Hello from Norton UK

NortonFactoryUK said:
Hi everyone,
Just a quick post to introduce myself, and help explain my intentions here on Access Norton.

My name is Simon Marshall and I am one, of the small team, of Design Engineers here at the Norton Factory at Donington Hall, UK. I’ve been with the company since early 2012. There is a lot of positivity about the brand and the bikes here on the forum, which is great to see, but there is also some miss-information floating around. My intention here is to give an official factory response to some of the threads on the forum and help make sure the correct info is available to those who need it / want to listen to it.

Just a heads up however, I’m only able to help out with 961 Commando and Dominator models that have been built here at the UK factory since 2010, so please don’t ask me anything about sourcing parts for your 1955 Norton, I wouldn't even know where to start ! :D
Click to expand...

SO HOW can I read errors? So how can I reMap the replacing to the Decat pipes with the short slip ons?
WHY Norton doest give everyone access to the OMEX software and interface cables so we can take care of our bikes?
WHY Norton doesnt answer emails?
WHY Norton took down the section of parts on the website?
WHY Norton doest sell parts?
How stupid the Norton people can be? Norton must be the most shity motorcycles company ever in history!
 
NortonDominator2020 said:
SO HOW can I read errors? So how can I reMap the replacing to the Decat pipes with the short slip ons?
WHY Norton doest give everyone access to the OMEX software and interface cables so we can take care of our bikes?
WHY Norton doesnt answer emails?
WHY Norton took down the section of parts on the website?
WHY Norton doest sell parts?
How stupid the Norton people can be? Norton must be the most shity motorcycles company ever in history!
Click to expand...
That post is very old and from the Stuart Garner era of Norton. Which is no longer in business or around.

Forget about getting support from the new Norton. Different owners, different company all together.
 
When I bought my 2017 CR from Old New Norton the salesman told me 'you are not buying a Honda - do you understand that'. That was his way of saying that you are buying a bike which will not be as reliable and conventional to own as a well-tested Japanese mass-produced bike. The problems with the bikes were well known if you did a bit of research. Knowing this if you still thought the bike was the best looking new machine available with a totally unique riding experience and a brand which meant something to you then you took the risk and bought one. This forum has been a godsend to us owners along with dealers like Ollie in Germany and service specialists like Stu in the UK.

I have had a few issues - not as bad as some - and still love the bike to bits. It's currently off the road awaiting some work. I just accept that this is part of owning one of these bikes; rather like owning a classic bike.

The new company is as different to the old company as it can be. It looks modern. It looks professional. They really do want to produce Norton motorcycles which are a credit to the brand. I don't think they expected the inbuilt problems with the 961 and v4 which has lead to a lot of reverse engineering. They have binned most of the old stock of parts because they don't have confidence in them. Unfortunately this has caused a lot of frustration for us existing owners but they have no real obligation to support us. Yes I know about reputation etc etc but they can always play the 'we didn't produce those bikes we are committed to make sure that the New Norton bikes rolling out of Solihull are reliable'.

Norton is not a cash cow for TVS it is a showcase brand. They will need to deliver for TVS but the emphasis is on a product which upholds the Norton name. I totally understand your frustration but at the moment it is important that we support existing owners with forums like this and finding ways of keeping our bikes on the road by whatever means we can.
 
Clive said:
When I bought my 2017 CR from Old New Norton the salesman told me 'you are not buying a Honda - do you understand that'. That was his way of saying that you are buying a bike which will not be as reliable and conventional to own as a well-tested Japanese mass-produced bike. The problems with the bikes were well known if you did a bit of research. Knowing this if you still thought the bike was the best looking new machine available with a totally unique riding experience and a brand which meant something to you then you took the risk and bought one. This forum has been a godsend to us owners along with dealers like Ollie in Germany and service specialists like Stu in the UK.

I have had a few issues - not as bad as some - and still love the bike to bits. It's currently off the road awaiting some work. I just accept that this is part of owning one of these bikes; rather like owning a classic bike.

The new company is as different to the old company as it can be. It looks modern. It looks professional. They really do want to produce Norton motorcycles which are a credit to the brand. I don't think they expected the inbuilt problems with the 961 and v4 which has lead to a lot of reverse engineering. They have binned most of the old stock of parts because they don't have confidence in them. Unfortunately this has caused a lot of frustration for us existing owners but they have no real obligation to support us. Yes I know about reputation etc etc but they can always play the 'we didn't produce those bikes we are committed to make sure that the New Norton bikes rolling out of Solihull are reliable'.

Norton is not a cash cow for TVS it is a showcase brand. They will need to deliver for TVS but the emphasis is on a product which upholds the Norton name. I totally understand your frustration but at the moment it is important that we support existing owners with forums like this and finding ways of keeping our bikes on the road by whatever means we can.
Click to expand...
My Dominator have issues, I can’t ride it.
I need the error code reader, who can help me? Who can support me here please?
 
Hi my engine light of my euro4 961 is on and I also wish to read error codes. this week when my OBD connector arrives I shall make a cable to link it to my laptop which has OMEX software from their web site. A normal automotive OBD reader will not work.

If this works for me then I will let you know. If not then our only hope is to use a local dealer or to replace the ECU with an SCS ECU as a few people have done. This company has provided good support and you can make changes to the ECU - see other threads in this forum.
 
Clive said:
When I bought my 2017 CR from Old New Norton the salesman told me 'you are not buying a Honda - do you understand that'. That was his way of saying that you are buying a bike which will not be as reliable and conventional to own as a well-tested Japanese mass-produced bike. The problems with the bikes were well known if you did a bit of research. Knowing this if you still thought the bike was the best looking new machine available with a totally unique riding experience and a brand which meant something to you then you took the risk and bought one. This forum has been a godsend to us owners along with dealers like Ollie in Germany and service specialists like Stu in the UK.

I have had a few issues - not as bad as some - and still love the bike to bits. It's currently off the road awaiting some work. I just accept that this is part of owning one of these bikes; rather like owning a classic bike.

The new company is as different to the old company as it can be. It looks modern. It looks professional. They really do want to produce Norton motorcycles which are a credit to the brand. I don't think they expected the inbuilt problems with the 961 and v4 which has lead to a lot of reverse engineering. They have binned most of the old stock of parts because they don't have confidence in them. Unfortunately this has caused a lot of frustration for us existing owners but they have no real obligation to support us. Yes I know about reputation etc etc but they can always play the 'we didn't produce those bikes we are committed to make sure that the New Norton bikes rolling out of Solihull are reliable'.

Norton is not a cash cow for TVS it is a showcase brand. They will need to deliver for TVS but the emphasis is on a product which upholds the Norton name. I totally understand your frustration but at the moment it is important that we support existing owners with forums like this and finding ways of keeping our bikes on the road by whatever means we can.
Click to expand...
Clive, I literally couldn’t have said that better! I imagine you wrote that whilst drinking a cup of English breakfast tea, wondering whether your Rich Tea biscuit was going to survive the dunk! Long live Norton. I have everything crossed that there might be some good news at the NEC.
 
Clive said:
Hi my engine light of my euro4 961 is on and I also wish to read error codes. this week when my OBD connector arrives I shall make a cable to link it to my laptop which has OMEX software from their web site. A normal automotive OBD reader will not work.

If this works for me then I will let you know. If not then our only hope is to use a local dealer or to replace the ECU with an SCS ECU as a few people have done. This company has provided good support and you can make changes to the ECU - see other threads in this forum.
Click to expand...
Hi Clive,
Ok that sounds good, I hope to hear good news from you..
Thanks!
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Clive, I literally couldn’t have said that better! I imagine you wrote that whilst drinking a cup of English breakfast tea, wondering whether your Rich Tea biscuit was going to survive the dunk! Long live Norton. I have everything crossed that there might be some good news at the NEC.
Click to expand...
What good news are you hoping to hear at the NEC??
 
Voodooo said:
What good news are you hoping to hear at the NEC??
Click to expand...
The only news are that the real Norton is dead and that the new bullshit Norton will NOT sell any parts that they haven’t sourced or tested and will NOT service, maintain or repair any bikes that they have not built.
And that’s it.
And I think it’s criminal and that they don’t deserve to have the Norton name and we should protest all over the world and take them down in a way that they will not sell even one bike!
 
We can do that. The power of the people is more strong than any company, we need to spread the word how this Norton doesn’t want to serve bikes that was built until 2020 and advise people not to buy any new Norton Motorcycles because this company is not stable and doesn’t care about the buyers and they can close any day and their new bikes will become just a paper weight.
 
NortonDominator2020 said:
The only news are that the real Norton is dead and that the new bullshit Norton will NOT sell any parts that they haven’t sourced or tested and will NOT service, maintain or repair any bikes that they have not built.
And that’s it.
And I think it’s criminal and that they don’t deserve to have the Norton name and we should protest all over the world and take them down in a way that they will not sell even one bike!
Click to expand...
Lol
Protest? What? All 2000 or less Norton 961 owners?

TVS owes us nothing. They didn’t build our bikes.

My frustration with TVS is the wish wash of them not making up their mind whether or not they’re going to sell us parts or not.

You do not need a code reader / scanner to do diag. All you need is a digital multimeter. Thats all a scanner is basically is a glorified multi meter.
It checks sensor voltages.

You can test all your sensor voltage readings and grounds.

Have you checked all the basics?
Fuses and relays under the seat and under the gas tank?

Made sure all the sensor plugs are clean, dry and connected tightly.

Check the ground.

Check to see if the cam and crank sensor mounting screws are tight and that the sensors are fully seated?

What spark plugs and coil are you using?
Are the spark plugs worn?
Are you having a misfire?
Did you check compression?
How old is the gasoline?

Are all your breather and other hoses tight?
How is the idle air valve?
Is it loose, carbon build up, plugged in tight?

Have you re-torqued your cylinder head at 500 miles?
 
Voodooo said:
Lol
Protest? What? All 2000 or less Norton 961 owners?

TVS owes us nothing. They didn’t build our bikes.

My frustration with TVS is the wish wash of them not making up their mind whether or not they’re going to sell us parts or not.

You do not need a code reader / scanner to do diag. All you need is a digital multimeter. Thats all a scanner is basically is a glorified multi meter.
It checks sensor voltages.

You can test all your sensor voltage readings and grounds.

Have you checked all the basics?
Fuses and relays under the seat and under the gas tank?

Made sure all the sensor plugs are clean, dry and connected tightly.

Check the ground.

Check to see if the cam and crank sensor mounting screws are tight and that the sensors are fully seated?

What spark plugs and coil are you using?
Are the spark plugs worn?
Are you having a misfire?
Did you check compression?
How old is the gasoline?

Are all your breather and other hoses tight?
How is the idle air valve?
Is it loose, carbon build up, plugged in tight?

Have you re-torqued your cylinder head at 500 miles?
Click to expand...
Yes sir they owe us a lot.
Without us buying these 2000 961 bikes there was no Norton and they wouldn’t ever buy Norton.
They owe to the Norton name and it’s legacy, they must serve all Norton Motorcycles of all years if they want to be called Norton.
If someone will buy BMW he will announce that he will not serve or recognize any BMW that was built and sold before he bought it? No! Never! He will continue the legacy from the day the name was born.
 
NortonDominator2020 said:
Yes sir they owe us a lot.
Without us buying these 2000 961 bikes there was no Norton and they wouldn’t ever buy Norton.
They owe to the Norton name and it’s legacy, they must serve all Norton Motorcycles of all years if they want to be called Norton.
If someone will buy BMW he will announce that he will not serve or recognize any BMW that was built and sold before he bought it? No! Never! He will continue the legacy from the day the name was born.
Click to expand...
Stuart Garner didn’t supply spare parts to Kenny Dreer Norton made bikes.

TVS focus isn’t on us 961 owners.

Believe me, I know and feel your pain. I own a Dominator and a Commando and like you, none of us can get parts. That’s why I listed mine for sale.

Mahrinda bought BSA and has brought it back to life, but don’t kid yourself, they won’t be selling spare parts for the classic BSA bikes either.
 
NortonDominator2020 said:
Yes sir they owe us a lot.
Without us buying these 2000 961 bikes there was no Norton and they wouldn’t ever buy Norton.
They owe to the Norton name and it’s legacy, they must serve all Norton Motorcycles of all years if they want to be called Norton.
If someone will buy BMW he will announce that he will not serve or recognize any BMW that was built and sold before he bought it? No! Never! He will continue the legacy from the day the name was born.
Click to expand...
Hinckley Triumph don't supply parts for my meriden triumph
I wouldn't expect them too
 
Clive said:
Hi my engine light of my euro4 961 is on and I also wish to read error codes. this week when my OBD connector arrives I shall make a cable to link it to my laptop which has OMEX software from their web site. A normal automotive OBD reader will not work.

If this works for me then I will let you know. If not then our only hope is to use a local dealer or to replace the ECU with an SCS ECU as a few people have done. This company has provided good support and you can make changes to the ECU - see other threads in this forum.
Click to expand...
I can't see why it wouldn't work if the proper pin-outs are joined between the connectors.
 

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