ES2 Seat?

It's a bit of a bitsa. !958 frame, I think 1952 or 3 engine, dodgy exhaust (because it's painted black - by the previous owner). It will stay a bitsa as I will fit a single saddle and have ordered an exhaust pipe and silencer to my taste to spruce it up a bit. Don't get me wrong, I like looking at bikes which the owners have spent a lot of time and money on to make them look like they did when they left the factory, my Ducati and to a certain extent my Bonneville fulfill that for me, but this one is to use and for me not to feel too precious about it if I get caught out in the rain and I intend to "improve" it as I go along. I just wondered if anyone knew what the seat might be from as it is in good condition and I would rather sell it on to someone who will use it rather than it take up valuable bike space in my bike garage cum summerhouse. The 18" front wheel will have to go too at some point!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, please keep them coming.

Hi guys, Thanks for all your replies. The RGM seats look great but I prefer the look of a sprung saddle. The only problem I have with the 18" front wheel is the limited tyre choice - I would like to fit modern TT100s and they don't appear to come in 325 x 18 for some reason. As an aside, has anyone tried Mitas tyres? The front tyre is currently a Mitas, the back is a well-worn Avon with a profile more suited to an Austin 7 and I wondered if Mitas are any good or to be avoided. Luckily, I don't yet have problems operating the kick start (I'm only 66 after all) but I can sympathise.

With regard to the "look" I hope to achieve, here's one I did earlier with a 1994 Indian Enfield Bullet which had been improved by the previous owner by fitting a huge windscreen with top-box and panniers. I think it looks better now! It also goes much better with 11:1 compression, gas-flowed head, race cams, electronic ignition, close ratio gearbox, modified front brake and uprated suspension.

I'm still looking for a tool box for the ES2 so if anyone has one they would part with please let me know.

Previously richard_evans wrote:

Apart from the exhaust it's a lovely looking bike - you were only asking about the seat after all.

Thanks Richard, I like it a lot, I just want to make it look a bit "prettier" hence the seat and exhaust replacement plan. It starts on the second kick (once I have remembered to turn the petrol tap on anyway) and idles quite happily once warmed up.

Previously robert_tuck wrote:

I recently put a 19" low profile against an Avon SM and was surprised to see about a 2" difference , I exercise every day but spine damage is a bugger. Kickstarting an Atlas is now impossible.

Hello Robert, Which low profile tyre did you compare to the Avon. I am considering Avon Roadrider AM26 tyres as I can't find Dunlop TT100 tyres to suit. The other option is CST Classic which I think are made by Maxxis and are the "original 325 x 18 and 350 x 19 sizes as opposed to 100 x 90 x 18 and 100 x 90 x 19 for the Avon SM26s. The price for each pair is roughly the same at c£120, although the CSTs come with new tubes, so I'm really looking for advice on which is "best". The benefit of your experience will be greatly appreciated, I'm more interested in good road holding than looks. Regards, Paul

Previously anna jeannette Dixon wrote:

Previously paul_archibald wrote:

Hello, Does anyone recognise this seat fitted to my ES2? It doesn't look original to me.

hello this the rightseat but wrong front bracket under the seat hope this may help yours anna j

Hello Anna J, Thank you for that information, I shall look at the bracket and see if it can be removed. The rear of the seat also sits a little high but that could be lowered by elongating the fitting slots in the rear mounting brackets. Kind regards, Paul

Previously David Cooper wrote:

It looks like a tall rider fitted that bracket. Surely there's nothing 'wrong' about that if it makes it more enjoyable to ride? It's the sort of thing magazines in the '50's gave suggestions about. I've been thinking about doing much the same for my 16H. They weren't designed to fita riderover about 5'6".

The bracket has two mounting points, the lower of which is for bolts which pass through the seat bracket and bolt to the frame at the earthing point at one side and the oil tank mounting on the other. The higher mounting point has a bolt which passses through the bracket and the mounting spacers which are fitted to a tube on the frame. The previous owner had only used the lower of the mounting holes on the bracket and passed the bolt through the higher of the two mounting points on the frame, hence the seat was too high. It has now been removed as I don't like it and will be replaced with a single sprung saddle which I do like. Also, I just ordered two CST Classic tyres for the bike in 325 x 18 front and 350 x 19 rear sizes as I can't get TT100 matching tyres in those sizes. I had a good look at the Avon AM26s but the rolling circumference of them and the profile didn't really suit. It only cost £100 including post for the pair of CST Classics from John Birchill at Stourbridge Tyres which I think is a bit of a bargain.

For anyone who is interested in what I replaced the seat and dodgy exhaust system with, this is what my ES2 looks like now.

Thanks Dan, I'm quite pleased with the way it is shaping up. I haven't found an ES2 toolbox yet but have a James toolbox from around the same era which should fit and not look too out of place (fingers crossed).

Regards,

Paul

Previously Dan Field wrote:

Here's one!!!!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Tool-Box-Manx-ES2-Model-18-Big-4-16H-WD-1936-1945-/382000584836?hash=item58f1025884:g:9wMAAOSwdGFYxxdH

Wrong shape Dan, and very definitely the wrong price!

What sort of "barK' do you get off that small silencer, Paul?

Hello Svein,

Thank you for the information, I have contacted the seller to ask for postage cost from USA to UK.

Regards,

Paul

$75 just for the post!! I think I'll give that a miss and fit the one from the James which cost me £20 including post. I'll still keep an eye out for a Norton one though, there is an autojumble at the local bike show in a couple of weeks.

Regards to all,

Paul

Previously alan_rogers wrote:

Previously paul_archibald wrote:

It's a bit of a bitsa. !958 frame, I think 1952 or 3 engine, dodgy exhaust (because it's painted black - by the previous owner). It will stay a bitsa as I will fit a single saddle and have ordered an exhaust pipe and silencer to my taste to spruce it up a bit. Don't get me wrong, I like looking at bikes which the owners have spent a lot of time and money on to make them look like they did when they left the factory, my Ducati and to a certain extent my Bonneville fulfill that for me, but this one is to use and for me not to feel too precious about it if I get caught out in the rain and I intend to "improve" it as I go along. I just wondered if anyone knew what the seat might be from as it is in good condition and I would rather sell it on to someone who will use it rather than it take up valuable bike space in my bike garage cum summerhouse. The 18" front wheel will have to go too at some point!

Thanks to all of you for your replies, please keep them coming.

Hi Paul, from what I can see in your photo your frame is 1956 or earlier, the 1957-58 ES2 frames are different in a number of ways- an obvious example is the bottom frame rails below the crankcase 1956 and earlier is an L section casting where as the 57-58 frame is welded tube, unless it is a twin frame which has the L casting.

Very strange Alan, it says 1958 on the log book/V5 and the frame number is correct. Perhaps it was an early bike not registered until 1958, who knows?

Regards,

Paul

It Looks good Alan but the post cost and repair cost will make it quite expensive. The James one will do for now (once I fit it that is!).

Cheers,

Paul