Good question !This is very unlikely.
How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?
Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?
Yes, I’m pretty certain I’d buy one if they were available in Australia. But I’d get a Silver CR to compliment the bike I have and keep it - I wouldn’t sell.This is very unlikely.
How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?
Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?
Not me.
That's a good question.This is very unlikely.
How many of you are willing to sell your bike for a TVS Norton?
Let’s say you could sell your current Norton 961 for the same price you bought it for. Would you just to buy a TVS Norton?
Not me.
If you read through the voluminous threads concerning the 961 on this site you will find many, many references to Dreer and his contribution in making the 961 a reality. SG and his team basically took the Dreer prototypes and "refined" the design to make it easier to manufacture, and conform with Euro emissions requirements. These are what we now refer to as Donnington 961s. The Dreer units never advanced past the prototype phase, they were never sold to the public.How about we call it the Kenny Dreer 961? I was just reading some articles from 2006 thru 2009 and have come to fully appreciate the amount of research, development, investment capital and time (and love of the brand) he (and his main investor) put into his venture. The 961 has Dreer all over it. SG carried it into production but clearly did not contribute as much to it as he'd like us to believe in modifying and completing the machine. TVS has contributed even less than SG other than money and fixing faults. None of them love this bike like Dreer does and he has been very gracious in thanking SG for completing the project. For anyone who hasn't read these articles on Dreer it makes for interesting reading. Very impressive fellow.
Many of us still own our Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. The future of Norton is similar to the future of most motorcycle brands and does not resemble the days of Manx, Dominator or even Commando. Electric and high tech multi cylinder bikes are replacing them and that's as it should be. The 961 is only a space in time for brand recognition sake as even the most change resistant brands struggle to modernize and remain relevant. Younger riders will gravitate to the new bikes and they will become part of their motorcycling life experience just as the great motorcycles of the past are to older enthusiasts , like me. My Hope is that TVS will provide parts that are interchangeable with the Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. As to how we should refer to the 961s I give preference to the man responsible for the dream and design over the location of production. Meanwhile my 961 Sport sits waiting for seat upholstery so my boney ol arse will not get so sore, then back up and running hopefully tomorrow.If you read through the voluminous threads concerning the 961 on this site you will find many, many references to Dreer and his contribution in making the 961 a reality. SG and his team basically took the Dreer prototypes and "refined" the design to make it easier to manufacture, and conform with Euro emissions requirements. These are what we now refer to as Donnington 961s. The Dreer units never advanced past the prototype phase, they were never sold to the public.
Now that we are beyond the SG era of the 961, many just want to put that unfortunate era behind them and focus on the future and the NEW 961 produced in Solihull, UK.
Hey BB,
It would appear that others agree!
Why don’t we just call them what they are- Mk1, Mk 2, Mk 3 etc??Many of us still own our Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. The future of Norton is similar to the future of most motorcycle brands and does not resemble the days of Manx, Dominator or even Commando. Electric and high tech multi cylinder bikes are replacing them and that's as it should be. The 961 is only a space in time for brand recognition sake as even the most change resistant brands struggle to modernize and remain relevant. Younger riders will gravitate to the new bikes and they will become part of their motorcycling life experience just as the great motorcycles of the past are to older enthusiasts , like me. My Hope is that TVS will provide parts that are interchangeable with the Dreer designed, Donnington produced 961s. As to how we should refer to the 961s I give preference to the man responsible for the dream and design over the location of production. Meanwhile my 961 Sport sits waiting for seat upholstery so my boney ol arse will not get so sore, then back up and running hopefully tomorrow.
Or SE, CR, SP etc…..My 1970 750 Commando had an engine built in Wolverhampton, but was assembled in Andover. The bike was a Roadster - not a Norton Andover….Why don’t we just call them what they are- Mk1, Mk 2, Mk 3 etc??
Far too specific.Or SE, CR, SP etc…..My 1970 750 Commando had an engine built in Wolverhampton, but was assembled in Andover. The bike was a Roadster - not a Norton Andover….
NortIndia with the new Brahmin caste engine.They should be called Nortchi or Nortindia
If this is the case, I’m going with Portland Norton.I like the location within the name.
It's not unlike Coventry, Meriden, or Hinckley Triumphs.
That way, when someone buys a new Solihull, or Birmingham Norton we can all act like nasty curmudgeons and say:
Ugh, that's shit, it's not a real Donington Norton.
Why should only the Triumph have the fun?
That’s a Dreery proposal!If this is the case, I’m going with Portland Norton.
Dreer deserves credit.
I think that's appropriate, Kenny certainly does deserve credit.If this is the case, I’m going with Portland Norton.
Dreer deserves credit.
TVS bought prototypes from Garner, and we were all the guinea pigs.I think that's appropriate, Kenny certainly does deserve credit.
Portland Norton would apply to the 961 prototypes that SG bought from Kenny, that started the whole thing.
And an early 952 prototype that one of the forum members also bought from Kenny.