Norton DominatorSS First Ride - MOTOR GERR

Say hi there to the new Norton Dominator SS, the modern introduction from the revived historic British company and the end result of six years of difficult work.

If it appears familiar it’s due to the fact the Dominator SS, plus its barely decrease-spec sibling, the Dominator, are basically street-going variations of the song-handiest, restrained-edition Domiracer launched ultimate yr (MCN, March 7, 2014). That motorbike sold out in a count of days in spite of its hefty £25k fee plus the fact it wasn’t a street bike and wished Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) to be registered and actually ridden on the general public highway.

A year on, following a barrage of requests from lovers who overlooked out on that motorcycle, the Donington Park-primarily based corporation determined a street version become possible. The Dominator is the result. The pinnacle-spec SS will again be a constrained- edition version, with just 50 being built for the UK, while the same old version (see panel above) will join the rest of Norton’s line-up in complete manufacturing.

All of which made the opportunity to test the newcomer, in spite of the near-freezing temperatures on the Norton manufacturing facility, virtually impossible to resist.

While very last assessments had been being performed, I were given a near look at the motorcycle for the primary time. At its center, like the Domiracer, is the familiar Norton 961cc air-cooled, push-rod twin however this time, once more just like the Domiracer, housed in a new ‘Featherbed-style’ frame which harks lower back to the unique Norton Dominator version.

Bodywork is minimum. The cut-down single seat, hand-overwhelmed alloy tank (the same old Dominator’s can be steel) and drilled aluminium side panels compete on your attention with excessive-spec additives including  the Öhlins TTX shock and Brembo brakes.

That tank is definitely wonderful. It’s home made on-web site and takes three days of labor by means of the Norton metallic workers to shape the usage of English wheels and handtools – and adds £1700 to the usual Dominator. It’s like a huge jewel sitting on top.

Before my trip, MCN photographer Ian Jubb receives to paintings taking the static and detail shots of the bike. Forty-5 freezing minutes later we’re equipped to move out onto the roads surrounding Donington Hall. In the historical past is a fishing lake. It’s surrounded with the aid of tall timber, naked of leaves with the handiest sound being the soft cawing of birds…

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