http://motorbyte.com/norton/atlasmx.htm

One of the instruction manuals around (factory ?, pink/purple cover ) has

pics of the atlas scrambler, as well as specs and details. And all the other

nortons and hybrids as well. I remember marvelling as a schoolboy about who

would purchase an Atlas Scrambler ?? Not to hand, so can't quote contents.

Norton publication P106/P Maintenance Manual & Instruction Book (green cover)

shows a couple of pages of specs for the 750 Atlas and Scrambler models, and

curiously doesn't really distinguish the models. It does note the use of

single or twin monobloc carbies (1 x 376 or 2 x 389). It further notes the

single carb manifold cannot be flipped upside down, or the carby angle is

wrong. Fuel tanks of 2&1/2 or 3&1/2 gals variously fitted. Mentions air

cleaner(s).

It especially notes that the scrambler models have the three studs that are

screwed into the cylinder head shortened ( by 1/8" !!!) so the head can be

removed in the frame.

Bike shown could be a scrambler - but there are a few features which need to

be investigated further. A comparison with the hybrid web-site shows some

interesting results. Most obvious is that the rear guard (fender) and mounts

are not of a scrambler type, but the front fender is of scrambler type. The

header pipes do not have the upswept look that the scrambler ones had. Seat

appears incorrect for the scrambler type, but appears to have been

re-upholstered anyway.

The Norton Owners Club, and the Science Museum London hold copies of the

factory dispatch records for most years. This may be able to assist this

question.

Nice cycle, whatever it is found to be. Brave man that scrambles it though !!

hth, cheers,

Rohan.

----------

From: Greg Meyers <advo@mail.cloudnet.com>

To: noc-l@woodgate.org

Subject: NOC-L: What's an Atlas MX ? (longish post)

Date: Saturday, 15 January 2000 3:24

Got this letter from someone who found our Norton Hybrid web-site which he

requested I repost to the list:

Greetings,

Thanks for providing the most info I've found on Norton Hybrids. I've

recently purchased an Atlas Scrambler and would like your input as to

what it REALLY is. The engine number is 102189 which suggests a '62

engine. Referencing page 217 of Roy Bacons "Norton Twin Restoration",

this number corresponds to an Atlas MX.

I'd appeciate your opinion as to if this is an MX or not.

Greatfully,

My response:

Keith,

Never have seen or found any literature on the MX, but the engine number is

not really specific to that particular model. All the engines were made in

one place, and aside from minor changes to mate the primary were about

identical. The engine is , however, an early 750, if, indeed it IS a 750.

Is that an aftermarket 2 into 1 carb setup with Mikuni I see?. Look at the

paint on the back of the battery box and front of rear fender. What color

are they (or were they). The rear fender is not like any G-15 or N-15 I've

seen, but looks like fenders from a G-15 CSR or AJS 33. CSR fenders were

chrome. The front fender looks like all the hybrids. Is there a steering

lock incorporated in the triple clamp casting? What is the transmission

number? The best guy to ask about hybrids is Partridge in NovaScotia.

Also, are you on the Brit-Iron or NOC-l lists? These are invaluable........

His response:

...... There is a fork lock mount in the top triple clamp but no fork lock.

I haven't

started to strip the paint yet but the inside of the oil tank is red

(as per the hybrid info on your site suggests). The seat is an early

Commando S type that I really don't need. I'll need to check the

tranny number.....

Anybody know anything about the Atlas MX ?

He sent me a jpeg which can be seen in the Hybrid section on the website

below (notice how I didn't just mail it to you all.......)

On page 81 of Roy Bacon's Norton Buyer's Guide there's a phoo of an Atlas MX

(63/64) looks like his picture. Bob M

Well, sorta like it.

Front fender & stays are different, front guard and fenders are different

(alloy vs steel, stays inside versus outside). That painted deep rear fender

on his bike is likely to be indicator of the true model (??), looks very

Matchless or AJS.

With a change of just tank and fenders, all those models can be changed to

something similar looking. (Atlas MX, G15, Model 33, G15CSR, N15CSN, N15CS,

and sort of the P11 & P11A).

The true test is the factory despatch records... if the engine and frame

numbers are still intact. I notice he didn't quote a frame number - for a

reason ???? AJS and Matchless have very distinct numbers from Norton

models....

Rohan.

Rohan  wrote:

> Front fender & stays are different, front guard and fenders are

> different (alloy vs steel, stays inside versus outside). That painted

> deep rear fender on his bike is likely to be indicator of the true

> model (??), looks very Matchless or AJS.

Agreed. The bike looks as though it started out as a Canadian

touring model G15 (likely) or Model 33 (highly unlikely due to rarity,

but you never know). If so, the rear fender and seat are correct; the

front fender and tank are cadged off a scrambler version.

> With a change of just tank and fenders, all those models can be

> changed to something similar looking. (Atlas MX, G15, Model 33,

> G15CSR, N15CSN, N15CS, and sort of the P11 & P11A).

Agreed again. I have done exactly that with a G/N15 bike and a

large touring tank. Used it solo and for sidecar hauling (which was

it's real forte). One of those bikes you kick yourself for selling ...

> AJS and Matchless have very distinct numbers from Norton models....

Interesting. I was under the impression that only the prefix denoted

which was which.

Charlie L

RE: bike shown at http://motorbyte.com/norton/atlasmx.htm

I was hoping it might turn out to be a Nomad, since photos of those online

are very, very scarce.

All the major visible components (except the early Commando seat) clearly

indicate it is an N15 or G15, though of unknown vintage. One could wonder

whether someone may have pulled Bacon's leg about "MX" being an actual

"model" designation....

Parts such as fenders and exhaust pipes are not necessarily authoritative

indicators of vintage and iteration this many years after construction.

They could easily be as non-orig as the seat and carb. The front fender

itself and its main bracket look as if they could be period aftermarket

alloy with standard steel stays.

Tom D

RE: bike shown at http://motorbyte.com/norton/atlasmx.htm

I was hoping it might turn out to be a Nomad, since photos of those online

are very, very scarce.

All the major visible components (except the early Commando seat) clearly

indicate it is an N15 or G15, though of unknown vintage. One could wonder

whether someone may have pulled Bacon's leg about "MX" being an actual

"model" designation....

Parts such as fenders and exhaust pipes are not necessarily authoritative

indicators of vintage and iteration this many years after construction.

They could easily be as non-orig as the seat and carb. The front fender

itself and its main bracket look as if they could be period aftermarket

alloy with standard steel stays. The rear fender looks like heavyweight

road-model style, hardly MX gear of any vintage.

The frame number might well be a better vintage/iteration identifier than

engine in this case.

Tom D

I remember seeing pictures of an Atlas MX , with knobbly tires, as as

impressionable young schoolboy, although some years after. It certainly made

an impression !!! It created a deal of conversation amongst our group - who

would use such a thing ?? It was pictured in whatever the Norton Manual is

with a purple/pink cover. I still have a photocpy of it - somewhere - but

can't lay my hands on it just now.

There are two pics of an Atlas MX in Bacon "Norton Twin Resto". 1963 on page

163, 1964 on page 33. Either bike could be our subject bike, except for that

rear fender (which could easily be a substitute, interesting to see how well

it is fitted.) The Atlas MX is listed here as only made for 1963 and 1964,

and having twin carbs and air cleaners. The test of it on the Norton Hybrid

site mentions how little of it was changed to make a scrambler, including the

suspension.

Re frame numbers - I had in mind that AJS/Matchless frame numbers were much

lower than the same year Norton frame numbers, certainly up until about

1963. Bacon "AJS/Matchless Resto" doesn't actually say what G15 numbers where

once the Norton engines were fitted, which would suggest from past experience

that they didn't have that information when they published.

With a few parts, this cycle could be restored back to an authentic Atlas MX,

and so far we haven't enough info to argue any different... A 1962 (??)

engine number is too early for a 1963 model introduction though ??

Rohan.

Charlie L wrote:

<< The bike looks as though it started out as a Canadian touring model G15

(likely) or Model 33 (highly unlikely due to rarity, but you never know). If

so, the rear fender and seat are correct; the front fender and tank are

cadged off a scrambler version. >>

Agreed. The rear fender is stock '63-on touring AMC -- all non-featherbed

heavyweights. Takes the 18-inch back wheel. The matching front guard also

takes an 18-inch wheel, which may be why it was changed here, to take a

19-incher.

<< > With a change of just tank and fenders, all those models can be changed

to something similar looking. (Atlas MX, G15, Model 33, G15CSR, N15CSN,

N15CS, and sort of the P11 & P11A). <reply> Agreed again. I have done

exactly that with a G/N15 bike and a large touring tank. Used it solo and

for sidecar hauling (which was its real forte). One of those bikes you kick

yourself for selling ...>>

Just so; a friend in the UK did exactly the same with his G15CS.

<<> AJS and Matchless have very distinct numbers from Norton models....

<reply> Interesting. I was under the impression that only the prefix denoted

which was which. >>

The hybrids followed the Norton engine numbering sequence, with the prefixes

denoting what the bike was: N15, G15 or M33, so forth. The AJS and Matchless

models using the AMC's 650 engine followed the AMC series.