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Norton RCE Motorcycles, Hovercraft, Drones and more
Norton F1

The Norton Manufacturing Company was created in 1898 by James Landsdowne Norton. Motorcycles were built as early as 1907 and winning races. By 1913 it had become Norton Motors Ltd and was making motorcycles in Birmingham, England.

Norton's involvement with rotary combustion engines began with the amalgamation of Norton-Villiers and BSA-Triumph to form Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT) in 1973. The Birmingham Small Arms Co., Ltd., (BSA) had obtained an NSU license in July 1972 a Wankel project codenamed P41. They had built a Fichtel & Sachs motor into a Victor frame for testing.

In 1973, two or three prototypes were built based on the Triumph oil in frame type frame and using Triumph T140/150 parts, left hand primary drive.

In 1974 through 1976 financial troubles almost scuttled NVT. The P41 project was then located at the Shenstone, Lichfield, Staffordshire facilities. Around 1977 work was moved to Birmingham to an experimental laboratory.
Norton Interpol II Motorcycle

Norton Motors (1978) Ltd was formed in 1978 as a motorcycle division. A number of RCE prototypes had been shown to the press and received favourably. 25 Mark I prototypes were built in 1979. In 1981 a Mark II appeared, which eventually went into production as the Interpol II. 130 machines were purchased by police forces in 1983. Additional units were bought by the British armed forces and the Royal Automobile Club. The reservoir for the total loss oil system is contained in the box spine frame, which is welded. Last unit was produced in 1988.

Engine 2 x 294 = 588 cc, air cooled
Power 85 bhp
Brakes Brembo discs
Production 380 (N.O.C. says 350)
Norton Classic Motorcycle

The Classic was a civilian version of the Interpol II. The project was the P43.

Engine 2 x 294 = 588 cc, air cooled
Power 79 bhp at 9000 rpm
Compression 7.5 to 1
Carburettor SU H1F4 constant vacuum
Gearbox constant mesh: 12.4, 8.82, 6.72, 5.71 and 4.8
Transmission Duplex chain and Grand Prix chain
Brakes Twin front disks, single rear disk
Wheels WM2 1.85x18 in front, WM3 2.15x18 in rear, cast Al
Tires 100/90 V 18 front, 120/80 V18 rear, Pirelli Phantom
Curb Weight 227 kg (498 lb)
Fuel 18 litres (4 Imp gallons)
Length 2.18 m, 85.5 in
Wheelbase 1.486 m, 58.5 in
Handlebar W 730 mm, 28 in
Ground Clear 165 mm, 6.5 in
Production 101 (N.O.C. gives 110, 105 released)
Norton Commander Motorcycle

The Commander as the P52 project was for the Police, RAC, and Army. The P53 version was for civilians and had a twin seat. 1988 to 1994. Yamaha front forks and brakes. In 1992, the panniers were made detachable.

Engine 2 x 294 = 588 cc, water cooled
Power 85 bhp (63.4 kW) at 9000 rpm
Torque 55.6 ftlb (75.4 Nm) at 7000 rpm
Compression 9 to 1
Carburettor SU H1F4 constant vacuum
Gearbox constant mesh: 12.4, 8.82, 6.72, 5.71 and 4.8
Transmission Duplex chain and roller chain
Brakes Twin front 265 mm disks, single 265 mm rear disk
Wheels MT 2.15x18 in front, MT 2.75x18 in rear, cast Al
Tires 100/90 V 18 fr, 110/90 V18 rr, Pirelli Phantom
Curb Weight 235 kg (498 lb)
Fuel 23 litres
Length 2.20 m
Width overall 880 mm
Height overall 1.47 m
Wheelbase 1.486 m, 58.5 in
Ground Clear 180 mm
Production 253 (300 in both versions)
Norton F1 Street Motorcycle P55
Norton F1 (142 kb)

The price initially was 12,000 UK pounds in 1990.

Engine 2 x 294 = 588 cc, liquid cooled
Power 95 PS (69.9 kW) at 9500 rpm
Torque 57 ftlb (77.3 Nm) at 7500 rpm
Compression 9 to 1
Carburettor Twin 34mm Mikuni BDS downdraft
Exhaust Stainless steel
Gearbox constant mesh: 2.571, 1.778, 1.381, 1.174, 1.037
Clutch Hydraulic
Transmission twin simplex chain and O ring chain
Frame Aluminum alloy twin spar
Forks Adjustable damping, "upside down"
Brakes Twin fr 320 O Brembo disks, single 230 mm rr disk
Wheels MT 3.5 x 17 in front, MT 5.5 x 17 in rear, cast Al
Tires 120/79 ZR 17 fr, 170/60 ZR 17 rr, Pirelli Phantom
Dry Weight 192 kg
Fuel 20 litres
Length 2.10 m
Width overall 900 mm
Height overall 1.11 m
Wheelbase 1.44 m
Ground Clear 175 mm
Production 140
Norton F1 Sports Motorcycle P55B

The F1 Sports was introduced in the middle of 1992 at a slightly better price, afforded by less exotic parts, including improved carburetor that reputedly is less prone to overheating and smoother running. Performance Bikes a magazine from Peterborough, England reviewed it in September 1992.
Norton F1 Racing Motorcycle

This bike was an F1 but with SU carbs and seats/tank off as works race bikes. They were designated TT in Germany.

Trevor Nation had great success racing Norton rotaries beginning in 1988. In 1990 he won the MCN TT Superbike championship.

Steve Spray first raced a Norton rotary in Oct. 1988. He won the Formula One race at Brands Hatch on a Saturday and the Powerbike International on the Sunday. This was after riding it for the very first time on the Friday. He also won the 1988 ACU 1300cc championship.

The P56 F1R was to be produced for race privateers. Initially 12 were to be produced, but only one non-functional prototype was produced. Specs included racing callipers and discs, six gears, and magnesium alloy wheels. Price complete only £27,000.

There was to be an F2 to follow on, but it never became a functional motorcycle. Two non-functional bikes were made in dark green metallic finish.
British Motorcycle Land Speed Record

The record had been set in 1978 at 191 mph by Roy Daniels riding a Triumph with two engines and supercharging.

In the autumn of 1990 an F1 race engine was installed in Alex Macfadzean's Penetrator streamlined motorcycle. Mike Booys rode it to 191.89 mph for a new 750cc record. Unofficial runs were at 200 mph.
Norton Aircraft and Target Drone Engines

NR642: 90 bhp from 60 kg total weight with integrated reduction gearbox. Twin rotor by 294 cc gives 588 cc. At cruise, Specific fuel consumption (SFC) of 0.51 lb / bhp per hour. Uses leaded or unleaded, Avgas or Mogas fuels. In field trials, 1989, when it was chosen by the joint McDonnell Douglas / Development Sciences Corporation team as the best engine for short range Remote Piloted Vehicles (RPV). This engine was approved by the CAA for civilian passenger aircraft in December 1990. During testing, the engine is run for 150 hours at 8000 rpm, disassembled, reassembled and run again for 150 hours. This is like driving at a constant speed of 120 miles per hour for 35,000 miles with only one stop.

In 1990 Norton contracted Rogers Aviation in Cranfield, England, to install a Cessna 152 with an NR642 for testing. One was powering a Seabird Sentinel pusher prop light aircraft in 1989. Two were in an Ivan Shaw TwinEze, cruising speed 175 knots, two pusher props of 53 in diameter. Ivan Shaw was GM of Aviation Composites Ltd, a former branch of the Lotus car company.

NR622: similar to NR642, but has a lower prop line and a lighter gearbox. 82 bhp. The latest model is the P62 which increases its output to 90 bhp by using an exhaust ejector system of rotor cooling.

NR731: 38 bhp from 10 kg (23 lb) constant speed engine. Low Specific fuel consumption: 0.52 lb/bhp per hour at cruise. Air cooled. In production, 1989. Formerly P73. Was fitted into Banshee 300 RPV military target drone.

NR801: Ultra light and compact liquid cooled RPV engine. 294cc by one rotor. 40 bhp at 6000 rpm or 50 bhp at 75000 rpm, 23 kg including integrated 1.5 kw alternator. Was in pre-production in 1989.
Norton Hovercraft

Bill Yates put a P60 engine for thrust and an NR731 for list into a homebuilt one man hovercraft. The vehicle finished second in the British National Formula One championship, winning two more races than the champion.
Norton's Demise as a Rotary Manufacturer

In 1987 a group of investors headed by Philippe Le Roux took over, forming Norton Group PLC, mainly for the value of its properties. When these turned out to be less than anticipated it was realized that the Norton name was irrevocably tied to motorcycles. Thus RCE motorcycle production was funded.

In October 1989 Brian Crighton left Norton to form the Roton Company which planned to produce motorcycles in Australia. They won 6th and 7th in their first race in March 1991 at Caldwell Park. Grant Hodson rode the Roton to win the Australian F1 Championship two part race at Oron Park that year. Steve Spray was also riding.

In 1990 Le Roux said "The Norton F1 is the Porsche of the motorcycle world. It is a superb example of British innovation and technology and will take the Norton name into the 1990s as one of the most prestigious names in motorcycling." Combining this with the engine business and the Commando spare parts business, prospects appeared to be looking up. Then Le Roux departed as chief executive officer in 1991.

A Department of Trade and Industry investigation was launched in 1991 to look into the activities of all the members of the Norton group, including Pro-fit (American pipe), Minty (furniture), and FUS (German fastenings). The outcome is not known to this writer. A motorcycle magazine claimed that Norton was looted financially in the early 90s. Later, in 1993 the Norton name and motorcycle assets were acquired by a Canadian led investment group. In 1998 they merge with a March Motors who have developed some new motorcycles. In April 1999, all the Norton assets were re-united under the name Norton motorcycles. As far as this writer knows, this does not include any rotary engine technology, which is now owned by Mid-West Engines for manned applications and UAV Engines for unmanned applications.

The story continues on the Mid-West background page.

Norton Owners Club, UK


Norton Rotary Enthusiasts Club
c/o Alan Jones,
112 Fairfield Crescent, Newhall
Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE110TH, UK

Rotary Owners Club
c/o David Cameron,
'Dunbar', Ingatestone Road, Highwood,
Chelmsford, Essex, CM13QU, UK

The Wilshaws at Startright Motors can help with Norton rotary bikes, parts and repair work. 144 and 146 Hunslet Road, Leeds LS10 1JY, England. Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. email

1998: Norton Motorcycles has a corporate website. Norton Motors International, Inc., 14252 - 23rd Ave. N., Plymouth, MN USA 55447-4910. Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]. They do not make rotary powered motorcycles at this time. They sold their rotary technology.

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Copyright © 1996, 1998-2000 Alan Marr. This update notice was last updated Jan. 6, 2000. You can help. You may send your comments or questions to [e-mail].