Nortons go MMMMmmmm
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From: Northern Virginia
Nortons go MMMMmmmm
Don't know how many of you know this but Mazda isn't the only company to use rotaries. Norton motorcycles also used rotaries for a while before they finally went **** up. The following is cut and pasted from a local motorcycle forum but I figured you folks might find it interesting.
Norton tests its Norton NRV588 at Donnington park....turn it up
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Kudo's if you got the Wankel reference - it is Norton's rotary engine race bike. Yes rotary like the little Mazda RX you remember so well.
Short background:
Back in the late 80's and early 90's Norton raced a series of rotary engine bikes with great success.
It was (and is) a true innovation in racing. No tuning of suspension or exhaust - no a truly different engine.
A Wankel engine does not use conventional pistons which start and stop at very high frequency over and over again (engine failure anyone?) but instead uses one triangular piece which rotates continuously.
This made it hard to calculate the exact engine volume or "cc's" for class purposes, but Norton managed to compete very successfully - winning British Superbike titles, scoring GP points and winning the Isle of Man TT.
In 94 Norton as a company failed and with it the RV racers went out the door. However, the man behind it all , Crighton, never gave up on building his Norton ultimate rotary racer.
With the backing of Norton brand fans, he has now done that - using previously uncrated 94 rotary engine.
Behold the NRV588: 170hp @ 300 lbs...gotta love that. That's close to today's factory superbike racers.
So what class? sadly none..maybe if they bring back Battle of the Twins..
A belt primary drive transfers power from the rotary's eccentric shaft (the Wankel's "crankshaft") to the separate Yamaha OW01 six-speed transmission.
Although difficult to distinguish in this photo, the actual rotary engine is very compact, with an overall size not that much larger than the oversize ignition rotor.
Note the oil-injection pump (the rotary is like a two-stroke in that its combustion components are lubricated by oil in the intake charge) driven off the clutch shaft.
These two shots show the Norton's innovative variable-intake system in full extension and retraction.
Unlike the similar systems used on the Yamaha R1 and MV Agusta F4 CC, the NRV588's unit is a fully progressive-length system.
Note also that as the intake stacks move through their 120mm range of travel (the Yamaha and MV systems only allow a maximum of 75mm), the shower-style injector towers follow in synchronized movement
inverted Ohlin's superbike fork, Carbon wheels and four piston AP calipers.
Extra large rad for the intense heat the engine creates.
Norton tests its Norton NRV588 at Donnington park....turn it up
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Kudo's if you got the Wankel reference - it is Norton's rotary engine race bike. Yes rotary like the little Mazda RX you remember so well.
Short background:
Back in the late 80's and early 90's Norton raced a series of rotary engine bikes with great success.
It was (and is) a true innovation in racing. No tuning of suspension or exhaust - no a truly different engine.
A Wankel engine does not use conventional pistons which start and stop at very high frequency over and over again (engine failure anyone?) but instead uses one triangular piece which rotates continuously.
This made it hard to calculate the exact engine volume or "cc's" for class purposes, but Norton managed to compete very successfully - winning British Superbike titles, scoring GP points and winning the Isle of Man TT.
In 94 Norton as a company failed and with it the RV racers went out the door. However, the man behind it all , Crighton, never gave up on building his Norton ultimate rotary racer.
With the backing of Norton brand fans, he has now done that - using previously uncrated 94 rotary engine.
Behold the NRV588: 170hp @ 300 lbs...gotta love that. That's close to today's factory superbike racers.
So what class? sadly none..maybe if they bring back Battle of the Twins..
A belt primary drive transfers power from the rotary's eccentric shaft (the Wankel's "crankshaft") to the separate Yamaha OW01 six-speed transmission.
Although difficult to distinguish in this photo, the actual rotary engine is very compact, with an overall size not that much larger than the oversize ignition rotor.
Note the oil-injection pump (the rotary is like a two-stroke in that its combustion components are lubricated by oil in the intake charge) driven off the clutch shaft.
These two shots show the Norton's innovative variable-intake system in full extension and retraction.
Unlike the similar systems used on the Yamaha R1 and MV Agusta F4 CC, the NRV588's unit is a fully progressive-length system.
Note also that as the intake stacks move through their 120mm range of travel (the Yamaha and MV systems only allow a maximum of 75mm), the shower-style injector towers follow in synchronized movement
inverted Ohlin's superbike fork, Carbon wheels and four piston AP calipers.
Extra large rad for the intense heat the engine creates.
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From: Buddhist Monastery, High Himalaya Mtns. of Tibet
I believe this is the same bike, https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=Norton. But, pictures were not posted.
I believe this is the same bike, https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=Norton. But, pictures were not posted.
I just did not update the first post.I love this bike and would love to see a street version for sale in the US!
Here is a link to a wallpaper of the bike
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5...280x960vu4.jpg
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 491
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I've been following this, seeing as the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy happened last week.
The Norton bike had a few reliability problems, and it wasn't just the motor. Their problems kept them from qualifying so they couldn't race, but got some good publicity and at least 1 good lap out.
http://nortonracing.com/news/
The Norton bike had a few reliability problems, and it wasn't just the motor. Their problems kept them from qualifying so they couldn't race, but got some good publicity and at least 1 good lap out.
http://nortonracing.com/news/
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Around
update! They are going up to 700cc!
http://nortonracing.com/race/
http://nortonracing.com/race/
Important Update
The NRV 588cc Rotary engine has been a great success for Norton throughout its years, and due to its success, we have now started to develop the race engine from 588cc to 700cc. Although the 588cc engine is quick and powerful, there are great expectations for the new 700cc rotary engine. As we develop the engine and evaluate it's potential, we will make a further announcement to inform you if the bike will be limited to our works race team or if it will be made available into a road going bike, we expect to know more later this year.
The NRV 588cc Rotary engine has been a great success for Norton throughout its years, and due to its success, we have now started to develop the race engine from 588cc to 700cc. Although the 588cc engine is quick and powerful, there are great expectations for the new 700cc rotary engine. As we develop the engine and evaluate it's potential, we will make a further announcement to inform you if the bike will be limited to our works race team or if it will be made available into a road going bike, we expect to know more later this year.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Toronto, Canada
Man that bike is sick.
Is this bike faster than MotoGP bikes? It is lighter and produces same power, correct?
How much would a bike like this cost?
________
Live sex
Is this bike faster than MotoGP bikes? It is lighter and produces same power, correct?
How much would a bike like this cost?
________
Live sex
Last edited by Renesis_8; Sep 11, 2011 at 03:26 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 646
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From: Houston, Tx
The Honda RC211V racing in motoGP, for instance reduced their horse power output in order to maximize grip and mid turn stability.
