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Noriel Black Velvet and Norton Esquire – Two Different Visions Across Sixty Years

By Paul Crowe

JMC Classics and Restorations Noriel 1000 Black Velvet

A recent magazine cover photo caught my eye, it was John Mossey’s Noriel Black Velvet on the cover of Classic Bike. It’s one of those thoroughly British creations that comes about when you combine major parts from different marques into one new machine, in this case it’s an Ariel Square Four engine installed, with no small amount of massage and modifications all around, into a classic Norton Featherbed frame.

Noriel 1000cc Black Velvet – a British combination for the 21st century

The result is nothing short of stunning, it looks good from every angle, but this particular combination also reminded me of an article I wrote years ago on The Kneeslider, it was about a Norton Esquire. As noted at that time, I’d never heard of a Norton Esquire nor was I familiar with anyone doing this particular engine swap. The Brits have a way with these things, there’s no telling how many different mix and match mutts there are out there beyond the well known Tritons, Norvins and such, but many of them turn out to be pretty sweet.

A 1959 Norton Esquire
A 1959 Norton Esquire, the mating of a Featherbed frame with an Ariel Square Four engine.

The neat thing about looking at the new John Mossey creation next to the Esquire is when you compare the different directions the respective builders took, not to mention what looks good to us now compared to the late 1950s from when the other bike was born. Technology available now is certainly a big factor, disc brakes, Ohlins suspension and more, but the Esquire looks to be a very nice build and consistent with what you would expect from that era.

The exhaust pipes on the Noriel were hand built in the appearance of a Magni MV, the forks are replica Ceriani and look great, it’s a visual smorgasbord that comes together perfectly. It’s a 21st century version of the transplant.

JMC Classics and Restorations Noriel 1000 Black Velvet

The British seem to do more of this sort of thing than we do here in the States and it’s good to see builders like Mossey continuing the tradition with the high quality craftsmanship displayed here. Very nice work!

JMC Classics and Restorations via the April issue of Classic Bike

Posted on April 12, 2021 Filed Under: Vintage Motorcycles Tagged With: John Mossey, resto mod, restoration


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Comments

  1. Drive The Wheels Off says

    April 12, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    The header arrangement on the Esquire is great and would like great today even with a 4-into-2 further back.

    So, were the original Norton frames used (with modifications) or did the Noriel have a new featherbed-style made?

    • Paul Crowe says

      April 12, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      Great question. They used one from an outfit called Burgess Frames that makes replica Manx units. There’s no website I could find that I could point to.

      No original frames were harmed in the creation of this bike. 🙂

      UPDATE: I just got a note from a reader, (Thanks, David!) who pointed me to Lowe Frame Fabrications that might be the actual builder of the frame supplied for the Noriel. They worked with a Tony Burges, not Burgess, and they make replica Manx Norton racing frames so …

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