View source for Featherbed frame

{{short description|Motorcycle frame}}
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{{Synthesis |date=December 2017}}
{{overly detailed|date=September 2019}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
[[File:Norton 500 Manx 1961.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|1950s-era [[Manx Norton|Manx Norton styled replica]] built for the 1990s named ''Manxman'', using a replica Featherbed frame constructed to special order by [[B.S.A. Company|BSA]]<ref>''New Manx Nortons from Port Talbot. Classic Racer'', Summer 1989, pp.61-63 Accessed 10 January 2018</ref>]]
The '''featherbed frame''' was a [[motorcycle frame]] invented by the McCandless brothers and offered to the [[Great Britain|British]] [[Norton motorcycle]] company to improve the performance of their racing motorcycles in 1950. It was considered revolutionary at the time,<ref name="pp.41-42">"''As opposition companies strove to develop completely new machines with multi-cylinder engines, far more powerful than the Norton single, Bracebridge Street was content to find new speed in 1950 with a revolutionary new frame which steered and handled so superbly that it immediately earned the now forever-famous tag Featherbed''". Sixty Years of Speed, 1967 a ''[[Motorcycle News]]'' publication, pp.41-42 Accessed 26 January 2018</ref><ref name="foale">Motorcycle handling and chassis design: the art and science by Tony Foale. 2006</ref>{{full citation needed|date=November 2017}} and the best handling frame that a racer could have.<ref name="p.41">"''Introduced in 1950, the featherbed Norton frame, designed by Rex McCandless, of Belfast, became, and still is, the standard by which handling and steering of all racing machines is judged''". Sixty Years of Speed, 1967 a ''[[Motorcycle News]]'' publication, p.41 Accessed 26 January 2018</ref><ref name="pp.41-42"/><ref>The Café Racer Phenomenon by A Walker. 2009</ref>{{full citation needed|date=November 2017}} Later adopted for Norton production motorcycles,<ref>[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], August 1966, pp.36-37 Featherbed stripdown. "''Developed from the one-time, world-beating Manx Norton, the Dominator 'featherbed' frame is still regarded as the ultimate in steering, handling and roadholding.''" Accessed 8 February 2018</ref> it was also widely used by builders of custom [[wikt:hybrid|hybrids]] such as the [[Triton motorcycle|Triton]],<ref name="MC Sport 1978"/> becoming legendary and remaining influential to this day.<ref name="23 Apr 64">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 23 April 1964, pp.494-497 ''Norton Featherbed Twins'' by John Ebrell. "''The famous featherbed frame, beloved of specials builders. Its absolute rigidity makes a big contribution to the legendary Norton roadholding''". Accessed and added 4 February 2018</ref><ref name="MC Sport 1978b">''Do not mourn the Featherbed! Motorcycle Sport'', August 1978, p.218 "''The Featherbed Nortons were some of the all time greats, but to ascribe to the shape of the frame some magic properties is to detract from the design of the whole bicycle, its weight distribution and geometry and to give to the frame's progenitors some of the credit due to the likes of Ken Sprayson, who knows a thing or three about its development.''" Accessed 10 January 2018</ref><ref name="foale" />

The Featherbed inspired other frame builders who based their own products on similar principles, including the 1960s heavyweight [[Münch (motorcycles)|Münch Mammut]],<ref name="Nitor">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 3 February 1966, pp.142-143 ''On the Four Winds'' by 'Nitor'. "''Engine is from the NSU Prinz car and may be specified in 43 or 52 bhp trim. In my picture you can see how well it fits into a featherbed-style frame''". Accessed and added 2014-09-28. Re-accessed and quotation added 8 September 2018</ref> a lightweight version for a 250&nbsp;cc [[BSA C15]] engine,<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 24 November 1963, pp.696-699 ''All the rage'' by ''John Ebrell. " ...Ilford's CeeR-Speedshop. For £29 they'll supply the C15 rider with a featherbed-type duplex frame"''. Accessed and added 2014-09-28</ref> and the 1970-conceived ''Dresda'' frame.<ref name="Mechanics 1970"/><ref name="Bike Dec 84"/>

The Featherbed was replaced by the [[Norton Isolastic frame]] in 1967 for the then newly-developed [[Norton Commando]] which used a rubber-mounted engine and gearbox,<ref>Norton By Mick Woollett. 2004.</ref>{{full citation needed|date=November 2017}} although Norton continued to offer the ''Mercury'' with a Featherbed frame until production ceased by 1970. Replicas of the frame continue to be produced by specialist companies.<ref>''[[Classic Bike]]'', October 1989, p.80 Barber Engineering advert (Norfolk, England). ''Replica frame builder. G50/7R, Featherbed and Seeley Mk3. Other frames to pattern.''" Accessed 10 January 2018</ref><ref>[http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/SI%20Frames.htm Andover Norton Frames and Auxiliaries made to factory drawings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216224233/http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/SI%20Frames.htm |date=16 February 2015 }} Retrieved 2014-09-28</ref><ref name="classicbikeguide" />{{full citation needed|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Triton.jpg|thumb|"Triton." A Triumph 650&nbsp;cc pre-unit engine and gearbox in a wideline Norton Featherbed frame]]

==Origins==
In 1949 brothers [[Rex McCandless|Rex]] and [[Cromie McCandless]] offered [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]] a new frame to support their successful 500cc race single. [[Rex McCandless]] was a self-taught [[Belfast]] motorcycle engineer and raced competitively with his brother on a [[Triumph Tiger 100]]. He had made several improvements to the Triumph, notably an innovative new frame with a swinging arm fitted with vertical hydraulic shock absorbers from a [[Citroen]] car.<ref name="Vintagent">{{cite web|url=http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2008/12/rex-mccandless-and-featherbed-frame.html|title=Rex McCandless and the Featherbed Frame|last=d'Orleans|first=Paul|access-date=2009-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031111600/http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2008/12/rex-mccandless-and-featherbed-frame.html|archive-date=31 October 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Birmingham Small Arms Company#Motorcycles|BSA]] bought several of his converted motorcycles but Norton saw the real opportunity and contracted him to work exclusively for them from 1949. The [[Norton Motorcycle Company]] were concerned at the reliability of their [[Motorcycle suspension#Plunger suspension|plunger]] (or "Garden Gate") frame, as several had broken through the stress of racing. Norton engineer Joe Craig solved the problems by making the frames heavier but handling suffered as a consequence.<ref name="Vintagent" />{{dead link|date=November 2017}}

Norton commissioned the McCandless brothers to design a complete frame, incorporating a swinging arm. McCandless' finished design was expensive, as it required over forty feet of the best [[Reynolds Technology|Reynolds steel tubing]]. It was a welded twin loop with a swinging arm fitted with their own design of shock absorbers, with a heavily braced cross-over headstock. In two months a prototype motorcycle with the new frame was on the test track and it was tested on the [[Isle of Man]] in the winter of 1949. It performed well and Norton decided that the Norton works team would have motorcycles with the new frames. The Norton works was not well equipped so the [[Oxy-fuel welding and cutting|sif-bronze]] welding was undertaken by the McCandless brothers who produced the eight frames for the racing team by hand.<ref name="classicbikeguide">{{cite web|url=http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/oct06/ft2.htm|title=Featherbed frame|last=Myatt|first=Steven|access-date=2009-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103060047/http://www.classicbikeguide.com/archive/oct06/ft2.htm|archive-date=3 November 2006|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Production featherbed frames were made under [[Ken Sprayson]]'s direction at Reynolds, who became known as 'The Frame man'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/product/ken-sprayson-the-frame-man/|title=Ken Sprayson The Frame Man - National Motorcycle Museum|website=www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527032116/http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/product/ken-sprayson-the-frame-man/|archive-date=27 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MC Sport 1978">''Do not mourn the Featherbed! Motorcycle Sport'', August 1978, p.218 "''No one would argue that there was a better roadholding bike in the 50s than the Norton. That it was capable of taking more power than the Dommie engine could give was proved not only on the race track by the Manx version and the Domiracer but also on the road by those who put Triumph engines in them.''" Accessed 10 January 2018</ref><ref name="MC Sport 1978b"/>

===The patent===
Norton applied for a patent for the design on 13 October 1949 and it was granted as reference 664,667 but the completed specification was not published until 9 January 1952. The Featherbed frame was simply constructed:<ref name="Patent">{{cite web|url=http://www.motos-anglaises.com/technique/featherbed/fichiers/Brevet%207.pdf|title=Patent Specification|access-date=2009-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929041736/http://www.motos-anglaises.com/technique/featherbed/fichiers/Brevet%207.pdf|archive-date=29 September 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
<blockquote>
This invention relates to a new or improved frame for a motorcycle which comprises two substantially parallel rectangular loops each formed from a single length of tubing, and the ends of the tube forming each loop cross and are welded to each other at the top front corner of the loop, the free ends of the tube which extend beyond the crossing point being welded to the side of an inclined head tube adjacent to the top and bottom thereof. The assembled frame is extremely strong for its weight and designed to provide the maximum resistance to any stresses applied to the frame by road shocks or by the driving torque of the power unit.
</blockquote>

===The Featherbed name===
[[Harold Daniell]] was a successful [[Isle of Man TT]] racer with three victories and several placings in the Tourist Trophy races and the [[Manx Grand Prix]].<ref>[http://www.iomtt.com/TTDatabase/Races.aspx?meet_code=ALL&ride_id=745 IOMTT.com Harold Daniell results database]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (retrieved 5 November 2006)</ref>  After testing the new Norton frame in 1950 he declared that it was like "riding on a featherbed" compared with riding the "garden gate<ref>Garden gate is a reference to the plunger frame Nortons of this era</ref>"—and it has been called the featherbed frame ever since.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.500race.org/Men/Daniell.htm|title=Harold Daniell|access-date=2009-01-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106020314/http://www.500race.org/Men/Daniell.htm|archive-date=6 January 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The term feather bed was used in the 1933 to 1938 [[Brough Superior]] catalogues in their press section.{{synthesis inline|date=November 2017}} As printed in the 1933 Brough Superior catalog:{{Original research inline|date=November 2017}} <blockquote> The "Brough Superior" Rear Spring Frame, to quote "Castor" of "Motor Cycling," renders "pitching or wobble non-existent, impossible. A feather bed could scarcely be safer"—and this in relating his experience on a Special "Brough Superior" S.S. 100, on which he did 106 m.p.h. in second gear on the road !<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brough-superior.com/ws/frontend/seite/SeiteCms.php?coId=82&coType=navigation2|title=Brough Superior|access-date=2010-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708095608/http://www.brough-superior.com/ws/frontend/seite/SeiteCms.php?coId=82&coType=navigation2|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>{{weasel inline|date=November 2017}}</blockquote>

===Racing success===
Further testing took place at [[Montlhery]] race track with four motorcycles running flat-out for two days. The new frame stood up well to tests and saw its UK launch at [[Blandford Camp]] in [[Dorset]] in April 1950. [[File:500cc pre-unit Triumph engine and BSA frame.jpg|thumb|An unrelated and irrelevant Triumph-BSA off-roader<!-- NOTE - this is correctly identified in the original Flickr description as Tribsa - it is not a Norton frame -->]]<nowiki> </nowiki>[[Geoff Duke]] had won the Senior Clubmans TT and the Senior Manx Grand Prix in 1949 on the earlier type Nortons, so was a clear choice for Norton to really put the new Featherbed-framed race bikes to the test. Duke won the race on the new design and several racing successes followed with Norton winning first three places in the 1950 Senior and Junior TT's.<ref name="Vintagent" />{{dead link|date=November 2017}} In the Friday Senior TT Duke set a new lap record of 93.33&nbsp;mph and also broke the overall race record, finishing in two hours, 51 minutes and 45 seconds; he had previously finished second to Artie Bell (Norton) in Monday's Junior TT. ([[Harold Daniell]]'s Norton was third.) When it came to the bends on the twisting Island course the new frame gave the Nortons a distinct advantage.<ref name="classicbikeguide" />{{dead link|date=November 2017}}

Featherbed frames were also successfully modified for use in off road racing or [[motorcycle scrambling]].<ref>Off-Road Giants!: Heroes of 1960s Motorcycle Sport by Andy Westlake</ref>{{full citation needed|date=November 2017}} In the 1950s, Ron Hankin designed a featherbed-inspired [[Motocross World Championship|Moto Cross]] frame for [[Les Archer Jr.|Les Archer junior]], having curved downtubes to allow for greater front suspension movement without fouling the wheel on the frame, and with heavy bracing around the steering head tube. The frame was used with [[Manx Norton]] engines prepared by tuner Ray Petty, and also with a 500&nbsp;cc [[Norton Dominator]] engine.<ref>[https://www.classicdirtbike.co.uk/that-was-the-year-les-archer-became-european-mx-champion-2/ That was the year... ...Les Archer became European MX champion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122212/https://www.classicdirtbike.co.uk/that-was-the-year-les-archer-became-european-mx-champion-2/ |date=9 February 2018 }} ''Classic Dirt Bike'', 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018</ref>

==Featherbed variants==
{{importance section|date=September 2019}}

===Manx racer in Reynolds 531===
Weight and strength were key factors in the design of the featherbed frame for the Norton racing team's Manx.  16-gauge [[Reynolds 531]], a high-tensile manganese-molybdenum steel alloy, was used as it allowed the frame tubes to be made thinner for the same strength, as well as making for a more responsive frame. All the joints were Sifbronze welded,<ref>{{cite web |title=Suffolk Iron Foundry (1920) |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Suffolk_Iron_Foundry_(1920) |website=Graces Industrial Guide |access-date=24 August 2013 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802092722/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Suffolk_Iron_Foundry_(1920) |archive-date=2 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SUFFOLK IRON FOUNDRY (1920) LTD. Sif bronze Works, Stowmarket, Suffolk |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/5th-march-1965/78/suffolk-iron-foundry-1920-ltd-sif-bronze-works-sto |website=The Commercial Motor Archive |access-date=24 August 2013 |date=5 March 1965 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223948/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/5th-march-1965/78/suffolk-iron-foundry-1920-ltd-sif-bronze-works-sto |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> – a relatively low-temperature flame-braze – except for the sub frame which was initially bolted-on but welded in later versions.<ref name="Classic">{{cite book|last=Currie|first=Bob|title=Classic British Motorcycles|publisher=Chancellor Press|year=1993|isbn=978-1-85152-250-7}}</ref>

===Norton International===
In 1953 the [[Norton International]] was relaunched with a new version of the Featherbed frame made from grade A mild steel.<ref name="Southsiders">{{cite web|url=http://southsiders-mc.blogspot.com/2008/10/norton-international-history.html|title=Norton International History|date=28 October 2008|access-date=2008-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110003848/http://southsiders-mc.blogspot.com/2008/10/norton-international-history.html|archive-date=10 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Domiracer 'Lowboy'===

In 1956, Norton development engineer [[Doug Hele]] was tasked with creating a 500&nbsp;cc [[overhead valve]] road-based racing machine to challenge the larger-displacement [[side valve]] 750 [[Harley Davidson]]s run in the same class at [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]]-organised [[Daytona 200]] races. Initially unsuccessful, the project was turned into creating a road-based race engine as a replacement for the ageing [[Manx Norton]] racer engine. Hele designed a lighter-weight, lower frame with slightly shorter [[wheelbase]], based on Featherbed principles having slightly altered frame runs and shortened [[Telescopic fork|telescopic front forks]] which became known as ''Lowboy''. The project was named ''Domiracer'', and one was successfully raced to third-place by [[Tom Phillis]] in the 1961 [[Senior TT]] race.<ref>"''Undoubtedly a successful experiment but it did not go into production. In 1961 Norton prepared a special 500 ohv twin based on the Dominator roadster and Australian Tom Phillis raced it into 3rd place at 98.78 mph with a fastest lap of 100.36 mph. The frame was a lower-built version of the famous featherbed''". Machines of the TT, Sixty Years of Speed, 1967 a ''[[Motorcycle News]]'' publication, p.42 Accessed 1 February 2018</ref><ref name="Domiracer Classic Racer">Story of the Domiracer, ''Classic Racer'', Autumn 1988, pp.52-57 Accessed 4 February 2018</ref> In 1962 the factory developed a Lowboy with a 350&nbsp;cc Manx Norton single-cylinder engine and a 650&nbsp;cc version using the [[Norton 650SS|Dominator 650SS]] engine but with a full-height Manx frame, both as tried by [[Derek Minter]].<ref name="The Minter Line"/>

In 1962 the race shop closed and was sold to [[Dunstall Norton|Paul Dunstall]], who had already developed his own [[Norton Dominator]]-engined race machine campaigned by Fred Neville (deceased 1961) and Dave Downer (deceased 1963). Dunstall successfully developed 500, 650 and 750 versions, later producing a Lowboy frame kits sold to the general public. After the Dunstall organisation closed in the early 1980s, other specialists offered the Lowboy frame.<ref name="The Minter Line">The Minter Line [[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 4 October 1962 pp.406-409. Accessed 28 January 2018</ref><ref name="Domiracer Classic Racer"/><ref>Dunstall Lowboy frame kit, part number 1060, undated catalogue "''The Dunstall Lowboy racing frame assembly allows you to build your own compact light and competitive racing 750. The kit is designed to accept the 750 Norton engine, but the 650 or 500 will fit just as easily.''" Accessed 28 January 2018</ref><ref>''Classic Racer'', Summer 1989, p.11 Mick Hemmings advert, Accessed 28 January 2018. "''Domiracer Lowboy Frame Kit. As used by Tom Phillis and designed by Doug Hele. Will take Manx or Twin engines c/w wide tubular singing arm, taper rollers.''"</ref>

===Single and Twin cylinder roadsters in Featherbeds===
{{summarize section|date=September 2019}}
{{off topic|date=September 2019}}
Having earlier installed the Dominator twin-cylinder engine of [[Norton Dominator#Model 88|500&nbsp;cc]] and [[Norton Dominator#Model 99|600&nbsp;cc]], in 1959 Norton put the old single cylinder [[Norton Model 50|Model 50]] (350&nbsp;cc) and the [[Norton ES2|ES2]] (500&nbsp;cc) into the Featherbed frame to rationalise production. Using grade A mild steel, the size of this engine determined the space between the top and bottom rails of the full duplex cradle. In 1960 the top rails were installed at the rear of the tank.<ref name="Origin">{{cite web|url=http://www.ntnoa.org/General2.htm|title=The Origin of the Famous Norton Featherbed Frame|access-date=2009-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020040254/http://www.ntnoa.org/General2.htm|archive-date=20 October 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Riders complained that these ''wideline'' Featherbed frames were uncomfortably wide at {{convert|11.5|in|cm}} but it was not until 1960 that the top runs of the frame were narrowed towards the front of the seat, with corresponding overall styling changes including tank and seat to create the [[Norton Dominator#Slimline Featherbed frames for 1960|''slimline'']] frame.

The slimline was used until the last of the vertical twin cylinder models in the late 1960s, the [[Norton Mercury]], a limited-production run of single carburettor 650&nbsp;cc machines based on the Dominator;<ref name="Mechanics 1969">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], May 1969, p.63 SHOWTIME. ''Show scene '69. "Last of the traditional Nortons is the 647 cc Mercury. This machine has the Commando type cylinder head and single carburettor, producing 47 bhp. A rev counter and stainless steel mudguards are available as extras"''. Accessed 3 January 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.realclassic.co.uk/norton04051800.html Real Classic Norton Mercury] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908184926/http://www.realclassic.co.uk/norton04051800.html |date=8 September 2015 }} Retrieved 2014-09-28</ref> the [[Norton Commando]] with its new frame design and angled-forward engine having been launched at the Earls Court show in 1967 took over as the 750&nbsp;cc range-topper, later enlarged to 830&nbsp;cc, but badged as '850'.

===Dresda===
{{off topic|date=September 2019}}
Dave Degens created his first hybrid motorcycle of a Triumph engine/Norton rolling chassis in 1961 when working for former racer and motorcycle race shop owner [[Geoff Monty]], using a racing [[Manx Norton]] with a blown engine. The bike was sold before it was finished, and realising there was a potential business, in 1963 Degens bought into ''Dresda Autos'', a small [[Scooter (motorcycle)|scooter]] shop in South London together with business partner Richard 'Dickie' Boon, keeping the existing name.<ref name="Mechanics 1964"/>

Degens created what he termed as ''Dresda Triton'' from 1963, with the [[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics''']] road test of June 1964 stating "The firm has sold well over fifty to date&nbsp;...", naming two mechanics/bike builders in addition to Degens, who was a regular short-circuit [[road racing|road racer]], having ridden for Monty and [[Dunstall Norton|Paul Dunstall]] on his ex-works 500&nbsp;cc Norton Domiracer with lowboy frame designed by [[Doug Hele]] in the 1963 and 1964 [[Manx Grand Prix|Manx Grands Prix]].<ref name="Mechanics 1964">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], June 1964, pp.28-29, and 58 "''MM's fastest road test! The fabulous 126 mph Dresda Triton''". Accessed 16 January 2018</ref><ref>''Motorcycle Sport'', ''Manx Grand Prix 1964'' October 1964, pp.371-373, 378-379 and 380-384 Accessed 16 January 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=ALL&ride_id=6037 Dave Degens' results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117011948/https://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=ALL&ride_id=6037 |date=17 January 2018 }}, Manx Grand Prix, IoM TT Database. Retrieved 16 January 2018</ref>
<!-- Throughout the 1960s Degens could source enough frames but co-incident with the Norton move to the isolastic framed Commando from 1968 fewer frames were available. Degens overcame this by producing his own frame to Featherbed proportions  -->

In 1970, [[road racing|racer]] and bike shop owner Dave Degens produced his first bespoke ''Dresda'' frame, after his business name ''Dresda Autos''. Based on the geometry of the smaller-capacity (250&nbsp;cc/350&nbsp;cc) [[Aermacchi#motorcycles|Aermacchis]] he had previously raced, the new frame had tube runs and layout based on the Featherbed, but with upscaled proportions to allow for the use of taller, heavier, more-powerful 650&nbsp;cc [[Straight-twin engine|parallel twin cylinder engines]], similar to his 1965 Barcelona 24-hour endurance race-winning ''Dresda Triton''. The new bike used Degens' later development of a [[unit construction]] race-prepared [[Triumph Engineering|Triumph engine]], unlike the earlier models having a [[Pre-unit construction|separate engine and gearbox]].

The new configuration won the 1970 [[Montjuïc circuit|Barcelona 24-hour race]], reprising Degens' 1965 win. After this success, French motorcycle dealer Japauto commissioned Degens to build a bespoke race-frame for the still-new [[Honda CB750]] [[four-cylinder]] engine that had been specially enlarged for racing to 900&nbsp;cc.[[File:Chris Vincent Norbsa number 23 side view.JPG|thumb|[[Chris Vincent (motorcycle sidecar racer)|Chris Vincent's]] 1958 National Championship-winning NorBSA [[grass track racing|grasstrack]] sidecar outfit, a [[Manx Norton]] rolling chassis powered by a BSA A10 (650&nbsp;cc) engine and gearbox, fitted with [[Motorcycle handlebar#Types of handlebars|clip-on handlebars]] and rear-set foot-rests, it was also used for [[road racing]] needing only a change of tyres]] This machine won the 1972 [[Bol d'Or]] 24-hour [[Endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance race]].<ref>[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], November 1973, p.26 Dresda advert, "''Dresda frame kit for 500 and 750 Honda, as used on the winning machine at the 1972 Bol d'Or''". Accessed 16 January 2018</ref>

Degens subsequently offered frame kits for self-builders using Triumph and Honda engines, and also produced complete machines for road-use, named ''Dresda Triumph'' and ''Dresda Honda''.<ref name="Mechanics 1970">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], October 1970, pp.48-50. ''The Resurrection Man''. Accessed and added 9 November 2017</ref><ref name="Bike Dec 84">[[Bike (magazine)|''Bike'']], December 1984, pp.48-51. Accessed and added 9 November 2017</ref><ref>[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], July 1973, p.25 Dresda Autos advert (London, England). ''All motorcycle builders. ''Dresda are now established in a new factory and can offer the specialised service that YOU want. If you are building a new bike we can offer Dresda race-proven frames to suit most engines and give 25 per cent weight reduction on overall machines.''" Accessed January 2018</ref>

===Special hybrids===
In addition to the better-known [[Triton motorcycle|Triumph-Norton]] and [[Vincent Motorcycles#Norvin|Vincent-Norton]],<ref name="Mechanics July 1964 again">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], July 1964, p.13 Next Month: What's coming in the August issue. Build a Triton. ''"We get hundreds of requests for information on how to build a Triumph/Norton hybrid. So next month we'll tell you how—...''". Accessed 8 February 2018</ref><ref>[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], December 1964, pp.34-35, ''Vin–Nor sprinter. "John Willers of Mitcham started building his Vincent/Norton special several years ago. He aimed to make it a dual–purpose machine that would see off anything else on the road and also acquit itself creditably on the sprint strips''". Accessed 7 February 2018</ref> a small number of other <!--dab page is not an error! There is no internal wikilink suitable. Please do not change this to [[hybrid vehicle]] which is for dual-fuel power-->hybrid motorcycles,<!--dab page is not an error! There is no internal wikilink suitable. Please do not change this to [[hybrid vehicle]] which is for dual-fuel power--><ref group=note>A hybrid motorcycle consists of one manufacturer's major part(s) conjoined with other manufacturers' major components, in this case a Norton Featherbed frame basis, powered by a Triumph engine ([[Triton motorcycle|Triton]]) or Vincent engine ([[Vincent Motorcycles#Norvin|Norvin]]) or other more-obscure engines, including [[Two-stroke engine|two-strokes]] sourced from [[Evinrude Outboard Motors|boats]] or [[Saab two-stroke|Saab cars]]</ref><ref>[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], Special Equipment supplement 1 June 1967, p.735 ''Triton''. "''THIS <!-- [SIC] -->hybrid with Norton frame and Triumph engine is no mere Metropolitan toy''". Accessed 9 March 2018</ref> sometimes known as 'specials', have been created using the featherbed frame, mostly with associated Norton-sourced, matching running gear:
* Noriel – Norton featherbed frame with [[Ariel Square Four]] engine.<ref name="5 November 64">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 5 November 1964, pp.792-793 ''Featherbed Four'' – Dick Wright's four-pipe model, by David Dixon. "''No disrespect to Ariels, but there have always been enthusiastic Square Four owners who yearned for race-bred steering and roadholding. If only the 997&nbsp;cc four-cylinder unit could be shoehorned into a Norton Featherbed frame...''". Accessed and added 7 February 2018</ref><ref name="17 February 66">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 17 February 1966, Classified advertising, p.12 (supplement iv) ''Specials'' – "''1965 Noriel 1,000cc 4...£245''". E.S. Longstaff Ltd., 68 New Rd., Edmonton, London, N.9. Accessed and added 18 February 2018</ref>
* NorBSA – Norton featherbed frame with [[BSA Super Rocket|BSA 500 or 650]] twin cylinder engine, or [[BSA Gold Star|Gold Star]] 350 or 500 single cylinder engine.<ref name="Mechanics July 1964">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], July 1964, p.17 "''Can We Help You? Q. Is it possible to fit a BSA 650cc Super Rocket engine into my 1958 Norton Dominator 88 frame?...A. ...We would suggest you do not go ahead with a conversion such as this unless you have engineering experience and first-class workshop facilities. ...''". Accessed 8 February 2018</ref>
* Norley – Norton featherbed frame with [[Harley Davidson#Motorcycle engines|Harley Davidson]] V-twin engine.<ref>[https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mecum-to-auction-norley-cafe-racer-motorcycle-original-spring-classic-event Mecum to Auction Norley Cafe Racer Motorcycle at Original Spring Classic Event]{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} [[Motorcyclist (magazine)|''Motorcyclist'']] online, 4 May 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2018</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*40 Years of the Featherbed Norton, Peter Kneale, 1990 Isle of Man TT Official Souvenir Programme, pp.&nbsp;15–17

==External links==
* [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lVCC9aDALT4/SVHggiN6AcI/AAAAAAAAGIM/LtHizZQuZjs/s1600-h/sc003c662e.jpg Picture of Rex McCandless]
* [http://www.oldbritts.com/13_067201.html Pictures of unpainted Norton featherbed frame]
* [http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2008/12/rex-mccandless-and-featherbed-frame.html Story of the development of the featherbed frame]

{{Norton motorcycles}}

[[Category:Norton motorcycles]]
[[Category:Motorcycle frames]]