What's happening at Norton? Sale to TVS, massive investment, new bikes...

BritTwit said:
Yeah, the IMS motorcycle shows sponsored my Progressive insurance are no more. There are smaller city/regional events around the country though. It will cost Norton a pile of cash to get their machines certified in the US, so not sure the potential sales will justify the cost.
With Boomers aging out, and Zoomers not that much into owning a car or a bike, it's gonna be tough for the motorcycle market here on out.
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That's funny...you notice they stopped with the stupid motorcycle commercials as well?
 
I think it could be interesting but they have took a long time getting them to market, I mean just myself as a rider in my mid 30s has had in the past two years 3 bikes, 1150gsa, t7 an now an Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 which I envision will be my next bike for the next 5 years or so as it’s ticking so many boxes,

I think what looks like a sports bike is an interesting choice, especially in the world climate an in the uk it seems like the wrong model choice, speed cameras everywhere last time I was up Scotland on the bike I can count the time I spent at 70 on the motorway all the way there on one hand with average speed cameras and road works an 20 zones,

It’s the other stuff they arnt teasing that I’ll be interested in, I’d say in my age group the brands that most people my age are riding in the uk are Triumph’s and Enfields then a mix of the other bikes. Most are priced out of the big GSA’s and such or have been there done that speaking from experience of a new gsa,

I do think though we are all focusing being an English speaking forum mainly on our own markets the UK and America an that’s certainly not where the action seems to be now,

Heck every enquiry I’ve had on my 1927 16h an 650ss has been Europe and when I look at the views in my new YouTube videos on the Himmy the bulk of the views are from sub 40 year old riders and from India and other countries that we wouldn’t traditionally think of but yet are the largest markets.

Having said that the commando went to a 28 year old over here in the uk that already has a British bike so that’s cool!

I find it really fascinating when you think global a sports bike seems a strange choice for a brand like TVS for the Indian home market.

Be really interesting to see what they get out to rival the Himmy 450
 
NorTriDuc said:
Over night? Haaaaaaa haaaaaaa.
No news of it even happening at all.
You realize that the 961 didn’t sell here well?

What makes anyone think tvs ownership is going to change that?
Here, it’s dominated by Harley’s and Hondas.
Even triumphs are few and far between.
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True, but the 961's poor sales were directly related to it's lousy reliability, factory support, and general trouncing it took in the M/C press, rightfully so.
All attributable to the way Garner ran Norton.

Triumphs do sell pretty well here in the US and around the world, at least they did before the pandemic. Today all brands are having problems selling their machines. Norton can certainly be a winner here in the US, they don't intend to compete with Harley or Honda on a quantity basis, but just to grab an acceptable portion of the market so that they can eventually make money.
They need to take baby steps, and not try to run with the big guys, at least not right now.
 
BritTwit said:
True, but the 961's poor sales were directly related to it's lousy reliability, factory support, and general trouncing it took in the M/C press, rightfully so.
All attributable to the way Garner ran Norton.

Triumphs do sell pretty well here in the US and around the world, at least they did before the pandemic. Today all brands are having problems selling their machines. Norton can certainly be a winner here in the US, they don't intend to compete with Harley or Honda on a quantity basis, but just to grab an acceptable portion of the market so that they can eventually make money.
They need to take baby steps, and not try to run with the big guys, at least not right now.
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I don't want to be that guy, but you are dead wrong. Norton won't do well. Ural is lucky to sell 2000 a year. BMW Motorrad sold 22,339 units of its sub-500cc models (G 310 R, G 310 GS, and G 310 RR). Think TVS Apache! Thats WORLDWIDE!!

We just don't have the market for motorcycles any longer. We have scared generations of kids away from doing dangerous things.

KLX is coming back out

Kawi is bringing out the W230, which is about as retro as you can get

Honda is bringing back the small street XR, plus a 300

Harley tried and FAILED BADLY at the mid cc bikes. They cant even sell the small Sportsters they have. Ive been to dealerships where they have NEW sportsters that are 5 years old and can't sell them. Harley tried years ago to give them away with a buyback promise and still not many takers.

All the OEMs have small CC bikes in other countries that, if they sell, they would send them here after meeting CARB in California. The days of a 48-state bike are over.

Here is the link for CARB and what's coming in 2026 for new bikes. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/applications...fication-executive-orders-light-duty-vehicles go to this page and click on motorcycle. It brings up an Excel spreadsheet, so do it from a computer. I think there are plenty of motorcycles plus scooters in the market.
 
BritTwit said:
True, but the 961's poor sales were directly related to it's lousy reliability, factory support, and general trouncing it took in the M/C press, rightfully so.
All attributable to the way Garner ran Norton.

Triumphs do sell pretty well here in the US and around the world, at least they did before the pandemic. Today all brands are having problems selling their machines. Norton can certainly be a winner here in the US, they don't intend to compete with Harley or Honda on a quantity basis, but just to grab an acceptable portion of the market so that they can eventually make money.
They need to take baby steps, and not try to run with the big guys, at least not right now.
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Norton will never sell 1000 bikes a year here. NEVER.

We all know the issues Norton had with the 961 didn’t affect the USA sales, it’s the lack of awareness and interest. Those of us who know and wanted one, bought them. That’s it.

They don’t advertise, and the younger crowd isn’t interested in motorcycles and if they are, they want Japanese or Harley.

Here in Michigan in Ann Arbor and Detroit we have a “cafe” ton up show every year. Guess what the main brands are that attend the show? Hint.
It’s not British. It’s lame ass Harley’s and jap bikes.
I gave up going because since when was a Harley a “cafe ton up bike” ? It’s ridiculous and disgusting.

2 of our triumph dealers closed last year. And yet, a new Harley dealer popped up adding to about 6 Harley dealers in a 40 mile radius
 
NorTriDuc said:
Norton will never sell 1000 bikes a year here. NEVER.

We all know the issues Norton had with the 961 didn’t affect the USA sales, it’s the lack of awareness and interest. Those of us who know and wanted one, bought them. That’s it.

They don’t advertise, and the younger crowd isn’t interested in motorcycles and if they are, they want Japanese or Harley.

Here in Michigan in Ann Arbor and Detroit we have a “cafe” ton up show every year. Guess what the main brands are that attend the show? Hint.
It’s not British. It’s lame ass Harley’s and jap bikes.
I gave up going because since when was a Harley a “cafe ton up bike” ? It’s ridiculous and disgusting.

2 of our triumph dealers closed last year. And yet, a new Harley dealer popped up adding to about 6 Harley dealers in a 40 mile radius
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Slap some flat bars on that sportster!
HDs ARE the modern day American cafe racer.
 
So looking at an online dealer in Scotland - they are saying ---- The Norton Commando is ending. Limited numbers left ........ interesting ! Have not heard this said anywhere else - i guess it's inevitable and they would be in the know.
 
The 961 and current V4 were always a stop gap, production has probably already ended, as the factory transfers over to the new models. The small 450 twin is being built by TVS, using the same, or very similar engine as used in the forthcoming BMW GS450.. also built by TVS. We know the new V4 models are being built in Birmingham, however Norton have stated there will be 6 new models on three platforms launched at EICMA. The third 'platform' is still a mystery, but its obviously bigger than 450cc and smaller/cheaper than the V4s. A new Commando range perhaps?

Norton are not in competition with RE, BSA or any other low cost brands, such as CF. From all I've heard, Norton are positioning themselves as an upmarket Triumph.. similar in price to Ducati. Whether the bikes will be good enough, we'll have to wait and see.
 
NorTriDuc said:
Seem like you lack the knowledge of what a Cafe racer or ton up bike means.
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Well, no.
What bike is the modern day American made equivalent and why have I never seen one at a cafe, bar, restaurant?

Edit: this is silly. Didn't mean to derail.
 
NPeteN said:
Well, no.
What bike is the modern day American made equivalent and why have I never seen one at a cafe, bar, restaurant?

Edit: this is silly. Didn't mean to derail.
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The problem with your response is, you yourself keep referring to cafe racers as “American made” and that “Harley’s” are cafe racers with different handle bars.
So if one were to slap different bars on an Indian Challenger or FTR would it too be a cafe racer?
Of course not.
 

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NorTriDuc said:
The problem with your response is, you yourself keep referring to cafe racers as “American made” and that “Harley’s” are cafe racers with different handle bars.
So if one were to slap different bars on an Indian Challenger or FTR would it too be a cafe racer?
Of course not.
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Bro, Harley sells a line of accessories you can zip tie to your bike that will 100% change it into a cafe racer just like the England ones. Check out this one below, look at the bars, look at the seat. This bike screams "I'm doing the ton up mates!"
What's happening at Norton? Sale to TVS, massive investment, new bikes...
 
City Garage said:
Is there a market for that in the UK or wherever they can sell them? Doesn't Ducati or Aprila already have that market?

and how does someone have a deposit on something that isnt to market yet??
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I wonder how the new BMW 450 twin is doing ? Won’t the Norton twin be like it ?
 
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