Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing

Madnorton said:
Absolute bargain - really!! Have you not read the BDO latest progress report that is available publicly, I bet they are well hacked off. That's pounds sterling not AUD, add on the fees for Rothschild's, an IP law firm, a firm of global solicitors, 24 million share raise, wages to date, rent and rates and it is over 40 million and not yet one bike produced. Ask any of the big four what margin they make on their bikes and it looks like the money invested will never be recovered. Finding and setting up a new facility to build bikes won't be cheap either.
Click to expand...
Take your points however, let’s re-visit this conversation in 5-10-15 years hence. I am sure that TVS did the maths!; these international companies don’t throw money away. Now let’s fast forward and imagine that TVS has (hopefully) achieved Triumph like success, maybe without such a broad bike range and making genuine use of Norton’s heritage. Margin on bikes is one thing but have you seen Triumphs accessories range? Lots of money to be made there, not to mention merchandising. Time will tell whether they bought a pup or whether it was indeed an absolute bargain.
 
Clive said:
Wellll I don't want you think I'm going soft or owt but after last Friday's experiences at Mallory Park I wouldn't mind a bit more ground clearance....... And the supercharger for those pesky 600s that pass me on the straights.

I keep looking at that Mellow supercharged Thruxton.
Click to expand...
Ground clearance is interesting to me. I’m no racer, but occasionally scrub to the edge of the tyres on some of the local twisties, mainly on left-handers (which for some reason I prefer). The only hard part that has hit the deck so far is the underside of the gear change lever - go figure! To that end I’d say that ground clearance is‘nt too bad considering. Which hard parts go down first on the track? Pegs, pipe?
 
Fred....WHY??? So we still can't take rides to the Catskills with our buddies due to the sub 50HP range. No. 1000 CC or better. I do fine on the Bonnie alone, but she complains when I ride with Harleys, Indians, Ducs and other various 100 and up club.
 
Britfan60 said:
Fred....WHY??? So we still can't take rides to the Catskills with our buddies due to the sub 50HP range. No. 1000 CC or better. I do fine on the Bonnie alone, but she complains when I ride with Harleys, Indians, Ducs and other various 100 and up club.
Click to expand...

Curtis, just remember you look better on our Triumph than they do.
Let them eat their hearts out.:cool:
 
BritTwit said:
Curtis, just remember you look better on our Triumph than they do.
Let them eat their hearts out.:cool:
Click to expand...
" go on ahead. I'll meet you there." Been doing some good miliage on the T140. About 1200 miles summer till now. 961 sitting there lightless. Might be for sale soon.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Ground clearance is interesting to me. I’m no racer, but occasionally scrub to the edge of the tyres on some of the local twisties, mainly on left-handers (which for some reason I prefer). The only hard part that has hit the deck so far is the underside of the gear change lever - go figure! To that end I’d say that ground clearance is‘nt too bad considering. Which hard parts go down first on the track? Pegs, pipe?
Click to expand...
Toes First! Then a touch with the pipes. I'm not a 'knee down' merchant as I reason if you're concentrating on trying to scrape those knee sliders then you're not concentrating on balancing the bike properly. Oh - and I don't have knee sliders......
 
TonyA said:
This all sounds great ! Until I see something I can't get excited . I was actually thinking about a KAW Z H2 if you can believe it ! If you're not familiar this is the naked-blown lowest price version of this bike . Price is really low compared to others. I've already seen one for $14.9K USD and talk about arm stretching.

This one :

Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing

Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing
Click to expand...
Talk to a UK dealer and they will beg you to take one. They are not a popular choice here, for most it is too much and raises the question why they built it.
 
Clive said:
Toes First! Then a touch with the pipes. I'm not a 'knee down' merchant as I reason if you're concentrating on trying to scrape those knee sliders then you're not concentrating on balancing the bike properly. Oh - and I don't have knee sliders......
Click to expand...

I think you’re right there about folk that focus on getting their knee down.

But if you’re struggling for ground clearance you might be surprised how much more clearance you can ‘find’ by using your body weight. You can lean off the bike just with your upper body and make a huge difference without having to get into a yoga pose.

Google images of Hailwood, Smart, Tait, Cooper, Degens, etc and you’ll see what I mean.
 
BritTwit said:
Did you have Jeff take a look at the electrical issues?
Click to expand...
No. Going to swap out all the relays, espeically the one under the tank on Voodoos findings and Tony's advice. That said, Partzilla put a delay on that by sending me bearing dust covers instead of the relays I ordered. Still waiting. Should be any day now. If that doesn't work, I will let Jeff take over. He has quite a few bikes. Installing an electric start on to a Norton 750, just restored a Beeza 441, my other T140....
 
Fast Eddie said:
I think you’re right there about folk that focus on getting their knee down.

But if you’re struggling for ground clearance you might be surprised how much more clearance you can ‘find’ by using your body weight. You can lean off the bike just with your upper body and make a huge difference without having to get into a yoga pose.

Google images of Hailwood, Smart, Tait, Cooper, Degens, etc and you’ll see what I mean.
Click to expand...
Found that out about 2 months ago. Can't believe I trashed the clamp on the T140 shorty. I was getting REALLY HAPPY on a tight curve.
 
italia said:
Depends on whether TVS really want Norton to go head-to-head in the marketplace against Ducati, KTM and Aprilia. Giovanni Castiglioni nearly ruined MV Agusta a few years ago by trying to bring out a bike to compete with each of Ducati's offerings, and it eventually led to MV being sold to Russian billionaire Timur Sardarov out of desperation. If I were TVS and had multiple lines of motorcycles, I would keep Norton a boutique company, and make a few models of bikes that honored its heritage while avoiding trying to be all things to all people.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I would agree that it would be pointless to go head to head against the Duc Streetfighter. Instead, Norton could veer off a little into its own niche.

If Ariel can do it, so can Norton... seriously, how difficult would it be for Norton to turn out something like this:

Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing
 
Back
Top