Les and Sue Emery

Some time last year, I was chatting with Les and mentioned "if you're ever in Malta, be sure to call by a for a coffee". It turns out Les and Sue have been coming to Malta for holidays for the last 30 years or so.

Sue contacted me early this year, we agreed a date to meet (today), and accompanied by my better half, had the pleasure of chatting with them for a couple of hours.

I was bit nervous showing Les my Nortons since he's probably forgotten more than I will ever know about these bikes. Les has an encyclopedic knowledge about all things Norton. We discovered that his hobby is restoring train carriages in his spare time, in addition to running Norvil 6 days a week. He was very gracious and interested in seeing what I had done to my Commandos.



If he spent another 10 mins in the garage with my bikes, he would have had a whitworth spanner in his hand and set to work. He's that kind of guy.

Thanks for the tips Les! Hope you and Sue visit again soon.

Wow that's very cool. It's always nice to make new friends and share the joys of Norton hood.

Good Grief. Nortons in Malta. What's this world coming too? Love it. Good post.

Cool headlamp ears on that red bike, freefly!
Did you make them, or can you tell us where to find some for sale?
Thanks--

The bike came with those ears when I bought it.

I think they might be from Colorado Norton Works.

Mr. Rick said:

Cool headlamp ears on that red bike, freefly!
Did you make them, or can you tell us where to find some for sale?
Thanks--

Click to expand...

M&P in the UK sell a similar type to these brackets

Yes they are from cNw but with the centre part of the brackets blacked out (as far as I can make out in the pic).

I use them on mine, as is normal with stuff from Matt, they are very well made, fit perfectly and look great.

Re:" Good Grief. Nortons in Malta. What's this world coming too?"

Oh, there have been Nortons in Malta since before the First War! I, myself, bought my first bike there - a 1949 Model 7 - in 1973 and rode it for several years on the island. I was insanely jealous of the Commandos I saw there (admittedly, rarely). Will try to load the only photo I have of the bike.
Cheers,
Paul.

Here's a picture of yours truly in Malta. Oh to have hair again!

http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/phsDo ... ort=3&o=98

Great pic! What happened to that bike?

You have hair, it's just coming out your ears and nose now. Oh, to have youth again. Now where's that map to the fountain of youth in Florida. Never been to Malta myself, been lots of other places east and west, but not below the equator. I've got my Domain of the Golden Dragon certificate for crossing the International Date Line. That makes me a Pollywog I guess.