ça ne m’avait pas laissé une bonne impression mais c’était un magnifique moteur et c’était le plus gros à cette époque.

[@konaguzzi1]

awe sounds great

[@TheFokker03]

nice & electric start too.

[@dogpaw775]

what was special about the crank?. i don't believe i've seen a NorVin with the front frame loop removed before. very tidy.

[@karlbarlow8040]

There's a couple of legs missing off your feather bed.

[@1silvervespa]

Get someone to. eliminate that wind noise .... dang .

[@noriSRV]

oh Very nice cool

[@markkumanninen6524]

What would I give to have a ride? How about a day of my life. The last one.

[@mickeycrilly1839]

I fell in love with the Vincent at fifteen that’s fifty years ago I also fell madly in love with my gorgeous wife at eighteen and I still am in love with both will he swap this norvin for my wife and my three bikes please

[@garypatrick7817]

Electric start…!