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This was very similar to my Norton 500 single Hemi.
Norton was famous for making big single cylinder motorcycles all the way from 1919 until 1966.
Their thumpers were especially popular in the '50's, as they made competitive power for racing thanks to the use of shaft and bevel drive to their overhead cams. They were competitive even against the early three and four cylinder competition in racing in the '50's.
Norton's twins became really popular in the late '60's and early '70's when they mounted their light and powerful engines in rubber so that their awful vibration became livable. Unfortunately Norton set the path for ruin when they acquired Triumph and BSA, which were failing due to labor problems and mismanagement, and tried to keep them alive against the onslaught of Japanese bikes.