Just Bought My First Norton

Hello all,

I joined the group of Norton owners this week! I bought a 1970 with a serial number of 139402. At present there are some bits on it to make it look like an S model - namely the halo ring around the head light and the "S" label on the side covers - but if my research is correct, it's about 400 bikes too old to be an S model and is rather a Roadster. Is this the case? Just wanted to confirm as you never know what you see on the net. I know parts can be mixed and matched so I thought I'd ask the experts to see if there's a way to confirm if it is or is not an S. I'd like to take the bike back to original over time and replace any parts it may be missing (like the rear grab handle). The one exception to having it 100% original and stock would be the addition of turn signals if that can be done without chopping up the bike. Perhaps picking up a set of later model controls and turn signals and using them? Any ideas or suggestions are welcome and much appreciated. I'll be at mid-Ohio so perhaps I'll get lucky and find some parts that are missing.

The bike is in good shape (based upon my limited knowledge of Nortons) with 11,000 miles on it. It has a metal tank that's in great shape with no bondo. The paint on the tank and side panels looks great and I believe the isolastics are in good shape as well. I know my vintage Hondas but will be taking to a local vintage British shop for a once-over and assessment just to see what I'm missing in my assessment.

As I said, any comments, suggestions, or tips are much appreciated. Thanks guys!

David B
Bloomsbury, NJ USA

I'm working on the VIP membership to upload photos at present.

The last S was supposedly 135088 (Jun 70), but who's to know what's happened to it. The dealer that originally sold it may have had a customer that wanted an S and changed it or it could have happened later. What's the date on your label?

Anyhow welcome.

Dave
69S

There were yellow 70 / 71 Roadsters with the square seat & headlamp guard ring .

Picturesll post anyway . :wink:

The later controls...are not the nicest things ever conceived :mrgreen:

You could probably get something like this (Front and Rear):
http://www.motosport.com/CA/motorcycle/ ... rn-Signals

And control them with something like this:
http://www.theonlinepartsshop.co.uk/uni ... andlebars/

(Both of those are available in north america if you're located here, can get you links if you want).

Welcome. Buy some hand cleaner to start with!

Speaking of hand cleaner, blue Dove detergent, the stuff used to clean birds covered in bunker oil, works as good as any hand cleaner and is 1/10 the cost.
Cash says money is flat for stacking :mrgreen:

Glen

David B said:

I bought a 1970 with a serial number of 139402. At present there are some bits on it to make it look like an S model - namely the halo ring around the head light and the "S" label on the side covers

Click to expand...

The halo was also fitted to the '70 Roadsters, not just the 'S' model.

David B said:

- but if my research is correct, it's about 400 bikes too old to be an S model and is rather a Roadster. Is this the case?

Click to expand...

As DogT said, the last official 750 'S' type was supposed to have been 135088, so more than 4000 numbers before 139402.

Pictures would be nice. What pipes are on it? Low pipes or the "S" model high pipes? What is the seat pan made out of? My "S" was made out of fiberglass but it cracked and I changed it out for a steel one. As has been said parts can be interchanged and what may have started out as on thing could have been converted over time. Welcome to the world of Norton. Coming from vintage asian bikes you will find the ridding experience quite different. Nothing corners like a well sorted out Norton at full song.

boz said:

Pictures would be nice. What pipes are on it? Low pipes or the "S" model high pipes? What is the seat pan made out of? My "S" was made out of fiberglass but it cracked and I changed it out for a steel one. As has been said parts can be interchanged and what may have started out as on thing could have been converted over time. Welcome to the world of Norton. Coming from vintage asian bikes you will find the ridding experience quite different. Nothing corners like a well sorted out Norton at full song.

Click to expand...

My old 70 had the cool Halo and square seat. It was registered as a 750 Roadster model. Welcome to grease under fingernails life.

worntorn said:

Speaking of hand cleaner, blue Dove detergent, the stuff used to clean birds covered in bunker oil, works as good as any hand cleaner and is 1/10 the cost.
Cash says money is flat for stacking :mrgreen:

Glen

Click to expand...

Use the dove or any liquid dishwashing detergent and add a spoonful of sugar every time... just like pumice.

Hi David, welcome. You've come to the right place. If you fill out your profile with location, it'll help everyone on this global forum help you better. Enjoy :mrgreen:

As far as turn signals, I'd find some aftermarket things that will sort of clip on the license plate and easily mount on the front somehow. I wouldn't mess the bike up too much just to get signal lights on it. But that's my opinion. I've thought about it. Other thing you may want to do is get real switches for the front brake/rear brake. I've thought about that too but done nothing yet.

Dave
69S

Really turn signals are just another thing to complicate road life and wiring hassles and faults and if ya need signals to make sure traffic knows your intentions then you are being too invisible anyway. Its hard to beat the factory stuff for ongoing headaches of conduction that's innate with their construction so after market tiddy-robust signals is a good idea - keeping polarity in mind.

Hi - I have a 1970 roadster with serial number exactly 40 before yours - June 1970; the halo is original; there were no indicators and it almost certain had a fibreglass tank. The original seat was the S type - in fact I understand that the only difference between the S and the first roadster was the pipes. Someone may correct me but my understanding is that the a model predates the roadster; so yours might be either; if the side panels are original it may well have been an S.

In the last line a typo "S" type not "a" type

hobot said:

Really turn signals are just another thing to complicate road life and wiring hassles and faults and if ya need signals to make sure traffic knows your intentions then you are being too invisible anyway. Its hard to beat the factory stuff for ongoing headaches of conduction that's innate with their construction so after market tiddy-robust signals is a good idea - keeping polarity in mind.

Click to expand...

If your legally allowed to get away without dont use turn signals, just do it. I wish i didnt have to use them and dont put sugar in your hand cleaner, cos you will start licking your fingers which in turn makes your hairline receed ..

Edit Hahah notice the pedestrian on the crosswalk..

I have found that for getting the grease out from under your finger nails is to wash your hair if your have it.

olChris the world is a small place as I have walked across that very same spot in Bangkok ,Thailand. One side is cordoned off for the night market setup in a few hours. B.T.W. curfew has been just lifted.