Back on the Road - My 1928 Norton CS1 in Wales
- Andy Marks
- Jul 16
- 12 min read
Updated: Jul 27
After almost three years off the road, my 1928 Norton CS1 finally made it back to Wales for a week of riding. It had taken last-minute carburettor and petrol-tank repairs to get there, and the bike was still largely untested when we set off. What followed was a week of jetting changes, roadside checks, oil leaks, ignition trouble and some of the best riding I have ever had on the bike.
After having new valves and guides fitted by a local specialist, I re-refitted the cylinder head just in time for our annual trip to mid Wales in 2025. Afet I took the bike out for the obligatory test ride the night before we set off I discovered it wouldn't run properly and, with no time to do anything, I ended up taking my 1951 Norton ES2.
I got back, tinkered with the CS1 a bit but didn't really make any progress before other events and jobs became more important and it got put away again. Fast-forward to 2026 and I was determined to take it this time!
Last Minute Carburettor and Tank Repairs
I got the bike out a couple of months before the Welsh trip thinking I could get it sorted, start using it and get a few miles on it. Upon first start up there was always plenty of smoke, and before I could even pull out of the driveway the plug had fouled up and the engine had stopped. After some carburation adjustments made no difference, I stripped the carb and found a problem with the jet block. I have already written about what I did and how I fixed it in another blog post, so I won't repeat it here. Suffice to say my first ride on the bike in three years was the day before we loaded it in the van and set off!
Upon returning from said test ride (about 1.5 miles) I noticed the petrol tank had sprung a leak around the petrol tap boss. This was duly repaired with the soldering iron and the tank was finally refitted on the Friday we were due to depart.
If you would like to read about the carburettor repairs, click on either the image or the heading above.
Taking a Vintage Bike to Wales
I first went on the Sunbeam Club's Welsh Week in about 2011, at the time it was based in Aberystwyth but since then the event has moved base to Radnor Revivals in Llanbister where, after a few years, the Sunbeam Club withdrew their involvement in the event. For the last few years a group of about 20 of us have continued to go every year and enjoy the fantastic selection of roads in the area. Now, most people are on British bikes from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
Fortunately there is room for three bikes in the back of our van so, as my Dad was coming on his tried and tested Norton Model 18, I was able to bring a spare bike, namely my 1929 Harley that performed faultlessly in France a few weeks ago. If it wasn't for this luxury I probably would have left the CS1 at home again, it hadn't really been tested so I was a little nervous about it and it would be a long week if I broke down on the first day and had nothing else to ride!
After the last minute tank repair, we loaded the bikes and set off. The usual Friday afternoon motorway traffic meant we arrived in Wales just in time for our evening meal. The bikes can stay in the van until the morning...
First Ride: Jetting Changes and Early Improvements
One advantage of having stayed in this part of Wales for several years now, is that I know the routes fairly well. As much as I love exploring new places, for a week when I'm likely to be tinkering with a bike the familiarity is welcome.
After breakfast on Saturday morning the route sheets are handed out and I recognise it immediately. It's one of my favourite rides, but it's over 100 miles and I know it would be fantastic on the Harley. However, I worked hard to get the CS1 here this year so I unload it, get my gear on and set off with a pocket full of main jets. It's only 17 miles to the coffee stop so we'll see how it's going there.
I know I haven't ridden this bike for a few years but the vibration is far worse than I remember it being, surely I wouldn't have put up with this for all those miles! It keeps going but I'm sure I never used to change down on some of these hills and when we come across a long but gradual climb, by the time I get to the top the power is fading away, a familiar feeling from when I used to ride it a lot.
I take it a bit easier until I get into Llanidloes where, after leaving it to cool down while we have a coffee, I take a look at the plug. It's looking very lean so I go up to a 160 main jet - I know it was crazy to be running on a 150 but a few days ago I was still fouling up plugs at that!
As soon as I start the engine I can hear a difference, it sounds a lot happier. After a quick fuel stop we're heading out past Clywedog Reservoir and over the mountain to Machynlleth. This has got to be one of the best roads I've ever ridden, and I've ticked a few big names off of my list! The CS1 is pulling noticeably better but it does run out of puff again on the long climb and I limp over the top in first gear.
By the time I've ridden down the other side it's cooled down enough and the ride on the flat from Machynlleth to our lunch stop at Dyfi Furnace is a joy. I'm starting to remember why I like this bike!
I lift the needle a notch at the lunch stop and we set off again - now we're getting somewhere. It's flying along and when climbing the mountain road just before Rhayader I get the whole way up in top, I've never done that before. I'm also able to sit at 50-55 all the way back along the main road to our digs with no sign of it overheating or fading. Once back at base I park it up with a smile on my face, it's chucking a bit of oil out of the usual cammy Norton places but this is by far the best I've ever known the bike to run. If only I could do something about the vibration - that is going to drive me nuts this week!
I would usually give the bike a once over at the end of the day, especially as it's the first proper ride since it was apart. But I'm tired and it's nearly time for dinner. I'll have a look at it in the morning.
Starting to Relax and Enjoy the Riding
I decided to take the Harley out for a run on Sunday, it's due to rain later in the week and between the poor brakes and foot clutch I'd rather use it in the dry. After one of the other bikes goes on the trailer, I lead a bigger than normal group back to base including several people who haven't ridden with me on the Harley before. They are satisfyingly impressed with its performance, 'I wasn't expecting to be riding back at 50mph behind that!'
Monday morning is time to get the CS1 out again, first job is a quick check over. I'm pleased to see it hasn't used any oil but the plug is still looking too light for my liking so a 170 main jet goes in. As we set off I'm immediately struck by the lack of vibration. It has by no means disappeared, but I'm convinced it isn't as bad as it was on Saturday. I know the MZs I race vibrate more if the carburation is out, maybe this is the same. I hope so, I wasn't keen on the thought of stripping it to rebalance the flywheels!
I don't touch the bike at the morning coffee stop but do decide to take a look at the plug when we stop for lunch overlooking Ludlow. We have plenty of time, another Ariel has broken down so the van and trailer have stopped to help - my lunch is in the back of that van! The plug finally has a nice colour to it. I have just ridden through a town though and it's far from the ideal plug chop, but it's nice to see we are getting closer.
I lead the ride back to base and am happy cruising at 40-45mph with the occasional increase to 50. It's comfortable at this and my CS1 is a joy to ride again! There is also definitely less vibration. I give it a real thrash up the last hill before we get back to our digs before cutting the engine and coasting back in. Another look at the plug and that colour has gone so I put the 180 jet in. This is the biggest one I have with me, so I'll have to ride it as it is for the rest of the week. It's performing well at the speeds I like riding it at so any more fine tuning can wait until I get home.
Hard Starting, Devil's Staircase and a Lot of Oil
Tuesday dawns overcast but dry. I pick the route sheet up and see we are going to Tregaron via the Devil's Staircase. This is definitely a day for the CS1 so I wheel it out and give it a kick, followed by another kick, and another... Eventually I give up and bump down the hill (I'm in Wales, there are plenty of hills) and it fires up fairly easily. Once running it is a dream to ride again and, after stopping for petrol it starts first kick when warm.
I pull over to take the above picture and decide to test my theory on why it wouldn't start from cold. All of the Nortons I own start best with virtually no throttle, this means that the pilot adjustment is critical to easy starting. I've now gone up 3 main jet sizes and lifted the needle a notch. I know a lot of people say 'You only use the main jet at full throttle' but this isn't strictly true. The main jet has an impact on the entire range of throttle opening. It would be more accurate to say 'The main jet is the only thing being used at full throttle' That is why we set the main jet at full throttle, and why we do it first. There's little point getting everything else dialled in and then changing a main jet.
Anyway - I digress. I get the screwdriver out and use the tried and tested method of blipping the throttle to see how responsive the bike is from tick over, then repeating with the screw in various positions until I find a sweet spot. Sure enough, I end up weakening the pilot mixture slightly and, as a result the bike is back to being a first kick starter, hot or cold, for the rest of the week.
I'm getting close now, the CS1 is romping up the hills, it's smooth, responsive and has no problem keeping up with much newer bikes on the open road.
After our afternoon pub stop we set off for the final 15 miles back to base, the A44 followed by the A483 are fantastic biking roads. They're open, fast and have some long sweeping bends. We're clearly all enjoying ourselves now. I'm rattling along at 60mph and see 65 on the Garmin cycle speedo I use several times.
I pull back into Radnor Revivals with a huge grin on my face, step off the bike, look down at it and my grin vanishes... The whole back end of the bike is covered in oil, I look down and see my Kevlar jeans are as well... I'm used to cammy Norton oil leaks but this is something else. I look in the oil tank and I've lost about half a tank of oil in the last 15 miles.
The others come over to look at it and Ian's first comment is 'Oh dear, I don't think that's going out again' After leaving it for 10 minutes to cool down I take a closer look and, with some help from Dad and Mick, start cleaning it off. The problem soon presents itself as a loose cambox oil pipe. The banjo bolt is still in there but there's plenty of slack for it to be pumping oil all over the place. I tighten this up and, for good measure, check the rest of the bike before topping the tank up. I put it away feeling relatively confident it will be OK tomorrow.
Dodging the Rain, a Puncture and Slipped Ignition Timing
I wake up on Wednesday to the sound of torrential rain on the lodge roof. We knew it was coming but it's still not a welcome sound. It almost stopped by the time we walk in for breakfast though and, as the forecast says it will stop mid morning, the decision is made to take our time before setting off.
We finally set off, in the dry, at about 10:30. It's clear the rain has been very localised from the varying state of the roads. A quick check of the bike at a petrol stop reveals a fair amount of oil blowing over the oil tank. I suspect this is what we missed cleaning off between the fins last night, it's just blowing out as I ride along now. I wipe it off and carry on, I'll check it again at the morning coffee stop.
Unfortunately we don't get to the morning coffee stop before having to pull over again. I am looking in my mirror and notice my Dad is no longer behind me so, after pulling over and waiting a couple of minutes, I head back in search of him. I don't have to go very far. He's found a layby to stop in and when I pull up he points at the front tyre. Completely flat!
We've got everything with us including a new tube so set about changing it. Mick soon arrives with the group he is leading so they stop to offer help as well. After finding two thorns in the tyre, we fit the new tube and it's not long before we've just got to pump it back up. Three pumps between us and none of them are working! We know Dad's worked a year ago, but the tube has split and is leaking. Fortunately the breakdown van has a 12V compressor on board so we use that, refit the wheel and we're on our way.
There is a lot less oil on the CS1 at this stop so I'm happy to carry on. I also take the opportunity to take my waterproofs off as it is brightening up a bit now.
The rest of the day is relatively uneventful until I notice the CS1 is starting to struggle on the hills again, I also get the age old feeling that it's getting hot and not pulling so well on the open roads. I play with the advance and retard lever a bit and soon realise the timing must have slipped. It's running over advanced so if I pull the lever back a touch we're back to normal running.
I ride it back to Llanbister like this and decide it's time to call it a week with this bike. It's gone better than I've ever known it to and I've thoroughly enjoyed riding it again. I'd been considering riding the Harley again tomorrow anyway, I can redo the timing on this one when we get home.
Granddads Bike on One of His Favourite Roads
I've intentionally limited this post to my CS1 and the process of getting it running right during a rally. I will write another post about the Harley in Wales later. It was in the Elan Valley about 15 years ago that my Granddad offered me a ride on it for the first time, and it was that evening that he first told me of his intention to leave it to me when he was gone. To ride that bike through the Elan Valley on the last day of this year's trip felt very special. I think that deserves a post of its own doesn't it?
The Long Drive Home and Some Post Event Jobs
Following a final pint in the local pub, The Greyhound Inn, we got back to the lodges in time to load the bikes into the van before dinner.
With everything ready we were on the road home by 9 am on Friday. It's always a long drive home but this one seemed longer with the air conditioning in the van not working and the start of a heatwave! Once home the bikes are unloaded and put away. I've got a few jobs to do on both and they're due a bit of a service, I've done over 600 miles on the Harley in the last month and I've barely touched it! But that can wait until the temperature in the workshop drops a bit.
Thanks for reading - I hope you've enjoyed it. What would you like to do next?
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