Norton Model 7 Dominator
Appearance
![]() Model 7 Dominator swinging arm version | |
Manufacturer | Norton |
---|---|
Production | 1949-1953 |
Assembly | Bracebridge Street, Birmingham |
Successor | Norton Model 88 Dominator |
Engine | 497 cc (30.3 cu in) air-cooled OHV vertical twin |
Bore / stroke | 66 mm (2.6 in) x 70.6 mm (2.78 in) |
Compression ratio | 6.7:1 |
Top speed | 95 mph (153 km/h) |
Power | 29 bhp (22 kW) @ 6,000 rpm |
Ignition type | Lucas magneto |
Transmission | Wet clutch, 4-speed, chain drive |
Suspension | Front: telescopic forks Rear: (1949-53) plunger, (1953-55) swinging arm |
Brakes | 7 in (180 mm) drum front & rear |
Tires | (1949-53) 3.00x21 front, 3.50x21 rear (1953-55) 3.25x19 front, 3.50x19 rear |
Wheelbase | 54.5 in (1,380 mm) |
Dimensions | L: 84.5 in (2,150 mm) W: 28 in (710 mm) |
Seat height | 31 in (790 mm) |
Weight | 413 lb (187 kg) (dry) |
Fuel capacity | 3.75 imp gal (17.0 L; 4.50 US gal) |
Footnotes / references [1][2][3][4][5] |
The Norton Model 7 Dominator was a 500 cc vertical twin motorcycle manufactured by the Norton Motorcycle Company from 1949 to 1955. It was the first of Norton's Dominator range of motorcycles. The engine was designed by Bert Hopwood and was a departure from Norton's previous practice of producing single-cylinder machines.
Engine
Having worked under designers Val Page at Ariel and Edward Turner at Triumph, where he assisted with the design of the Triumph Speed Twin, Hopwood was poached by Norton to design a new twin engine.[6]
References
- ^ "1953 Norton Brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 12 June 2021 – via www.classicbike.biz.
- ^ "1951 Norton Model 7". Classic-British-Motorcycles.com. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Norton Model 7". Classic-British-Motorcycles.com. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ The 497 cc Vertical Twin Model 7 "Dominator" Norton. Motor Cycling Magazine. 31 March 1949. pp. 430–432 – via WALNECK'S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER, JUNE 1999.
- ^ Smith, Robert (29 May 2013). "Comparing the BSA A7 and Norton Model 7". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Tinworth, Bruce J (2021-03-03). "Norton Dominator: an Australian investigation. Part I". RealClassic. Retrieved 13 June 2021.