1964 Norton 650SS

Ridden to us by 1990's Manx Grand Prix competitor Pat Robinson, ‘EWC 662B’ is fresh from a two-hour shakedown ride: He described the bike as being “spot on!”, which is high praise indeed from someone as talented as him.

And we’ve found nothing to contradict his assessment: This Norton 650SS is a ‘matching numbers’ example with the correct engine and frame numbers backed up by the right paperwork. It’s also fresh from winning Best in Show, which will come as no surprise after you’ve leafed through the 250+ photos and watched the video.

Only being sold because the seller’s bad knees mean he can’t kickstart it anymore, it still needs another few miles to run it in properly, but we can’t imagine riding something as lovely as this will be any hardship.

The frame and bodywork balance originality and finish very nicely indeed; where patina could be left it has remained, but where it was too far gone it has been refinished – and refinished to a very high standard.

The previous seller did this element of the restoration, and our seller is full of praise for the quality for the stove-enamelling on the frame and the paintwork everywhere else. 

Contributing to the 650SS’s role of providing fast, safe, and thrilling transport are the tyres with a 3.25-19 Avon Roadmaster from 2013 on the front, and a 4.1H19 Dunlop Roadmaster TT100 from 2008 on the rear. While both have good tread left on them, they are getting on a bit now and the motorcycle would ride even better with fresh rubber.

(Not that it handles badly; Pat says “it handles like it’s on rails”, which is quite the commendation for a 62-year-old ‘bike!) 

The spoked wheels are in good shape too, running true after having been rebuilt and with only very light tarnishing on their rims. 

The iconic Roadholder forks have been treated to fresh seals and heavyweight SAE20 Silkolene fork oil. They too are beautifully presented, including the badges that show the world that you’re astride something very special.

Speaking of which, the tank badging might be a bit tarnished but we think a bit of a patina here and there offsets the new paint and components rather nicely; after all, why remove every trace of its history if you don’t need to? 

Especially when the rest of the extensive chromework is so good; bright and shiny and free of dents and dinks, it looks nothing short of magnificent – and the rear mudguard is a bit of a highlight as it looks to be the original, albeit well-polished and still featuring a time-worn ‘650SS’ decal.

The lamp lenses, which include an imposing headlamp taken from Lucas’s motorcycle range, are in great shape with no chips, cracks, or other damage. Their reflectors are bright and shiny too, and everything works as it should.

Other nice touches include a reproduction tax disc from 1964 on the bottom of the nearside fork and a ‘Norton 650SS’ plate on the valanced front mudguard.

The latter’s presence, along with a rear mudguard and a chainguard, also ensures the 650SS remains eminently usable even in bad weather.

There is no inside to a motorcycle of course, but we hope you’ll forgive us if we treat the bits the rider touches as such.

First are the chromed handlebars, which give the Norton its characteristic riding position; neither too hunched nor too upright, even those used to modern motorcycles should find it a very pleasant compromise between sporting and commuting.

The rider triangle is continued with good rubber covers for the controls as well as the rider and pillion footpegs. 

The single-piece seat provided a comfortable perch, even for touring bottoms; it might not rival a BMW RT or a Honda Goldwing for long-distance work but you can sit comfortably between refilling the 4½ gallon petrol tank. The seat’s profile is also correct, and the black vinyl cover is both free of damage and finished with white piping.

The original white-on-black instruments are a speedometer, tachometer, and an ammeter, and auxiliary black-on-white gauges have been added to monitor time and coolant temperature.

A small clear Perspex windscreen has been added to improve rider comfort at speed. This makes a noticeable difference, albeit at the expense of originality.

The bar grips look new, and an offside bar-end mirror is fitted. The side stand is also new, and the centre stand was repaired by Norton Motors in 2024.

The fuel filler cap is a satisfyingly hefty one, and the oil filler cap bears the legend USE CASTROL LUBRICATING OIL with gold script on the black panel below to show the required level.

It starts first time, every time as long as you follow the handwritten notes on how to start it.

But then it should because there are invoices on file for well over £3,500 ranging from one for £1,131 from Norton Motors Ltd through to others for less than a tenner; record keeping is rarely as meticulous as this.

These include invoices for seals and bushes, layshafts and cables, fluids and levers, gaskets and hoses. There’s an awful lot there, so why not pop the kettle on and take the time to properly absorb the huge amount of work that’s gone into creating this beautiful example, including converting it to 12-volt.

The video shows it running – and doesn’t it sound glorious, both at idle and under load? There’s no visible smoke either, nor any odd rattles. 

The front brake might be a drum but as Fortnine explained recently, that might not be a bad thing. It’s also huge at a whopping eight inches in diameter but if you wanted to bring the braking system into the 21st century then upgrades that retain the period looks are widely available. The rear seven-inch brake shoes are new.

Some of the bare metal casings show their age by way of a few marks and scratches but as they are still very presentable and continue to serve their purpose, we applaud the decision to leave them as they are; it can be tempting to over-restore a vehicle, compromising its history and losing its romance in the process.

This, on the other hand, feels perfectly judged to us; fresh paint where it was needed and simply polished where it wasn’t.

As for issues, there is a slight weep from the engine oil drain plug but you’ll be able to sort that out while you’re draining the running-in oil.

The seller bought it as a part-finished project in October 2023 and completed it this year. The process of running it in has started with a two-hour, 150-mile ride to us but he suggests that another 75 miles should see the job done; change the oil and it should be fit for another 60 years of faithful service.  

The Norton does not have an MoT certificate, and it still wears its original registration number. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes a copy of The Classic Motor Cycle magazine that features the bike’s twin.

This Norton 650SS proves you don’t need much money to be able to buy awful lot of motorcycle because we suspect the hammer will fall somewhere between £8,000 and £12,000 – but as it’s being offered with no reserve, it’ll be going to a new home once the very first bid has been placed.

And this is for a freshly restored example that balances the competing demands of originality and functionality better than most; where a patina could be left without compromising safety, performance, or reliability, it has been.

It’s a Proper Job.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.