Classic Bike Guide - 12.2018

Classic Bike Guide is a down to earth, practical - and sometimes irreverent - magazine that gets right to the heart of the classic bike world. With a mixture of features, tests, reviews and event reports it is the title that has become a must for the active rider and restorer.

*** ONE OF LIFE’S commandments if you want to avoid pain and loss: never buy a project bike. And never, never buy a project bike in bits. And never, ever, ever buy a project bike in bits with no paperwork and no certainty that it is original, complete or indeed any damn good. So guess what I’ve done? Yup. I’ve bought a bike in bit and boxes. A Norton ES2, no less. Let me explain – or attempt to explain – at least to myself. I wanted a bike that we could restore in the magazine next year. One that would bring the sort of jobs and issues that many of us come across, so that it was as relevant to as many readers as possible. Ideally it would be a complete bike in one piece, so that you could see how it came apart, the condition tell a little about its previous life and I could get a feel for it. Still no idea why when B31 is running like a dream, Honda needs rebuilding, G3L needs the oil leak fixed, GS project is in a million parts, CZ parts are littering my kitchen and daughter’s Morris Minor needs welding. Humph. ***