Nice video, thanks! I had a G15 briefly about 15 years ago, it was titled a '68. The motor was stuck, had '72 Wisconsin plates on it, with non-original seat, front fender, and handlebars, all dusty and rusty. I bought it with the intention of restoring it, but it was beyond my abilities at the time, so I sold it to a hobbyist from Michigan who owned several Matchless and Nortons. He sent me updates on his restoration efforts for a while. It is good knowing that bike was rescued and lives on today! They are super rare compared to Norton Atlas, you just don't see them at rallies and shows!
I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years.l commuted on the bike for 30 years. I only carry a pair of pliers and a masterlink for the chain. I was famous for my day trips around Lake O in Florida. Replace the camshafts when the bike was 50 years old and the sludge trap was almost full. Put her back together and she is good for another 50 years. Bought a Sportster 883 25 years ago. People couldn't believe l bought a HD because I was the Triumph guy. I told them I got a new dog 🐕🐶. I didn't shoot the old one. HA HA. Vintage British motorcycles are rebuidable forever. You don't need a ton of special tools. Amal carberaters are easily cleaned. I unscrewed the main jet on my Monobloc carburetor with the gas on and it flused out all the dirt onto the deck of the transmission. They are cheaper to maintain than modern motorcycle full of electronics waiting to have a expensive failure. Parts supply is excellent. Try to get parts for a vintage Japanese motorcycle. Good luck. Lots of vintage motorcycles are used in Europe because they are exempt from many regulations. England used to make such great stuff and now it's all gone. Shame 😢
I bought a Norton N15 in 1968 IIRC. It looked just like the G15CSR in your video; I don't know if I got the name wrong but I always just called it an N15. Paid all of $1285 new. Don't leave it in the sun long, mine turned pink, almost white on top, in the desert sun. The carbs were Amal Concentrics. I really loved that bike but a "mechanic" ruined the engine. I had a Commando later but I thought the N15 really handled better. When I wore the rear tire down I could drift through those desert turns, heh. A real torque monster. That bike did make my hands go numb though!
That's a nice looking bike. The candyapple red and silver pinstriping really set it off. Mine's a '67 Norton P11. The exhaust note is even better with the high pipes and "decorative" mufflers
All these bigger Brit bikes handle far, far better if you ditch the high bar and fit a straight bar. I always used the straight "Vincent" pattern bar on my bikes. It allows considerably higher speeds to be maintained, and since you're in essence leaning on the wind, more miles are coverable before fatigue sets in. But that Atlas motor is a real shaker. The atlas had a poor rep here in the home market because of its way of busting mudguards and making hands go numb. Stretching that old Dominator engine to 745cc was a stretch too far. For a fast tourer the smaller capacity 650ss had a far superior image with experienced men who liked to cover miles. But of all these Brit twins, the sweetest riding ones in all marques were the 500cc versions. For Triumphs that'd be the T100, the Daytona, or older ones were the Speed Twin. Norton's Dominator 88 and 88ss were smooth and quick enough for most guys not obsessed with being the fastest man around. BSA's nicest vertical twin was definitely the pre-unit 500cc Shooting Star, model A7SS. Smooth and sweet, and torquey with it. Later in the late 60s they recycled that name Shooting Star by foisting it on a bike more properly known as the Victor, a biggish single of 441cc capacity. The Victor was a successful dirt bike, the S.Star version was the same bike but in "roadgoing clothes". Brit bike factories were famous for having world class racing bikes, brilliant designers but shitty boards of directors with an eye only for cost saving. R&D became something that Dad used to do, but keeping up with new tooling and new methods had no place in the old companies' boardroom decisions. It's been said that the biggest of all, BSA, went down with bulging order books but were unable to honour demand. True? I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was. You say here that Triumph were in with AMC. No. Triumph was bought by BSA, and when BSA went belly up there were various owners including a workers' co-op but it was a struggle to compete with Japan's ever improving quality of design, 😅engineering and finish. Triumph may exist again with the completely redesigned Bonnie and stablemates but it has precious little to do with the old company or the classic bikes we all know so well.
Excellent, well researched. Always wanted a G15 Mk II, although the Atlas engines vibrate badly and are not very reliable. If I do get one am thinking of converting it to an 850 (828cc) but its more complex that one might assume. Most guys prefer the CSR version but to me be it Mk 11 or CSR they are very pretty machines.
There's a fully-restored one for sale close to me at the moment , about 7.5k -USD, must check if it has its Pump ! . I owned an Atlas when I was young , sold it when I got married ( the foolish-things we do..) @69 I still ride whenever I get the chance (W650 and TR1-XV1000) and I still have a hankering for an old British-bike. As you say , it's about the emotional-feeling of owning/riding those machines . Dave nz
Thanks Dave! Yeah, they can be awesome, nostalgic rides! They can be pretty affordable too honestly. Don't let the missing pump dissuade you! Ride safe buddy.
@@bananabrooks3836 I tend to think 'everyone' would like to turn-back the clock and make other-choices.. I actually have two Tr1's , one for parts but it is my main go-to bike , 70hp , chain-drive ,customised to look-older and a bit 'British' I really enjoy riding it . Dave
@@bananabrooks3836 I've never used anything off the parts-bike , it's been exceptionally-reliable other than the clutch-fiber-plates , disc-pads etc. Once the-starter and ignition-module are sorted (and this is ) everything else is bullet-proof , I've put roller-bearings on the cams and replaced the valve-springs for the-softer 1100-virago ones which stops cam-wear . I always give it a burst to 160 every-ride , it goes hard
Lovely machines but you need to be a (real) mechanic to keep one one the road. To the vintage Britbike community that's a feature not a bug because it filters the posers. Downshifting and engine braking and planning your stops with a calendar are part of the charm. DO find an owners club (really any vintage British club since that community are comfortable with all marques and often own large collections) and do have at least one modern machine as a main ride which is no insult. The men who use vintage British as main machines tend to have decades working on them and could rebuild one in our sleep. If you feel inspired you can be the next generation as the vintage British scene is fading because owners are generally MUCH older than even the HD crew. Our bikes will remain after we croak and parts availablility is surprisingly good!
Bought a Norton N-15 in '67, a '66 model. It was a real weird combination of Norton and Matchless parts. Lots of power, and LOTS of VIBES. Ok til about 60 mph, but above that a REAL shaker. Only kept it for a year, and traded it in on a brand new Honda CB-450. Much easier to rider, much smoother, great fuel economy, and NO LEAKING OIL. A real revelation after having several Brit bikes.
Only 200 REAL Matchless 750 G15's were made with the Matchless engine. The 650 G9 engine bored to 750cc For us MATCHLESS fanboys - this bike will always be a crappy NORTON
Great video, both for your knowledge and your personal way of communicating. Very informative and interesting!!
Great bit of history top up, wonderful roads and fine looking machine 👍👏👌
Nice video, thanks! I had a G15 briefly about 15 years ago, it was titled a '68. The motor was stuck, had '72 Wisconsin plates on it, with non-original seat, front fender, and handlebars, all dusty and rusty. I bought it with the intention of restoring it, but it was beyond my abilities at the time, so I sold it to a hobbyist from Michigan who owned several Matchless and Nortons. He sent me updates on his restoration efforts for a while. It is good knowing that bike was rescued and lives on today! They are super rare compared to Norton Atlas, you just don't see them at rallies and shows!
I have had my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto for 40 years.l commuted on the bike for 30 years. I only carry a pair of pliers and a masterlink for the chain. I was famous for my day trips around Lake O in Florida. Replace the camshafts when the bike was 50 years old and the sludge trap was almost full. Put her back together and she is good for another 50 years. Bought a Sportster 883 25 years ago. People couldn't believe l bought a HD because I was the Triumph guy. I told them I got a new dog 🐕🐶. I didn't shoot the old one. HA HA. Vintage British motorcycles are rebuidable forever. You don't need a ton of special tools. Amal carberaters are easily cleaned. I unscrewed the main jet on my Monobloc carburetor with the gas on and it flused out all the dirt onto the deck of the transmission. They are cheaper to maintain than modern motorcycle full of electronics waiting to have a expensive failure. Parts supply is excellent. Try to get parts for a vintage Japanese motorcycle. Good luck. Lots of vintage motorcycles are used in Europe because they are exempt from many regulations. England used to make such great stuff and now it's all gone. Shame 😢
I bought a Norton N15 in 1968 IIRC. It looked just like the G15CSR in your video; I don't know if I got the name wrong but I always just called it an N15. Paid all of $1285 new. Don't leave it in the sun long, mine turned pink, almost white on top, in the desert sun. The carbs were Amal Concentrics. I really loved that bike but a "mechanic" ruined the engine. I had a Commando later but I thought the N15 really handled better. When I wore the rear tire down I could drift through those desert turns, heh. A real torque monster. That bike did make my hands go numb though!
Very enjoyable, thank you! There is just something very special about these old British motorcycles that speaks right to the heart, great stuff 😍😃
That's a nice looking bike. The candyapple red and silver pinstriping really set it off. Mine's a '67 Norton P11. The exhaust note is even better with the high pipes and "decorative" mufflers
That exhaust note is fabulous.
I am a Guzzi and old Honda owner but would like to add an interesting British bike. Great video.
There are some discrepancies here but overall he gets it: "Lotta torque about Norton"
All these bigger Brit bikes handle far, far better if you ditch the high bar and fit a straight bar. I always used the straight "Vincent" pattern bar on my bikes. It allows considerably higher speeds to be maintained, and since you're in essence leaning on the wind, more miles are coverable before fatigue sets in. But that Atlas motor is a real shaker. The atlas had a poor rep here in the home market because of its way of busting mudguards and making hands go numb. Stretching that old Dominator engine to 745cc was a stretch too far. For a fast tourer the smaller capacity 650ss had a far superior image with experienced men who liked to cover miles. But of all these Brit twins, the sweetest riding ones in all marques were the 500cc versions. For Triumphs that'd be the T100, the Daytona, or older ones were the Speed Twin. Norton's Dominator 88 and 88ss were smooth and quick enough for most guys not obsessed with being the fastest man around. BSA's nicest vertical twin was definitely the pre-unit 500cc Shooting Star, model A7SS. Smooth and sweet, and torquey with it. Later in the late 60s they recycled that name Shooting Star by foisting it on a bike more properly known as the Victor, a biggish single of 441cc capacity. The Victor was a successful dirt bike, the S.Star version was the same bike but in "roadgoing clothes".
Brit bike factories were famous for having world class racing bikes, brilliant designers but shitty boards of directors with an eye only for cost saving. R&D became something that Dad used to do, but keeping up with new tooling and new methods had no place in the old companies' boardroom decisions. It's been said that the biggest of all, BSA, went down with bulging order books but were unable to honour demand. True? I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was.
You say here that Triumph were in with AMC. No. Triumph was bought by BSA, and when BSA went belly up there were various owners including a workers' co-op but it was a struggle to compete with Japan's ever improving quality of design, 😅engineering and finish. Triumph may exist again with the completely redesigned Bonnie and stablemates but it has precious little to do with the old company or the classic bikes we all know so well.
Excellent, well researched. Always wanted a G15 Mk II, although the Atlas engines vibrate badly and are not very reliable. If I do get one am thinking of converting it to an 850 (828cc) but its more complex that one might assume. Most guys prefer the CSR version but to me be it Mk 11 or CSR they are very pretty machines.
There's a fully-restored one for sale close to me at the moment , about 7.5k -USD, must check if it has its Pump ! . I owned an Atlas when I was young , sold it when I got married ( the foolish-things we do..) @69 I still ride whenever I get the chance (W650 and TR1-XV1000) and I still have a hankering for an old British-bike. As you say , it's about the emotional-feeling of owning/riding those machines . Dave nz
Thanks Dave! Yeah, they can be awesome, nostalgic rides! They can be pretty affordable too honestly. Don't let the missing pump dissuade you! Ride safe buddy.
A TR1, wow eclectic. That other cryptic comment made me chuckle.
@@bananabrooks3836 I tend to think 'everyone' would like to turn-back the clock and make other-choices.. I actually have two Tr1's , one for parts but it is my main go-to bike , 70hp , chain-drive ,customised to look-older and a bit 'British' I really enjoy riding it . Dave
@@kdsowen2882 'Another one for parts' l've heard thats essential.
@@bananabrooks3836 I've never used anything off the parts-bike , it's been exceptionally-reliable other than the clutch-fiber-plates , disc-pads etc. Once the-starter and ignition-module are sorted (and this is ) everything else is bullet-proof , I've put roller-bearings on the cams and replaced the valve-springs for the-softer 1100-virago ones which stops cam-wear . I always give it a burst to 160 every-ride , it goes hard
Thanks for posting , what great looking bike, Where about was the ride, great roads and countryside,
Thank you! The ride was mostly on Route 1B through Newcastle, NH.
Except for the steering it is a damn nice bike!! I had no idea they still made them in 66!
emptying out the parts bins, matchless frame, norton engine, with no plans for the future.
Lovely machines but you need to be a (real) mechanic to keep one one the road. To the vintage Britbike community that's a feature not a bug because it filters the posers. Downshifting and engine braking and planning your stops with a calendar are part of the charm. DO find an owners club (really any vintage British club since that community are comfortable with all marques and often own large collections) and do have at least one modern machine as a main ride which is no insult. The men who use vintage British as main machines tend to have decades working on them and could rebuild one in our sleep. If you feel inspired you can be the next generation as the vintage British scene is fading because owners are generally MUCH older than even the HD crew. Our bikes will remain after we croak and parts availablility is surprisingly good!
I can easily lock the front brake on my 1955 Norton. It is ENTIRELY standard, just set up correctly.
Love it!!
I had a pair of lambretta ld handlebars on my 59 ajs 31 CD cos they were narrow and alloy,.
Cs not cd
Great video. Thank you
Sunbeam were bought by bsa group .
Matchless; great brand name but a lousy situation to be in if you’re a smoker . . .
Bought a Norton N-15 in '67, a '66 model. It was a real weird combination of Norton and Matchless parts. Lots of power, and LOTS of VIBES. Ok til about 60 mph, but above that a REAL shaker. Only kept it for a year, and traded it in on a brand new Honda CB-450. Much easier to rider, much smoother, great fuel economy, and NO LEAKING OIL. A real revelation after having several Brit bikes.
Something to say about no leaking oil...
I had the same experience except that in my case the non-leaking bike was a Honda CB 400.
Brill you haven't gone to concentrics!!
Only 200 REAL Matchless 750 G15's were made with the Matchless engine. The 650 G9 engine bored to 750cc
For us MATCHLESS fanboys - this bike will always be a crappy NORTON