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Norton produces a new Rotary Powered Motorcycle

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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 04:50 PM
  #1  
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Norton produces a new Rotary Powered Motorcycle

The video is down in the comments (unless autoblog added it)
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/v...cle-in-action/
Originally Posted by autoblog
Undoubtedly, the company that's most often associated with rotary engine technology is Mazda. The Japanese automaker has been building Wankel powerplants for decades, with the current RX-8 standing alone as the only new automobile powered by the innovative engine architecture. In reality, though, many firms have experimented with the rotary engine, including Suzuki, which offered a rotary-powered motorcycle in the Seventies. Up until the mid-Nineties, European racetracks were filled with the buzzing sounds of Wankel-engined Norton motorcycles terrorizing their larger four-stoke twin-cylinder competitors and winning races such as the Isle of Man TT in 1992.

That unmistakable buzzsaw sound is set to make a comeback at this year's running at the Isle of Man as the latest Norton revival takes to the track. Click past the break for a video of the rotary-powered NRV588 as it makes a few laps at Donington Park and the dyno. Pay special attention to the exposed exhaust pipes, which reportedly get so hot they need to be made from Inconel.
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 10:31 PM
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It is SO hot...

literally too
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 10:49 PM
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those exhaust were ridiculously HOT!!!
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 11:00 PM
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Check out that exhaust smoke, and tell me he's not running 50:1 pre-mix!
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Old Apr 15, 2009 | 07:43 PM
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so is this going to be a production bike? Love the sound of the rotary in a bike.
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Cam
so is this going to be a production bike? Love the sound of the rotary in a bike.

I wish! I think it's going to be one of those bikes made for race teams to buy.
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 07:51 AM
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norton's website
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by TheBurkeMan
those exhaust were ridiculously HOT!!!
Wow, that's amazing how you can see the Inconel piping pulsing hotter and cooler along with the throttle action.
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 09:04 AM
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That was incredible..
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by JinDesu
I wish! I think it's going to be one of those bikes made for race teams to buy.
not saying its def, but on there website there is a tab for NRV588 Rotary Road Bike.

Norton NRV588 Rotary Road Bike

Brian Crighton and Spondon Engineering have been developing the new NRV 588 race bikes for well over a year now, as these race bikes have progressed we have had a team working alongside them to put into production a road legal NRV 588.

Initially we will be doing a limited edition production, these will all be hand built in our new factory at Donington Park in 2010.

As and when we have further information available we will send all enquirers our updated information pack on the all new Rotary engined NRV 588.

To join our enquirers list please follow the links below.
The down side is that limed edition production and hand built make it sound like this will be an expensive bike.

LINK

Last edited by EdwardsB; Apr 16, 2009 at 09:45 AM.
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 10:08 AM
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This is a really cool bike. I read about this back in a thead a few months ago...I guess the 3 other threads on this just gives it more publicity!? haha
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 10:13 AM
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Search function FTL?

https://www.rx8club.com/general-automotive-49/nortons-go-mmmmmmmm-169890/
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Old Apr 16, 2009 | 10:26 AM
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haha, I guess the similar thread box below doesn't count either...showing 5 threads in it. :p
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkLord7854

LOL Deleted mine totally missed it..hahaaha
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 04:41 PM
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Nice concept, but this is a mere experimental model. I hardly doubt it will make it to the showrooms with other street bikes until all technical parameters have been sorted out to achieve a reliable street machine.
In the mean time, I'll stick with my duc.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by SPHINX144
Nice concept, but this is a mere experimental model. I hardly doubt it will make it to the showrooms with other street bikes until all technical parameters have been sorted out to achieve a reliable street machine.
In the mean time, I'll stick with my duc.
It's a racebike.. not a production bike.. Read the article much?
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkLord7854
LOL your search skills need help as well

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=Norton

Note: There may or may not be other Norton NRV-588 threads before mine
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkLord7854
It's a racebike.. not a production bike.. Read the article much?
Oh really...

BTW I'm not picking on you

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...53&postcount=8

http://www.nortonracing.com/road/

Norton NRV588 Rotary Road Bike
Brian Crighton and Spondon Engineering have been developing the new NRV 588 race bikes for well over a year now, as these race bikes have progressed we have had a team working alongside them to put into production a road legal NRV 588. These bikes will be put into production late 2008 early 2009, with first bikes expected to be ready spring summer 2009.

Initially we will doing a limited edition of 200 bikes, these will all be hand built in our new factory at Donington Park.

As and when we have further information available we will send all enquirers our updated information pack on the all new Rotary engined NRV 588.

To join our enquirers list please follow the links below.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by pdxhak
Oh really...

BTW I'm not picking on you

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...53&postcount=8

http://www.nortonracing.com/road/

Norton NRV588 Rotary Road Bike
Brian Crighton and Spondon Engineering have been developing the new NRV 588 race bikes for well over a year now, as these race bikes have progressed we have had a team working alongside them to put into production a road legal NRV 588. These bikes will be put into production late 2008 early 2009, with first bikes expected to be ready spring summer 2009.

Initially we will doing a limited edition of 200 bikes, these will all be hand built in our new factory at Donington Park.

As and when we have further information available we will send all enquirers our updated information pack on the all new Rotary engined NRV 588.

To join our enquirers list please follow the links below.
I stand corrected. Now where do I sign for one?
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:19 PM
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I bet they are going to cost a lot!
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:34 PM
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So Norton is diversifying from making anti-virus software to making rotary motobikes?
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by delhi
So Norton is diversifying from making anti-virus software to making rotary motobikes?
Norton the motorcycle company has been around a long time and has a rich history.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 07:04 PM
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bet they get **** milage. Ha, and thats what bikes had going for them :P

still awesome
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by delhi
So Norton is diversifying from making anti-virus software to making rotary motobikes?
Thankfully no, otherwise they would be huge, overly bloated POS motorcycles
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Old Apr 18, 2009 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by pdxhak
I bet they are going to cost a lot!
Quite possibly yes. Like bimota and moto guzzi limited production always equates to an exorbitant price tag. The bike is not that pretty anyway.
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