Catch up on all the Norton news from the past few months.
Chapters:
00:39 – New Norton Merchandise
01:03 – Interview with TVS MD about why they bought Norton
01:44 – Link up with Mental Health charity
02:41 – Pensions Regulator action against former Norton owner
03:44 – New Limited Edition bikes
05:40 – Interview with Norton CEO
07:10 – New dealers
In April 2024 I am doing a 600+in mile ride on my 2015 Norton 961 Commando in aid of Mental Health Motorbike. Please donate here https://www.justgiving.com/page/rattlingroundwales and check out @grumpsrides6074 for more details. Thank you!
Sources and Links:
Interview with TVS MD
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/features/bikes/tvs-interview-norton-venu
Norton partners with Mental Health Motorbike
https://www.visordown.com/news/general/norton-partners-mental-health-motorbike
Pensions Regulator takes action against Stuart Garner
https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/media-hub/press-releases/2023-press-releases/report-details-tprs-action-against-former-owner-of-norton-motorcycles
Norton Limited Editions
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2024-norton-special-editions/
Interview with Norton Motorcycles CEO
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2023/december/norton-ceo-motorcycle-live-interview/
Norton Dealers
https://nortonmotorcycles.com/find-a-dealer/
29 Comments
I really really don’t want to be a party pooper but WTF !
Same old design/spec models, push rod engines and simon skinner heath robinson designed V4.
Agreed there’s some major parts upgrades, but it would have been impossible not to improve on it, I had a ‘14 cafe and what a crock of shit that was.
Now the ‘Quality over quantity’ speech that has to be the understatement of the year producing just 1 V4CR in a year!
And to cap it off no TT involvement due to engine size and apparent lack of interest, sure enough Garner was a thieving lying abhorrent crook but at-least he got a bike around the legendary course even if it did have an Aprilla engine.
We ALL want to love Norton but need something more from them (in my humble opinion don’t shoot me)
I nearly lost money to Stuart Garner when I showed interest in the as new commando when launched, he kept phoning me to pay up front! Alarm bells started ringing so I told him I was not interested. Now this company say that they have rectified faults with the old model but to me it's still the same but overpriced push rod engine which is competing against the likes of Triumph and to a lesser extent Royal Enfield with their 650 twin which can be upgraded and still be way cheaper than Norton.
Most younger Bikers have no connection with Norton what ever..They have been bought up on a diet of Japanese and Italian..So using the exclusivity and heritage card is a waste of time. When l started my motorcycle journey in 1962 Norton ware just another 'Made in Great Britain' Brand. In competition with Triumph, BSA, AJS, Matchless, Velocete, and a few others…They weren't exclusive.
Like now, they did have their 'Brand Loyalty' motorcyclists. ..The Chassis…(Featherbed)..was Nortons great achievement from the fifties on. It made a great motorcycle even greater….but it wasn't the Commando, it was the 'Dommie' series 88-99, 650 SS and the Atlas 750cc…Im my opinion the Dommie series (88-99)were possibly the best because the parallel twin engines, although they did vibrate never got to the 'Jackhammer' the later larger engines did. The Featherbed is still made and used to this day….. to install a 'Triumph engine'.!
Like Royal Enfield have done, very successfully Norton would perhaps be better advised building bikes that appeal to a wider buying public who will use the bike instead of a rich kids investment, using it as a Talking Point Drawing room ornament.. Surely it's not beyond the bounds of possibility to use modern technology to build a smaller capacity engine, say 600/650..plus suspension.and stick it in a Featherbed….
I remember being hounded and chased for a deposit when I expressed interest in an Atlas. A long way to go to convince me to part with money to this company. I will stick to my Triumphs. Just another foreign owned company that has secured rights to the name to join the list. BSA, Benelli, Mondial, etc etc.
As most people have said in the comments section.
Rich man/ boardroom toys.
Most wont be ridden (even if all the faults are fixed , which I doubt). Most of the Younger generation won’t care. Bland looking,old fashion ,blah blah.
I like the look of Norton’s but I’m 59, can never afford one.
I want VFM unless I was rich.
I’ve seen a number of videos of the new factory, always amazed how in-busy it looks.
are they looking at royal enfields success? 650 is a good capacity, i cant imagine that they would sell enough of the current bikes to get their investment back
Trouble with the Norton 961 Commando, I have ridden one BTW, is the price simply doesn't justify the riding experience, or the functionality of the bike. Before releasing the current Commando Norton should have significantly updated the bike: 6 speed gearbox, more powerful engine, less stiff suspension, better instrumentation including a fuel gauge and some better rider information like the Triumph Bonnevilles has.
Norton came back with Fashion Motorcylces , eg very high prices . They should of taken a page out of RE ,built a 850 interstate ,twin ,a CHEAP, modern but well enginered machine for the masses . It would of sold out.
How many of us. Have got 4500 for new bike common Norton get in the real world the rich boys buy them put it in the garage ride it once a year if you want to sell nortons make them at the price real bikers can buy Rant over
I am so sorry to say.
"Very disappointing, really."
Producing outdated overpriced limited edition machines that no young motorcyclists can afford or even have empathy with the brand name is not forward thinking in my humble opinion.
If you look at Nortons history, it seems to be cursed with fantastic paddock jackets and extremely bad business ventures.
No sorry these really are just awful over priced plain old fashioned ugly looks and underpowered for the ridicules price 👎
Bad timing………….it's doomed………….
Ever seen a bunch of modern Nortons visiting a cafe? No. All they’re interested in is taking a deposit, was my experience at the last London Motorcycle Show. Their dealer network? They haven’t got one. Norton was a fabulous motorcycle name – tantamount to a scam now.
Sell a few more hoodies and they’ll soon be in profit ,£115 for a hoodie.
Sadly the previous owner did so much damage with the terrible build quality and reliability that I would never touch another one. The only Norton I will ever ride again is the pre 60s models.
So nothing for mere mortals to buy. I've got 100k in my bank account but wouldn't spend it on an overpriced bike, no matter has cool it looks.
Be good to see them doing good things,,but the price means it's a limited market,,but none the less nice looking machines,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️that clown who owned it should be jailed as a robber,, from northern Ireland 😮
Last time i heard one of those running, it sounded like the big ends had gone. Serious mechanical noise, nothing like the original commands. And vastly overpriced.
If only they'd actually produced the two concept bikes Nomad (I think) and Atlas. These production bikes aren't cool old, they're tired. The scrapped designs were great, I'd've had one.
To me the Norton name makes me think of a Brough Superior. No thanks.
the 961 is gorgeous. love the 961 for it's heritage styling and especially because it doesn't have a car radiator hanging off the front of it. would love to buy one in n. america but they'll be probably way over priced.
had 1998 triumph bonneville but it had shxt suspension, shxt brakes and didn't quite have the best heritage styling.
Shame to see the 'Norton' name used to sell luxtury motocycles to those who can afford them. From what I remember and allowing for inflation I struggle to see that Nortons were that expensive in the 60s, etc.
Painting things different colours & claiming them to be "inspired by…." just seems extremely lazy…especially at £20k! They do look cool but the 961 looks to be pretty much the same as when it was originally re-released but if they can sell bikes then fair enough.
The first and only time I heard a 961 start up surprised me and the owner!! It sounded like a can of marbles!!! The owners face screwed up as he pressed the starter button….sounded like the engine was eating itself 😂 load of rubbish
Missed that story about the previous owner of Norton. He sounds like a real piece of work.
Owned a Commando BiTD
They need to release a new Norton Wankel.
That was a good bike.
Nice and smooth.
I am sure they could solve the emissions issue.
R
The V4SV is a bike that everyone agrees has kerb appeal bit this is not converting into sales. NUML creditor V4SV bikes are flooding onto the market with asking prices dropping like a stone and still not attractive buyers.
Sadly the reboot would have failed already if it was not for a sugar daddy with deep pockets.
IF Your intrested in the real norton brand then buy a norton from 1960 built in bracebridge street were the best