I am looking to get a Norton and have a line on a few old ones - 1956 500cc in Featherbed frame, 1954 ES2 500cc single, 1948 500cc Twin Dominator and a 1945 16H 500cc side vale - all working and in excellent condition I am told - any thoughts on which would be a good summer ride as opposed to a museum piece?
1st Norton
- Thread starter Douglas
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Maybe post this in the Other Nortons forum.
https://www.accessnorton.com/ClassicMotorcycles/other-norton-motorcycles.17/
Fast Eddie
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Buy the ‘56 featherbed. Throw engine away. Build Triton. Sorted.
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Don't worry about reliability as they will each be blessed/cursed with their own "personalities". Buy the one that grabs your heart. You'll know almost instantly when you see it up close and in person. The only real opinion that matters is from the person that's writing the check.
ashman
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No put a hot 850 Commando motor in it and it will be still a Norton, balance the crank right and you will have one sweet handling, powerful and smooth bike.
Ashley
ntst8
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16H = sidevalve = slow even when well sorted. A fun bike in lots of ways but not great in modern traffic.
1948 presumably a plunger frame? Not Norton's most robust frame.
1954 ES2 - swinging arm frame (pre featherbed) - not a bad choice if you like a single.
1956 featherbed twin, model 88, best frame in terms of handling, performance not much different from the ES2.
Of the 4 i would go with either of the last 2 listed above. Both should be comfortable at 60MPH on the flat, 50MPH on a decent hill climb, and will overtake slow traffic if you plan ahead.
A Commando will handle modern traffic much better - so get one of the above, and a Commando
1948 presumably a plunger frame? Not Norton's most robust frame.
1954 ES2 - swinging arm frame (pre featherbed) - not a bad choice if you like a single.
1956 featherbed twin, model 88, best frame in terms of handling, performance not much different from the ES2.
Of the 4 i would go with either of the last 2 listed above. Both should be comfortable at 60MPH on the flat, 50MPH on a decent hill climb, and will overtake slow traffic if you plan ahead.
A Commando will handle modern traffic much better - so get one of the above, and a Commando
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IF you want a Norton to ride regularly, get a Commando. IMO, it is the best of all the classic Brittbikes as far as operation in modern traffic is concerned. Of course, you didn't list the Commando as one of your considerations so, if that is the case, I would do as suggested - buy the one that most appeals to you. Just don't expect to be anything other than "scared" if operating the bike in moderate or greater traffic or on an expressway/interstate/freeway! 
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