Page 93 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)
P. 93
Norton was always some way behind Triumph N O R TO N
stanchions, short sliders, external springs on breaking into the American scrambler
and alloy damper rods. The swingarm scene, the Nomad was not mass-produced
was widened to allow for a larger 4.00 for a wider market and it was almost
x 19-inch Avon Gripster tyre. The twin too-well finished to take off-road. But as N O M A D
shocks were a special competition type, it was based on the street Model 77 and
while the full-width hubs were shared the 181kg wet weight was the Nomad’s
with the street model and laced to biggest off-road impediment.
chrome-plated competition rims. The Built only for the US market, around WANT TO KNOW MORE?
front was a 21-inch, with 3.00-section 300 600cc versions were manufactured The Norton Owners’ Club is
Avon Gripster. The front brake was a between 1958 and 1960, with 50 500cc a great resource:
full-width 8.0-inch drum, with a similar examples for 1960 only. But for coil NortonOwnersClub.org
7.0-inch drum on the rear. Centre and ignition, these were pretty much identical
sidestands were provided but were easily to the larger version. There is some information here:
removed for competition. The Nomad was Norton’s response to Bike-urious.com/1959-norton-
the North American market’s affection for nomad-600
TOUGH NUT TO CRACK off-road-styled models. But without the
While the oil tank and battery cover equivalent distribution and competition Something on the Norton
came from the 77, bespoke features program, it couldn’t break the Triumph Dominator:
abounded on the Nomad. This included stranglehold. Now the Nomad is Classic-British-Motorcycles.
polished aluminium mudguards, a red considered the most desirable production com/norton-dominator.html
and chrome 11-litre petrol tank and a Norton of the late 1950s.
distinctive two-tone seat. As was usual Read about the new Norton
of motorcycles of this period, myriad Many thanks to Jon Munn and Geoff Nomad here:
small details were spectacular in style Knott of Classic Style, Seaford, Vic, for NortonMotorcycles.com/bikes/
and execution. While Norton was intent the use of the Norton Nomad featured. norton-atlas-nomad.html
MOTORCYCLE TRADER 91
