Readers' rides: Lee's Norley

A couple of years ago in North West England, Lee Bradbury was looking for a new project, and saw an 1979 Ironhead XL1000 advertised at a good price.

He chose it mainly because it had a rebuilt engine from a well known HD specialist (Matts Engineering). When he went to see the bike, it was being sold on behalf of a customer by a small company which makes and repair Norton replica frames. He went to see the workshop where the frames were made, and was very impressed with the quality. So he also purchased a frame…

Un paio d'anni fa nel nord dell'Inghilterra Lee Bradbury cercava un ferro per il suo nuovo progetto. C'era una Ironhead XL1000 del 1979 a buon prezzo che scelse principalmente perché era stata restaurata dallo specialista Matts Engineering. Quando andò a vedere la moto, scoprì che la vendeva il cliente di una piccola azienda che costruiva e riparava telai Norton Featherbed replica. Vista l'officina, rimase colpito dalla qualità dei telai. Così ne comprò uno...

“The bike has taken me two years to build, only completed this month. It is street legal because I kept the original identity of the HD. This means it does not need indicators and quiet exhaust, since all it only has to meet regulations valid in 1979. The philosophy for the build has been to keep the bike looking in period (late 60's/early 70's), while including modern parts where appropriate and keeping it as light as possible. I build it to be fun to ride, not just to look at. Therefore, I fitted 18 inch wire wheels and not 17 inch alloys, and Standard forks, not USD forks. But I also fitted electronic clocks, electronic ignition and four pot callipers”. The result is a 189kg rocket (including 10 litres of petrol). The entire project costed 7,000 pounds.

"Ci ho messo due anni per realizzarla, e ho finito solo ora. Ho ​​mantenuto l'omologazione originale della HD. Quindi non ho avuto bisogno di montare frecce o scarichi silenziati perché doveva soddisfare le normative del 1979. La filosofia di costruzione è stata quella di rispettare l'epoca della moto (fine anni '60/primi anni '70), includendo parti moderne per renderla più leggera possibile. Costruisco moto belle da guidare, non solo da guardare. Pertanto ho montato cerchi in lega da 18 pollici e non da 17 in alluminio, e forcelle standard, non USD. Ma ho anche adottato una strumentazione elettronica, l'accensione elettronica e pinze a quattro pistoncini". Il risultato è un missile da 189 kg (compresi 10 litri di benzina). L'intero progetto è costato £ 7000.

Specs: Norley Featherbed Replica frame and swingarm, made from T45 tubing, gas bronze welded and Norley Alloy Slimline petrol tank and alloy oil tank. Seat by Unity Equipe. Wheels: HD Hubs, Morad Flanged Alloy rims and stainless butted spokes. Laced inhouse. Rear sprocket is lightweight alloy custom made by Renthal. Avon Roadrider AM26 tyres. Brakes: Front 2 x 4 pot Nissin calipers, rear Brembo Caliper and EBC discs. Honda Hornet 900 43mm forks, with home made alloy yokes, stem from the XL1000. YSL rear shocks. Engine rebuilt by Matts Engineering, electronic ignition (single fire, 3ohm coils) and S&S Super E carb, custom velocity stack. Homemade custom exhausts, stainless headers and 'Bofors' chrome megas by Feked.com. Clutch: Honda SP1 Master Cylinder and homemade slave, using piston from Ducati M900. Custom rearsets based on old LSL levers. Hand controls: Levers from Honda SP1, Tomaselli throttle. Daytona Velona gauges. Electrics: Ballistic Lithium Battery under the seat. Aftermarket rectifier. Custom wiring harness. Alloy used throughout is aerospace spec 7075 aluminium,