The Norton Model 88 Dominator, also originally known as the Dominator De Luxe was a 500 cc vertical twin motorcycle manufactured by the British Norton Motorcycle Company from 1952 to 1966. It was the first of Norton’s motorcycles to use the featherbed frame, which established Norton’s reputation of producing fine handling machines. The 88 used the Bert Hopwood designed engine that was first fitted to the Model 7 and was initially for export only. It became available on the home market in 1953. Norton were a small manufacturer at the time and without the economies of scale the model was expensive compared to other manufacturer’s equivalent machines. The 88 retailed for 20% more than the contemporary Triumph Speed Twin and was dearer than the 650 cc Triumph Thunderbird.
Pour répondre à la Triumph Speed Twin, Bert Hopwood dessine dès 1947 le moteur « Dominator » : un bicylindre vertical 500 à arbre à cames unique. La série 88 (1951) l'installe dans le fameux cadre « Featherbed » des frères McCandless, d'une rigidité et d'une tenue de route exemplaires. Norton, jusque-là championne du monocylindre, s'impose ainsi durablement dans l'univers du twin vertical anglais.
Source : Norton - Norton Commando/twin - entretien type (Isolastic, primaire humide)
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