1958 Norton Manx

[RDryan]

Well I noticed this one for a rather steep asking price of 50k. While not a two stroke it just looks cool and maybe some of you may find it interesting. I personally know next to nothing about them.

1958 Norton Manx

[m in sc]

beautiful and provenance.  no use to me but its awesome.

[RDryan]

Yeah it just seems like such a work of art, race ready. The top end just looks massive and of some pretty well thought out design from back of day. Although my feeling is how could this make any more power than a more modern air cold DR,XR,KLR 500cc+ bikes?...I dunno but I can just imagine this thing barreling down the race courses of Europe and or Isle of Man.

[IR8D8R]

...shifting with your right foot!

[1976RD400C]

A friend of mine has been tinkering (rebuilding) this bad boy for 35 years. At one time I think it was worth 6 figures but I guess it has since dropped in value.

[Yamanatic]

Beauty is in the eyes...

To us fossils, the mid-20th Century British styling nailed it; they built bikes the way a motorcycle is supposed to look.  Few bikes out 'eye-candy' the Triumph Bonneville or the BSA A-series.
I'm lucky enough to own what I consider the prettiest motorcycle on the planet: a leaking, shaking, ill-handling (plungers can get squirrely), unreliable (thanks to Lucas mostly), beast:



Warren

[RDnuTZ]

she's a beauty alright  I used to love that era styling too. Side note: ever heard of a Tribsa? A guy in my old VMX club had 1 and tried to race it occasionally. It wasn't the most reliable bike on the track but kinda neat in its own uniqueness.

[Yamanatic]

Thanks for the comment - I use that pic for background on my computer!
I remember the Tribsa - best of both (British) worlds. Having owned various Brit bikes, the BSA (twin shock) is the one I would choose for a day of road-riding twisties in the mountains, but at a stoplight showdown? No match for a Triumph.

For those with extra-deep pockets, the Norvin wins. The Vincent twins handled good when new, but once things loosened up, they felt kinda hinged-in-the-middle. Featherbed Nortons were about the only thing from back then stout enough (and big enough) to handle the power and weight of the V-twin motor. A stock Featherbed Atlas handled super great, but they would shake your teeth out. If you wanted to take an Atlas apart, just start it, put in the corner on something to catch the pieces, and go to bed; by morning you're done.   

ww