Norton 650SS

The Norton 650SS was a 650 cc vertical twin motorcycle made by the Norton Motorcycle Company from 1962 to 1967. SS stood for Sports Special. It was based on the Manxman built for the United States, restyled for Europe with twin Amal Monobloc carburettors whose intakes angled downwards, twin exhausts replacing the earlier two-into-one, and a separately mounted speedometer and tachometer in place of the headlight nacelle. It went on sale in April 1962 after a showing at the Amsterdam International Auto Show, and Norton dropped its 600 cc models to concentrate on it. It quickly earned a reputation as the best of the Dommies, the Dominator family, and in February 1962 Motor Cycling magazine recorded a best one-way speed of 119.5 mph at MIRA, more than 10 mph faster than a rival Triumph Bonneville. Production began at Bracebridge Street and moved to AMC's Plumstead works after 1963.