Norton Atlas 750

main photo by Raymond Schwab October 2020

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The Norton Atlas was presented in 1962 for the American market by the Berliner Brothers, the U.S. shippers for the machine. In view of the long-running Dominator arrangement twins, the Atlas 750 was not as quick as the 650SS that continued it. That was not its central goal. The Atlas was offered with skyscraper style handlebars so U.S riders could journey extended lengths in solace. Numerous riders changed to the lower, straight bars their European partners utilized, be that as it may. For an organization with a long and glad hustling history, they didn't utilize that in American print publicizing.

It was telling that the increment in bore and stroke made the motor less anxious to pull fires up than it's more modest predessor, which was one used to decrease vibration. The organization would at last change to an Isolastic casing to additionally subdue the energies, which it did effectively. The Atlas, however, similar to the 650SS, would utilize the world-celebrated Norton Featherbed outline, which assisted them with ruling street hustling for 10 years with the single-chamber Manx model, especially at the Isle of Man T.T. races.

The Featherbed frame, which was developed by Crommie and Rex McCandless in Ireland was sold to the Nortons Company. They did away with rigid frame and  plunger shock absorbers by using a swinging arm design with the new frame. It was later named by Norton factory racer Harold Daniel after comparing its handling and comfort to its predessor, the 'Garden Gate' Manx. This twin loop, duplex frame was a game-changer and was much copied by manufacturers who wanted a machine that didn't tie itself in knots when used in anger. The Atlas uses a Slimline Featherbed frame, so-called for the narrower width of the backbone tubes from the Wideline frame. 

The Manx racing frame, which was constructed by Ken Sprayson using 40 feet of  Reynolds 531

 manganese molybdendum steel tubing that was sif-welded. The racing version was not suitable for high-volume construction and so the street  verison of  the featherbed were made of grade A mild steel.

Despite the change to a beefier chassis, the famous solid handing characterisctics of the racing Norton Manx was realized. This was, in no part due to the highly-regarded Norton Roadholder front forks as well. 

At an advertised 56 horsepower, the Atlas was no slouch with a top speed at nearly 100 mph. While it wasn't the road-burner that the advertising would have you believe, it was one of the faster bikes of its day. Offered intially as a 6-volt, single-carbuettor model, the Atlas was upgraded to 12 volt and twin Amal Monobloc carbs before long. The Lucas magneto was later dropped in favor of a capacitor electrial system with an alternator. 

Road & Track

1968 Norton Atlas and the 1961 Norton Manx

The Atlas and the P-11 Scrambler model on the cover of the July 1967 issue of Cycle magazine.

By todays standards, these old British mototrcycles aren't very fast, don't stop very quickly and require a hands-on owner who will keep it running properly. That does not mean, however, that the Atlas isn't dependable or enjoyable. It is.  You just need to put on your goggles and go for a ride. As the miles pass by, the lack of modern amenities doesn't seem to be as important as you thought it might have been. Let your mind unwind to that Swinging Sixties style and have fun.  It's easy on an Atlas.  

                                           

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