Post Listing Update: After being relisted, this cafe’d Atlas got bidding up to $11,300 with the reserve not yet met. It was then sold off of eBay to a Bike-urious reader!
When I was in High School, we read lurid accounts of the Mods v the Rockers in England. Gang fights, loose women, motorcycles. Think West Side Story with much more danceable music. The Mods were scooter riding, tie wearing good boys so I was firmly behind the Rockers with their long hair and real motorcycles. They even had their own genre of motorcycle, the Cafe Racer. Yes. I put clip ons and bar end mirrors on my triumph. Jeeze, I’m listening to the Rolling Stones right now. The effects of the cafe racer movement linger on.
The 1964 Norton Atlas (this bike is titled a ‘62, because of a frame change. Mechanically it is a ‘64) used a 745 CC (45.46 CID) four stroke air cooled vertical twin that produces 58 HP with two Amal carbs. Norton 5 way front forks, the Norton Featherbed frame, fully adjustable rear Girling rear suspension, 12 volt electrics and brakes that stop made an incredibly attractive 407 LBS package.
This Norton Atlas is in Ojai, California (VIN: 18104903) is listed as a 14,523 mile complete rebuild. The build list is meticulous including overboring, powder coated frame, all new electrical and lots of custom bits. The bike is currently priced at $5,000 with reserve not met