Fancy Buying Your Own Bike Brand? Now’s Your Chance!

With the news earlier this month that the small-scale motorcycle maker CCM was heading into administration, you’d be forgiven for thinking that now might not be the best time to set up your own endeavour.

And while that might be true, the thought of owning your own bike maker (albeit on a very small scale), and for the price of just £50,000, is enticing.

The business in question is Norcati, which, as the name suggests, blends classic British bike frames (that are clearly Norton-inspired) with air-cooled Ducati L-twin engines. Bikes like Tritons (which blended Triumph engines and Norton frames) and Norvins (which did the same with Norton frames and Vincent engines) remain popular bikes for collectors, although adding a Ducati engine into the mix is a new one on us.

The sale of the business has come about due to ill health, and from reading the listing, it’s a fairly thorough pile of kit and bikes should somebody be willing to take the project on.

Around a decade ago, the first prototype, a Mk1 Norcati powered by a 900SS engine, sold for £25,000. That early bike laid the groundwork for what would become the Mk2 café racer, the version seen in this article. During development, the engine position was moved forward in the frame to improve handling and aesthetics, and a custom jig was built to accommodate the Norton-style featherbed frames.

The oil tank is actually a dummy unit – it now houses the lithium battery, starter solenoid and isolator switch, cleverly accessed through a Monza-style filler cap. It’s all very neat, very tidy, and very well thought through.

Bike No. 1 – Ducati 1100 Café Racer (Finished)

This is the most complete bike in the project – a fully built Ducati 1100 café racer featuring a low-mileage 1100cc engine with under 2,000 miles on the clock. It’s finished in classic café racer style, just as pictured, and was originally intended to serve as the Norcati demo bike. The original fuel injection has been swapped out for new flat-slide carbs, not only for ease of maintenance but to better suit the period-correct look. It’s currently on SORN and comes with a V5C. While it runs, the carbs are operating on a base estimate from tuner Alan Bower and would benefit from a rolling road session to get the jetting properly dialled in before any serious road use.

Bike No. 2 – Ducati 750SS Streetfighter (50% Complete)

This partially finished Ducati 750SS streetfighter build is about halfway there, featuring a very low-mileage engine (under 3,500 miles) already mounted in a complete rolling chassis with suspension fitted. It comes with a brand-new alloy 3.5-gallon tank, upgraded front and rear suspension, and a set of freshly anodised alloy rims laced with stainless spokes. Braking is handled by twin front discs and a single rear. Also included are clip-ons, high-mounted exhaust components, new instruments, a dummy oil tank that doubles as a battery box, and a seat unit. Most of the remaining parts required to complete the build are included, and it comes with a V5C.

Bike No. 3 – Ducati 900SS Café Racer Project

Here’s a solid foundation for a 900SS-based café racer, built around a sub-4,000-mile engine and supplied with all the key parts for final assembly. The frame components are pre-bent and ready to go on the custom jig, and it comes with a new swingarm, suspension, café-style seat unit, and dummy oil tank/battery box. The build also includes a new top fairing, flat-slide carbs, and clip-ons. Braking is courtesy of a Robinson 4LS double leading shoe drum on the front and a conical rear hub, both wheels rebuilt with new tyres and sprockets. Most parts required to complete the project are present, and it’s supplied with a V5C.

Bike No. 4 – Ducati 648 Streetfighter Frame Kit

This one is a streetfighter-style project based around a very low-mileage 648cc Ducati engine with just 2,000 miles under its belt. The frame is prepped and ready to be assembled using the in-house jig, and comes with a swingarm, conical rear hub, suspension, seat unit, and a dummy oil tank that also serves as a battery box. A fairing and various other essential components are included, making this an ideal base for a future custom build.

Alongside the bikes, the buyer will also get a chunk of kit, tools, and other bits and bobs needed to keep the business running day-to-day. These include things like jet washers, a laptop, a hoist, and branded t-shirts. 

Oh, and the Norcati brand and name, which is a fairly important piece of the puzzle.

So, fancy taking the plunge and taking it to the big-name bike makers in true plucky underdog fashion? Check out the listing here for more information.

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