Is this true?

What, no letters behind your name? :shock:
I don,t mind, you can still build my MK3 starter parts and I'm sure they will be good!

As you point out, the drop in the pound is going to have a big effect on UK business.
Our Canadian dollar goes up and down against the US$ in a big way at times. A low CDN dollar is generally good for export manufacturing businesses within Canada as the bulk of their costs are in CDN $ but the sales are generally in US$.
The same might be true for Norton to a degree as they seem to be selling quite a few bikes in the US now.
All of their assembly labour( the hand built thing) is said to be in the UK, so they are insulated from the low Pound on that at least.
When they started production the claim was that the bikes were made entirely from components manufactured in the UK. There were problems with that, but I recall Garner saying that they were going " to in house production" on many components.
If that is true they might actually do quite well from the low Pound.

Glen
 
If 80% of the bikes content is UK sourced, then with their increased export activity Norton should be enjoying the low pound.

Every bike sold to EU, US, etc is netting Norton several thousand pounds more than it did 6 month or more ago!
 
Again this is a lot of scaremongering and happens very time someone mentions buying out a British Motorcycle Brand or even mention that they would like to.


I am no expert ion Euro 4 so I looked it up. I suggest that those interested please read:


The Vehicle and Operators Services Agency,

The Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Scheme
A Guide to the Approval of Non Type-Approved Motorcycles, Three Wheelers and Light
Four Wheelers

And taken from Bennet's Bike Insurers the following;

If you’ve read anything about new bikes over the last couple of years the chances are that you’ve heard the term ‘Euro 4’ bandied about.

You probably know it’s a set of tougher emissions rules, but meeting them is far more complex than simply sticking a more sophisticated catalytic converter in the exhaust and leaving it at that.

Euro 4 has been in the news because it affects almost all new bikes sold throughout Europe after 1 January 2017. Anything sold under previous regulations will still be totally legal and won’t be forced to meet harder rules. The new regulations are being applied only to new bikes, and over two stages. The first stage applies to newly-designed machines that first went on sale after 1 January 2016 – so things like Kawasaki’s 2016 ZX-10R and Triumph’s new water-cooled Bonnevilles are already compliant. The second stage, in force from 1 January 2017, applies to existing models, which will have to be updated and retested to prove they pass the new rules.
 
BritTwit said:
G81 Can Cycle said:
If Mr. Garner has manufacturing outside of the UK, primarily in his other businesses, then all of that manufacturing just became very expensive.

Very true.
Hopefully what Garner say in one of his interviews a while back is still correct.
He indicated that 80% of the 961's parts are from UK suppliers.

It depends on how he is counting that 80%. I assume it is by individual componenets. What I mean by this is that there may be several hundred nuts bolts and washers going into each bike. He may count the non UK manufactured front forks brake calipers discs rear suspension wheels petorl tank headlight body work tyres etc which would be bought in ready assembled as 18 components which physically make up a large proportion of the bike so by individual components it could well be 80%. If all the nuts bolts and washers were sourced from outside the uk then by components the bikes would be a lot less than 80% British parts IMHO. With a weak pound the bikes will become more expensive anyway as these components make up a large percentage of the cost of parts.
 
Irrespective of BREXIT, no one knows for sure what will happen in a couple of years time. Parts made in the UK need raw material and many of the specialist steels and alloys are no longer made here nor in the EU so things may change for the better. If anyone thinks the UK manufacturing industry will suffer needs a rethink - with many companies foreign owned it would make sense to make items closer to the EU ie in the UK as surprisingly some major far eastern companies now do. Before the BREXIT vote Boeing were get parts processed in the UK because there was no where in North America that could do it - and for those across the pond, before you post, the company doing the processing here in the UK is American owned and based!!

We still have a manufacturing base here in the UK, as far as I can gather Germany is now just a design house with little production in the country as much of it is out sourced. France are struggling with subsidy's it now knows can no longer afford and will have to either open its market to fair competition or give the production up. Despite being in the EU, you need a permit to import products in France, this is only granted once the French government has ensured that it can't be made in the country, and yes, this applies even to it's fellow EU members products.

Norton motorcycles will exist in the future, somewhere, and owned by someone with parts supplied from anywhere. I know that many of you like the ideal of British parts, made and assembled in the UK, but even back in the conception of the Norton name with the Peugeot engined bikes would they be demonised like the 961 built from parts from around the globe.

Garner is one part of a Norton jigsaw and he has said in the interview back in the early Summer - he is not selling his piece. With the press releases from India, Mahindra bought BSA as a job lot, not a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. If he was such a good businessman, then he would have calculated that not to sell would lead to Mahindra buying another name and taking him on with sales of a comparable product on his patch - if he did, then I don't see much action, Mahindra's plan is two years and with the might of the company behind them they will meet that deadline. With companies like Hesketh expanding with funds from an owner that makes Garner look like a pauper, the competition for NMUK will grow, with this some names will fall by the wayside with the onslaught - but who will they be.
 
Fixodent. said:
BritTwit said:
G81 Can Cycle said:
If Mr. Garner has manufacturing outside of the UK, primarily in his other businesses, then all of that manufacturing just became very expensive.

Very true.
Hopefully what Garner say in one of his interviews a while back is still correct.
He indicated that 80% of the 961's parts are from UK suppliers.

It depends on how he is counting that 80%. I assume it is by individual componenets. What I mean by this is that there may be several hundred nuts bolts and washers going into each bike. He may count the non UK manufactured front forks brake calipers discs rear suspension wheels petorl tank headlight body work tyres etc which would be bought in ready assembled as 18 components which physically make up a large proportion of the bike so by individual components it could well be 80%. If all the nuts bolts and washers were sourced from outside the uk then by components the bikes would be a lot less than 80% British parts IMHO. With a weak pound the bikes will become more expensive anyway as these components make up a large percentage of the cost of parts.
Outside UK, the bikes should become less expensive due to the weak pound, because the wages of hand-built bikes should make a large part of the price. Or am I wrong?
Raphi, Switzerland
 
Raphi said:
Outside UK, the bikes should become less expensive due to the weak pound, because the wages of hand-built bikes should make a large part of the price. Or am I wrong?
Raphi, Switzerland

You are correct with your maths Raphi, but IMHO you are incorrect with your hypothesis!

My hypothesis is that the difference will result in increased profit margin for Norton, rather than reduced retail prices.

Hopefully this will be a positive influence, generating more income to be invested in the betterment of Norton.

Hopefully...!
 
Dear all,
Just to clear up a few points on here recently;
I am NOT selling Norton to anyone, Mahindra or otherwise!
The Norton team are doing an exceptional job, it's taken years of hard work from all of us to get Norton back on it's feet. We are entering an exciting time for Norton with a really nice refined Commando MK II and Dominator motorcycle, BOTH WILL be Euro 4 compliant in coming months. We are finally getting on top of dealers, service, warranty and I hope all the 961 owners can see we are here to stay and putting a much greater effort into ensuring our after sales service and technical help is up to the mark. I'd like to thank everyone that's stayed with us and also offer my apologies for any inconvenience caused with dealer/part delays.
We are about to launch the all new Norton V4 motorcycle, the bike looks amazing in the factory and the whole team are excited for the public reveal at the UK bike show 19th Nov 2016.
I do read all your comments on here and pleased that Simon is able to answer all technical issues for owners and help out where necessary as a direct link to the factory.
It's a pleasure and privilege to work at Norton and bring the brand back, although nothing is easy, particularly in engineering and manufacturing a motorcycle!
Myself and all at the factory really do appreciate your support and love for the brand which has given us all the opportunity to see Norton back in motorcycle production once more.
Best Regards
Stuart Garner
Norton Motorcycles
 
Mr. Garner,
Glad to hear you address this issue. I'm sure we all hate to deal with rumors and hearsay and it's good of you to step forward and put them to rest. I still love my 961.
Thank you, Charlie.
 
Good of Stuart to post a reply, hopefully some comfort to most although I guess there will still be some doubters!
 
Good to here from Stuart to put the record straight on the rumours, looking forward to seeing the new V4 in a couple of weeks at the N.E.C. bike show good luck with the V4 as I'am sure it will look superb and will be well received.
 
I was collecting my bike this afternoon from the factory - excellent service as usual - and was just discussing with Mark that Stuart should put the rumours to bed - and he has - thank you and keep up the good work Stuart - Alan
 
Hi folks,

I am a big forum reader (and occasional poster when the need arises). I find it slightly odd that the reaction to Mr.Garner's post is so nonchalant. As a proud Commando 961 owner (I am to my knowledge the only person in my entire province with a new Norton) I love the fact that the owner of the company is willing to have a dialogue with the consumers of his product. I was equally as amazed and happy when Mr. Garner "liked" one of my tweets. In the industry that I work in the "buzzword" of the moment is all about customer and developing a real, tangible relationship with those that buy the product. This in turn develops loyalty…. Mr. Garner has absolutely done that and more. I would be remiss if I didn't say that I have not had a few "issues" trying to get parts and on some service related issues. But, I believe Norton is turning this around, and let's face it, if I wanted a different experience, I could easily have purchased a mass produced brand that could deliver that. Instead, I chose a bespoke bike that is unique, has great lines and is something that I someday hope to leave to one of my kids. Mr. Garner, if you ever are in Canada and looking to ride, consider this an open invitation - my 961 and I will be ready.

PS - thanks and big props to Simon for his excellent help in the past !!
 
If Mahindra bought ALL of the known BSA brands and assets, they ended up with THIS as a start...

Is this true?


Is this true?


Somebody (Wasp?) prototyped a new BSA a few years back.
 
BritTwit said:
That prototype definitely needs lots more development work.
It beats the pants off the star wars non-running mockup mules I've seen lately. And I'd have 8 of them before I'd have a modern "Brough Superior".
 
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