- Prepared for racing in England

- ‘Big single’ full of character

- Ideal for demonstrations on track

- No reserve

Launched in the 1920s, the ES2 had an unusually long career as it was only dropped from Norton’s range in 1964. With a 500cc pushrod single-cylinder with a separate gearbox, it succeeded the Norton 18 and, unsurprisingly, underwent various changes during more than 30 years in production. The most important of these concerned the frame (a double cradle replacing the single cradle in 1959), the rear suspension (rigid, then plunger-type and finally swing-arm), and the front fork (a telescopic fork superseding the parallelogram type in 1947). Originally a sporty model, the ES2 was well liked for its reliability and ease of maintenance.

The Norton ES2 for sale today is a 1946 model with a rigid frame and a parallelogram fork. It was bought in England, where it had been modified for racing with no lights, lightweight mudguards and an exhaust without a silencer. A classic English ‘big single’, it will give its new owner the chance to ride on track at historic events and demonstrations, where its character and strong performance are sure to impress.

Photos © Alexis Ruben