Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

We don't often discuss motorbikes. I thought some of you guys might like to see what my Dad had as a young man. He was a real "hands on" motorbike enthusiast so it is understandable that his stable would include a Norton.

I imagine his actual machine might well have survived as from what he told me he completely restored it - including having new bevel gears made for the famous "cricket bat" overhead camshaft drive.

The Norton CS1 (camshaft senior) was an important machine in it's day having proved itself in racing and it led onto the highly successful "International" model. Unfortunately the events of 1939 precluded my Dad from competing at Brooklands with the Norton.

These are - and always have been - quite rare machines so it was nice to see an obviously "home" restoration of one for sale.
https://www.yesterdays.nl/product/norton-1929-490cc-cs1-1-cyl-ohc-3209/

[peter scott]

That does look a lovely machine. My father never owned a bike but his big brother did and let my father ride it in this photo. Needless to say it was a Scott.



Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Ray White]

Obviously, I am not in a position to give first hand opinions but from what others have said, the Scott was a fine machine. It may not have been much of a "looker" but it excelled where it mattered. Exceedingly well built and with lovely road manners, I understand.

Personally, the only motorbikes I have ridden were a BSA Bantam that Dad gave me to restore -and that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding - and a Honda 175 that belonged to a friend in the sixth form. The Honda was quite good actually!

Other things that are probably best forgotten were a Vespa and Honda 50.

My Dad put me off motorbikes by going on about friends who had come to grief on them.
Like you, Peter, I had a Mother who was quite at home on a motor bike. Dad built her a "bitsa" from a Triumph frame and Villiers engine. It must have been pretty quick because apparently she could almost keep up with the Norton.!! Personally, I think she was just the better rider of the two!

[Penman]

On the Norton What is the largish item between the cylinder and the front, down tube/s part of the frame?
It appears to be blocking airflow to the cooling fins on the pot.

It doesn't appear on the photo on the Wiki page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_CS1
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Keith D]

My brother has only one motorcycle among his collection of old cars, tractors and a traction engine. It is a fully restored Scott Flying Squirrel - 1937 I think. A nice looking bike, but I'm not sure I'm too keen on a water cooled single cylinder two stroke engine!

I'll photograph it the next time I'm down at his farm.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[Ray White]

[Miken]

The bike in the top picture is a lovely looking machine. One of my favourites.
I feel the position of the front brake lever indicates the brake is either worn out or incorrectly set up.
The back brake is a bit better.

[Ray White]

[mikeC]

My grandfather was a great motorcycle man, and loved his Scotts; here are three of them:






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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

One of my customers is a motorcycle enthusiast.
He once stated that he owned a DOT ; assuming that as I was just a car guy I would not know the name...

I replied "devoid of trouble".

That surprised him!!

(As it happens, the marque is still in business)

[peter scott]

[Ray White]

I think you are right. There would only be one valve lifter. I still can't fathom the clutch though. I would have thought the inner cable would pull on the ball end of the clutch lever?

Perhaps I am missing something?

[lowdrag]

I started my biking career with a Sun 98cc 2-speed, but quickly changed to a Francis Barnett 250cc Cruiser, then a 35occ ex-WD Matchless still with the whip aerial on the back! And very reliable it was too. My younger days biking finished with a 500cc Gold Star, but in my fifties the yearning returned and I had a revelation of a machine, a Honda VFR 800. We went all the way from the Midlands to the Bol d'Or in France, and it was so comfortable. There is a bike coming up for auction this week, one I never knew existed, but is an 80's Honda tribute to the British bikes of the fifties, a 500cc mono-cylinder but with all mod cons like electric start etc. If it's cheap enough (and they are talking around £3,000) I may have a punt. There are also two more but 400cc.

[peter scott]

[Ray White]