Norton Nemesis V8 Rebuild - Episode 1

This Norton Nemeses is a pre production prototype that was made in the late 90's with claims of a 200+mph top speed from its 1500cc fuel injected V8 engine.
As far as I'm aware, this is the only bike that has survived but if any of you know of other bikes please leave a comment. This bike is owned by the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham UK has been on display as a non running exhibit for many years.
I have already worked on the bike last year getting the engine to run after a few rudimentary checks, new oil and batteries for series 12 of Henry Cole's "The Motorbike Show" where Henry rode it for a few miles up to 50 mph, but it wasn't running very well and was leaking a lot of oil and coolant.

Episodes of "The Motorbike show" can be seen on itvx player on line and some shorter edits are available on Henrys YouTube channel.

Over the coming months I will be stripping the bike to sort out a few issues with the V8 engine and hopefully make it run and ride how it was intended 25 years ago.

This video captures some of the work I carried out on the front end to get the brakes and forks working correctly.

Hope you find it interesting

Regards

Allen

[seanbissett-powell]

I can just picture the board meeting at Norton. "Right chaps, we want to make every single maintenance job as tricky and over-complex as possible, and every component as different as possible to anything that has ever been done before.".

[MrJulianneave]

Calm talking, no annoying music or cuts every 3 seconds. This is what I want from YouTube, good work Allen.

[gerry]

This says a lot for your reputation, Allen, that you've been called in to refurbish such a unique bike.

[keithfarrell]

To be picked to carry out this project shows how much Allen is respected in the bike and engineering world.

[joseywales]

I'm Proposing that Allen is put forward for a Knighthood! He's a British National Treasure!
Sir Allen and Lady Tracey Millyard has a great ring to it and he's got more reason to be on the Honours List than most of the idiots that are awarded an Honour! "In recognition of his amazing Motorcycle Engineering Skills and Abilities."

[colindowd]

The museum should be honoured to have Allen working on this machine. The work that this man does is borderline alchemy and genius, at the very least.

[benronayne]

Allen, I work as an Engineer, but after watching nearly all of your videos I feel as though I might aswell be playing with lego You've really inspired me to up my game professionally but more importantly spend more time in my garage making and repairing stuff not to mention learning new skills. Very best of luck to you and all your future projects. I'll be trying that cake recipe too so please send on thanks to Tracy for it. Ben in Ireland🔧🔧🔧🔧

[rogerthecabinboy]

Norton seems to have invented a way to hold the front wheel that doesn't need reinventing
You Sir are a gentleman and a genius.

[john-r-edge]

Having watched a number of channels who do disassembly of car and motorbike engines, I realise there is something that almost all other mechanics use - but Allen never does. A lot of other mechanics do so much of their work with an impact driver gun to remove bolts etc - but Allen never does. So his work seems more peaceful, more Zen!!

[Thayandanjika]

What a calming background environment for the master engineer to be working in: tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

[Shadowfdath]

that front fork and wheel design mighty be the silliest thing ive ever seen, and a nightmare for service lol...i bet it cost 20x a normal prototype fork/ wheel setup too

[RReese]

This is the most mental thing I’ve ever seen about a motorcycle. It’s a miracle that you didn’t encounter any fasteners or parts that were rusted, corroded, fused together, damaged or stripped. Looking forward to watching the next chapter in how you bring this creature back to life.

[totalutternutter]

It must be an exceptional honour to be trusted to restore such an iconic prototype and quite a relief for the museum that Allen agreed to take it on. I'd bet they threw a party when he said yes. What a palaver just to get the wheel out.

[SpiritintheSky.]

My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read "Norton 1500 V8". What a treat we have in store. And who better to give the bike to, to bring his expertise to bear?

[billienomates]

The magic you perform with motorcycles is just on another level to anyone else, RESPECT.

[rogerwatkinson]

Solving engineering problems that had been solved in a much simpler way decades before...
I'm surprised they didn't re-invent the wheel! :D

Excellent video as always. I love the calm, the clock and the kitchen intermission...

[AmbroseB]

My late father was a huge fan of Nortons with their TT successes in the 30s and 50s but I think he would have watched this in complete disbelief that they could have designed this with such complications.
I seem to recall from Henry's show that when NMM challenged him to achieve a certain speed on the bike he believed the prototype had never been properly run and had been pushed downhill to get some publicity shots. So it's completely untested.
If anyone can sort it AM can, his work is of the highest standard and comes from within his own genius, somewhat reminiscent of Frederick Henry Royce.
I love your style and methodology Allen and look forward to seeing the finished result. Thank you for videoing your progress for us.

[mattmattes]

As a machinist and a tool & die maker (Carbide wire drawing dies) I especially like how Allen goes about disassembling the parts on the bike. He doesn't attack things with electric or pneumatic tools.
Sometimes you gotta "feel" your way through things.

[jayknight]

Absolutely the most complex front fork, brake assembly ever devised. Can’t imagine what the advantages would be. Thanks for undertaking such a interesting project!

[stanleydenning]

I have never seen a motorcycle engineered like this one. It is truly unique. They could not have picked a better man to do the job of restoring it. I am looking forward to seeing future videos about this bike. Or any other videos from Allen Millyard.