1935 Es2 front rim size /make?

Looking at the date of this post, I assume you sorted it elsewhere ? As far as I am aware, rims were WM2 front and rear. The pre-war ES2 I am working on had WM3s, but they weren't original. I remember when I started riding in the late '70's early '80's, a lot of riders thought that putting wider rims/tyres on their bikes was the way to go. So many of the bikes we're working on now aren't original.

The bike I am working on is a bit of a mess, many parts had been changed in the past for sub standard alternatives. The rims had been badly painted and the red stripes were stuck on tape. I have a copy of the factory dispatch record, and there is no mention of different rims fitted. So I am happy they are not original.

I very much doubt they were fitted with wider than wm2 on the front, and 3.00 tyres . My Atlas was fitted with ex Manx alloys and they did not measure as big as wm2's so they have been retired . A sidecar bike would be fitted with the biggest thing they could find room for.

In the "Specifications" appendix of the book "Norton Singles" by Roy Bacon (ISBN 0 85045 485 9) rim sizes are listed. As already said the majority of models were fitted with WM2 front & rear. A few exceptions - WM1 on Model 30 & 40 front, WM3 on 500T rear, WM3 on Big 4 front & rear.

For ES2 1932-1939 only a tyre size is listed - 3.25 x 26. This is more like a beaded edge size (highly unlikely by this date) where the 26 refers to overall diameter so probably a 21" rim. No indication of rim section so doesn't really help the debate. Post war ES2 are 19 " WM2.

Ian McD

Previously tony_baxter wrote:

The bike I am working on is a bit of a mess, many parts had been changed in the past for sub standard alternatives. The rims had been badly painted and the red stripes were stuck on tape. I have a copy of the factory dispatch record, and there is no mention of different rims fitted. So I am happy they are not original.

Tony,

As you have a 1930's Model you should check the production records. They are a wealth of information as they give details of what was used on a particular bike. Some would have had 3.50 tyres on WM 3 rims if the customer specified them.. Not sure if the Club has these records but when I've been in the UK I've used the originals at the VMCC in Burton-on-Trent. Hope this helps.

regards, Ian

In the same book the 1932-39 16H the rims is WM2,and the tyres is 3.25x26".

Regards from Svein.

Previously svein_marken wrote:

In the same book the 1932-39 16H the rims is WM2,and the tyres is 3.25x26".

Regards from Svein.

Found a useful tyre size chart on the Draganfly website https://www.draganfly.co.uk/index.php/a65anda50/category/935-tyres

According to their chart 3.25 x 26 is equivalent to 3.25 x 19, and fits WM2 rim.

Cheers, Ian McD

The tyres at that time all had a 100% aspect ratio so in this case were 3.25" tall and thus 3.25" top and bottom to the nearest inch = 7"

26 inches minus 7 inches gives the 19 inch rim size.

Previously ian_richtsteig wrote:

Tony,

As you have a 1930's Model you should check the production records. They are a wealth of information as they give details of what was used on a particular bike. Some would have had 3.50 tyres on WM 3 rims if the customer specified them.. Not sure if the Club has these records but when I've been in the UK I've used the originals at the VMCC in Burton-on-Trent. Hope this helps.

regards, Ian

Hi Ian,

I have a copy of the records, no mention of the rims being different, cheers, Tony.