Allen Norton is a defunct British company that supplied replicas of 350 and 500 cc Norton Manx road racing motorcycles.[1][2] The company was run by Bernie Allen in Great Bedwyn, near Marlborough, Wiltshire.[3]
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 in Wiltshire, England |
| Founder | Bernie Allen |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
| Products | Norton Manx replicas |
The company started to build replicas of the famous Norton Manx racers in 1990,[1] based on the final 1961 Manx.[4] Allen had been given the rights in 1989 after the death of Norton tuner Ray Petty and had received special permission to use the name "Norton" in England.[1]
Except for the magnetos, all the components used were of new manufacture.[3] The engines were supplied by Summerfield Engineering of Derbyshire,[1][4] the frames came from Goodman Engineering and were made from Reynolds 531 tubing.[4] The machines were fitted with a 5-speed gearbox[4] and a belt primary drive.[3] (The originals used a 4-speed gearbox and chain primary drive.)[5] Although the original Manx machines were pure racers, Allen fitted a speedometer, horn and brake light so the machines could be ridden on the road.[3]
The machines were renowned for their quality.[1] Former Norton race engineer and designer Doug Hele commented on the Allen machines "They are better than when we made them".[4]
Production numbers were low. Allen delivered the first machine in 1992, but was only able to build one every two weeks. He was 61 years old at the time.[3] In 1994, the manufacturing rights passed to Preston, Lancashire engineer, Andy Molnar.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Bacon, Roy (2004). The British motorcycle directory : over 1, 100 marques from 1888. Ramsbury: Crowood. ISBN 978-1-86126-674-3.
- ^ Melling, Frank (29 November 2003). "Classic bike: Manx Norton". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Roland (16 January 1993). "This is the bike that Bernie built: Norton's 500cc Manx is back in". The Independent. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Bonhams : 1993 Norton 500cc Manx Bernie Allen Replica Frame no. 11M BRA9 Engine no. 11M BRA9". www.bonhams.com. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ Brown, Roland; McDiarmid, Mac (2000). The ultimate motorcycle encyclopedia : Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki and all the great marques. New York: Anness Pub. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-84038-898-5.
- ^ "Molnar Precision Limited - Company Profile". www.manx.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2020.