Norton F2
Norton F2 | |
Manufacturer | |
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Production | 1992 |
Engine | Twin chamber rotary |
Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: WP upside-down forks, compression and rebound damping adjustable. Rear: WP monoshock, compression and rebound damping adjustable. |
Brakes | Front: 2 x Ø320 mm discs Rear: Single Ø230 mm disc |
Front Tire | 120/79 ZR17 |
Rear Tire | 170/60 ZR17 |
Weight | 185 kg / 408 lbs (dry), |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Engine
The engine was a Liquid cooled cooled Twin chamber rotary. The engine featured a 9.0:1 compression ratio.
Chassis
It came with a 120/79 ZR17 front tire and a 170/60 ZR17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2 x Ø320 mm discs in the front and a Single Ø230 mm disc in the rear. The front suspension was a WP upside-down forks, compression and rebound damping adjustable. while the rear was equipped with a WP monoshock, compression and rebound damping adjustable.. The bike weighed just 185 kg / 408 lbs.
Photos
Overview
Norton F2
SAD PROOF THAT NOT ALL EUROPEAN BIKE-MAKERS ARE DOING WELL
It's hard to remember a time when
Norton wasn't suffering financial problems, but now the patient has taken a turn
for the worse. Death appears nearly certain, and the financial vultures stand
by, ready to pull the cash plug.
It's too bad, because one result of Norton's financial mess is that the F2
rotary-engined prototype shown in non-running form at last December's Birmingham
Motor Cycle Show probably will never see production. Why build a prototype at
all? Think of it as the product of hope, something to wave in front of potential
investors: Look here, this is what we'll build if you give us the money.
Unfortunately, the cards have been professionally stacked against Norton. The
company finds itself way, way in over its head as a result of terminal greed on
the part of its controllers during the make-a-buck Thatcher-Reagan '80s. Police
and stock exchange authorities are presently investigating various conflicting
interests.
The short version of the story is: London financial district sharpies decided
there was money to be made from Norton's well-established name. Having obtained
control, they proceeded to rob, plunder, and diversify into furniture
manufacturing, pipe-making, a German fastener company, gambling and night clubs,
etc. The result was millions in debt for poor old Norton. Even in the best of
times, a small-scale manufacturer of motorcycles would have difficulty servicing
such a debt. Now times are hard.
That's a shame, because the F2 appears to have real potential. Designed by
Britain's Styling International-whose clients include Nissan, Rolls-Royce and
Mazda-the F2's shape includes elements of the Honda NR750 and Bimota Tesi ES, as
well as smatterings of Aprilia. But the Norton's target price was to have been
much lower than the price of any of those, the equivalent of about $13,500.
Though no funds were available for actual wind-tunnel work, much attention
appears to have been directed at clean aerodynamics. The tank shroud/seat unit
is of carbon fiber, the rest of the bodywork is molded plastic. Head- and
taillights shine through a specially treated dark perspex-a sort of one-way
clear plastic.
Chassis is by Spondon, and replicates the Harris build frame of Norton's 1991
Isle of Man-winning racer. For now, Yamaha FZR suspension components are in
place, though the rear shock is mounted cantilever fashion, without benefit of
rising-rate linkage. Brakes, wheels, five-speed gearbox, muffler and sundry bits
are likewise Yamaha.
Motive power is supplied by the same twin-rotor 588cc engine found in the F1,
but rated at 95 horsepower at 9500 rpm instead of the F1s 90 at 9000. Internal
airflow has been carefully designed to help disperse the rotary's considerable
heat. A larger airbox plenum with large-diameter intakes for the car-type SU
carburetors contributes to power, but was really designed to get the bike past
stricter noise regulations to be implemented in 1995 in Europe. Norton claims
this package will weigh in at 408 pounds-a full 110 pounds lighter than the Fl.
Clearly there's a lot of wishful thinking wrapped up in the F2.
The biggest wish involves actually building the F2. Norton's motorcycle
production facilities are intact and, believe-it-or-don't, had proved themselves
inherently solvent before the parent company's recent financial predicament. But
now the factory is starving for cash to fund new products. Norton Group boss
David Macdonald, who took control of the Norton Group at the behest of the
group's creditors, has been working hard to divest the company back down to
Norton Motors, and has had some success. Macdonald claims to have a $3.8 million
investment package within reach, but nothing has yet been confirmed, and,
indeed, it's hard to picture any sensible investor paying big money to buy
Norton's even bigger debt.
How about an insensible investor, then? The Italian Cagiva Group was
interested five years ago, mainly to obtain use of the BSA name (which Norton
Group also owns). Why? Because the Castiglioni brothers' dad used to ride a BSA
and they thought it'd be neat to build new ones. But now, the Castiglionis say
their portfolio contains all the motorcycle marques it needs, at least for the
time being.
In any case, Macdonald needs help soon or Norton will die. The banks will
despair of ever seeing their money, and will pull the plug. This would be a
tragedy, but an oft-repeated one in these harsh economic times. Norton's
minuscule production can never hope to generate the kind of profit necessary to
pay off the banks-let alone any new investors-without a cash injection running
into the millions of dollars. Will the tooth fairy produce someone with the
money bags? Only time will tell, and for one of the world's oldest motorcycle
marques, time is fast running out. -Alan Cathcart
Source Cycle World 1993
Make Model. | Norton F2 |
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Year | 1992 |
Engine Type | Twin chamber rotary |
Displacement | 588 cc / 35.9 cu in |
Compression | 9.0:1 |
Cooling System | Liquid cooled |
Exhaust | Stainless steel |
Induction | 2 x Ø34 mm Mikuni BDS downdraft carburetors |
Starting | Electric |
Max Power | 69.9 kW / 95 hp @ 9500 rpm |
Max Torque | 77.3 Nm / 7.88 kgf-m / 57 ft-lb @ 7500 rpm |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Final Drive | Chain |
Front Suspension | WP upside-down forks, compression and rebound damping adjustable. |
Rear Suspension | WP monoshock, compression and rebound damping adjustable. |
Front Brakes | 2 x Ø320 mm discs |
Rear Brakes | Single Ø230 mm disc |
Front Tire | 120/79 ZR17 |
Rear Tire | 170/60 ZR17 |
Dry Weight | 185 kg / 408 lbs |