Norton Manx Race Bike 1953 Fast, Light, Beautiful! Throwback Thursday 2

This amazing 1953 Norton Manx race bike used in the Isle of Man TT is a fabulous piece of rolling art with purpose. Wahoo!

[@colvinator1611]

I share your infectious enthusiasm, sir ! Back in 1980, I built a popular Triumph Norton special that looked very much like this bike. It had a pre unit 650 cc Triumph engine and was a lot of fun ! Thanks for the video. Colin UK.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Love hearing about these/your bike. Favorite type of video I make are the classic/vintage bikes. Thanks. Wahoo!

[@MrLeslloyd]

I remember watching these race back in the 60's,down the Phillip island straight they topped out at 125mph.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

You've lived a good life!

[@peterwilliams1618]

The carburetor is a inch and a half Amal GP , it is fitted with a remote float bowl , thats the item you thought was a fuel filter.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Thank you for that info. I'll have to take another look at that next time.

[@karlbarlow8040]

Barry Sheen won his last race on one of these. He couldn't believe how good it went after saying "I can't ride that f@#*ing thing!" The "feather bed" frame and road holder forks are still as good as anything modern if not better. A Norton test rider said the frame gave such a good ride, it was as comfortable as a feather bed.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Love it!

[@CaptWindShear]

My Dad rode one of these, I believe exactly 1953, for racing. Unfortunately he is not around anymore (no, nothing to do with bikes), so I cannot ask for anymore details. He used to call it the "Featherbed", too, and it was probably something to do with the lightness you were mentioning. And yes, it was bump started only. He described that procedure, third gear and coordinating landing sideways on the seat with a "thump of the rump" and letting the clutch out. No idea how to shut it off. Love to have a spin on it, myself. Great video, thanks.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

One of the few things more interesting than that motorcycle would be to talk to its rider back in the day. Thank you for the note :-)

[@jezHattoshNemeth]

Amal 302 float bowl, 1/4 banjo's TT carb...lovely

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

I'm thinking you know a lot more about this motorcycle than I do. It's a beautiful machine :-)

[@jezHattoshNemeth]

@@forgottenmotorcycles I'm probably wrong lol!, Guessing by the looks -running same float set up on a 833cc Comet single, but instead of the 10TT9 using a 1036, need those remotes or they starve - pop a piston at that stage -some had two as you know. . .beautiful stuff when dialled right. Stunning bit of kit there, just the best lookers too out of the bunch...best Jez

[@jarnosaarinen4583]

@@jezHattoshNemeth @peter Williams is correct inch & a half Amal GP

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

The men who us d to ride these things were a different breed. The last production Manx machines were assembled in 1962, when Italian and Japanese designs were leaving these expensive dinosaurs in the dust.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

beautiful machines!

[@danpos1971]

Thats the float bowl, not a fuel filter. I have seen these race ay Vintage TT races for many years. Very impressive bikes. I got to help push start one at the races :) What a sound! They are fast!

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Would love to hear this thing running. Am working on Baxter Cycle to let us take a few of these great vintage bikes out for a spin. Wish me luck. Wahoo!

[@johnutting9615]

The pipe you refered as the oil return is actually the oil feed to the cam box, the return is down the vertical shaft.

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

You are correct. Thank you

[@plumsink]

Thanks for the guided tour! I have reason to draw a Norton Manx for an art project of mine, but I have zero understanding of motorcycle innards. Your tour made it fairly comprehensible. Beautiful bike. The shiny metal cylinder on the left side of the engine contains a rod or something that actuates the valves?

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

I'm not sure. Am guessing that the tube on the right side of the engine is a shaft that runs from the engine crank to the overhead cam that actuates the valves on this motorcycle. Wahoo!

[@plumsink]

@@forgottenmotorcycles Oh I guess I meant the right side.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

Only part way into the video, and LOTS of mistakes. The first type of Manx Norton had a lugged and brazed traditional type frame and plunger rear suspension, made 1947-'52, and some favoured riders got dohc engines in 1949. The 'production' Manx got the pivoted fork 'featherbed' frame in 1953, still the long-stroke 79.5mm x 100mm dimensions going way back into the WW1 era on the first side valve road-going Nortons. The Manx engine went short-stoke in 1956. This bike is one of the first batch of featherbed Manx Nortons. Your quoted horspower figure of 47bhp is for an early short-stroke production Manx. 53 bhpwould be a good output for an early '60s tuned machine, now they are giving well into the 60-70 bhp range

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Always appreciate good information :-) thanks!

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

Amal monoblock gp carburetor old chap. 😊

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Thanks!

[@justinellingson4908]

Will be passing by the iron butt sign in Webster City and the fort Dodge area tomorrow around 12 or 1 pm on bike with my son if you can meet for short time July 1 I am on a 2006 Honda goldwing cherry red with custom painted eagles

[@forgottenmotorcycles]

Dang, would love to meet up but just can't make it. Could you post some pics of y'all and your bikes on our Forgotten Motorcycles Facebook page. Have a great ride. Wahoo!