Norton Dominator Model 7

Norton Dominator Model 7

Specs Mentioned:

Make/ Model – Norton Dominator Model 7 – 1955
Engine – Twin-cylinder,4-stroke engine
Power – 29 bhp (22 kW) @ 6,000 rpm
Top speed – 95 mph (153 km/h)

Norton jumped aboard the vertical-twin bandwagon in 1948 when it introduced the Model 7. Designed by the legendary Bert Hopwood, the new 500cc engine went into the existing ES2 plunger-frame/tele-fork cycle parts, a marriage that necessitated a redesign of Norton’s well-proven four-speed gearbox.
Norton’s 500cc twin found a new home in the racing singles’ ‘Featherbed’ duplex frame in November 1951, having been previewed at the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen and also at the ISDT. Initially for export only, the newcomer – titled ‘Dominator 88’ – was the first production Norton roadster to feature the lightweight, race-proven chassis, although the road version used arc-welded mild-steel tubing rather than the sif-bronze welded high-tensile Reynolds 531 of the Manx. Shortened Roadholder forks were fitted at the front, while at the rear the swinging arm pivoted on Silent bloc bushes.
With its ‘teardrop’ silencers, aluminium-alloy cylinder head, 8″ front brake, and rubber knee grips, this 1955 model is unquestionably one of the most handsome of the Dominator series.