Ben Schmitt’s identify first appeared on these pages three years in the past, when the legendary NYC Norton constructed him a Norton Commando race bike out of a ratty donor that had been purchased from a Tina Turner impersonator (true story). However Ben’s love affair with bikes goes means additional again than that.
“I began with minibikes on the age of 9—and at 64, I’m nonetheless doing it,” Ben tells us. Working as a lawyer in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, he nonetheless finds loads of time for bikes. He presently owns round 100 bikes, races with NYC Norton’s Kenny Cummings, and has just lately began importing unique two-strokes from Japan.
Ben discovered the bones of this alluring Norley café racer whereas trawling Fb Market. “A buddy of mine, Dennis Graham, was over, and we had simply completed one other mission,” he explains. “We had been a couple of beers in, and I confirmed him the mission and requested if he was prepared for an additional one.”
“He agreed. Dennis is extraordinarily proficient and meticulous—he did nearly the entire work on the bike.”
As luck would have it, the bike was in Los Angeles whereas Ben was racing on the Barber Motorsports Park. So he drove over to select it up. A few of the components had been already bolted in place, however in the end the bike needed to be stripped all the way down to its nuts and bolts earlier than Dennis might correctly get began.
In case you haven’t figured it out but, a Norley is the mixture of a Norton and a Harley. On this case, the donor bike featured a reproduction 1968 Norton Featherbed Wideline body, which, though from an unknown producer, Ben credit as an “extraordinarily good copy.” The engine and some different choose components got here from a 1974 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster.
“I at all times preferred the inventory Borrani rims, so we saved every little thing the identical there,” says Ben. “The swingarm, forks, and gauges are all Ironhead Sportster components, and the shocks are Öhlins.”
The outdated Ironhead mill turned out to be a peach too. Ben and Dennis cracked it open, solely to find that it had already been rebuilt. In order that they put it again collectively and added an S&S Cycle Tremendous E carb; “It runs like a high,” Ben confirms.
With the rolling chassis sorted, Ben began attempting to find appropriate bodywork. Tab II Classics got here by way of with an alloy seat unit and rear fender. Decrease down, an alloy oil tank is tucked away between a pair of race-style quantity boards.
The peerlessly sculpted fiberglass gas tank appears to be like prefer it was custom-made for this construct, nevertheless it’s really an eBay discover. The fellows merely needed to transfer the gas faucet to accommodate the body and motor.
The entrance fender comes from a inventory 1981 Sporty, and the bikini fairing from a 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR. (Sure, it’s an precise XLCR half—not a replica.)
Chris Cofield at CC Customized Graphics handled the Norley to an immaculate gloss black paint job, augmented with tasteful pin-striping and hand-lettered logos. Ben saved the general theme timeless, with black powder-coating for the body, and alternating black, polished, and uncooked finishes for every little thing else.
The ultimate particulars embrace a side-mounted taillight and license plate bracket, new clip-ons and rear-sets, and an obnoxiously quick pair of ceramic-coated exhausts. “I’m unsure in case you are accustomed to this exhaust design,” Ben quips. “They’re referred to as LAF (Loud As F**ok) pipes… and so they stay as much as the identify.”
He goes on to sum his Norley café racer up in simply 4 phrases; “Enjoyable bike, will get consideration.” That appears like a win to us.
Photos by Mark V. Bodine
