Back in the 70's I had a chance to buy one. It was a street bike with a full fairing and body. It had 2 headlights. I think it was an 850. I bought a Harley instead. Here's the question. Does anyone of you have or know of one? There was a limited number of them. Way before the Ninja's it was a roadracer on the street. Just courious.
John Player Norton
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Yeah, 10 years before the 1st Ninja.
The JPN was a low production bike. Almost all were street legal 850's. They were expensive new, and still are. About $10K will still buy a nice one. These are actually a sheep in wolf's clothing. Lots of unique parts, and look the business, but no hotter engine than a stock Commando. The earlier 750 Production Racer (from about '70-'71) was the real deal.
Years ago, I lusted after one of these. My Dad was friends w/ a doctor who had a '74 JPN and a '73 Triumph Hurricane. Fast forward about 15 years, and I got to put some miles on a JPN. A friend of mine has a cherry JPN, but his wife wanted to go on a ride. His is a solo seater, so we switched bikes for the day. Very uncomfortable riding position and limited steering lock. Looks to kill, but I lost the burning desire.
The JPN was a low production bike. Almost all were street legal 850's. They were expensive new, and still are. About $10K will still buy a nice one. These are actually a sheep in wolf's clothing. Lots of unique parts, and look the business, but no hotter engine than a stock Commando. The earlier 750 Production Racer (from about '70-'71) was the real deal.
Years ago, I lusted after one of these. My Dad was friends w/ a doctor who had a '74 JPN and a '73 Triumph Hurricane. Fast forward about 15 years, and I got to put some miles on a JPN. A friend of mine has a cherry JPN, but his wife wanted to go on a ride. His is a solo seater, so we switched bikes for the day. Very uncomfortable riding position and limited steering lock. Looks to kill, but I lost the burning desire.
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Yeah, there's a bar/club owner in Chicago named Deon that owns 2 of them. He puts on the Iggy's Bike Thing every year...a pretty shitty show, but at least I get to see people that I don't run into very often there.
You could build one using a standard Roadster and bodywork from Vintage Glass. You could do all sorts of performance stuff to it and still save a ton of money vs buying a JPNorton. There is a good article on the JPN in the latest edition of Classic Bike. It says there was only 200 or so made and most were 750's. Still a fucking beautiful bike. Gregg
Thanks, you know how things stay in your brain and pop out a unknown times. This was one of them. I remembered the white with dual headlights. I bet the reason I didn't buy it was the one seater thing. I had a girl friend at the time who liked to ride. I sold the Harley to buy a house. Mick
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..you could've bought a Player Norton and got a Harley instead...ooops!
There's a little shop in Rochester, MN that has an original JPN racebike sitting on a stand in the showroom with the bodywork hanging above it. It had a monocoque chassis, fucking trick as hell. All aluminum frame made from sheet and riveted or welded (can't remember). I wish I had a picture.
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