Norvil Motorcycles - Identify Your Bike

Please Quote Your Model, Year, Engine Number & Chassis Number On ALL Orders Placed With Us. Please Also Tell Us About Any Modifications That Have Been Made To Your Bike That Could Affect Spares Suitability.

UK Residents With Historic Vehicles Need To Read This
In the UK, there is now a 40 year rolling exemption for vehicle excise duty (bike tax) on classic vehicles. If your bike is 40 years old or older then the bike should be tax exempt.
YOU MUST STILL TAX THE VEHICLE OR DECLARE IT AS OFF-ROAD USING A "SORN" DECLARATION FORM. Failure to do either will result in a fine. Legislation that came into force on January 1st 2004, stated that any vehicle not Taxed or SORNed, will lose it's right to it's "Original Registration" mark. How would your bike look with a ghastly yellow and black "Q" plate. You have been warned.........

From 1946 to 1974 Norton machines had matching engine and frame numbers. Commando's after engine number 307311 have frame numbers that start from F100000.

Code No	Model Of Bike
2	16H
3	18
3T	500T
4	ES2
6	19R
7	Big 4
8	16H Or Big 4 Plunger
9	19S
10	International 40
10M	Manx 40
10M2	Manx 40 Featherbed
11	International 30
11M	Manx 30
11M2	Manx 30 Featherbed
12	Model 7 Dominator 500cc
122	Model 88 Dominator 500cc
13	Model 50
14	Model 99 Dominator 600cc
15	Model 77 Dominator & Nomad 600cc
16	Nomad 600cc
17	Jubilee 250cc
18	All 650cc Twin
19	Navigator 350cc
20	Atlas 750cc
20M3	Commando Early 750cc
20M3S	Commando Points On Timing Cover 750cc

From 1946 to 1960 the year letter the best way of determining the age of a machine because there is an overlap of dates and numbers in the factory records.

Letter Code	Year	Engine Number
	1945	1001
A	1946	2131
B	1947	7756
C	1948	13792
D	1949	20701
E	1950	27100
F	1951	35560
G	1952	42700
H	1953	48900
J	1954	55350
K	1955	60700
L	1956	66600
M	1957	71360
N	1958	77400
P	1959	80488
R	1960	87038
	1961	94500
	1962	101060
	1963	105000
	1964	108000
	1965	111650
	1966	115870
	1967	119760
	1968	124300
	1969	130000
	1970	134700
	1971	141700
	1972	200001
	1973	212278 & 300000
	1974	307311
	1975	325000

The information given below is the best guide we can give and was compiled with the aid of original factory records. This information is still only offered as a guide, please contact the VMCC (address given at bottom of page) for more in depth information regarding YOUR machine.

Model	Date	Number	Comments
Jubilee	Nov 1958	79866	First machine
	Aug 1959	84525
	Sept 1960	92485
	Nov 1960	93773
	Sept 1961	99598
	Sept 1962	103446
		106838	New gearbox
	Sept 1963	107988
	Sept 1964	111026
	July 1966	117825	Last machine
Navigator	Nov 1960	94573	First machine
	Sept 1961	99110
	Sept 1961	99172
	Sept 1962	103275
		106838	New gearbox
	Sept 1964	106980
	Aug 1965	114519	Last machine
Electra	July 1963	650	First machine
	Sept 1964	6201
	Aug 1965	7961	Last machine
500cc	Oct 1960	93235	Standard
	Oct 1960	93385
	Mar 1961	96539	First 88SS
	Aug 1962	97227	Last Deluxe
	Sept 1962	101918	Standard
	Sept 1962	102911	88SS
	Sept 1963		Last Standard
	Sept 1964	109512	88SS
	Oct 1965	114870
	Feb 1966	116372
	July 1966	118151	Last 88SS
600cc	Aug 1960	92270	Standard
	Sept 1960	92460
	Mar 1961	96496	First 99SS
	Aug 1962	103392	Last 99SS
	Aug 1962	103801	Last Deluxe
	Aug 1962	103929	Last Standard
650cc	Nov 1960	93601	First Machine
	Aug 1962	104121	Last Deluxe
	Sept 1962	104123	650SS
	Sept 1962	104267	650 Standard
	Sept 1963		Last Standard
	Sept 1964	110375	650SS
	Oct 1965	111920	New Strengthened Con-Rods Fitted
	Oct 1965	114870	Cylinder Barrel Spigot Removed
	1966	115871
	Feb 1966	116372	6-Start Oiling System
	1967	119760
	July 1967	123164
	Feb 1968	126124
	Sept 1968	129147	First Mercury
	Feb 1970	129894	Last Mercury
Atlas	Feb 1964	108000	First UK Atlas
	Sept 1964	111377
	Oct 1965	111920	New Strengthened Con-Rods Fitted
	Oct 1965	114870	Cylinder Barrel Spigot Removed
	1966	115871
	Feb 1966	116372	6-Start Oiling System
	1967	119760
	1967	120323
	Feb 1967	121007	Concentric Carbs Introduced
	March 1967	121307	Coil Ignition Introduced
	May 1967	121665	P11
	Aug 1967	123364
	Jan 1968	124372	P11A
	Sept 1968	128646	P11A Ranger
	Nov 1968	129145	Last Ranger

Engine Number	Year	Mark	CC	Model	Comments
126125		I	750	Fastback	First Commando (Atlas MKIII). Engine prefix 20M3. External rev counter drive. Points in old magneto position.
131257	1970	II	750	Fastback S-Type Roadster	Engine prefix 20M3S. Points in timing cover. Integral rev counter drive. Wipac handlebar switch.
141783	1971	III	750	Fastback Roadster SS HiRider Fastback Long Range (Steel Tank)	New style fork yokes, non-adjustable type. 4:10 front tyre. Lucas handlebar switches. Centre stand moved from frame to gearbox cradle.
145183	1971		750	Production Racer	Last production racer produced in June 1971
200000	1972	IV	750	Fastback Roadster HiRider Interstate	Breather moved to between gearbox plates behind engine - was on the left hand side of the camshaft. Engine number prefix discontinued. Optional disk brake and combat engine. Revised shape handlebar levers.
220000	1973	V	750	Roadster HiRider Interstate	Black instrument cases. Square rear light (actually fitted from 212278). Disk brake on all but Hi-Rider.
300000	1973	I	850	HiRider Interstate	850 motor with silver barrel. Balanced exhaust system. All Disc braked.
306591	1973	IA	850	Roadster Interstate	850 motor with silver barrel. Homologated model for Europe with large black box air box and peripheral discharge silencers.
307311		II IIA	850	Roadster HiRider Interstate	850 motor with black barrel. Roadster & Interstate available as homologated model. Called MKIIA for Europe. For USA with old type silencers and air filter.
325001	1975	III	850	Roadster HiRider Interstate	850 motor with black barrel. Left hand gear change. Right hand rear brake. Front disc moved to left hand side. Electric start.

The VMCC (Vintage Motorcycle Club), now has custody of all of the original motorcycle factory records which contains the surviving records of a very large part of the British motorcycle industry. They can assist you with just about any historic British bike query, whether you are buying, repairing, restoring, researching or registering. They can even advise on the procedure for gaining an age related plate. The service is open to VMCC members and non-members alike though joining as a member has many benefits and discounts. Give them a try, email library@vmcc.net or visit their website at www.vmcc.net

The first combat engine number was 200976 (1972), not all 750 engines after this number are combat. The 750 combat engine has a C at the top front of the cylinder head and it was originally fitted with 32mm carbs. Also, the gap between the head and the barrel is narrower than the gap between the other fins. The camshaft on a combat is stamped with SS, this is called a 2S camshaft and not actually an SS camshaft (the SS camshaft is actually stamped X1 or X2 - this is a point of much confusion). Once a combat engine has Superblend main bearings (064118) fitted and a the modified breather, which is a big engineering job to do properly, (we do this), then the combat engines are bullet proof.

Cars & Bike produced before 01/01/1973 are exempt from vehicle excise duty (road tax) when used on British roads.