The pub yarn that became reality
After hearing for years about his friend's father's bike lurking in a shed, Mike Peter was delighted to find it was real – but it took a lot of work to get it riding and looking like this
On the opposite page you’ll see a photo of this splendid Norton’s owner, Mike Peter – also known locally as ‘Mike the Bike’ (for obvious reasons). Also nicknamed ‘Skinny’, he’s an off-road nut and cyclist, and fit enough to tackle the lung-sapping Fife Alps before breakfast. Mike’s had more bikes than I’ve had porridge and currently he has a stable of 10 classics; including two lovely Norton Dominators and a rather salivating yellow Commando. By profession Mike’s an offshore mechanic and when not servicing North Sea oil rigs, he can be found fettling or riding his many classics – bringing us neatly to the immaculate 1955 Norton Dominator 99 that features in this month’s magazine. But by way of confession Mike wasn’t always a fan of British bikes...
“I cut my teenage teeth on popular Japanese middleweights and British bikes were an anathema to me – only fit for the scrapheap! For years I’d given up listening to tall tales by my pint-pulling friend
Allan about his dad’s old British bike that was buried somewhere in the family shed.
“None of our bike gang had ever seen the bike; far less witnessed his dad riding it. We dismissed his stories as ‘pub yarn’ and heard no more of it once Allan’s father had passed on,” sighed Mike.
“Then years later I bumped into Allan while fishing for sea trout on the River Tay. Allan once again brought up the story of his dad’s old British bike and posed the question as to whether I would like to buy it. Naturally, I politely declined; but my curiosity was aroused when he asked me to help him extract the bike from his dad’s shed, so that he could advertise it for sale.”
The shed café racer
Several days later the lads met up and after locating the ‘buried’ motorcycle in a damp, dark corner of the family shed they dragged it out into the bright sunshine. Mike said he was astonished that Allan’s old pub yarn was actually true... and although he was shocked at the motorcycle’s dilapidated condition, it appeared to be completely intact. Covered in years of grime, Mike nevertheless realised he was looking at a British café racer – possibly a 1950s Norton Dominator – and a real shed find!
“Both tyres were absolutely flat and a quick peer inside the rust-encrusted petrol tank had us both gagging at the reek of rancid fuel,” laughed Mike. “As I was more familiar with fettling bikes than Allan, I suggested we test his Norton for a spark. Imagine my surprise when one flashed across the rusty old plug as soon as Allan depressed the kick-start. Unfortunately the Amal carburettor proved seized solid and filthy, so I offered to take it home and rebuild it. A dejected Allan reluctantly accepted that starting up his dad’s old ‘pride and joy’ would need to wait for another day...”
After two weeks offshore Mike returned to the job of starting up his friend’s shed find. The restored carburettor was replaced, along with new spark plugs, fuel and engine oil. The tyres were then inflated and both lads were stunned when the old Norton fired up after Mike’s second kick. But as the engine warmed, oil began weeping from the engine and clouds of smoke billowed from both exhausts! As Mike warmed the engine for a trial run, it wasn’t long before the top end began to rattle and chatter. Undeterred, Mike pushed the incontinent Norton onto the road and managed several short runs up and down Allan’s street before the reeking engine stopped the fun. Mike said Allan was overjoyed to witness his father’s Norton running for the first time in over 40 years. Now ‘sorted’ and ready for sale the bike was wheeled back into the shed to await a new owner.
“I was quite thrilled by my test run – especially by how different the Norton felt when compared to my current crop of Japanese machines. As we chatted about its sale I heard myself asking Allan how much he wanted for it... I couldn’t help myself, I was offering to buy it!” chuckled Mike. “But I soon discovered my old friend thought very highly of his dad’s pride and joy and we haggled long and hard about its value. It was only when I promised to properly restore the bike and give Allan first refusal that we shook on a deal. Suddenly, I had a project Norton on my hands.”
“Covered in years of grime, Mike nevertheless realised he was looking at a British café racer – possibly a 1950s Norton Dominator – and a real shed find!”
Trouble comes knocking
Wisely, Mike decided to run the Dommi first and sort any problems later. However he reckoned the top end ‘chatter’ required urgent attention so Mike invested in some imperial spanners and removed the head and barrels for a quick inspection. Worn valves and guides proved to be the cause of the smoking exhausts and visible oil smears inside the bores suggested they and the +60 pistons fitted were well past their best. Mike decided to use the Norton ‘as found’ until he could commit to a complete engine rebuild. This decision however, was rudely snatched from his hands...
“Not long after I’d inspected the bores an unhealthy knock developed from the engine. While out on a short run the engine suddenly locked-up with smoke billowing from the head. I suspected either a blown crank or a piston seizure, but without tools I had no choice but to attempt a restart. After allowing the engine to cool I managed a restart and limped carefully home on a faltering engine.
“Once I’d wrestled the engine from its frame and stripped it, I discovered a badly worn big end. I was also horrified to find that many engine components were quite knackered. I knew the engine required serious work and so I decided to send it to RGM for a professional rebuild – not cheap, but well worth the peace of mind! Meantime, I began to replace other worn cycle parts. Two months later my fully reconditioned engine arrived in a wooden crate accompanied by a detailed receipt for all RGM’s specialist work – including a balanced and highly polished crank, new bearings, new bores, standard pistons, plus much, much more. The sight of the glistening new engine inspired me to restore the Dommi to an equally high spec.”
No ordinary Norton
Thus Mike completely stripped the Dominator down to its component parts. The frame was sanded down and hand-painted using Japlac enamel – the high gloss finish is a credit to Mike’s brush technique. The stunning petrol tank was professionally painted by Bike Paints of Cupar. Other cycle parts were painted to match the tank.
The forks were rebuilt using new stanchions, bushes, progressive springs, seals and rubbers. New steering head bearings and Hagon shocks were also added. Fortunately the original Dunlop rims polished up extremely well, to which Mike added new bearings, rim tapes, inner tubes and tyres. The dilapidated seat was replaced with one from eBay, but Mike bemoaned the seat’s white piping, which faded within a fortnight!
The gearbox was stripped and rebuilt with new parts including bearings, a first gear cog (chipped tooth), gear selector, gearbox sprocket and seals. The Amal 627 carburettor (rare choke-type) was also completely overhauled (for the second time!). A new wiring harness, alternator and other components, including a solid-state regulator/rectifier joined the upgrades. Last job was to source a rear mudguard as the original was well past service...
“Unfortunately sourcing the correct rear mudguard proved elusive, so I contacted a private NOC advertiser who specialised in fabricating bespoke steel mudguards to pattern. When I rang the vendor his charming wife dashed my hopes with an abrupt apology, ‘Sorry lad, but my husband retired from the trade!’ Fortunately her hubby was close-by and bellowed down the line, ‘don’t fret son, I’ll build you one – I need to detach myself from the TV and get off my backside!’
“Several weeks later a beautifully-fabricated metal mudguard arrived at my door. I had it powder-coated grey then painted it to match the rest of the bike.
‘The bike was rebuilt over the bitter winter of 2010 – I remember the extreme cold, because tons of snow fell that blocked my garage door! Once the build was complete, I timed the ignition and added fresh fluids.
I was astonished when the Norton fired up on the second kick. I do remember that checking the engine oil return was a heart-stopping moment... I pushed it up and down the road in top gear with both plugs removed until oil returned – my wife thought I’d lost my marbles! Then I rode it round to Allan’s house and he was thrilled with the end result, lamenting: ‘I wish my old man could be around to see this – he would have wept with joy!’ ’’
Mike says he is very pleased with the restored Norton. “It’s so smooth for a parallel twin and the handling is amazing. The 600cc engine has buckets of torque, and pick-up is excellent too. I absolutely adore the fabulous soundtrack!,” Mike enthused. “The carburation is spot-on, but oddly the transmission has proved a little bit ‘harsh’ at times. However, friends still compliment me on its immaculate condition several years after its restoration.”
After eight trouble-free years, Mike decided to give the Norton a thorough service. Sorting the harsh transmission, crunchy first gear and fitting a Norvil primary belt drive and Commando clutch was Mike’s plan. But unfortunately when setting up the primary belt alignment, the belt tended to run off the clutch pulley wheel. After more work and much to Mike’s relief, the addition of a pair of spindle adjusters on both sides of the gearbox sorted out the belt alignment – a surprise bonus was the lighter Commando clutch Mike had fitted also tamed the crunchy gearbox of old.
I blag a ride
Years of fussing and fettling is apparent when you sit astride Mike’s Dominator. First gear selects silently via a wonderfully light clutch – no crunching; no grinding gears; no drama. All controls fall readily to hands and feet and this motorcycle fits like a well-worn glove. I couldn’t be happier, because the A924 we were about to traverse enjoys a scenic climb up and over Moulin Moor – also reputed to be one of the smoothest and most thrilling motorcycle routes in Perthshire.
I’ve enjoyed many short runs on Mike’s Dommi, however this road test would be an exhilarating 26-mile ride consisting of tight chicanes, testing bends and wheellaunching mini-bridges that stride raging mountain torrents. A pocket version of Scotland renowned by Perthshire tourists it offers breathtaking views of Ben Vrackie and a picturesque descent past the Eradour Whisky Distillery into Pitlochry. A visit is highly recommended, as is a welcome stay at Valhalla Biker’s Lodge in Kirkmichael, only minutes from Pitlochry.
“Fortunately her hubby was close-by and bellowed down the line, ‘don’t fret son, I’ll build you one – I need to detach myself from the TV and get off my backside!’ ’’
The uninitiated Featherbed pilot will be convinced that invisible gyroscopic forces are at play, for
Mike’s Dommi personifies ‘corners on rails’. You feel invincible, cocooned in a well set-up machine that will fly you anywhere in complete confidence. It’s a magical ride that no other classic motorcycle can truly replicate – an experience that every biker should have on their bucket list!
Off-piste, this classic Norton simply burbles along with minimum effort. No doubt its modern belt drive and upgraded clutch contribute to the classy ride; but the same can be said of its wonderful and compliant engine, faultless carburation, excellent ‘Roadholder’ suspension, Hagon shocks, and sticky tyres... oh, and did I forget to mention that Featherbed frame?
Everything has been so well set-up that any rider, regardless of his or her skill, can simply ‘hang on’ and revel in its totally addictive ride. Handling as we’ve established is the Featherbed’s forte, and as we purred along the deserted moor in the warming sunshine I wore a satisfied grin – swinging, rising and falling on my stomach-churning, fun-park ride.
The 600cc engine delivers smooth and continuous power. In third, there is a slight murmur of vibration through the handlebars at around 50mph, but the vibes soon evaporate as you push past 50 and snick into top gear. A slight gap between third and fourth gears is soon excused – as third is exciting for building speed, and all day long the Norton ’box proved faultless. Braking proved impressive too. In fact, the Dommi’s controlled engine braking and confident handling is enough to maintain a smooth and mile-crunching gait along any remote, single track road. The classic upright pose is ideal for cruising and seat to handlebar ergonomics are such that you can easily slide into a racing crouch on the straighter sections of road. This Norton Dominator is the classic all-rounder.