Hello from Norton UK

Britfan60 · Oct 1, 2022

Ann Margaret and Clint Eastwood are still alive. Maybe a few ads with them on a 961. Afterall, they are the target consumer.

Madnorton · Oct 11, 2022

And the new reveal is just like the 961 we know from the past, brilliant, some news release. Over 100 Million invested and we get the 961, If I was TVS I would be looking closely at Solihull and wondering if it is worth it. Seems to be a lack of imagination and innovation at Solihull.

Clive · Oct 11, 2022

I am feeling positive as my 961 is back on the road so can I spin this as ‘TVS have got the brilliant 961 back to market and fixed the problems with it.’ What’s not to be pleased about there? And for us existing owners they have softened their view of ‘you can only buy spares if you own a new 961’ to ‘you can buy spares but we can’t guarantee fitment’. So we may be able to benefit from their development....

Voodooo · Oct 11, 2022

Clive said:
I am feeling positive as my 961 is back on the road so can I spin this as ‘TVS have got the brilliant 961 back to market and fixed the problems with it.’ What’s not to be pleased about there? And for us existing owners they have softened their view of ‘you can only buy spares if you own a new 961’ to ‘you can buy spares but we can’t guarantee fitment’. So we may be able to benefit from their development....

So if you purchase parts, it’s a risk and non refundable purchase.

How do we know what will and will not work. All they say is 35% of the parts are improved.

For all of us not in the UK, it’s a huge risk.
Still need more news and more direct information and questions answered.

mean gene · Oct 11, 2022

35% could just be the electronics !!! And the previous 961 owners did that for them!

TonyA · Oct 11, 2022

Voodooo said:
So if you purchase parts, it’s a risk and non refundable purchase.

How do we know what will and will not work. All they say is 35% of the parts are improved.

For all of us not in the UK, it’s a huge risk.
Still need more news and more direct information and questions answered.

Hopefully they will tell us what will not work. Did you hear them talk about the cam and valve train changes ?

Voodooo · Oct 11, 2022

TonyA said:
Hopefully they will tell us what will not work. Did you hear them talk about the cam and valve train changes ?

Yeah. And I’m wondering what changes were made, and can it be used on our bikes if anyone needed a replacement.

Fast Eddie · Oct 11, 2022

I’m waiting for someone to say the primary drive has been improved. That was the most negative part of the ownership experience to me.

Clive · Oct 12, 2022

TonyA said:
Hopefully they will tell us what will not work. Did you hear them talk about the cam and valve train changes ?

Hi - was talking to Norton yesterday and they are very guarded about the changes. Don't know why I would have thought they would be singing about them! When I was talking to them last year about the problems with the bike they were certainly aware of the valvetrain issues although they said that a lot of problems were with inconsistent fits and tolerances which I assume is why some bikes go on for miles whereas others fail quickly. This was also their reason for not originally not wanting to sell new parts to us; because of differences of fit between bikes, which should have been identical, they just could not guarantee and accept the responsibility that a part would fit or work properly.

While I totally understand that they have no responsibility towards our bikes and it's the easiest and safest option to have nothing to do with us I would like to think that from previous press releases they have a passion for the brand and acknowledge that previous owners are part of that history. New owners will be buying into the brand and that tradition - why buy a Norton v4 over of a well-proven technologically advanced Ducati v4? - so a bit of assistance could be provided without too much effort, expense or legal problems to support a part of the Norton community who have invested significantly into the 'brand' and now find themselves with real problems maintaining their bikes.

While touring the factory I saw what I think was a Nomad in the naughty corner. On asking about what they intended to do with it I was told 'probably crush it'. I wonder whether the technologically flawed vintage Nortons they have in their collection will be meeting the same fate as they were the product of a previous Norton brand ownership?

Bluey72e · Oct 12, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
I’m waiting for someone to say the primary drive has been improved. That was the most negative part of the ownership experience to me.

Would that relate to the noise it makes ? was watchin the new 961 youtube and the engine sounded "normal" as in not clangy

Fast Eddie · Oct 12, 2022

Bluey72e said:
Would that relate to the noise it makes ? was watchin the new 961 youtube and the engine sounded "normal" as in not clangy

Yes it was the dreadful clatter than got to me!
And I agree, the videos I’ve seen so far do seem to be somewhat quieter.
Would be nice to know if that was a result of something…

Clive · Oct 12, 2022

Bluey72e said:
Would that relate to the noise it makes ? was watchin the new 961 youtube and the engine sounded "normal" as in not clangy

I asked about that but they said that they hadn't compared it to an old one so couldn't say. I suggested that it would be well received if they gave us a technical description of the changes they had made but so far they're keeping their lips as tight as a camel's chuff.

EstuaryBoy · Oct 12, 2022

Dolby NR ????

Clive · Oct 12, 2022

Yes maybe it's a sort of inside-out noise cancelling headphone system with noise cancelling speakers......

Al's#5 · Oct 12, 2022

All I can add is how glad I am that the 961 continues. It appears they, the new Norton, have simply built the bike to exceptional quality control standards. Let's face it, the bike is the business wether a KD original, a SG issue or a New Norton masterpiece!

Stephen_Spencer · Oct 12, 2022

Al's#5 said:
All I can add is how glad I am that the 961 continues. It appears they, the new Norton, have simply built the bike to exceptional quality control standards. Let's face it, the bike is the business wether a KD original, a SG issue or a New Norton masterpiece!

Yep, delighted too Al. Drop dead gorgeous and now sorted mechanically/electrically. A real no-brainer for Norton IMO.

From a purely selfish perspective the chances of me ever spending that much cash on a bike again is negligible (ask the wife), so my 961 is a keeper through choice and necessity. Norton has as good as guaranteed the future of our model, with the availability of spares and the opportunity to up-spec/retrofit key components.

If they sell enough, the aftermarket retailers will likely get onboard and we will benefit further. When Norton start exporting and establish a dealer network we benefit further from spares and technical support - a local Norton mechanic is’nt going to refuse to work on SG 961’s…….. etc, etc.

Win, win, win, he said with a grin

!

Lincolnshire Poacher · Oct 12, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
Yep, delighted too Al. Drop dead gorgeous and now sorted mechanically/electrically. A real no-brainer for Norton IMO.

From a purely selfish perspective the chances of me ever spending that much cash on a bike again is negligible (ask the wife), so my 961 is a keeper through choice and necessity. Norton has as good as guaranteed the future of our model, with the availability of spares and the opportunity to up-spec/retrofit key components.

If they sell enough, the aftermarket retailers will likely get onboard and we will benefit further. When Norton start exporting and establish a dealer network we benefit further from spares and technical support - a local Norton mechanic is’nt going to refuse to work on SG 961’s…….. etc, etc.

Win, win, win, he said with a grin!

Do we know the price??!!

Voodooo · Oct 12, 2022

Clive said:
Hi - was talking to Norton yesterday and they are very guarded about the changes. Don't know why I would have thought they would be singing about them! When I was talking to them last year about the problems with the bike they were certainly aware of the valvetrain issues although they said that a lot of problems were with inconsistent fits and tolerances which I assume is why some bikes go on for miles whereas others fail quickly. This was also their reason for not originally not wanting to sell new parts to us; because of differences of fit between bikes, which should have been identical, they just could not guarantee and accept the responsibility that a part would fit or work properly.

While I totally understand that they have no responsibility towards our bikes and it's the easiest and safest option to have nothing to do with us I would like to think that from previous press releases they have a passion for the brand and acknowledge that previous owners are part of that history. New owners will be buying into the brand and that tradition - why buy a Norton v4 over of a well-proven technologically advanced Ducati v4? - so a bit of assistance could be provided without too much effort, expense or legal problems to support a part of the Norton community who have invested significantly into the 'brand' and now find themselves with real problems maintaining their bikes.

While touring the factory I saw what I think was a Nomad in the naughty corner. On asking about what they intended to do with it I was told 'probably crush it'. I wonder whether the technologically flawed vintage Nortons they have in their collection will be meeting the same fate as they were the product of a previous Norton brand ownership?

Here’s my problem.
I know TVS wants nothing to do with SG era bikes.

But, how many other manufacturers get bought out by new owners and yet still supply parts, and service to the same but newer models.

Example.
When Mercedes bought Chrysler / Dodge, the vehicles prior to Mercedes ownership of the company were still under warranty and parts were still supplied and serviced.

When Fiat bought Chrysler / Dodge from Mercedes it was the same results.
And now again the same when Stellantis took ownership.

Manufacturing companies that make changes to a product are normal and expected. Who the hell would hide these changes and possibly important improvements? To me that makes zero sense.
Are they ashamed?
Are they scared?
Are they embarrassed?
Why the secrecy?

As of now, TVS hasn’t made or offered a single bike of their own design and engineering. It’s all just a copy of what already existed and they claim they made 36% improvements. So tell us what those improvements are.

Stop this cat and mouse game of hide and go seek.

Voodooo · Oct 12, 2022

Clive said:
I asked about that but they said that they hadn't compared it to an old one so couldn't say. I suggested that it would be well received if they gave us a technical description of the changes they had made but so far they're keeping their lips as tight as a camel's chuff.

I’m calling this bullshit.

“Said that they hadn’t compared it to an old one”.

If they didn’t compare old vs new, how did they come up with the idea of what to change in those 36% of parts?

Voodooo · Oct 12, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
Yep, delighted too Al. Drop dead gorgeous and now sorted mechanically/electrically. A real no-brainer for Norton IMO.

From a purely selfish perspective the chances of me ever spending that much cash on a bike again is negligible (ask the wife), so my 961 is a keeper through choice and necessity. Norton has as good as guaranteed the future of our model, with the availability of spares and the opportunity to up-spec/retrofit key components.

If they sell enough, the aftermarket retailers will likely get onboard and we will benefit further. When Norton start exporting and establish a dealer network we benefit further from spares and technical support - a local Norton mechanic is’nt going to refuse to work on SG 961’s…….. etc, etc.

Win, win, win, he said with a grin!

Sorry SS
But I’ve got to ask.

This is the second time you’ve mentioned “aftermarket”.

In my eyes the aftermarket means companies such as Arrow exhaust, Rizoma, etc.

Are you saying such companies will offer “aftermarket” products and performance parts for the 961?

Hello from Norton UK

Britfan60

Madnorton

Clive

Voodooo

Guest

mean gene

TonyA

Voodooo

Guest

Fast Eddie

Clive

Bluey72e

Fast Eddie

Clive

EstuaryBoy

Clive

Al's#5

Stephen_Spencer

Lincolnshire Poacher

Voodooo

Guest

Voodooo

Guest

Voodooo

Guest

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