Norton Classic
 | |
| Manufacturer | Norton Motorcycle Company |
|---|---|
| Also called | P43 |
| Production | 1987 |
| Engine | 588 cc air-cooled twin-rotor Wankel engine |
| Transmission | duplex primary chain, 5-ratio gearbox, single-row final drive chain |
| Wheelbase | 1,486 mm (58.5 in) |
| Related | Norton Interpol 2, Norton F1, Norton Commander |
The Classic is a motorcycle built in 1987 by Norton as a special edition of just 100 machines.
The Classic used an air-cooled twin-rotor Wankel engine that had been developed by David Garside at BSA.[1][2] Wankel engines run very hot, so Garside gave this air-cooled motor additional cooling air that was filtered and drawn first through the rotors and then through a large plenum into the combustion chambers via carburreters.[3] The cool plenum (which doubled as a semi-monocoque spine frame) and the transfer of latent heat during the carburation process significantly reduced the temperature of this fuel-air mixture, but its volumetric efficiency was still somewhat impaired. The cooling air filter was mounted below the steering head (between the forks) to provide a partial ram air effect. The engine was lubricated by oil-injection, but the fuel-air mix also carried a mist of oil from the interior of the rotors, which helped to lubricate the rotor tips.
The fork stanchions were protected by rubber gaiters; and a full enclosure protected the final-drive chain. While its engine was revolutionary, in other respects, such as appearance, suspension and brakes, the Classic was a conventional standard motorcycle. The Classic was lighter and more powerful than its only Wankel competitor, the over-complicated single-rotor Suzuki RE-5 motorcycle.
The Classic was discontinued after a limited production run priced at £6,000 each,[4] and was succeeded by the liquid-cooled Norton Commander. Liquid cooling provided both greater reliability and greater power, at the expense of an arguably less attracive engine (which was concealed by a full fairing).
The Norton Wankel engine was further developed at Staverton into the MidWest aero-engine. The Midwest engine increased output from 85 bhp to nearly 110 bhp[5] by improving volumetric efficiency, achieved by dumping overboard (rather than burning) the hot rotor cooling air, and by feeding fresh cool air to the combustion chambers.
Notes
- ↑ The Wankel Rotary Engine: A History By John B. Hege page 137, ISBN 978-0-7864-2905-9
- ↑ Denniss, Tony (1990). "The Norton Rotary". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ↑ "Cycle World' magazine February (?) 1971
- ↑ Salvadori, Clement. "Retrospective: Norton Classic, 588cc Rotary Engine: 1988" Rider Magazine, 22 November 2007. Retrieved: 2 August 2012.
- ↑ MidWest Engines Ltd AE1100R Rotary Engine Manual
References
Perkins, Kris (1991). Norton Rotaries. The Crowood Press. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/18261260628 |18261260628 [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]] Check |isbn= value (help).
Magrath, Derek (1991). Norton the Complete Story. Osprey Publishing. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/18555321815 |18555321815 [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]] Check |isbn= value (help).