[Aditya]

Thanks to Adil Daver for sending this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP page!

500cc
Twin Cylinder, four stroke
Top speed - 163 km/h (101.3mph)
Compression 8.5:1
Single carburettor
Overhead valves
Telescopic front Roadholder suspension
Rear swing arm
Twin cradle featherbed fame
Spoked wheels
Dual seat

This particular motorcycle was with Mr. Cyrus Sabavalla, a legend and a British motorcycle veteran.

During Mr. Sabavalla’s lifetime, he has possessed beautiful British motorcycles such as a 1954 BSA A7 Shooting star and this Dominator from when it was brand new.

This Dominator is a one owner, Parsi owned motorcycle since 1962. The Norton was a daily rider during his work days with Bharucha and Motiwalla construction company.

Mr. Sabavalla moved to Dubai in the 90s and there were many keen prospective courters for the Norton. For 34 years Mr. Sabavalla would let his ferocious dog on these buyers who would bring up the topic of selling the motorcycle.

Mr. Sabavalla’s own son-in-law, an avid motorcyclist, was denied this beautiful Norton for an unknown reason.

In 2011, I had got a whiff of this motorcycle that was with Mr. Sabavalla since ages and should not be missed out on.

My younger brother, Tukshad and I set up a meeting with Mr. Sabavalla on 21st December, 2011 at 1730 hours.

In Cyrus uncle’s prime days, he was a tough man and a no-nonsense guy. The man who appeared before my brother and me, was a slightly frail, lanky, hard of hearing gentleman who hadn’t lost his sense of humour and wit and little did we know that this was the beginning of our love and a bond with this fine gentleman and his beloved wife, Amy. Amy aunty is an absolute darling. She gave us so much love and warmth.

They are and always will be like our grandparents who we had lost, a few years before we met this wonderful couple.

Coming back to trying to convince Cyrus uncle to consider us worthy of having his beautiful Norton was not much of a task. He had already decided in his mind that these two boys will eventually be caretakers of this timeless classic and it would be resurrected to original specifications.

We could not afford to gather the funds, so Cyrus uncle even set up a payment option of a certain sum per month and we eventually covered the amount on Tukshad’s 21st Birthday - 14th August, 2012.

Now that we had this beauty, we did not realise the size of the mountain we were about to climb. The Norton was fairly original, but needed a ground up resurrection and restoration.

Initially, we began with mechanical restoration of the engine rebuild and gearbox while simultaneously carried out the chromium and paint job.

A few hurdles were faced due to internal politics at a local garage in Pune that stalled the build and delayed the project by six months.

The ordering of parts from abroad delayed us by two months, but we were eventually back on track. We got a new set of 10-inch, lightweight alloy racing wheels - Akront Morad S Type with stainless steel spokes. The brakes were significantly improved by putting a twin leading brake plate instead of the standard single plate.

• Cables were procured from the best, Venhill in England.
• Exhausts and bend pipes were also brand new.
• We also managed to procure a spare fuel tank that we could always swap in case we would felt like ogling at this beautiful machine with a different paint scheme.
• Electricals were finally conducted by getting an entire wire loom.
• A completely new rotor and stator for the alternator, new distributor cap.
• New points and condenser.
• Brand new ignition switches and headlamp, horn switch from Lucas.
• New old stock, Lucas headlamp.
• New old stock, 564 Lucas Tail lamp.
• New old stock Tommaselli throttle system.
• A new set of tyres and she was ready to roll.

There were initially a few teething issues, but these are acceptable for any build. It took a few more months of engine running in and niggling electrical issues were finally sorted out by mid-July, 2014.

The person responsible for this build: Mr. Adil Daver

Warm regards,

Arish Adil Daver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX2G...ature=youtu.be

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[Nikhildrao]

It's a beauty !! But now it's got me thinking about Norton in TVS ownership and Bajaj-triumph deal and fever dream of a Triton bike to exist again!! (Triton were colaboration bikes between triumph and Norton in the 60's I think that had Bonnie mechanicals with Norton bodies)

[Himanshu809]

Originally Posted by Nikhildrao

It's a beauty !! But now it's got me thinking about Norton in TVS ownership and Bajaj-triumph deal and fever dream of a Triton bike to exist again!! (Triton were colaboration bikes between triumph and Norton in the 60's I think that had Bonnie mechanicals with Norton bodies)

That'd be swell, I'd love a more affordable version of Triumph's Speed Twin. Absolutely in love with its combination of retro looks and modern tech.

Can't wait to see what TVS brings up, after Apache RR310 my hopes are up.

[VijayAnand1]

Delight is one, delicacy is another, and then there's this. Such a lovely kempt motorcycle. I think this bike alone deserves a separate thread of its own for complete photo shoot from top to bottom, T BHP style.

The keen eyed, smiles when I see such machines, the euphoria is real.

Please take care of her even better.

Cheers!
VJ

[nitro.1000bhp]

Originally Posted by Nikhildrao

It's a beauty !! But now it's got me thinking about Norton in TVS ownership and Bajaj-triumph deal and fever dream of a Triton bike to exist again!! (Triton were colaboration bikes between triumph and Norton in the 60's I think that had Bonnie mechanicals with Norton bodies)

I doubt Tritons came out of an official deal between the two companies. The real 'cafe racers' of the time swapped the Norton engines for triumph units for their superior power but the Norton featherbed frames handled better than their triumph counterparts. This is how the Triton was born. You can find all kinds of engines installed in the featherbed frames now. Norvins (Norton frame with Vincent engines) were also a famous swap. There are even norleys (Norton frame with Harley engines).

[NPV]

Adil - lovely thread, thanks for sharing this wonderful write up with us on Team-BHP

Your love and passion for this beautiful bike has made all the hard work possible to restore it to it's prime glory and is very evident from the pictures.

Wishing you'll miles of rides with this vintage beauty in the years to come

[KPS]

What a wonderful story and it will live on!

On can feel for Mr. Cyrus Sabavalla and his love for his bike. So glad that he let go, even though he had such deep attachment to the bike. The bike will now out live him, but Mr. Sabavalla's story will never be forgotten

Congratulations to the brothers. Wish you many years of motorcycling fun. Ride safe please.

Cheers

KPS