Engineering:Norton ES2

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Short description: British, single cylinder motorcycle, produced by Norton from the 1930s until the mid-1960s
Norton ES2
Norton ES2 500cc (1961) (21067396499).jpg
1961 slimline featherbed-framed ES2
ManufacturerNorton Motors Ltd, Aston, Birmingham
Parent companyAMC Ltd from 1953[1]
Production1928–64[1]
PredecessorModel 18 1922–27[1]
SuccessorNorton ES2 Mk2 (Norton-badged Matchless) 1965–66[2]
Engine490cc OHV air-cooled single
Top speed82 mph[1]
Power1960: 25 bhp @ 5500 rpm[3]
Transmission4-speed gearbox to chain final drive
Brakes1959 onward: 8.00" × 1.25" front, 7.00 × 1.25" rear
Tires1959 onward: 3.00" front, 3.50" rear × 19"
Wheelbase56 inches
Seat height31.5 inches
Weight380 pounds (170 kg) (dry)
392 pounds (178 kg) (wet)
Fuel capacity
  • 1947–58: 2.75 Imperial gallons[4]
  • 1958–63: 3.5 gallons[4]
Oil capacity4 pints
Fuel consumption50 to 60 mpg

The Norton ES2 is a Norton motorcycle produced from 1927 until 1964. From 1965, a different machine was produced for a short time by parent manufacturer AMC, based on a Matchless but badged as Norton ES2 Mk2.

Development

1949 ES2 with telescopic front fork and plunger rear suspension

It was a long stroke single, always 79mm × 100mm bore and stroke, originally launched as a sports motorcycle but throughout its long life it was gradually overtaken by more powerful models.

It remained popular due to its reliability and ease of maintenance, as well as the traditional design. From 1947 the ES2 had an innovative hydraulically damped telescopic front fork and race developed rear plunger suspension. From 1953 it had a single downtube swinging-arm frame.

Featherbed frame

From 1959 it used the Rex McCandless-designed featherbed frame, with upgrades including an improved AMC gearbox, revised cylinder head, crankshaft-mounted Lucas RM15 60-watt alternator with coil ignition and an 8-inch front brake with full width hubs front and rear.[1] The wideline Featherbed-framed bike was road tested in The Motor Cycle 4 June 1959 issue and was reported to have a mean top speed of 82 mph with petrol consumption of 56 mpg at 60 mph.[1]

Slimline featherbed frame

For 1961, in common with other large-engined Nortons, the bike was further improved with the Slimline frame with upper frame rails narrowed and a restyled slimmer fuel tank.[5]

Finale

ES2 Mk2 bearing an 'E' suffix (1967) UK registration plate

The last ES2 was introduced in late 1964. A Matchless-based machine with Norton badges, it was produced for two years before final discontinuation, coincident with the commercial failure of the AMC Group.[6][7]

A report in a 1980 UK magazine stated:[8]

The slow but immensely likeable Featherbed-framed 350 Model 50 and 500 ES2 Norton ohv singles were dropped and in their place appeared the Model 50 MkII and ES2 MkII, or, with Norton badges hastily tacked on the side, the Matchless G3 and G80. They failed to fool anyone, let alone the buying public. In 1966 the heavyweight singles were all but a memory...

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Motor Cycle, Road Test, 4 June 1959[page needed]
  2. Robinson, James (6 June 2012). "Norton ES2 and Matchless G3". Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120623163414/https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3. 
  3. Williams & Reddihough, 1960[page needed]
  4. 4.0 4.1 Bacon, 1983[page needed]
  5. "Norton ES2". Motorbase. http://www.motorbase.com/auctionlot/by-id/1523324111/. [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  6. Motorcycle Mechanics, December 1964. Editorial: "(Earls Court) Show – not much new." p. 3: "Two Matchless singles christened the Mark II versions of famous and former Norton models by virtue of a Norton badge".
  7. Motorcycle Mechanics, December 1964. "What's new? Bill Lawless takes a look at the 1965 models." pp. 29–31: "Messrs AMC reintroduce the once popular Model 50 and ES2 Nortons by calling them the Mark II models and sticking Norton badges on Matchless G3 and G80 machines".
  8. Classic Bike, February/March 1980 pp. 56–60 "AMC's heavyweight singles"

Bibliography

  • Bacon, Roy, (1983). Norton singles: Manx and Inter, and all side and overhead valve singles from 1927 to 1966. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN:978-0850454857
  • Williams, P, & Reddihough, JA (1960). Motor Cycle Data Book: Motor Cycles, Scooters, Mopeds, Light Cars. London: George Newnes Ltd.

See also

  • Norton Model 50
  • List of motorcycles of the 1920s