961 is back !

Voodooo said:
The problem with this list is “Screaming beagle “
I wouldn’t wipe my a%% with a screaming beagle part.

With a good cam
(I’d also do a oil pump and cam chest)
2 into 1 exhaust
Hpi or moonshine throttle body / intake
Dyno jet
That’s all that’s needed for a good cruiser with over 120 wheel hp and over 130 tq at the wheel on a 117 M8

This is my plan with my FXLRST
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we use S&S and Fueling for the most part.
 
Voodooo said:
Tell Dr Bob.
I’m sure he needs a good laugh.

Why do you assume that the 961 owners are not the target buyers? Who is then?

How many classic Norton owners bought a 961?

Are you thinking the 20, 30 and 40 year olds are going to run out and buy a new Norton?

You seem to say you agree with many of us that TVS way of handling things is lackluster now, but that’s not what you mean or actually believe yourself. You been cherry about Dr bob since day one.

What will your thoughts be if they don’t have anything new to show at the NEC?
What if the bike display is the same as last time?

I’ll be the first to say this and I said it before, TVS has turned me off to the Norton brand and it’s very unlikely I’ll every buy another.

TVS sucks at building up the brands excitement and their lack of attention and news is driving potential buyers away.

How are you to draw customers in when the customer doesn’t even know you exist?

It’s also very unlikely that they will have a dealer network available outside of the UK anyhow. At least for many more years. That’s from their own posting on Instagram.

Or perhaps, they don’t plan on any new ICE bikes and will only offer the 961 classic and the SV bike. All while they are working in the dark on a new EV line up.
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This^^^^
 
City Garage said:
How long ago was that?
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Back in 2010 when I modified my Hinckley Bonneville, and worked on my friend's 2006 Thruxton too. We used Matt's parts. Didn't have any issues at all. I was considering a 1087 kit, but the 961 appeared, and I decided on that instead. Then I discovered that Matt was working with SG on a Bonneville speed run. Figured Matt must also have an inside track on the new 961. That's why I was waiting on his speed parts for the 961.
Oh well, it's all history now.
 
BritTwit said:
Back in 2010 when I modified my Hinckley Bonneville, and worked on my friend's 2006 Thruxton too. We used Matt's parts. Didn't have any issues at all. I was considering a 1087 kit, but the 961 appeared, and I decided on that instead. Then I discovered that Matt was working with SG on a Bonneville speed run. Figured Matt must also have an inside track on the new 961. That's why I was waiting on his speed parts for the 961.
Oh well, it's all history now.
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ahhh. yes he was fine back then. I think he bit of more than he could chew later on. left a long line of unhappy people.
 
Voodooo said:
Hmmmmmm I don’t see a single classic Norton there. Who do you suppose is Nortons prized buyer?

On another note, I’m shocked how many actually keep the Mickey Mouse ear mirrors on.
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Hey I have one that is fully stock as well!!! :D plus another thats out of control with Rizoma, etc..
 
City Garage said:
ahhh. yes he was fine back then. I think he bit of more than he could chew later on. left a long line of unhappy people.
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I heard stories that he had tax problems with the IRS. His shop was shut down with a lot of customers parts waiting for various work, porting, boring, stroking, etc.
If I remember correctly, that was around late 2016.
Matt had just put a new website up for 961 speed parts, stuff like big bore kit, roller cam/beehive spring kit, rocker needle roller bearings.
A week later the site was gone.
I guess that was when he lost the business.
Carlos Schmidt was active on the Triumphrat forum for a while afterwards, and I tried to DM to see if he was willing to talk about the 961 parts that Matt built, but he never responded back.
I know Matt had his pistons made by Arias, and his cams were done by webcam, but it would have been good to get some technical data on the parts.
Oh well, it's all just more history now.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Hey Voodoo,

I choose to view the situation at Norton with some optimism. Norton looked dead and buried (potentially forever) until TVS stepped in investing heavily. They elected to maintain production in the UK, opened a new facility in an historic area and hired/re-hired a large number of local people. This is all good news right?

I think I’ve been pretty consistent in my commentary. We are all a little frustrated with waiting for news and with the drip feeding of information (some more than others), but I trust that they have a plan - albeit slow to reveal itself.

You choose to view things in an entirely different light - your prerogative entirely mate. With respect though, that is generally with a predominently negative biase. I have read some commentary, the volume and content of which has made me question my own ownership - so who knows what that may do for potential buyers. We do want Norton Birmingham to succeed right?

I’m quite sure that Dr Bob/Norton/TVS are not trying to f@#k us all over, deceive or con existing or future owners - they are simply trying to make a business succeed. Only time will tell whether their approach works or not.

Norton are setting their market closer to home initially I guess, testing the waters like any start-up (for want of a better term) but planning to expand. That’s what you would expect them to do right. Not prudent to start setting up international dealerships networks until the business is established. TVS are not new to business.

We SG 961 owners number a couple of thousand. Some will have turned off Norton like yourself and will look elsewhere. Some will have committed financially already - these bikes are expensive; some (I think many) will not be willing to take a hit on their 961 and spend even more on another new Norton (like me for example). How many does that leave? I also think, from a commercial perspective, Norton may have worked a little harder to garner our support if we were seen as a rich vein for future sales.

I guess (and really hope) that they are thinking much bigger picture than that. They have mentioned a model range that has ‘something for everyone’. Of course they will be looking for premium buyers, but I suspect plan to release less expensive models (Atlas/others) looking for new buyers. Plenty of those 20-40 year olds you mention who might fancy looking way cooler on a reasonably priced Norton than they do on a ubiquitous Jap clone or Duc for that matter; look what Triumph has achieved.

My thoughts only and only time will tell. I for one am willing to wait.
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100% with you,

Keep the faith alive!
Feck the Naysayers
 
BritTwit said:
I heard stories that he had tax problems with the IRS. His shop was shut down with a lot of customers parts waiting for various work, porting, boring, stroking, etc.
If I remember correctly, that was around late 2016.
Matt had just put a new website up for 961 speed parts, stuff like big bore kit, roller cam/beehive spring kit, rocker needle roller bearings.
A week later the site was gone.
I guess that was when he lost the business.
Carlos Schmidt was active on the Triumphrat forum for a while afterwards, and I tried to DM to see if he was willing to talk about the 961 parts that Matt built, but he never responded back.
I know Matt had his pistons made by Arias, and his cams were done by webcam, but it would have been good to get some technical data on the parts.
Oh well, it's all just more history now.
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That’s exactly the time and problem. He stiffed me on my commando purchase in 2016. Bent me over is more like it.
 
joinerjohn said:
100% with you,

Keep the faith alive!
Feck the Naysayers
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Rome wasn't built in day.
It took a lot of wars and slaughter to get them where they were.
Norton has failed (been slaughtered) several times already.
As frustrating as the slow pace at Norton is, let them take their time and get it right for once.
Let's see what they offer at NEC.
Then we can rightfully bitch, and complain.:p
 
Shared from the FB site - the Atlas will not be in the Norton model range. They want to develop their own model range from here it appears. Must admit I’m a bit surprised at that decision. Don’t agree with MCN‘s final comment though. With what Norton are saying, albeit in the margins, they do not intend to be a premium bike builder alone.

Let’s hope for some clarity at the NEC.

961 is back !
 
Given the significant investments in Norton....I'm still not sure what Norton want to be when they grow up. I can't see them living on 40K plus bikes. It looks like they will be selling the Commando as well...but that's not clear...they said they will make the Atlas..but then say they won't. I really don't know what to make of Norton, their plans, aspirations...and they don't seem keen on letting anyone know either. We are fast approaching the NEC show and since the last one, I'm struggling to see what has changed. Maybe they will make some big announcement? Even if they do say something, I'd be taking it with a pinch of salt, as just because they say they will do something does not mean they will do it. Must be a bit slow in their marketing department these days!

Overall, if I were to sum up Norton in a word it would be 'disappointing'. I hope they will do something, but signs of life are fairly limited right now.

The last 961 meet with the guys at the gates reminded me of willie wonka and the chocolate factory...people staring through the gates, wondering what was going on inside.
 
Why would they do an Atlas or Superlite?
SG didn’t get far enough into the development of these two bikes, TVS can’t build new bikes, they only want to make simple changes to bikes that already exist.


Why is Norton trying to be something it’s not? It was never a boutique brand anyhow.
 
The model cancellations all share the same powerplant...maybe thats the focus here?
The Superlight was essentially the same as a V4, apart from the engine and a few bits and bobs...so if they've supposedly sorted the V4, then the only reason to drop the Superlight, marketing aside, would be the engine.
 
Voodooo said:
Why would they do an Atlas or Superlite?
SG didn’t get far enough into the development of these two bikes, TVS can’t build new bikes, they only want to make simple changes to bikes that already exist.


Why is Norton trying to be something it’s not? It was never a boutique brand anyhow.
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Strange response in my mind. Why would they want to do a superlite or Atlas? Maybe to grow their range? leverage an engine platform (albeit half the V4) they do have?
I'm sure TVS can build new bikes, but I'm not sure exactly what they want to do and we don't know what the plan is. I hope they do.

You ask why is Norton trying to be something it's not.....as it was never a boutique brand..but also ask why they would want to maker lower end models (so not be a boutique brand)? Maybe I'm missing something here...

What Norton was is not really relevant. It's just a name. What it is or isn't is totally down to TVS now.
 
Stu Bodycote said:
The model cancellations all share the same powerplant...maybe thats the focus here?
The Superlight was essentially the same as a V4, apart from the engine and a few bits and bobs...so if they've supposedly sorted the V4, then the only reason to drop the Superlight, marketing aside, would be the engine.
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Exactly. They don’t want to spend time or money on a model that wasn’t further available under SG.
 
Vernon240 said:
Strange response in my mind. Why would they want to do a superlite or Atlas? Maybe to grow their range? leverage an engine platform (albeit half the V4) they do have?
I'm sure TVS can build new bikes, but I'm not sure exactly what they want to do and we don't know what the plan is. I hope they do.

You ask why is Norton trying to be something it's not.....as it was never a boutique brand..but also ask why they would want to maker lower end models (so not be a boutique brand)? Maybe I'm missing something here...

What Norton was is not really relevant. It's just a name. What it is or isn't is totally down to TVS now.
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What is strange?
If this article is true, it says no atlas or Superlite. That’s not growing a range when they cancel them.
They do not want to get into the development of the 650. That’s clear as a bell.

They also don’t want to share any news or info at all about the brand. It’s becoming a smoke and mirror show.

Do you really think Norton is going to survive selling models that are £44k only?
What are you missing here? How is the v4 a good sale? It’s 44k. The performance is lesser than other bikes in the same category. That sounds like a boutique bike to me.
And they offer no other models that we know of.

I’m all in for a limited run bike, and I’ll gladly spend the money, but as a brand that keeps its customers on a string of hope and no information whatsoever?

I’m sorry that my negative attitude offends, and perhaps I should remove myself from these kind of threads, but it’s getting old.

Myself like others have been asking for years for spare parts. Just a week or two ago I received an email saying parts are available. They quoted me cost with shipping and I agreed to purchase. Once I asked about placing my order, all I hear now are crickets.
 
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Voodooo said:
What is strange?
If this article is true, it says no atlas or Superlite. That’s not growing a range when they cancel them.
They do not want to get into the development of the 650. That’s clear as a bell.

Do you really think Norton is going to survive selling models that are £44k only?

I’m sorry that my negative attitude offends, and perhaps I should remove myself from these kind of threads, but it’s getting old and frustrating.

Myself like others have been asking for years for spare parts. Just a week or two ago I received an email saying parts are available. They quoted me cost with shipping and I agreed to purchase. Once I asked about placing my order, all I hear now are crickets.
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This I found this strange:

'Why would they do an Atlas or Superlite?'
and
'Why is Norton trying to be something it’s not? It was never a boutique brand anyhow.'

The statements seem at odds to me. Might be my English understanding!

No, I don't think they can survive on £44k bikes...hence they should expand the range..and the atlas ranger make at least a semblance of sense...or they develop new bikes from scratch. (maybe they are putting everything into electric?).

Your attitude (negative or otherwise) doesn't offend....well, not me anyway. I don't see it as necessarily negative, it's just a view, like mine.

With responses like that from Norton, I can understand feeling negative....it's seems to be a common thread.....respond so far..then radio silence.....I hope they know what they are up to....but we sure don't!

My expectations are that Norton will do jack for us....anything over and above this will be pleasant surprise. I don't see that as negative, just realistic. I'm not sure I believe in the powers of positive thought or hope when it comes to Norton. The only certain statements they make are what they are not going to do!
 
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