Editing Norton ES2

{{Motorcycle
|name             = Norton ES2
|photo           = Norton ES2 500cc (1961) (21067396499).jpg
|caption=1961 slimline featherbed-framed version
|aka              = 
|manufacturer     =[[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton Motors Ltd]], Aston]], Birmingham
|parent_company   =[[Associated Motor Cycles|AMC Ltd]] from 1953<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
|production       =1928-1964<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
|predecessor      =Model 18 1922-27<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
|successor        =Norton ES2 Mk2 (Norton badged Matchless) 1965-1966<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=James |title=Norton ES2 and Matchless G3 |url=https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3 |website=Classic Motorcycle |accessdate=29 March 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623163414/https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3 |archivedate=23 June 2012 |date=6 June 2012}}</ref>
|class            =
|engine           = 490cc OHV air cooled single
|top_speed        = 82 mph<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
|power            = 25 bhp @ 5500 rpm, 1960 spec<ref>Motor Cycle Data Book, George Newnes Ltd, London 1960</ref>
|torque           =
|transmission     = 4 speed gearbox to chain final drive
|suspension       =
|brakes           =8.00 x 1.25 inches front, 7.00 x 1.25 rear from 1959
|tires            =3.00 front, 3.50 rear x 19 inch from 1959
|rake_trail       =
|wheelbase        =56 inches
|length           =
|width            =
|height           =
|seat_height      =31.5 inches
|dry_weight       = 380lb
|wet_weight       =392 lb
|fuel_capacity    =3.5 gals
|oil_capacity     =4 pints
|fuel_consumption =50 to 60mpg
|turning_radius   =
|climbing_ability =
|related          =
|similar          =
}}

The '''Norton ES2''' is a [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]] [[motorcycle]] produced from 1927 until 1964. From 1965, a different machine  was produced for a short time by parent manufacturer AMC, based on a [[Matchless]] but badged as '''Norton ES2 Mk2'''.

==Development==
[[File:Norton ES2 motorcycle 1949.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.8|1949 ES2]]
It was a long stroke single, always 79mm x 100mm bore and stroke, originally launched as a [[Sport bike|sports motorcycle]] but throughout its long life it was gradually overtaken by more powerful models.  

It remained popular due to its reliability and ease of maintenance, as well as the traditional design. From 1947 the ES2 had an innovative hydraulically damped telescopic front fork and race developed rear plunger suspension. From 1953 it had a single down-tube swinging-arm frame. 

==Featherbed frame==
From 1959 it used the Rex McCandless designed [[Featherbed frame]], with upgrades featuring an improved AMC gearbox, revised cylinder head, crankshaft-mounted Lucas RM15 60-watt alternator with coil ignition and an 8-inch front brake with full width hubs front and rear.<ref name= "The Motor Cycle">The Motor Cycle, Road Test, 4 June 1959</ref> The wideline Featherbed-framed bike was road tested in ''[[The Motor Cycle]]'' 4 June 1959 issue and was reported to have a mean top speed of 82&nbsp;mph with petrol consumption of 56 mpg at 60&nbsp;mph.<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>

==Slimline featherbed frame==
For 1961, in common with other large-engined Nortons, the bike was further improved with the ''Slimline'' frame with upper frame rails narrowed and a restyled slimmer fuel tank.<ref name="Motorbase">{{cite web|url=http://www.motorbase.com/auctionlot/by-id/1523324111/|title=Norton ES2|accessdate=2008-10-24}}</ref>

==Finale==
[[File:Norton ES2 Mk2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|ES2 Mk2]]
The last ES2 was introduced in late 1964. A Matchless-based machine with Norton badges, it was produced for two years before final discontinuation, coincident with the commercial failure of the [[Associated Motor Cycles|AMC]] Group.<ref name="Mechanics">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], December 1964, editorial p.3 "(Earls Court) Show - not much new." "Two Matchless singles christened the Mark II versions of famous and former Norton models by virtue of a Norton badge". Accessed and added 2015-01-21</ref><ref name="Mechanics 2">[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|''Motorcycle Mechanics'']], December 1964, pp.29-31 "What's new? Bill Lawless takes a look at the 1965 models." "Messrs AMC reintroduce the once popular Model 50 and ES2 Nortons by calling them the Mark II models and sticking Norton badges on Matchless G3 and G80 machines". Accessed and added 2015-01-22</ref>

A report in a 1980 UK magazine stated:<ref>''[[Classic Bike]]'', February/March 1980, pp.56-60, AMC's heavyweight singles Accessed 31 December 2017</ref><blockquote>The slow but immensely likeable Featherbed-framed 350 Model 50 and 500 ES2 Norton ohv singles were dropped and in their place appeared the Model 50 MkII and ES2 MkII, or, with Norton badges hastily tacked on the side, the Matchless G3 and G80. They failed to fool anyone, let alone the buying public. In 1966 the heavyweight singles were all but a memory...</blockquote>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Bacon, R,  Norton Singles, Osprey Publishing, 1983 Power Output: 21&nbsp;hp Fuel capacity: 2.75 Imp gal (1947–58), 3.5 Imp gal (1958-63)

==See also==
*[[Norton Model 50]]
*[[List of motorcycles of the 1920s]]

[[Category:Norton motorcycles|ES2]]
[[Category:Motorcycles introduced in the 1920s]]
@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 |caption=1961 slimline featherbed-framed version
 |aka              =
-|manufacturer     =Norton Motorcycle Company&#124;Norton Motors Ltd, Aston, Birmingham
+|manufacturer     =[[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton Motors Ltd]], Aston]], Birmingham
 |parent_company   =[[Associated Motor Cycles|AMC Ltd]] from 1953<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
 |production       =1928-1964<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
 |predecessor      =Model 18 1922-27<ref name= "The Motor Cycle"/>
-|successor        = [[Norton ES2 Mk2]] (Norton badged Matchless) 1965-1966<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=James |title=Norton ES2 and Matchless G3 |url=https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3 |website=Classic Motorcycle |accessdate=29 March 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623163414/https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3 |archivedate=23 June 2012 |date=6 June 2012}}</ref>
+|successor        =Norton ES2 Mk2 (Norton badged Matchless) 1965-1966<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=James |title=Norton ES2 and Matchless G3 |url=https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3 |website=Classic Motorcycle |accessdate=29 March 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623163414/https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/articles/2012-05/norton-es2-and-matchless-g3 |archivedate=23 June 2012 |date=6 June 2012}}</ref>
 |class            =
 |engine           = 490cc OHV air cooled single
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 ==Development==
+[[File:Norton ES2 motorcycle 1949.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.8|1949 ES2]]
 It was a long stroke single, always 79mm x 100mm bore and stroke, originally launched as a [[Sport bike|sports motorcycle]] but throughout its long life it was gradually overtaken by more powerful models.
 It remained popular due to its reliability and ease of maintenance, as well as the traditional design. From 1947 the ES2 had an innovative hydraulically damped telescopic front fork and race developed rear plunger suspension. From 1953 it had a single down-tube swinging-arm frame.
-===1946===
-<gallery mode='packed-hover'>
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-0.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-1.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-2.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-3.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-4.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-5.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-6.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-File:1946-norton-es2-500cc-single-7.jpg|1946 Norton ES2  500cc single
-</gallery>
-==1949==
-[[File:Norton ES2 motorcycle 1949.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.8|1949 ES2]]
-{{clear}}
 ==Featherbed frame==