Norton Navigator (1960-1965)

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Purchasing classics there

When you hear the name Norton you think of heavy, fast engines. Think of Manx, the '88' or the '99', Atlases and Commandos. Or software. That depends on your age and interest. Hardly anyone shouts after hearing the name Norton: “Yes! A Norton Navigator! What a top bike that was! ”

Rarity

Nortons are wanted classics. If rarity were a clear price-increasing factor for classics, the 350 cc Norton Navigator would have to be more expensive. The Navigator, however, belonged to the lighter motorcycles fleet that was launched after a change in 1958 to British law. Because starting from 1960 novice motorcyclists should not ride on motorcycles larger than 250 cc.

Every British manufacturer started to build machines from 250 cc. Norton's idea was the legendary Bert Hopwood - which later on Triumph would move - designed 250 cc Jubilee from 1958, that was quite a nice machine, a twin with a high-lying camshaft. But he quickly gained a reputation for limited reliability.

We found our fashion model, the bigger brother of the Jubilee, at Joop Stolze, the classic car dealer who also does motorcycles. The Norton stood among an impressive range of light, and of course fire red, Italian motorcycles.

Grow with the market

To create a growth market, the engine of the Jubilee grew in 1960 to 350 cc and the proud result was named Navigator. The Navigator was launched at Earls Court in 1960.

In addition, he was relieved of his individual cylinders prone to leaks and he was given a cylinder block. The heads were still delivered 'per piece'. At the front it was upgraded by the RoadHolder front fork and the brakes were also a size bigger. The front frame tube was reinforced to better handle the brutal power of 22 pk.

But the base, the 250 cc Jubilee, was and remained a mishmash born of the faulty management that still plagues the world today, but which was born and perfected in England. Because why would you engineer something when you have warehouses full of everything for everything? The frame of the Jubilee was that of AMC's - Norton's parent company - latest version mid-range frames. The Jubilee's front fork, wheels and brakes came from models of the not-so-exciting Francis-Bernet brand. The nice new block was linked to an old model gearbox. The result was a little distinctive product. Norton Jubilees were not very fast, smooth or reliable. Moreover, they did not live up to Norton's reputation for making good handling motorcycles. The Navigators followed that route faithfully.

Parallel to this route there were also the Norton Electra's

These were machines that were 'developed' on the instructions of the American importer of European engines ... the Berliner Motor Company. The Berliner Motor Company had thought that there could be a market in the States for an electrically starting British twin. The Electra was actually a Navigator with a starter motor drilled to 383 cc. That electric starting didn't work very well. Moreover, the Electra's vibrated exuberantly. And they were very thirsty. And not reliable.

Norton continued to make Navigators 1966

Until just before the collapse of the parent company Associated Motor Cycles. And there was also the Navigator DeLuxe with its 'closed' back in the style of the Triumph Bath Tubs, but more elegant. The machine continued to suffer from the reputation of the 250 cc Jubilees. And that in turn results in the fact that the Jubilees and Navigators do not cost half of what the large Norton twins cost.

Books have been written about the demise of the British motorcycle and car industry

The case is partly based on the laws of the inhibiting lead. Long-term success is deadly for an objective market vision and creativity. Add to that the situation in the then much larger differences in British class society. The arrogance of (sometimes brilliant) former boarding school students and the power of the trade unions. The case fell apart. Developments and investments stagnated, while British management almost sprained the stiff upperlip while watching what those crazy Japanese people were doing in the motorcycle field.

Add to this that British motorcycles were developed for English roads. And in England there were no motorways until the mid-sixties. While British motorcycles had built up their reputation as graceful dancers on wonderfully winding roads and remained fairly stable in the States due to the strict and tightly maintained maximum speeds, they were structurally severely ruined by motorcycling highways where BMWs, Moto Guzzi V-twins and almost all Japanese motorcycles bravely pierced.

Under the line, England has ensured that we still have many desirable classics. In addition, the policy of ever lower maximum speeds now works to the advantage of the British.

And so a Norton Navigator is once again becoming a very nice motorcycle to take a leisurely ride on the most beautiful secondary roads.

 

Norton Navigator

Norton Navigator

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