New "Norton Commando" 961
- Thread starter Commando75
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Hortons Norton
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One of the members here has one. They just did a write up on them in one of the bike magazines. :roll:
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highdesert said:
First production run went to the UK.
Canada and US are still waiting. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Sheesh.
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I think homologation is an hurdle for them at the moment, the UK has "loopholes" to allow small scale production runs al la Norton to be homologated for use but I think the Euro / US / Canada market demands are stricter. I know that is why our Euro friends still wait patiently for their long overdue bikes.
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"That doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Sheesh."
From a marketing/sales viewpoint there's nothing worse than not having the product long after it was supposed to be available, especially if it's your ONLY product. It's not like going to a Honda dealer where they may be able to move you into a different model. The following is a typical sort of conversation that might take place (stick in any product name that you'd care to...)
"I want a new Norton 961."
"Sorry, we don't have any available."
"When will they be available?"
"Soon, we hope."
"How soon?"
"Well, we're not sure."
"OK, guess I'll go buy a Kawasaki."
From a marketing/sales viewpoint there's nothing worse than not having the product long after it was supposed to be available, especially if it's your ONLY product. It's not like going to a Honda dealer where they may be able to move you into a different model. The following is a typical sort of conversation that might take place (stick in any product name that you'd care to...)
"I want a new Norton 961."
"Sorry, we don't have any available."
"When will they be available?"
"Soon, we hope."
"How soon?"
"Well, we're not sure."
"OK, guess I'll go buy a Kawasaki."
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MexicoMike said:
Except you are confusing the customers. The new Nortons are extremely low production and it's not like the kind of people who are buying these bikes are comparison shopping. :roll:
MexicoMike said:
Nonsense,
First of all, its a Special Edition, they are not into 'real production' yet, people will wait, like my friend who waited two years for his MV Agusta.
And the buyer is not likely to buy something else instead, he already has something else,
and it wouldn't be a Kawasaki, it would be a Ducati or two, and a Triumph or two, and a Beemer, etc.
And if he does have an old brit bike, he likely doesn't ride it further than he can walk. These old bikes are gorgeous to look at, I just don't count on them too much.
There are several people on this forum who keep telling us how much they dislike the new Commando. I may be old, but I don't have alzheimers (yet), so once or twice and we get it, you don't like it, we get it.
And to the guy who thought it looked like they ran out of Norton parts and finished it off with some Ducati parts, YES, that is a big compliment, I can't wait to take delivery of my New Norcati Commando.
Big_Jim59
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I am glad to hear that they are actually making and delivering bikes. It has been so long and the promise of a new Norton so tantalizing. The ups and downs of the project have proved very frustrating for all of us who would like to see the Norton brand thrive. I really like the new Norton. It looks modern and has the modern accouterments while keeping a lot of the original look and character. I think it looks a lot better than Triumph's T100 retro offering which, as someone once put it "looks like a die cast model of the original."
I also agree that while waiting is frustrating, this is not the type of bike that will lose customers to other brands. There is a finite but large number of people willing to wait to get a new Norton and they have several years of production ahead of them just to fill that demand. Keeping demand high and production low can have real benefits.
I also agree that while waiting is frustrating, this is not the type of bike that will lose customers to other brands. There is a finite but large number of people willing to wait to get a new Norton and they have several years of production ahead of them just to fill that demand. Keeping demand high and production low can have real benefits.
I agree with Deb, If I had the spare coin I would have one, I don't care that it won't beat some Yamaduc whatever, but I like the fact that the engine and some of the style of it embodies our favourite old girls. I lke it better than the Triumph Bonneville, and that little marketing exercise has done rather well hasn't it. The Ducati GT1000 thing looks plain ugly so I can imagine you would need a real faithful to buy that thing, but the 961 has presses the buttons for me.
Just my tqo bobs, but could not ressist!
Richard
Just my tqo bobs, but could not ressist!
Richard
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"Nonsense,
First of all, its a Special Edition, they are not into 'real production' yet, people will wait, like my friend who waited two years for his MV Agusta."
My point, made perhaps too sarcastically (Yes, I know that if I wanted a 961 I wouldn't substitute a Kawasaki) is that the bike just isn't at the proper level of performance. I totally agree that it would be neat to see Norton making motorcycles again. But I want to see them among the top performers like the Commando was at the time. THAT''S the Norton I'd be waiting for and the one that SHOULD be called "Commando." Frankly, I think it's a bit sad to call the bike a Commando when it is at the bottom end of the performance range of current sport bikes of that displacement. I think they should have called it the "961" and then, when they go further along with power/performance, release a Norton Commando. But I realize marketing is better served with the "Commando" name.
First of all, its a Special Edition, they are not into 'real production' yet, people will wait, like my friend who waited two years for his MV Agusta."
My point, made perhaps too sarcastically (Yes, I know that if I wanted a 961 I wouldn't substitute a Kawasaki) is that the bike just isn't at the proper level of performance. I totally agree that it would be neat to see Norton making motorcycles again. But I want to see them among the top performers like the Commando was at the time. THAT''S the Norton I'd be waiting for and the one that SHOULD be called "Commando." Frankly, I think it's a bit sad to call the bike a Commando when it is at the bottom end of the performance range of current sport bikes of that displacement. I think they should have called it the "961" and then, when they go further along with power/performance, release a Norton Commando. But I realize marketing is better served with the "Commando" name.
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These old bikes are gorgeous to look at, I just don't count on them too much.
Terry,
'72 750 Commando is my only ride. I count on it to go everyhere I want it to go. I put in roughly 2,500 miles per year, so not really wearing it out rapidly. I get into the Sierras over Sonora Pass every August for the Dardanelle weekend with the club, so reliable enough to ride in wilderness at over 9000ft elevation.
Terry,
'72 750 Commando is my only ride. I count on it to go everyhere I want it to go. I put in roughly 2,500 miles per year, so not really wearing it out rapidly. I get into the Sierras over Sonora Pass every August for the Dardanelle weekend with the club, so reliable enough to ride in wilderness at over 9000ft elevation.
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Any chance in the world that there is an Interstate model in the works, or do I have to keep slobbering over this?
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flashbackk said:Any chance in the world that there is an Interstate model in the works, or do I have to keep slobbering over this?
Hey Flash,
Just went to the local Triumph dealer to see and ride the new GT this morning. Got to say it does nothing for me...looks like a Kawasaki Concourse. I liked the Sprint ST.
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flashbackk said:r do I have to keep slobbering over this?
you kidding i hope - yikes!
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illf8ed said:flashbackk said:Any chance in the world that there is an Interstate model in the works, or do I have to keep slobbering over this?
Hey Flash,
Just went to the local Triumph dealer to see and ride the new GT this morning. Got to say it does nothing for me...looks like a Kawasaki Concourse. I liked the Sprint ST.
Oh rats..... I had high hopes.
I swung my leg over a Concourse awhile back and it was wide as a horse. A real monster.
I still hope Norton gets it right. It could happen LOL.
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