Old motorcycles are admired for plenty of reasons – some for their originality, some for their history; but a fortunate few manage to combine both with the ability to put a proper smile on the face of their owner. Michael Schofield’s 1927 Norton 16H seems to tick all three boxes. A 500cc side-valve single with a remarkable paper trail and a noteworthy succession of owners, it is also a machine that is very much still earning its keep on the road and at vintage events.
Words: Rich Orriss
Photos: Michael Schofield + Rich Orriss
We saw Michael’s Norton tackle Kop Hill this year and can confirm that it is very much a flyer for an old side-valve machine – it ripped up the climb! With that in mind, there is clearly more to this motorcycle than its handsome period appearance may indicate.
“I’m lucky enough to own a number of vintage / prewar bikes but we always yearn for that high end machine that everyone covets – for me this bike was one of those.”
The 16H has an established history with Norton. Its roots lie in the company’s 490cc side-valve singles which were developed, tested, and improved at circuits such as the Isle of Man TT and the banks of Brooklands. The racing scene was to be short lived however, with the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Norton were instrumental in supporting the war effort, producing military components and motorcycles, and it was not until 1919 that the 490cc Norton was offered for sale once again and the racetracks started to simmer. It was 1921 when the 16H model was first catalogued, featuring a three-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox linked to a chain-driven transmission, and running on a Brown & Barlow carburettor. The ‘H’ stood for ‘Home’ market. It had the spirit of the early racers, but were also very dependable, resulting in strong sales.
Michael’s example dates from 1927, when the flat-tank Norton was still very much part of the company’s sporting and touring story. It is fitted with what Michael describes as Enfield large brakes and sports bars, giving this particular machine its own character.
“The history that I know is that the bike was bought and used for some time pre-war (I have the sale invoice and the original insurance documents along with its RF60 buff logbook and all of the manuals and brochures of the time for its ancillaries such as the magneto.”
That collection of paperwork is a real bonus when it comes to the rewind of the history of an old motorcycle – it helps put a bike back into the lives of the people who owned and used it, rather than leaving its past as a series of educated speculations.
The next chapter in the Nortons life brings in a name familiar to flat-tank Norton enthusiasts: Dr George Cohen, better known in the vintage motorcycle world as ‘Norton George’. A psychiatrist by profession, Cohen became a respected authority on early Nortons, devoting years to researching, restoring and riding the machines he loved. His book, Flat Tank Norton, published in 2006, drew together a wealth of photographs, factory literature and original documents, which became an important reference for enthusiasts interested in the marque’s early history.
As Paul d’Orléans recalled in The Vintagent, Cohen was no armchair historian. He believed in using old motorcycles as their makers intended, and his own adventures included riding a 1927 Norton Model 18 racer on the Isle of Man. He was also entrusted with rebuilding the famous Rem Fowler Norton after it was badly damaged in the National Motorcycle Museum fire. Having restored the machine, Cohen rode it around the Isle of Man TT course during the centenary celebrations. His enthusiasm for early Nortons was matched by a willingness to get his hands dirty and put the machines to work, leaving a lasting mark on the vintage motorcycle world.
“At some point it has come into the ownership of the flat tank Norton guru George Cohen. I have searched his book but there is no photo of this bike unfortunately. There is however his double G stamped into the crankcase. George just kept it in his collection for some time and did nothing with it apart from what looks like a light cosmetic restoration (paint touch ins etc) and display.”
Although Michael hasn’t found a photograph of this particular Norton in Cohen’s book, that double-G stamp is a lovely detail in its own right. It provides a tangible link to a man whose name is closely associated with the study and preservation of early Nortons. Cohen died in 2016, but his research and the stories that surround his motorcycles continue to be an important part of the marque’s history. We cannot say precisely what work he carried out on this machine, but the time in his collection adds an interesting chapter to an already well-documented life. Whatever was done, this is a quick machine.
“I’m assuming that when George passed it was then sold, this was to a chap down South and he used it for the Banbury run a couple of times. He then sold it to Tom Steele who had a You Tube channel called Saving Classic Bikes. This is where I saw the bike online and took an interest. Tom rode the bike for a few years, and I followed his channel but as his father was ill, he needed to raise funds for treatment and soon after I saw the bike for sale on eBay. The price was very favourable so I watched it and there were no takers… in fact Tom dropped the price again and that was when I stepped in to take a look – deal done I took the bike home and immediately put it on my bench as like most I prefer to go through a machine before riding. This was November 2025, so I’ve owned it almost a year now.”
Click below for a link to one of Toms videos, prior to Michaels onwership.
Michael’s purchase was the start of another period of use. It would not be a restoration, more a revamp. As is often the sensible approach with an old motorcycle, the first job was to check what needed attention before trusting it out on the road.
“I replaced the rear tyre that had a bulge due to age and sorted a faulty repair on the magneto (now starts pretty much first kick) and the Best and Lloyd oil pump was replaced due to a cracked body that was leaking. I also replaced the saddle top as it had collapsed and was… uncomfortable. I made sure that the acetylene lights were working and made up a few new cables to replace worn older ones. I also fitted a period twist grip as I don’t like lever throttles on modern roads (all the levers and the same cable are in place to swop back if required). Finally, I gave the AMAC carb a good clean as most of the spray holes were blocked – this carb has no jets as such and atomises the mixture via small holes in the venturi. I also fitted a new chain as it looked like the (very) worn old one was original 1920’s.”
It’s a practical list of checks. The leaking Best and Lloyd oil pump needed to be sorted, the magneto required attention to prevent a thousand kicks, and a collapsed saddle is enough to take the shine off even the finest ride. Getting the acetylene lighting working and making up replacement cables has helped keep the machine usable, while fitting a period twist grip makes sense for modern road conditions. And, naturally, the badly worn old chain has been kept… some things are simply too sentimental to throw away.
“Since then I have ridden the machine on the roads and at Grimsthorpe Vintage Speed Trials and Kop Hill climb, and recently at the Shuttleworth Collection Race Day where it ran perfectly and put a big smile on my face. The bike is very low revving, and this is quite deceptive as it is actually moving at a decent pace. The only real difficulty I found when riding it that the gear lever is quite low – I am not the tallest so it’s a stretch but I have adapted to the hand/ foot change method quite well since – living the vintage dream!”
That low-revving nature is part of the charm of a big side-valve single. It doesn’t need to be hurried to make haste, and the steady delivery can be deceptive if you’re expecting an old motorcycle to feel slow. Our own view from Kop Hill backs Michael up: this Norton can certainly move when asked. It is a machine being ridden and enjoyed, not simply wheeled out for the occasional photograph.
The hand-and-foot gear change takes a little adaptation, particularly for a rider who isn’t the tallest, but that is all part of learning the ways of a motorcycle from another era. The fact that Michael has taken it to speed trials, hill climbs and race days, as well as using it on the road, says plenty about the confidence he has gained in the machine.
“I’m looking forward to using it much more in 2027”
With its documentation, connection to George Cohen, and a growing list of outings under its belt, Michael’s Norton has plenty to recommend it. Yet perhaps the best thing about it is that its story is still being written. Nearly a century after it was built, the old 16H is still climbing hills, covering roads and putting a grin on its owner’s face.
And having seen it go up Kop Hill, we reckon Michael has every reason to look forward to next season.
an article by The Girder Club
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