An Americanized Norton
AN AMERICANIZED NORTON
QUESTION: WHEN iS A Norton not merely a lovable old lump of British iron? Answer: When Kenny Dreer & Company get through with it. The scarlet screamer you see before you is Dreer's latest creation, a hot-rod
VR880 Commando so swim ming in modern tackle it forced the man to form a new company Used to be "Vintage Rebuilds," hut since there aren't many vintage or rebuilt parts on the bikes anymore,
the new business cards read `~Norton America" (log on to www.nortonamerica.com.). .,~ What's updated on the bike? Easier to say what isn't. k The frame is modified to
include a backbone oil reservoir, doing away with the underseat oil tank and freeing up space for a big-amp battery-needed because Dreer has added fuss-free electric starting. Don't look for a kick starter, there isn't one. Norton America also casts its own thicke engine cases and cylinder blocks, the better to contain the VR's 50 percent (and then some) power gain over stock. Presently on the CAD1 CAM screens is an all-ne~~ cylinder-head design with roller rocker arms that Dreer thinks
will give 80 or more rear-wheel bhp. Capping the motor mods is an exhaust system-executed here in nickel-plated glory-that sweeps under the cases and ter minates in a pair of traditional peashooter mufflers.
Norton-ites will note the drivechain is on the "wrong" side. That's because Dreer has adopt ed a five-speed gearset from the Harley aftermarket. Also flip hopped are the loot controls, so the 880 shifts on the left and brakes on the right just like a modern bike. A hydraulically actu ated clutch is part of the package, too. That's a 41mm Paioli fork up front, held in place I with billet tripleclamps. Gold se ries Brembo calipers and ro tors are straight / from the Ducati / sportbike shelf. Out / back, a braced, box / section swingarm re places the spindly stocker, working through beefy Progressive Suspension shocks. Both rims are squat 1 7-inchers, the rear ringed with a massively wide (by Britbike standards) 160mm Avon Azaro.
Going price for Norton Amer ica's thoroughly modern Com mandos should be in the $17,000 range, but this particu lar bike could be yours for chump change. Once again
Dreer, Cycle World and the Ride for Kids program have teamed up to raise money for the Pedi atric Brain Tumor Foundation. A measly $5 gets you into the raf fle, or buy five chances for $20. Tickets will be on sale at the In ternational Motorcycle Shows, where the bike will be on dis play at the CW booth. 11 you can't make it to one of the shows (shame on you), log on to ride4kids. o;g for mail-in entries. Either way, take a chance. You're feeling lucky, aren't ya?
David Edwards
