Too many bikes!

Well I'm 6'4" and have a jubilee (and navi in construction), I haven't ridden far but find it quite comfy and nimble, I also have an ES2 so welcome to the club! Ive also just bought a model 50 engine to put in my spare frame! ..... Too many bikes also!

Previously john_day wrote:

Just bought an es2......â? I realised the navigator was physically too small for me.thoroughly enjoyed doing it up, but it is now on eBay, well it will be at 6 p.m. still has a small oil leak from the gearbox, but goes well. Very sensible price. Many thanks for all your advice during the rebuild

Hi John

Saw your ad on flea-bay this evening, nice bike ready for a full resto. Sensible start price but what are you expecting it to return? If your parting price is also sensible you could have advertised it on these classifieds for no fees and much less hassle on the tyre kicking and stupid questions market that the once brilliant ebay has become. I have been a buyer and seller on it since 2005 and have been looking to sell stuff on alternative sites because the fees and the quality of buyers has become untenable. I sold a tank on there last month that made £120, but with paypal 4% and ebays 10% it brought home 103 quid. They encourage you to do free postage but when you put the p and p into the asking price you pay 10% on the so called free post rates too. All a bit of a con. Best of luck with the small twin sale. Neil

apologies for highjacking the thread but I totally agree re eBay and specifically the postage fees.

I actually consider it unlawful as whilst postage costs are not free of tax for business purposes i.e..part of a service...eBay do not have anything to do with packaging etc therefore how can they deem the fee to be lawful?

I also tend to sell by other means but in fairness eBay has the monopoly when it comes to buying.

I disagree on the eBay front. Advertising is expensive however you do it. They only charge you if you sell and the item is exposed to a far wider group of potential buyers than putting it in a magazine.

The reason they had to introduce sellers fees on the postage was because people where listing an item they wanted £100 for as £1 + £99 P&P so the only paid fees on the £1. Was just eBay reacting to people playing the system. It's a shame but cant blame them for that.

Anyway - back to the subject. Nice bike John, but seeing as I haven't bought another one since last week I'd better leave this one alone. That's now Norton number 4, plus a 1951 Royal Enfield and a 1939 Triumph (in bits)... How many is to many?

Apparently 5 is too many ...... better not mention the 2 in boxes then!

Mark, I understand their business acumen but my suggestion is that it is not legal.

Previously john_evans1 wrote:

Mark, I understand their business acumen but my suggestion is that it is not legal.

Illegal or immoral? I can think of a relevant piece of legislation?!

Well...... I'm up to 14 now and I must admit that it's too much for me to deal with. I'll be parting with some of them soon. All of them are in running condition but I'm really fed up trying to maintain batteries, clean gummed up carbs, and pay registration fees. I don't even ride them that much anymore. I just enjoy restoring them and having them - but it's time for some to go.

I have a few friends with a LOT more bikes than me. I don't know how they keep sane.

14 bikes? Whew. I got to 7 then decided to sell as it was overwhelming.

now I just have the m50. It is too slow but is enough for now.it is so nice to walk to the shed and have space to work without wheeling several bikes outside and filling up the garden!

Having said that,why do I keep looking at other bikes for sale?

I've just bought a M50 engine to make a bit of special, what speeds do you potter about at?! If it's too slow I might invest in a bigger barrel and head and short stroke it, but that's for the future!

I agree John. I'm looking forward to getting some space back and just concentrating on the favourites.

Dan. The speed rather depends on weather conditions and terrain plus how much I am prepared to wring its neck!

On average about 40mph but it loses speed on hills..of which there are many near here!

It will run at 50 or 60 in good conditions, generally cool damp days but it does not like hot dry weather.

It is not the best bike I have ever owned but there is something about it otherwise I would not have sold a new bike and retain tnis..for now!

If I could justify a pushrod performance type build on a spare engine I would do so. I doubt I will tnough as I value originalty more than performance.

Previously john_evans1 wrote:

Dan. The speed rather depends on weather conditions and terrain plus how much I am prepared to wring its neck!

On average about 40mph but it loses speed on hills..of which there are many near here!

It will run at 50 or 60 in good conditions, generally dry damp days but it does not like hot dry weather.

It is not the best bike I have ever owned but there is something about it otherwise I would not have sold a new bike and retain tnis..for now!

If I could justify a pushrod performance type build on a spare engine I would do so. I doubt I will tnough as I value originalty more than performance.

Hi John,

Sounds like your bike is running weak, on a nice summer day you should be able to hit 70 fairly comfortably. This may be carb settings or an air leakat the manifold or even the cylinder head joint. The lattertwo areusually accompanied by backfires when you shut off. Another reason might be the ignition timing is incorrect.If you are able to rebuild the engine yourself it need not cost a small fortune to get decent performance from a 350, but remember that you will need to use the gearbox more than a 500.

Regards, Richard.

Richard

Yes I agree with your suggeztion about running weak but tbis is not borne out by the plug which is always very dark, almost black..not sooty but dry.

Timing is as good as it gets.it starts first kick.No spitting back. Oil leak from the rocker box cover but nowhere else of significance.

The carb flange is square. Good insulator between flange and head. No significant oil consumption or smoke.

I have no idea as to compression. It feels good but whether it retains it is another thing. My home made compression tester will not fit as the guage is too big.

It will reach 70/75 but with my bulk onboard it is not something I want to force upon it. 40/45 is comfortable and uses around half throttle. The needle is in clip 2 where it runs best as evidenced by trial and error. Mpg however has always been poor..50/60mpg usually around the former.

Yes I am capable and equipped to rebuild it but having downsized my collection I want to ride not fiddle. Based on that comment I suppose I am riding a bike from the wrong country? Ha..

Hi again John,

Sorry I wasn't trying to teach my granny to suck eggs, but you sounded a bit disappointed with the performance,although itsounds as though it's up to scratch. I can understand how you feel about the maintenance upkeep. I currently have 2 bikes on the road, 1 Norton and 1 H***a. One is 15 minutes maintenance and all day riding, the other is the reverse... guess which one is which.

Regards, Richard.

Richard

no offence was taken so do not worry. yes I am disappointed with performance but probably I am unrealistic. Until recently I had a selection of bikes 1100cc down to 148cc (2014/1924)so was used to a disparity in how they all performed. The Norton does feel underpowered and does not cope with hills like my last one..40yrs ago when I was 5 stone lighter!!!!

I tolerate it as it is otherwise a nice old thing to ride...and to look at.