My 1935 ES2 Norton

This is the 1935 ES2 Norton that I had for several years. I bought it from Ron Farthing on January the 26th 1999. I still have the invoice, for 3000 GBP, which was a very decent sum in those days. The British registration was JD5714.

The ES2 can be recognized by the cradle frame, looking so much better on these late 1930s bikes than the open diamond as used by the M18s. It still has the exposed valve springs and the pushrod covers that run in parallel.

The bike served me well for many years. It was used on several camping trips, hauling me and my gear all the way from Utrecht to Groningen to Zeeland, Limburg and back again. I never encountered more severe problems than a lost nut or bolt. It wasn't that fast though, I have the feeling my current late 1920s M18s will give it a run for its money.

I sold the ES2 on the 25th of november 2005. I had just bought an Inter and the shed was too crowded to keep all of them. I did feel sorry for the bike when it was wheeled off to a trailer, destined for an undeserved restoration.

Flat tank M18 engine rumble, part 2

Reassemled the 1928 M18 gearbox with new bearings but the rumble was still there...therefore took the engine completely apart and found the culprit; the timing side main bearing is gone.

New main bearings should not be too difficult to find and I'll have a go at replacing the bigend now that the cranck is on the bench anyway. Further, lets see if the worn camfollowers can be repaired.

Bates E02264 5" Defender Tactical Boot Review

Bates E02264 5" Defender Tactical Boot Review

Last fall I needed a pair of new shoes for work. I, of course, wanted a pair that would lend themselves to motorcycle riding as well. I had several requisites in mind, including non skid, oil resistant, slightly above ankle, and of course, Leather for protection. I started looking around at stores for something that would fit the bill, or rather, my foot.

One of my sons kept bragging about a pair of BATES boots that he had purchased on a recommendation from a local LEO, (Law Enforcement Officer). He bragged about how comfortable they were, how well they gripped the floor, and most of all, how light they were. They were lighter than the tennis shoes he used to wear out every other month because they just would not hold up. The Bates Boots were very durable. He purchased his at Academy Sports & Outdoors in Grapevine, Texas.

So one day I found myself at Academy and made it to the shoe section to see what they had and possibly try on some boots. I soon found out they had at least four different styles of Bates to choose from. They had some like my sons, 5” lace ups. They had some steel toe versions, some zip up versions and some composite toe versions. I tried on a few and soon decided I liked the versions that also had the side zipper because it made them soooo much easier to take on and off. I kind of liked the idea of having some extra toe protection so I opted for the 5” Composite Safety Toe Side Zip E02264 and made my purchase.

Here is the description from the Bates website:

The composite safety toes in these hard working boots won’t set off electronic security but definitely will add vital protection to your toes. Made with all non-metallic components, from zippers to speed lace eyelets. Featuring a breathable mesh lining, an ergonomically supportive insole and slip-resistant Ultra-Lites outsole to help prevent on-the-job injuries, these boots are value priced to not hurt your budget either. ASTM F2413-05 Rated.

Specs

Gender: Mens
Type: Boots
Height: 5"
Color: Black
Uppers: Unknown
Outsole: Enforcer Series Ultra-Lites™
Construction: Cement Construction
Toe: Composite Toe
Waterproof: No
Stealth: Yes
Weight: 3.0 lbs. per pair

I will attest to the fact that these boots are very comfortable. It did take a little time to get used to the Composite Safety Toes because of how they felt against my toes. I was not used to having a hard toed boot. These boots are very light weight. My son always told me how he had a hard time getting used to walking in such a light boot, he always wanted to high step. I had the same feeling from time to time. Both the Defenders together weigh about as much as one of my HD Pecos Boots.

The side zippered boots did cost a little more than the ones without, but the convenience is definitely worth it. You can lace the boots up how you like them and just used the zipper to take them on and off. Every few weeks the laces will work a little loose and have to be laced up tighter again. The zipper is probably my favorite feature.

These boots have great traction. I work in an Automotive Service Department and some of the floors are polished and when they are wet it can be extremely treacherous. The slip-resistance of the Bates Tactical boots Ultru-Lites outsole is extremely good. They use cement construction to attach the sole. The lugged sole is very rugged looking and may not work for formal dressing up.

The breathable mesh lining is another great feature. Bates Footwear constructed these boots with sweaty stinky feet like mine in mind. They do not completely stop my feet from sweating; after all I live in Texas. They do, however, keep my feet cooler, which prevents them from sweating as much. These boots breathe well and still do not stink. The trade off is that they are not waterproof.

The only metal on these boots is the zipper pull tab and slider. When zipped up there is a leather tab with hook and loop closure that covers it up so there is no metal showing that might scratch your bike. The tongue is padded and there is a large padded collar around the top which is real nice as well. Comfort is in much supply on these boots.

Soon after I started riding with the Bates boots I did notice one issue. The Composite Safety Toe makes the front of the boot taller than an ordinary boot or shoe. This made it where the boot would no longer fit under my front shifter to up-shift. Fortunately, my V-Star, "Mistress", is equipped with a heel-toe shifter, so I had to learn to start up-shifting with my heel. Now I have gotten so used to up-shifting with my heel I do it all the time no matter what shoes I am wearing.

So far the Bates Boots have held up real well and are proving themselves to be extremely durable. Not only that, they are real comfortable as well. Torch gives them a M.M.M. rating of 9 out of 10.

Ride on,
Torch

The T- Day Run:Triumph Motorcycle brand only Run 2009

Zaterdag 06 juni 13.00 uur, sharp, was het zover...

Omaha - Obama Beach

"General Alex von Schmittenhoven"
Norton Big 4 Combination 633 cc 1939
"inspecting" the beaches.

" 720 cc Welbike"

Terwijl enkele D.V.M.A.-lidjes in Normandie

Jawel met 2 x Triumph 3HW 350 CC zijkleppers

en Norton 16H zijn deze 3 mannen zondag

weer richting Holland gereden (ca. 750 km)

Ze hebben er twee dagen over gedaan.

zo'n 144 motorfietsen

More Pictures & Videos!

bij de 65e D-Day Anniversary "Motorordonnanse/soldaatje

Miss Barrington-Ward, a WRNS dispatch rider 1941.

aan het spelen" waren...en anderen in Italie,

Oostenrijk, GB & zelfs Japan rondhingen...

gingen een 4-tal D.V.M.A.-Triumph addepts op weg voor een

heuse T-Day Triumph Motorcycle brand only Run 2009.

Afgesproken was dat we richting de Veluwe zouden gaan rijden.

Aldus vanuit Groenekan vertrokken, ging het via De Bilt naar Soesterberg,"de legerweg", ri. Amersfoort, via "verboden toegang" psst... Landgoed Den Treek

Triumph Scrambler " Steve McQueen"

naar Leusden, alwaar Triumph Dealer Hans Blom werd aangedaan
om even wat "boodschappen" te doen.

Triumph Speed Twin 5T 500 cc 1953

(nacelle & bobine-ontsteking)

(Er staat ook een Triumph Speed Twin te koop). Fraaie ambiance...echter dat duurde niet al te lang want men wilde immers rijden...Dus gauw gingen we weer op pad van Leusden, via Stoutenburg, what's in a name, naar Achterveld waar op het terras "De Roskam"

een Koffie-met-appeltaart-stop werd gehouden.

Al snel bleek dat we niet de enige "brommerrijders" waren en
werd er ter plekke kennis gemaakt met de huidige
Voorzitter van de Stichting De Eenhoornfederatie,

de Heer Carl Drees...een "met-Velocette-meer-pret" man.

Voor mij is de Eenhoorn geen onbekende Club omdat er in het verleden
diverse "events" op het TT Circuit van Assen zijn gehouden en op videofilmbeelden zijn vastgelegd!

Enfin na even bijgepraat te hebben over onze wederzijdse motorclubs, onze "brommers", weekendritten (o.m. Winterswijk) en plannen, gingen we weer op pad via Scherpenzeel, Woudenberg, ri. Austerlitz, waar HansHans, onze toercommisaris, dit keer met "HansHandgas" verder moest vanwege een gaskabelbreuk. Jammer maar het mocht de pret niet drukken..Het weer was goed...en met een gaskabel in de hand kom je dus ook door heel het land.

Toch maar gauw via Zeist, De Bilt terug naar Groenekan...waar nog ruim werd nagenoten van deze schitterende Triumph Motorcycle brand only Run 2009.

Toch weer zo'n 110 km lekker T gereden...
Nee... daar zijn dit keer geen foto's van...
Ja... zeker voor een herhaling vatbaar...

Ik ben binnen...

en bij goed weer lig ik buiten!

- De echte Motorordonnanse officieel Nato-courier Lichting 73-4.

" 300 cc Welbike"

STEEDS VERRASSEND, ALTIJD DICHTBIJ

Motoring George Spauwen.

Sponsored by
Victrace Sitebuilding

Friendship Blogger Award

Friendship Bloggers Award

A few days ago, the Baron himself, of Baron’s Life and Baron’s Photos, selected me as one of the eight bloggers to receive his Friendship Bloggers Award.

These blogs are exceedingly charming.
These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.
They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.
Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.
Please give more attention to these writers.

Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Drum roll please, and without further ado, are the eight bloggers that I have chosen to bestow this award upon, not in any particular order:

Dan’s Low Rider in the Wind

Doug’s Tilted Horizons

Bam’s Bam Ridez

John’s friar’s ride

Mimi’s Mimi’s Motorcycle Journal

Becky’s Biker Chickz Blog

Smooth’s Easy Rider

Daniel Meyer’s C U Again

Another 16H

Another 16H Norton; this one must be from 1929, based on the Mark IV oil pump fitted. Quite a few modifications were made over the years, the forks and front wheel are from a later model while the rear brake plate must be earlier. The carb is a later 276. The 'double-barrel' silencer is correct for 1929.

Still, what a very nice condition. The bike was already sold when I spotted her at the Beaulieu jumble last year, let's hope it has not been restored by now.