Hmmm, that’s not how I see it to be honest. I think Norton would be crazy to go head to head with Triumph in that market niche because Triumph will wipe the floor with Norton!
Triumph have got that whole niche perfected, they have the size to produce bikes at low cost, they have the brand recognition in the market place, and they have the global dealership network to both sell and support.
Messers Garner and Skinner along with a handful of temporary workers (sorry, but that’s what it sometimes seems like) ain’t gonna compete with that!
Well, yes and no.
I love the new Triumphs twins I think they are very nice for what they are, but I’m not proposing that Norton compete with them at all.
The Triumphs are designed from the ground up to closely incorporate the visual cues of the old classic Triumphs, but include technology improvements underneath, like overhead cams, 4 valve heads, wet sum crankcases.
My 750 Commando II concept is totally different.
Norton start with an existing, thoroughly modern engine/chassis design (from their 650’s) and make minor changes to improve the classis/engine appearance, without damaging performance. With this concept you have:
1. A modern narrow valve angle combustion chamber with down draft intake ports feed from a large plenum air box (the Triumph twins do not have this)
2. A much lighter, smaller power plant with smaller balancer shaft, less chance of annoying vibs
3. Smaller motor allows a small lighter chassis with the engine as an integral stressed member
4. Moving the air box to under tank position now allows easy adaptation of a mono-shock suspension (the Triumph twins do not have this)
The new Commando II would be a more attractive, slightly higher performance version of the Ranger, Nomad models. Certainly this will be less purely classic in appearance than the Triumph twins, but a new generation of the Commando twins. Something young riders would fine attractive, and a concept that keeps the Commando moniker alive. If done right, the light weight , nibble 750 would easily out perform the Triumph twins, not just in acceleration but around corners. But I’m not suggesting that it would compete for sales with the Triumph. It’s a totally new class of Modern classic, produced in limited quantities, as SG is fond of, as opposed to mass market production.
And seriously, be honest, do the monikers of Ranger, Nomad evoke excitement and passion as does COMMANDO??
Of course not.
Sorry for polluting this thread with an unrelated post.