Couldn't resist this one...

I saw this bike advertised locally. I was skeptical because of the description, asking price and mileage claimed. After several phone messages left, I was finally answered back by a very enthusiastic septuagenarian. He told me he has owned the bike since new and never really rode it because he never "got along with it". He loved his Triumphs and so rode them often, and his old dirt bikes, but left the Norton in the shed. It's got roadster pipes, and he nipped the ends off of the S silencers some time ago. It was only 20 or so minutes away from my home, so I thought I'd see what it was all about. My doubts were turned to shock. It's got all of the paper work from new, with his name all over it. It also has the most complete (I mean all there, and then some) tool kit I've ever seen come with a British bike. Well, I bought it. Who wouldn't? He claimed he hadn't ridden it since 1974, but started it from time to time. I have to credit him for how well preserved this bike is, and how well he stored it. Not a wrench mark on a bolt to be found. The tank is like new inside. The carbs are spotless. Chrome is like new. It has the original front tire still clinging to the rim. Hard as a rock, but holding British air in it. I spent a few days going over the electrical system, still wrapped in cloth. Changed engine and gear box fluids, flushing out the oil tank. Forks still need to be rebuilt. They are a bit sticky, but still functional. I rode it up and down my street a few times. Strong as hell. No noises, no smoke and smooth as silk on the throttle. Now, what to do with it? I think at least I'll source a set of S pipes and brackets, as he packed them away some years ago and can't seem to remember what happened to them. Sounds wicked with the pea shooters cut off at the ends, though. Might keep those. New front tire, too. The tank is drained, and it is just sitting now until I figure out what's next. I'm still waiting for the police to show up, demanding the old man's bike back!

Wow what a wonderful stroke of luck to have. Take photo's of the beauty of undisturbed loom for the rest us to oggle at. I think i've the two heat shields of the one sided high pipes if that the right model for them.

I notice there's no Lansdowne Dampers fitted,had there had been the last owner would have been around the world on it :lol:

Bummer about the pipes , have to settle for second best sometimes . :lol: Could make the cut down mufflers compulsary here .

Some Things were Meant to Be , apparently . :wink:

Might be a idea to replace BOTH tyres . 3.60 & 4.10 K81 / TT100s , if youre going to scrape the pegs on the Tarmac .
The old K 70s wernt a bad tyre , on tarmac , & were the firm Track option RACE TYRE for Flat Tack ( the Soft Track Perrelis were $ 20 here , and are made from licquerish .)

SO a 3.25 and a 3.5 / :? K70 , BUT the 4.00 FITS , You can get 50 ft high rooster tails on the side of the motorway , if you give it a blip & drop the clutch at 40 mph in second . :x :wink:
( Make Sure the WIND is AWAY from the Traffic Though . or you get penitrateing ' vibes ' from the ' road users ' :shock: ) Did a ludicrist near 100 mph Avg in pouring rain on a clean
deserted higway one night , with the 4.00 K 70 on the back . You dont lean it as much as the k81 , but you wouldnt in hard rain anyway . Had to get home quick so I wouldnt get soaked / froze .

Othe Option of course , is to ask her indoors If she'd like you to install it over the mantle piece , indoors . as its the rarest most valuable artifact shell ever have the pleasure of tenure over . :idea:

Armour All on the Seat ( & Grips , fork thingos , Iso dust covers etc ) will get them pliant and serviceable . Soak em repeatedly till it doesnt absorb it . Cable Covers , etc etc etc .

Yes , well , we'll let you off this once . Dont do it again . :lol: :shock: 8)

Looks like those ARE the ' S ' silenceors :shock: as theyve the tags for the heat shields . ' R ' or Fastback headers .

Period coustom , so specs acceptable as is . We'd like a utube thingo of it running , or going up your street / drive . PLEASE .

But Change BOTH Tyres as a PAIR . for petes sake . not worth scratching the paint at this stage in life .

Ten postrations and Hail Marys should suffice . :|

Mrs WOODS Boy , Ron , and them there Perrillies . On tarmack drift angle equates to throttle posn in bends , or If you put the rear brake on . :shock:


( sorry about that , just tripped over the pic , but it does Illustrate THAT Point . Per er however you spell it ' Soft / Coushin :? Dirt track tyres . Not entirely recomended at all .
liberated from http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ron-Wood-Norton ... 525wt_1362

A ' R ' ; arrhhh,
:wink:

Wow, stunning! What a find! I don't suppose you could complete my drooling envy, by telling us how much you paid for it? Plus, any chance of posting a pic of the tool kit.

[quote="Matt Spencer" -
Armour All on the Seat [/quote]

:shock:

Well , shes a bit slippery at first !



Best Car I had , been closed for about ten years . Dash was so stiff looked like itd split if you spat on it .
wetted it with the stuff , dry in half an hour . Nother coat . Nuther in the morning , nother at lunch .
stayed wettish / oily for a few hours by then . Half a dozen coats ( liberal ) in two days and it got pliable .
When dry recoted for that week , six coats / never split ever . Best handling car Ive ever had !

Was a ad in the mags in the 70s , a yellow 70 roadster . one Half Grime , one half ' Amourall ' .
Murry had a yellow 70 Roadster , the Ad , And a bottle of amourall .

A good rag and itll soon wipe the most of the slipperyness away . a clean pair of jeans and a good ride will absorb any excess .
( from experiance - pity about the seat of the jeans - but I think they were waterproof after that .) Stops it cracking . the Seat Cover .

"They ain't makin' 'em like that any more"

...and they're only original once. Great find.

Wow. I suppose it still has the little white plastic tips on the stud ends at the bottom of the halo mounts? You're missing the plugs for the rear hub cover, no biggie. Could you do me a favor and tell me where the 2 double red wires are grounded around the coil bracket? A picture would be great. If he cut the ends of the silencers, I suppose he took out the block in the end and then how does it stay together?

Yeah, and how much did it set you back, I hope you didn't steal it from an old man like me.

That's just awesome. I hope you didn't put any ethanol in that tank. If you want to get the original style Avon ribbed Speedmaster II, 3.00-19 I got one from Walridge a couple years ago. How about a number and manufacture date?

Dave
69S 132031 April 69

I'm calling the police, you obviously stole it from a poor unsuspecting old man :wink:

Jean

PS DogT, did you notice the Norton logo on the back of the seat? that is what I remember from my own "S"

DogT-
Here are some shots you requested. Hope they help. This is likely the first time this tank has been off the bike in all these years.
Rubber snubbers on halo: check.


Where do the paired red wires go at the coil bracket? Right here:


And here...



Here's the tool kit. Is it all there? Correct? I have no idea.


What about this tail lamp bracket? So cool.


And these?...


Here's a pic of the unmolested wire harness as requested:

Couldn't give a monkey's usually about originality but this bike is an exception. I'd find those other pipes if you can. Sticking current new ones on it would be a shame.
Nice bike - how much did you pay for her?

To answer the question on the price I paid? I didn't negotiate much with the guy. Let's leave it at that. :lol:

Ooops! I forgot this one for you, DogT.

Just as well the Old Bloke didnt fall for it , and buy one of those Hondas new back then , instead . :lol:

I see Cycle Sports Santa Clara license ring. Been in that shop many times in 1973-74. Nice find, congratulations.

Thanks for those pics. I see you've got the rear hub cover plugs in the tool kit. Plus the shortened Allen key for the carbs, wonder if all those tools are original, I didn't get any with mine. I may have gotten the Norton pouch, but if I did it must have been screwed up, I sort of remember throwing it away.

About that double red wire. I have 2 double red wires in my harness and the ring I could only fit under the screw that holds condenser on, it was that small and they were the only 2 things small enough to go under. I took it off back in the 80's and my notes say "under cap mounting bolt" but no way will my rings go under a 1/4" bolt. They must have put it in various places depending on the time. My harness looks just like yours with the plastic and cloth and I'm still using it.

I'm not sure what those rubber plugs are in the front mudguard. I bet you have the rear mudguard mount from the web at the rear of the frame which means the mudguard will be flat at the front. Mine has a strap between the shock tops and is round all the way down. Plus your breather probably goes into the main oil tank instead of the top hat gizmo like mine does. Just curious.

Let us know what you're going to do with it, it's a great find, kind of like a time machine and in such great shape.

Jean, yeah, I saw that and thought of your old S picture. I still have the silver one on mine I replaced it with. But then I've been replacing some of the old rusty parts with stainless too, I got the single piece rear axle from madass and will probably get the front axle when things get sorted with him.

Dave

Dave,
From what I see on the bike and what the pictures tell, there is, what appears to be a double spade connector under the bolt. Almost as if it were a washer with 2 male tabs to accept the ground wires. It is a tight spot, but with the set up on this bike, it leaves just enough room to fit it all together.