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

[BritTwit]

The classic Norton group is down the hall to the right. ....

At this point after EICMA, do we even know that there is one anymore?

 

[NorTriDuc]

At this point after EICMA, do we even know that there is one anymore?

Seems that way. Never before have they came here, now they’re flooding the gates.
They didn’t even consider us 961 owners real Norton owners.

 

[marshg246]

Seems that way. Never before have they came here, now they’re flooding the gates.
They didn’t even consider us 961 owners real Norton owners.

Define "Real Norton Owner".

This is a US-based open forum related to various motorcycles, mostly British, the most prevalent being Norton Commandos from 1968-1975. The prevalent portion has over 477k of entries and all the rest put together have about 150k.

Not sure why you think the Norton Commando owners should stay away from here and have no right to an opinion on the newer motorcycles related to the Norton name!

BTW, I've been coming here since day one on the site and I tried to see a "modern Norton" when there were US dealers with the intent of possibility buying one. Maybe this iteration of Norton will be better - don't know but unobtanium motorcycles, over-priced motorcycles, and motorcycles that look nothing like a motorcycle to me...

 

[BritTwit]

No one should feel unwelcome here.
The New Norton Intro at EICMA has produced sharp feelings for many.
So it's bound to create some heated opinions by members.
Let's focus on the products, not one another.

 

[NorTriDuc]

Define "Real Norton Owner".

This is a US-based open forum related to various motorcycles, mostly British, the most prevalent being Norton Commandos from 1968-1975. The prevalent portion has over 477k of entries and all the rest put together have about 150k.

Not sure why you think the Norton Commando owners should stay away from here and have no right to an opinion on the newer motorcycles related to the Norton name!

BTW, I've been coming here since day one on the site and I tried to see a "modern Norton" when there were US dealers with the intent of possibility buying one. Maybe this iteration of Norton will be better - don't know but unobtanium motorcycles, over-priced motorcycles, and motorcycles that look nothing like a motorcycle to me...

Apparently you have no sense of humor.

I own a Norton Commando. A 961. Why didn’t you include them? Just asking.

 

[NPeteN]

Apparently you have no sense of humor.

I own a Norton Commando. A 961. Why didn’t you include them? Just asking.

Stop picking fights.

 

[marshg246]

Apparently you have no sense of humor.

I own a Norton Commando. A 961. Why didn’t you include them? Just asking.

Say something humorous and I'll find it funny! Read the room - if you think your comments are making people laugh, think again. Reread what you wrote that I responded to and you'll have your answer

You're also a Triumph guy, I guess. When I say I own a T100, T120, Trident, and other Triumphs, I am not talking about bikes made this century. That Triumph reuses monikers like that is not to imply that they are the same. A "Commando" built this century is not what most here call a Commando, and I doubt seriously that those who built the "Commandos" this century were trying to make them the same - would be pretty stupid to imply that all these years later you're building something the same as the 70s. Even though Triumphs have been more or less continuously made, they are a long way from Triumph Engineering with stops along the way being owned by many, including NVT.

So, no, your 961 is not a Commando in my book, it is a bike made by a guy who bought the rights to a company name as a follow-on company to NVT who called a new model a "Commando".

I do not know, nor do I give a crap about the fine details of the ownership of the British motorcycle industry names so let's not get off on that tangent!

Like most my age, Triumph, BSA, and Norton were the names I associated with as a teenager and young adult. For others, it would have been Harley, especially when the Sportster became popular due to the TV show "Then came Bronson". Had I been a couple of years younger, it would probably have been Honda, Yamahaha, or Susucki. They certainly were taking over!

 

[Café au Lait]

Well it appears I’ve inadvertently kicked a hornet’s nest here doesn’t it?
Not my intention actually.

I’ve nothing against new Nortons (I initially contemplated buying an 961 but the insurance quote soon scuppered that idea so spend even more £££ on what some might still claim to not be a proper Commando in the form of a cNw) including the new models bar the dire colours or lack there of as portrayed in the ads and promotional material.

My gripe was the carpet bombing of such imagery across the internet and beyond but also with a huge tongue in cheek

Some insecurities seem apparent.

 

[NorTriDuc]

Say something humorous and I'll find it funny! Read the room - if you think your comments are making people laugh, think again. Reread what you wrote that I responded to and you'll have your answer

You're also a Triumph guy, I guess. When I say I own a T100, T120, Trident, and other Triumphs, I am not talking about bikes made this century. That Triumph reuses monikers like that is not to imply that they are the same. A "Commando" built this century is not what most here call a Commando, and I doubt seriously that those who built the "Commandos" this century were trying to make them the same - would be pretty stupid to imply that all these years later you're building something the same as the 70s. Even though Triumphs have been more or less continuously made, they are a long way from Triumph Engineering with stops along the way being owned by many, including NVT.

So, no, your 961 is not a Commando in my book, it is a bike made by a guy who bought the rights to a company name as a follow-on company to NVT who called a new model a "Commando".

I do not know, nor do I give a crap about the fine details of the ownership of the British motorcycle industry names so let's not get off on that tangent!

Like most my age, Triumph, BSA, and Norton were the names I associated with as a teenager and young adult. For others, it would have been Harley, especially when the Sportster became popular due to the TV show "Then came Bronson". Had I been a couple of years younger, it would probably have been Honda, Yamahaha, or Susucki. They certainly were taking over!

First of all, I was never responding to you. It was you who took it all seriously.

I was responding to “Cafe au Lait” in which he

I own a 1951 6T, a 1953 T100C and a 2020 TFC. Does this make me more of a Triumph guy than you because mine are older? No.

Does it make you more of a Norton guy because yours are older? No.

Just because modern Norton 961’s and now the V4’s were made this century, doesn’t mean they are any less Nortons. But apparently they are because you say so.
I understand the point you’re trying to make and I get it. It doesn’t offend or bother me. In some ways I don’t disagree with you.


One could say the same about any generation of the Norton’s. You know, since they been bought, sold and owned by so many different companies and corporations throughout its history. So yeah, the Modern Norton is still a Norton even if you disagree. Says so on the tank.

“A "Commando" built this century is not what most here call a Commando”

Well my friend, we are on the “MODERN NORTON” group.


“Like most my age, Triumph, BSA, and Norton were the names I associated with as a teenager and young adult.”

Exactly my point. I rest my case. And no, I’m not starting a fight. I was pointing out that since the new v4 and atlas bikes been in the works, more of the classic guys have been commenting here.

Does it bother me? Absolutely not.
I don’t own the rights to this forum. Even if I did, I still welcome all, even non Norton owners.

 

[marshg246]

First of all, I was never responding to you. It was you who took it all seriously.

I was responding to “Cafe au Lait” in which he

I own a 1951 6T, a 1953 T100C and a 2020 TFC. Does this make me more of a Triumph guy than you because mine are older? No.

Does it make you more of a Norton guy because yours are older? No.

Just because modern Norton 961’s and now the V4’s were made this century, doesn’t mean they are any less Nortons. But apparently they are because you say so.
I understand the point you’re trying to make and I get it. It doesn’t offend or bother me. In some ways I don’t disagree with you.


One could say the same about any generation of the Norton’s. You know, since they been bought, sold and owned by so many different companies and corporations throughout its history. So yeah, the Modern Norton is still a Norton even if you disagree. Says so on the tank.

“A "Commando" built this century is not what most here call a Commando”

Well my friend, we are on the “MODERN NORTON” group.


“Like most my age, Triumph, BSA, and Norton were the names I associated with as a teenager and young adult.”

Exactly my point. I rest my case. And no, I’m not starting a fight. I was pointing out that since the new v4 and atlas bikes been in the works, more of the classic guys have been commenting here.

Does it bother me? Absolutely not.
I don’t own the rights to this forum. Even if I did, I still welcome all, even non Norton owners.

Wow! That's a LOT of misreading!

 

[NPeteN]

Does it bother me? Absolutely not.
I don’t own the rights to this forum. Even if I did, I still welcome all, even non Norton owners.

"Never before have they came here, now they’re flooding the gates"

"You’re in the wrong room."

"You don’t even own a new Norton, why are you even on the modern group"

 

[NorTriDuc]

"Never before have they came here, now they’re flooding the gates"

"You’re in the wrong room."

"You don’t even own a new Norton, why are you even on the modern group"

 

[Café au Lait]

 

[speirmoor]

 

[Stephen_Spencer]

The vid puts into perspective comments about the Manx R being a cut’n’paste of other bikes like the Duc - always gonna be elements of one bike that are reminiscent of another.

They’ve obviously spent considerable time designing the bike to differentiate it from the competition, by way of styling. Let’s hope the work they’ve done to produce usable power has resulted in a bangin’ road bike also. We’ll know soon enough.

It’s taken me time to adjust my (that’s what a modern Norton, or sports bike should look like) mindset - It’s a beautiful looking bike, particularly from those rear quarter viewpoints IMO. Similarly, not given a second thought to the logo change, which I was also dead against. The more you look at something………. .

No way you’re walking past that bike without having a good look!

 

[NorTriDuc]

My only dislike on the Manx, is the R’s brake light.
I’m not keen on the horizontal lines. Reminds me of a multi blade razor or the Mercury Cougar or Buick Rivera.

I think the new font fits the bike well.

 

[speirmoor]

Just got a call from some lad from Norton. I'm now on the wait-list for the Manx. No commitment to buy, just keeps me in the loop about availability etc. Says all bikes will be available in the USA summer '26.

 

[BritTwit]

Did he say if Norton had dealers, or a dealer network, here?

 

[speirmoor]

At first I was in disbelief and rarely answer the phone anymore to a phone# I don't recognize but when he said Norton Motorcycles my ears perked up. I asked him how many dealerships and where and he didn't know. He didn't know what the prices were going to be either. Maybe he's just going through the motions with a 3rd party marketing firm?

 

[BritTwit]

At first I was in disbelief and rarely answer the phone anymore to a phone# I don't recognize but when he said Norton Motorcycles my ears perked up. I asked him how many dealerships and where and he didn't know. He didn't know what the prices were going to be either. Maybe he's just going through the motions with a 3rd party marketing firm?

Yeah, probably just preliminary interest inquiry.