Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tuesday 28th October from 1pm
Auction: Wednesday 29th October from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
1952 Norman B2 De-Luxe
No reserve
Registration No: LRM 2
Frame No: B2/ 1823*
MOT: Exempt
Nicely presented Norman B2 De Luxe
Villiers 197cc 2 stroke 3 speed engine
Supplied with a RF60 buff log book
Unusually for a British motorcycle manufacturer, Norman Cycles was based in Ashford Kent, well away from the industry’s more traditional Birmingham base. The company was established just after World War I as the Kent Plating & Enamelling Co by brothers Charles and Fred Norman, making bicycle frames in a garden shed but by the 1920s had moved to larger premises and began producing powered two wheelers in the late 1930s. They were mainly associated with lightweight autocycles and mopeds, with engines supplied by the likes of Villiers and Anzani, and are probably best known for the Norman Nippy. The bigger bikes had Villiers 125 and 197cc engines in a quite robust looking chassis of their own design and manufacture and by 1952, the B1 and B2 models featured swinging arm rear suspension. In 1950, Norman Cycles was taken over by Tube Investments, who then used the Raleigh name for bicycles, moving production away from Kent and ceasing motorcycle production in the early 1960s. In tribute, a road close to the site of the 1935 factory in Ashford is named Norman Road.
This nicely presented B2 De-Luxe model, being offered at no reserve, has been part of a small private collection for the last few years. Cosmetically restored by a previous owner in the early 2000s, the engine underwent a full refurbishment by Villiers Services a few years later. Not run recently, the engine turns over on the kickstarter but it will need recommissioning before use. The RF60 buff log book dated 12th April 1952 shows the bike having spent its first years around Penrith and will be supplied with an original Owners/ Spares manual and a new gasket set. It does not appear to have been put on a V5C at any stage, but the presence of the RF60 may allow its original number to be recovered. * The frame number is not visible, so has been taken off the log book.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
