My New-old Norton Info please?!

Hey there guys!

I thought this would be the best place to find out about my bike.

I recently inherited an old Norton, I was wondering if anyone could give me any info on it please?

All I know is that it runs, is 500cc, date of first registration is 1984 and its an "historic vehicle" tax class.

Obviously it needs a polish and some tlc which I intend to do this year, along with add new parts where required.
mainly looking for:

The model
The value
Where to find parts for it

[Image codes corrected L.A.B.]







Thank you,

Ryan

Welcome, Ryan.


Although apparently first registered in 1984 it would have been manufactured some years earlier to qualify for historic tax.


If you can also give the frame and engine numbers that should help to identify the model year as well as the actual model type.

Edit: Now we have the photos it look like a Norton ES2 fitted with a racing tank, seat, low bars etc..

Thanks for the photo help,

The VIN number is P1379940

Engine number is 75242

Ryan

motoxkid said:

The VIN number is P1379940

Click to expand...

P = 1959
13 = Model 50.

79940 is the serial number, also 1959.

The frame is probably from a 350cc 'Model 50' originally, and the engine has been changed.

motoxkid said:

Engine number is 75242

Click to expand...

Engine appears to be from 1958.

A 500cc ES2 engine would normally be stamped "79 x 100" (bore x stroke) next to the engine number. A 350cc would be "71 x 88".

http://www.bmh.com.au/norton/index.php?id=modelnum

One source for spares and services:
http://www.pushrod-performance.co.uk/index.htm

Additional info also is that it has a wideline featherbed frame.

And has been very nicely built in the style of what is sometimes called a pushrod manx norton - or cafe racer.
(the manx being the pure race version, somewhat expensive).

Hi
Good looking project there.
I note that the frame has lugs for side racing plates, is there any other letter or numbers near or close to the frame number on left hand side gusset, such as M10 or M11?
Would have been a bit of an effort to add them onto a standard frame just for a café racer, unless the builder also originally fitted number plates, or the frame at one stage was raced?
Earlier Norton laydown gearbox, and wheel hubs.
Will make a nice ride as you say with a TLC

Best Regards
Burgs

Very nice bike! Just needs some dedicated cleanup and basic make-run tasks like cleaning the carb, adjusting the valves, checking the timing, oil change, etc.

Tanks will likely need a good flushing.

Welcome to the forum, Ryan.

The Rear Tyre looks like a old Pirrelli ' Licquerish ' , a good soft track flat track tyre .
But tend to push out if you look at the throttle or brake on tarmac .

As its a Racing Chassis , Something a little grippier might keep you off your ear ,
Olde PZ2s , TT100s being ' trigonic ' are typical of the tyres they ran. a KR 76 3.00-19 was the knormle front ,
a similar race carciss rear .

I would drain ( capture & measure ) the fork oil . flush the suckers with kero , drain & refill .
check the chrome shafts on the rear dampers arnt rusted , Wipe off if they are . !

Put on the beer crate & check the head races are free & firm . Not Notchy of graunching .

& give the clip ons a good thump to see theyre not loose . Same for the rest of the hardware .

Its a Rarea Avis - so dont bugger anything . With a replicer Manx Motor its worth 50 plus ( Grand :shock: )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7LwEG7Tptc

if your really cunning youd fit a replicer Vincent Twin . 8) or chop a merc 111 in half . :wink:

The motor fitted may be tooned . The Kiwi 85 x 86 custom home made pushrod Norton ran 8.000 plus
& cleaned up its class at the Barry Sheene thingo at Eastern Creek .Pete Lodge , used to live up the hill .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6bX0d4cIzs

Contact in N.Z. if you want to be silly .

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ands+hatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECMuQWc7lu0

Thanks a lot for all the help and welcoming guys! Really appreciate it.

I'm on holiday in Sweden over the weekend but next week I will be getting the bike out and giving it the once over, I'll try get better pictures of the engine etc as well.

I also need to get some sorned insurance for it, would you recommend a certain classic bike insurance or something or just a regular job?
Could anyone give a rough estimated value? As I've no idea whatsoever what to insure it for.

Thanks,

Ryan

motoxkid said:

I also need to get some sorned insurance for it, would you recommend a certain classic bike insurance or something or just a regular job? Could anyone give a rough estimated value? As I've no idea whatsoever what to insure it for.

Click to expand...

Quite a few motorcycle insurance companies now offer 'Laid-up' insurance. I don't know whether you are aware of it or not, but as long as it stays on SORN then there's no legal requirement to insure it.

https://www.bikesure.co.uk/laid-up-insu ... =undefined
http://www.peterjamesinsurance.co.uk/in ... d-up-cover
http://www.motorcycledirect.co.uk/bike- ... e/SORN.php

As for value this can be difficult to say but given what we know, and in its present condition, personally, I would think it's probably worth around £3000.

It's a half-arsed cafe racer as long as it has footrests in the standard position.

Don't know how it ended up with pre-1957 footrests.

L.A.B. said:

As for value this can be difficult to say but given what we know, and in its present condition, personally, I would think it's probably worth around £3000.

Click to expand...

Thats a pretty low value for a Norton - unless its been parked for a long time, and is not so good.

This one is double that - slimline frame though, alloy tank, only a 350 and sl damagaed frame.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NORTON-/111959424592
And it hasn't sold at that plice....

Rohan said:

L.A.B. said:

As for value this can be difficult to say but given what we know, and in its present condition, personally, I would think it's probably worth around £3000.

Click to expand...

Thats a pretty low value for a Norton - unless its been parked for a long time, and is not so good.

This one is double that - slimline frame though, alloy tank, only a 350 and sl damagaed frame.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NORTON-/111959424592
And it hasn't sold at that plice....

Click to expand...

What does a bike not selling at £6200 say about value of this one?

Rohan said:

L.A.B. said:

As for value this can be difficult to say but given what we know, and in its present condition, personally, I would think it's probably worth around £3000.

Click to expand...

Thats a pretty low value for a Norton - unless its been parked for a long time, and is not so good.

Click to expand...

If it had been a known good runner, mechanically sound and roadworthy, then my estimate would have been higher, however, there's no getting away from the fact that it is a reasonably ordinary road bike dressed up as a 'racer', possibly built from parts as the engine and frame are from different models/years, also, the gearbox is earlier and I think the oil tank is from an earlier Dominator.

Triton Thrasher said:

It's a half-arsed cafe racer as long as it has footrests in the standard position.

Don't know how it ended up with pre-1957 footrests.

Click to expand...

Whilst not to argue with your comment; The owner should be grateful that someone has NOT fitted rearsets which usually involves drilling a hole on the chassis number :!:

If that went on fleabay at £3k, (and was running) it would sell like hotcakes.
Which is an indication the price is way too low. ?

~£3k asking price only gets you a featherbed rolling chassis...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Slimli ... 2047986185

Sorry About That . Was thinking it was a 40M - 350 Manx Chassis . Bit of a mish mash but w.t.h. Eh .

Heres wotit wouldve Originally Appeared somewhat like .



The Single Frame apparently is larger , so the Vin fits in better ( less nose up ) .





That Gets about 150 m.p.h.



Few More playing the same game .





and its Original Configuration .





SOooooooo , you could do myrids of options, like drop a 750 / 850 Twin In . and keep the rest , and restore it . if your related to Santa Claus .

Replacing anything you got rid of would start to cost more than a little . So Dont Ditch ANYTHING . turkeys can rebuild it .
Theres been Vincents , Bentlys & Buggattis built by skinflints of repared discarded components . :shock: :?

Look up ' Norvin ' ,' Triton ' & Featherbed if you want to be a milk bar racer & do Ton downt bypass . or a 600 big four sidevale .

ACTUALLY , your best not to go tearing into the thing like a Lunatic . !

Cleaning , Lubing , Checking Brakes etc etc and Getting to Know it ,
over a year or two helps avoid " oh Gosh - I shouldnt have Done THAT . "
exercises .
Often someones refined and honed a machine over time -
so balanced behavior / configuration is achieved . Messing
with it often messes with it .

IF its got a hot cam , the CLEARANCES might be To Suit .

SO FIRST find the EXISTING tappet clearances & Ign. Timing point For REFERANCE ,
Before Adjusting .

Gentle Emery on shoes and drums ( so Theyre CLEAN ) or degreaser ?? for optimum Stopping Ability .

There not a ' consumer durable ' ergonomically queer sucker like the Hondas - So Familiarity
and time may be required to approprite the required operatiors skills . Like a SPITFIRE .
requires more than 5 minutes to learn how to fly & service one - Some better than others .

DONT hold the Clutch In , at lights. Put it In Neutral . Dont Abuse the Kickstart - ENGAGE it before Swinging .

Rohan said:

If that went on fleabay at £3k, (and was running) it would sell like hotcakes.
Which is an indication the price is way too low. ?

~£3k asking price only gets you a featherbed rolling chassis...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Slimli ... 2047986185

Click to expand...

Yet another ebay speculator/dreamer, UK ebay is full if them, I somehow doubt he will get the asking price if/when it does sell.

As it stands, Ryan's bitsa is something of an unknown quantity. Cleaned up, running and roadworthy it would certainly be worth more.

Perhaps we should ask if he is negotiating to buy it, or in the process of selling.....

Matts' certainly produced a fair old melange.

Dreaming comes cheap in your neck of the woods. !