1959 Norton ES2, beautifully restored, long-term owner, meticulously cared for!

Beautifully restored!1959 Norton ES2 Frame number: 81856 Engine number: 81856 Gearbox number: N12152 A staple in the Norton model line from 1927 until the early 1960s the 490cc ES2 started out as the "poor man's International" with a slogging long-stroke overhead-valve single in place of the Inter's racier bevel-driven overhead-cam design . The ES2 was built in several versions during a production run lasting until 1963 though the engine dimensions of 79 x 100mm bore/stroke – first adopted by James Lansdowne Norton in 1911 – remained unchanged to the end. Over the years it went from having a rigid frame with girder forks to using the Inter's "Garden Gate" frame with plunger rear suspension married to Norton's Roadholder telescopic forks. Eventually the ES2 would be housed in the famous Featherbed frame Norton's gift to good handling. The matching-numbers example offered here has been on display in a private and very substantial multi-multi-million dollar collection of European cars and motorcycles. A restored model from 1959 the first year for the wideline Featherbed frame and shows just over 24000 miles on its Smiths Chronometric. The bike was purchased by the previous owner in 1976 and after enjoying the bike for 24 years he embarked on a three year ground-up restoration. It wears the correct slab-sided muffler while modern sheathed Hagon shocks keep the vintage theme but should yield improved road-holding. Purchased several years ago by the current owner in the presented cosmetic condition the bike was sympathetically overhauled mechanically with attention given to brakes and carburetion and minor detailing. The engine has excellent compression and the bike runs stops and handles exceptionally well. The bike is accompanied by a substantial file of receipts for the restoration as well as books and manuals. With chrome panel on its gas tank and red piping on the seat this is a very handsome example of Norton's long-running single.

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