Norton 88SS

I’d be interested to know, I have one and the guy I bought it from reckoned 254? Thinking of selling mines as I never use it.

I have had mine..my first Norton..for 22 years now. I think that's too much time to consider selling. But I've often wondered how many were sold. They must have cost exactly the same as a 650SS to build, but were £5 cheaper I believe. I assume they were aimed at club riders who wanted to race at 500cc. I seem to remember that about 110 were built with manual advance and the last of the pre-downdraft heads. But like you I have no idea how many followed. I've only seen a handful in the time I've owned mine. One was an early one, and he was fast.

Thats interesting David.  I have had a DL  88/99 for 40 years  and have no intention of ever selling it. One of the boys will get it.  If you sell it, what will replace it?  Another  vintage single?. Something modern?. Space to work?.

Sorry Robert...not going yet.  I've no idea why spellchecker put 'tomorrow' in the mail! I have a shed full now, and not enough bodies to play with them all at the same time. Took the Dommie out today. First time it's worked properly with the new carbs. It was a spark plug issue.. and I'm sure I changed them. Why do the plugs in my car last 20k miles or more, and motorcycle ones do not?

The Insulators on many of  todays  plugs are now porous  and don't resist  oil or rich mixtures because they dont have to.  I think you can still  get "properly" glazed plugs  at a price, better still dig out that box of ancient old oiled up  pre- fuel injection  plugs and clean them , insert into a well pre-heated motor and give them the beans for a few miles . They will clean up better than most modern plugs. I  have several sets of old  Lodge and KLG  plugs .

Took my 99 out  on Sunday,  Runs fine except  an annoying  scraping rattle  sound appears at high revs, last time out I found the pillion footrest  / silencer very loose ,was convinced that was it. Now stressing about  chains /alternators , There is a solution,--don't use high revs. !  or even don't use the bike . As you say , a shed full of exotic lovelies, And all vying for the  attention of a wonky old man. We are so lucky.