fancying a pre war Norton what to get

Hiya everyone ^^ so moving away from all my japanese bikes now, got my Villiers Commando, 650ss and fancying something pre war once some of my japanese classics are sold

Really love inters but guessing they are gonna be way out of my price range, if you had 5-7,000 gbp to spend on something pre featherbed what would you go for?

If you are going to INSIST on it being a Norton, and in good condition and shiny and running,
then thats probably going to mean a 16H Norton, a fine sidevalve slogger if ever there was one.
e.g.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLD-1942-NOR ... 1917494064

Lovely olde time chugging power, more like a steam engine in function, as god and JLN intended.
(James Landsdown Norton).

If you are prepared to go for a project, and not necessarily a Norton, then that opens the field wide open.
Bargains galore, if you shop around - but plenty of them are other folks rejects, so shop wisely !!
We could pontificate all day - have a look and see what takes your eye ?

Note too that ebay seems to encourage silly prices, other avenues may mean more sensible prices. (?).
Note also that it is about as expensive to restore the cheapest humblest bike as something more classy,
so don't go totally overboard on something with no resale value !
Or be taken in by someone who has done just that...

I have wanted an old single for years. Like you my high watermark was an old international but I've been told by people who actually know them well that the less glamorous side valve & pushrod ohv bikes are probably more rideable and enjoyable in the long run. I passed on a few ES2's and 18's years ago just because in my mind I wanted an international. now I wish I had bought them and very much want look into finding one next few years.

Rohan said:

If you are prepared to go for a project, and not necessarily a Norton, then that opens the field wide open.
Bargains galore, if you shop around

Click to expand...

As an example of this, this is an Enfield project I got for a few hundred.
Well looted, and much missing, but solid and the bones are there, as they say.
Much is available from Hitchcocks - although we note they have about doubled their parts prices lately.
And are still not that expensive...

https://s27.postimg.org/kpjo58qv7/Enfie ... rrival.jpg

Frank et al offer some sensible advice.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/norton_sin ... guide.html