1959 Norton Manki (Manx Suzuki) Pictures
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This is Manki – the MANx suzuKI. Starting with just a slimline featherbed frame I built the bike over a 14 month period, putting in over 1000 hours. The hubs are Dommie front, Suzuki rear, both with WM3-19 flanged alloy rims; the forks are Kawasaki. Other parts include Triumph Meriden, Triumph Hinckley, Royal Enfield, Harley Davidson and numerous new pattern parts (including some of yours, Nigel!).
I laced the wheels up, made the seat from a fibreglass race pan and manufactured numerous steel and ally brackets and plates. The hardest part was the chain run – I had the rear hub machined extensively and still had to lace the wheel with offset to get the sprocket tucked inside the swinging arm.
The original belt drive Suzuki Savage motor has been geared up by around 20% to give the high-geared feel of a Goldie and the steering precision of the featherbed has been retained because the fork and yoke geometry is a close match to the proper Norton Roadholders.
Many thanks to Martyn Roberts for these pictures of his bike.
