Roadholder 364 - April 2018

38 As a new member of NOC, I think it is appropriate to introduce myself and my bikes. I am a 29 year old Dane living in the middle of Denmark. Since I was eight - 10 years old, I have had an interest in cars and motorcycles and at 16, I saw an ES2 in an old book, and fell in love. Since then I got my licence and have now owned 18 bikes (three presently) covering from Moto Guzzi, Hondas, NSU and MZ among others - but they have nearly always been more than 25 years old. My first car, a Renault Four, joined the range a few years ago. Regarding Nortons, I found the (for me) 'Holy Grail' at a car dealership, five minutes frommy home: it was a 1938 Model 18 in a really nice condition. All original - even with old mouldy leather bags and signs of a long good life. Sadly, it lacked registration papers after the death of the former owner, and the car dealer was not able to obtain them. After waiting more than eight months, I gave up and purchased a '56 ES2 instead. This was pulled from a shed where it had been standing for seven years beneath a tarpaulin. After a few weeks, a nearly mint condition '54 Model 7 came up for sale and, as the ES2 needed some fettling, I decided to call the seller and bought the machine, unseen, after a long good talk. He then drove it 200kms to my home. It has high compression pistons, LED bulbs (fitted by myself) and a single seat as the only mods and starts in one or two kicks from cold. I have now brought the ES2 back to life with a Thorspark ignition, a new 376 carb, tyres, fluids and a lot of other stuff, and even though it is already too expensive, it has now been on its first run. It also needed a thorough replacement of all sorts of electric wires as the old ones looked like they belonged in a house and not on a motorcycle. As a newly appointed PhD in biology, I have little time for driving and fettling, but in 2018 I hope to join a lot of meetings along with getting on some longer trips regardless. I hope to get to know a lot of people from the NOC along with maybe support a new Branch here in Denmark. Niels' '56 ES2 a danish duo Niels Svane Model 7 - bought unseen