The Onyx: Norton-Harley “Norley”

Cédric Camiade’s Harley-powered Featherbed… 

When Norton introduced the featherbed frame in 1950, it quickly earned a reputation among circuit and street racers as the best handling chassis on the market. The design originated with brothers Cromie and Rex McCandless of Northern Ireland, who developed a rear subframe for their racing motorcycles that incorporated a swingarm and the spring/damper units from a Citroen automobile — a far superior design to the hardtail frames of the era.

After WWII, the McCandless conversion caught the attention of Norton’s director, who commissioned the brothers to develop a new frame for the Norton Manx:

“It was at the Silverstone track in 1950 that works racer Harold Daniell made the now famous comment that the new McCandless Manx was like riding on a ‘featherbed.’ The name stuck.” —Motorcycle Classics

Soon, builders were swapping engines from other marques into the featherbed frame, creating custom-built hybrid specials like the Triton (Triumph-Norton), Norbsa (Norton-BSA), and Norvin (Norton-Vincent). These hybrids remain some of the most revered machines in the annals of cafe racer lore.

Though rare at the time, in the years hence we’ve seen a number of intrepid builders swap Harley-Davidson V-twins into Norton frames, creating what have been called Hortons, Harleytons, or Norleys.

This “Norley” comes from our new friend Cédric Camiade (@rick_said_), who’s been getting his hands dirty with vintage machines since the age of 13. For seven years, he owned his own workshop doing custom builds and restorations, but he’s since returned to building bikes just for his own enjoyment.

The machine you see here combines a handmade Norton featherbed frame with a Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 (Evolution) engine. It all started last year, when Cédric was on a trip to Sri Lanka and came across a Norley for sale back home — an ultra-rare hybrid. He arranged to purchase the machine upon his return, but the bike was something of a disaster. Fortunately, Cédric has the skills and vision to transform the machine into the black beauty you see here.

In Sri Lanka, he’d had a ring custom-made with a silver setting and onyx stone. He quickly decided to let the ring inspire the build. He swapped out the rims, added Ceriani forks, and installed different rear shocks to get the stance and geometry he desired.

He lengthened the back of the frame, adapted a new rear fender, fabricated side covers that include some gorgeous stainless steel boat parts, and made supports for the rear lights and turn signals. Then there’s the stainless steel high-mount exhaust system Cédric fabricated — a signature element of the build. 

Nicknamed “The Onyx” after Cédric’s custom ring, this Harley-Norton cafe racer was one of the standout builds at both the Bike Shed Moto Show and Wheels & Waves Festival.

“This jewel finds its place both on the road and among the motorcycles of the most beautiful shows.”

If you’re interested in owning this one-of-a-kind machine, Cédric will soon be selling it to finance another project. You can find him on Instagram (@rick_said_) or Facebook. Below is our full interview with Cédric along with more photographs from the ever-awesome Kati Dalek (@kayadaek_photography).

Norton-Harley Special: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

I am Cédric Camiade, 36 years old, from the age of 13 I was tinkering with machines with my father, then I started racing 50cc, and a few years later modifying motorcycles. I had a restoration and customization workshop for 7 years. Now I do that only for my pleasure.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

Norley. It’s handmade Norton featherbed frame with a Harley Sportster 1200 engine.

• Why was this bike built?

I only work on my motorcycles, no clients.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I built this bike because I really wanted something very unusual.

Usually, the Nortons are racing machines. I wanted to change the rules and make it much more classy, elegant, and completely unique. March 2024, Galle, a city in the south of Sri Lanka, I was having a custom-made ring made, a silver setting, set with a deep black stone, onyx.

During the trip, I continued to look at the motorcycle sales announcements when I came across a Norley!! A rare motorcycle, never built in series. A clever mix of Norton and Harley. Neither one or the other. I contacted the seller and scheduled the purchase for my return to France.

Quickly the idea emerged to associate the motorcycle with the jewel, thus giving the combination of chrome reminiscent of silver and black bodywork for onyx. Travel souvenir, this jewel finds its place both on the road and among the motorcycles of the most beautiful shows.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

I started by changing the rims, the Ceriani fork, and the shock absorbers to realign the motorcycle. I lengthened the back of the chassis then adapted a mudguard. I made side covers topped with stainless steel boat parts; I also made the rear lights and turn signals support.

I didn’t want a classic exhaust line so I made a side line in stainless steel. I will not list everything for you because it’s going to be too long, but will tell you nothing exists for this motorcycle so everything must be made and adapted…

• Does the bike have a nickname?

The Onyx.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

So before I restored it, I rode it… It was a disaster, the previous owner measured 1.90 so the controls were not at all in the same place. I repositioned everything for my size but I haven’t had time to try it yet.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

I would really like to thank everyone who was able to work with me on this project, and particularly my partner who put up with my moods and all the mess I was able to put in the garage of the house.

More Photos

Follow the Builder

Instagram: @rick_said_
Photography: Kati Dalek (@kayadaek_photography | Kayadaek Photography)