I can still remember when Sex was safe and Motorcycles were dangerous.
Are you asking is a new Norton going to be an economical, fuel efficient, reliable mode of daily transportation?
If that is what you are looking for, go buy a Prius!
I bought a Norton 961 Commando because I wanted a Norton 961 Commando.
Was it because it was a hand built bike? No. Most bikes ARE hand built.
I own a new Harley Ultra Limited too. Was it built by robots or little green men on mars? No, the parts are all bolted together by human hands.
I own a Victory Hammer. I have toured the factory it was built in a couple of times. They were bolted together by human hands. Every weld on their frames was done by hand. The victory will not have parts made after ten years. Polaris stopped making them. I haven't had to replace anything on it yet, either. Was it a good value? No, not if I bought it as an investment to resale. It has lost almost the price of the new Norton in value in the past year. It was and still is a fun bike to ride and gets a lot of attention. Was the Harley Ultra Limited a good value? It has lost some of its value. I can probably get 75% of my money back out of it, but I bought it to have IT, not something else.
Is the Norton a good value? I bought it to have it, and the pride of owning a Norton Commando.
I have had knee surgery and frankly, cannot kick one of the old ones. If I could I probably would have one of them too.
Starting with an OLD Norton basket case and paying Colorado Norton Works to restore it would cost half again more than the price of the New Norton.
People say its not the same.
No, its not.
The old ones leaked oil. We called it marking their spots.
You had to be constantly aware of what was vibrating loose and falling off the bike.
They had UNRELIABLE electrics. We used to call the Brit electrics Lucas, Prince of Darkness for a reason.
Their lighting was dangerously inadequate for night time riding anywhere other than in town with lots of street lamps!
The cable operated drum brakes were barely better than dragging your foot!
Any of the ten worst bikes being made today are probably more reliable than any of the "great bikes of the 60's and 70's." but most bikes today lack class and character.
Time puts rose colored filters on our image of the great bikes of the 60's and 70's.
The NEW Norton is a tremendous improvement over the original in terms of reliability, performance, good lighting, great brakes, and it still retains the looks and character and charisma of the old Norton Commando.
As an added bonus, the production numbers are low enough and demand for them still high enough that you will not lose half the money you put into one to own it if you decide you don't love it anymore.
Is it a good value? From my point of view, absolutely.
I can live with noisy clutch baskets and oil weeping from a seal here and there.
Is it as "good" a bike as a new Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki Or even Harley? Probably not, but I don't want a new Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki.
If you compare it to that, you are totally missing the point. I have a new Harley. Yes, there are design problems even with it. That's a different rant.
The 961 Norton is a resurrection of a classic.
Even with its shortcomings from perfection, it is a great bike, a significant piece of Norton history, and for the few that get to own and enjoy them,
ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!!!!
