NORTON BIG 4

Not familiar with early Norton pricing, anyone have any idea what a recently restored '53 Big 4 should go for ? Thanks-

Are you buying or selling ?
Depends on where you are too - they are not all that rare in the UK, but probably fairly scarce in the US.

Also depends on what "recently restored" actually means - a totally-rebuilt-as-new bike, or just in good condition.
A full immaculate restoration is rather uncommon, few folks do the $spend$ to do them completely ?
And obviously worth more.

If you are buying, what the seller thinks its worth is usually a starting point for negotiation ?!
If you are selling, about half of what you spent is about right ?!!

Thanks. Buying in the USA. Bike looks very well done, I've only seen pics at this point and I'm to send a small deposit to hold and the balance upon inspection.The guy wanted 4800, we settled on 4. My concern is that if I don't love it there will be no market to resell and I certainly want to be able to get my money back. I've had Commandos, BMW's, lots of Triumphs and BSA's (all 60's and 70's machines), but never this vintage. I'm wondering how practical it will be with a top speed of 65 mph ? I'm not looking for another Combat or a highway cruiser but this limitation has me thinking twice.

Give him two checks for $ 2.000 , and ride it home . Second dated for when youd gt there .
if its any good, youll know it by the time youre home . if its done right itll get there .

Or he can come and get it if its not . they wre built for D.R. , so should be dependable .
Though if you go through the desert , theyre a bit heavy . A Gileras lighter if theres Italians .
And watch out for Meserschmidts . those cannon shells schrapnel wont come out in a hurry .

If its done right , you can always use it to pwer a sawmill or pump or generator if you tire of rideing it .
But pulling out tree stumps & towing cars , or even trucks on the flats pretty good for honeing the skills
so you wont likely get to fed up.

At least take it out to ' heat soak ' stability level , say afer 10 miles , its warmed up . So under 15 miles
isnt test ride . Go on a run or something if ones on . Low Gearing mightnt be to hot for the higway , so
needs to be geaered for 70 flat out down hill , thereabouts .

id be seeing if it fell to bits before I left the money , unless your buying it for a ornament .
Club run out west , A old Panther , a pre war Velo , and a S7 sunbeam didnt discrace themselves
or fall of the back of the string . and they were thirsty & destination the pub, so no sunday stroll .
id stopped at a junction to see they all did a right . a 38 Harley did a shuffle in the gravle patch
from all the trucks and the like , on the seal . so a few of em went around on the verge outside
the parked triple , with me standing what was behind it hot footing clear so ' we ' didnt end up down the bank
or out the field . Big Wide road so theyre shooting the right from down the hill , 40 or so steady .
unless they hit the gravel , where theyd stand it up a way . and start decideing which side , or hit T-bird & stop .
The brakes arnt up to the Disc Standard . Down Hill . after the brow . With the turn hidden till your nearly there . :|

The old ridgid back end will jump or hop on the big ruts or bumps from the semis , but the spung saddle takes most of the knocks on mild disturbances.

Moneys not the issue. its IF its any good. Mechanically . one way to ind out . If its fallen to bits hed look a bit odd trying to take your money . Like I said , They were Army Issue. So Durability is inbuilt . unless the mechnics made a blue ?
way to see .
If its proven . Its Marketable , so you wouldnt be stuck with it . Handling should be near par for similar era o.h.c. Norton .

hostilecarl said:

Thanks. Buying in the USA. Bike looks very well done,.

Click to expand...

Price sounds about right, cheap even - if its good. Probably worth that as a museum display...
Old bikes are often just pretty on the outside, so you won't know until you ride it - does he says its been ridden much ?
65mph is flat out riding, comfortable ride is probably more like 50 or 55 mph.
Pleasant to ride like that - stick to the back roads only.
You need to find if there is a local club for old bikes, they know all about such rides...

I've never ridden a post-1948 Big 4 - this is the most modern of the variations with the circular rather than lever tappets, an alloy head and the 'chimney pot' enclosed valves. Bottom end is more or less identical to the OHV singles in the post '48 range. It should be strong enough but the flywheels are iron and although the stroke was reduced from 120mm to 112mm, piston speeds will be on the high side so it's not the basis of a café racer.

You'll have the benefit of the Norton cradle frame (usally rigid unless it was one of the few built-to-order plungers) and the 'Long' Roadholder forks. For a rigid single, it will handle well - the frame is not very different from the pre-war camshaft singles.

Not a lot faster than the equivalent 16H, it will have more torque and be stronger uphill. I'm more than happy with the performance of my WD16H which has a much earlier form of the motor, on quiet roads. It's not really up to more than short bursts on 60mph roads but on any with a lower restriction it's fine and the greatest limitation is the brakes.

The price sounds reasonable and a black and silver Norton single will always find a collector's market. It's another facet of the hobby though, one where adrenaline doesn't really play a part.

Thanks for the info.

So did you buy it though ?

There is a whole another world of motorcycling out there.
Like stepping back into a time machine...