TVS 961... FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS.

Fast Eddie said:

Mucho thanks to you guys for taking the time to write fairly comprehensive write ups.

My scoring shows it at 3-0 for the positive camp so far

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OK Nigel, you're up next.

Stephen_Spencer said:

It would be a difficult proposition to part-ex a Donington 961, lovingly coerced to 26K miles, for that figure; if still getting the same enjoyment out of riding them as most of us are.

Great to hear the reports . Surprised by the 250 figure - if it means a total production run? Wonder if that might be part of the plan, or a result of poorer than expected take-up. I guess we’ll find out in the long run.

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Dr. Bob probably thinks they will have the new twins ready by the time number 250 rolls out the door.

Stephen_Spencer said:

Surprised by the 250 figure - if it means a total production run? Wonder if that might be part of the plan, or a result of poorer than expected take-up. I guess we’ll find out in the long run.

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My guess is that it is a bit of both - it isn't a viable long term plan to have to low volume cert each bike.

Well with the resale market in the tank, trade-ins are not going to be favorable but that also should drag the MSRP down, and if not the walk-off value (depreciation)after purchase is going to be very bad probably north of 30% of the total price

BritTwit said:

OK Nigel, you're up next.

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Ha !

Yer avin’ a larf aincha ?!?!

Actually I might. But you seriously think I’d post my thoughts on here …

Fast Eddie said:

Ha !

Yer avin’ a larf aincha ?!?!

Actually I might. But you seriously think I’d post my thoughts on here …

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Nobody cares what has or hasn’t been said in the past FE - but another honest opinion from a previous owner that ‘know’s his onions’ would be pretty helpful. Same as those above.

Stephen_Spencer said:

Nobody cares what has or hasn’t been said in the past FE - but another honest opinion from a previous owner that ‘know’s his onions’ would be pretty helpful. Same as those above.

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Contrary to popular belief (by some), I do not come on this forum to argue.

Life’s too short to waste on things we don’t like doing.

Limiting what I choose to engage with on here enhances what I like, and avoids what I dislike, about it. This is not the only topic that falls into this category for me.

Fast Eddie said:

Ha !

Yer avin’ a larf aincha ?!?!

Actually I might. But you seriously think I’d post my thoughts on here …

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Absolutely!
And it should appear as if published by a reputable motorcycle publication i.e. MCN, Cycle World, etc.
We expect nothing less.

Fast Eddie said:

Contrary to popular belief (by some), I do not come on this forum to argue.

Life’s too short to waste on things we don’t like doing.

Limiting what I choose to engage with on here enhances what I like, and avoids what I dislike, about it. This is not the only topic that falls into this category for me.

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Agreed FE. So just go and ride it and post your review; your opinion would be pretty valuable.

There is no one here that would be anything other than open to anybody’s personal ride review - that most certainly includes myself.

I agree with the above sentiments Nigel - all joking aside , many here respect your experience , knowledge and communication skills. I know I do .
Even though I am not in the market it would be interesting to hear your assessment .
Give it a shot mate .
Cheers - RT

250 bikes explains why you can’t get spares.

Voodooo said:

250 bikes explains why you can’t get spares.

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You've got a good point there . And will they sell spares after the 250 are built ? Crazy as it seems , that's less than one year production for Donington Norton ! I just wonder how busy they are at Solihull ? I hope that Jinlang starts up spares production then otherwise my bike becomes a garage ornament .

TonyA said:

You've got a good point there . And will they sell spares after the 250 are built ? Crazy as it seems , that's less than one year production for Donington Norton ! I just wonder how busy they are at Solihull ? I hope that Jinlang starts up spares production then otherwise my bike becomes a garage ornament .

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If the comments of 250 bikes means the end of the 961, I highly doubt they’ll sell spares to Donington owners period. I then see them only using spares to warranty the TVS owned bikes. I gave up asking months ago. I haven’t ridden my Nortons in over a year.

My guess would be ’if’ the 250 is correct and not some salesman using a ‘hard sell’ tactic, then it’s probably a decision made since relaunch based on sales.

If they only ever intended to build 250 you’d think they would have advertised that fact and numbered them accordingly, to assist with sales; maybe. We’re speculating as usual of course.

If true that really isn’t great for spares, but we‘d still be in a slightly better position than we were before the relaunch. Noting even then, with the assistance of the usual suspects (Ollie, Stu etc) and the alternate parts list, most managed to keep their bikes in action. Albeit with fingers crossed! Would be a blow though, if this turns out to be the case !

TonyA said:

I hope that Jinlang starts up spares production then otherwise my bike becomes a garage ornament .

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Are you missing spares keeping you off the road Tony? (won’t ask Voodoo, we’ve talked about this approach before). List em‘ and let the ‘brains trust’ assist in tracking them down, or finding another solution, if possible. I’ve a few things squirrelled away - ya never knows yer luck!

Stephen_Spencer said:

My guess would be ’if’ the 250 is correct and not some salesman using a ‘hard sell’ tactic, then it’s probably a decision made since relaunch based on sales.

If they only ever intended to build 250 you’d think they would have advertised that fact and numbered them accordingly, to assist with sales; maybe. We’re speculating as usual of course.

If true that really isn’t great for spares, but we‘d still be in a slightly better position than we were before the relaunch. Noting even then, with the assistance of the usual suspects (Ollie, Stu etc) and the alternate parts list, most managed to keep their bikes in action. Albeit with fingers crossed! Would be a blow though, if this turns out to be the case !

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How are we in a slightly better position than we were before the relaunch?
As you know, myself and others tried getting spares with no luck.

It’s nearly impossible to get them now, if they discontinue the 961, it’s game over.

Voodooo said:

How are we in a slightly better position than we were before the relaunch?
As you know, myself and others tried getting spares with no luck.

It’s nearly impossible to get them now, if they discontinue the 961, it’s game over.

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We don’t know the 250 production limit is final but if it is, just simple maths Voodoo. More bikes (albeit potentially only 250) therefore more spares in circulation.

Norton is obligated to provide spares for the new bikes within the 2 year warranty period and beyond - certainly if they want to maintain any reputation they amass. My guess is they will not hold large quantities of on shelf spares - not good business - so will have contracts/suppliers in place for access.

No reason to believe they won’t honour the stated intent to sell spares to Donington owners, especially if there is a buck to be made. We may have to wait a bit longer (for them to meet production requirements) and they may inflate some prices - then it’s a ‘ya wants it ya pays for it‘ situation - not unlike the seat cowl and rocker examples.

We may find that the re-engineered bikes have less need for some spares they hold than our bikes (likely) which may benefit us. Bottom line there is a supplier/contract currently in place for the vast majority of parts for our bikes, for the foreseeable future. By definition that puts us in a better position than prior to relaunch.

People have been receiving spares, albeit slowly in some cases - if not I guess it’s a matter of picking up the phone and enquiring directly. I’m just about to order a couple of things - I’ll let you know how I get on.

Most of the £16M paid for Norton by TVS was on the value of the brand, however they seem to be following a strategy that does not value the brand at all. They have completely ignored 'Residuals' and by offering low trade in values they are devaluing their own brand for trivial cost compared to the £16M.

1. Certified Pre-owned Programs: Introduce certified pre-owned programs that involve rigorous inspection, refurbishment, and warranties for used products, reassuring buyers about their quality.
2. After-sales Support: Continue providing exceptional customer support post-purchase. Assisting customers with maintenance and troubleshooting can positively impact their overall product experience. Extended Warranties packages also plays an important role in improving resale value .
3. Resale-specific Marketing: Develop marketing strategies aimed at the resale stage. Highlight the long-term value, reliability, and potential cost savings of purchasing a product with strong resale value.
4. Trade-in Incentives: Offer trade-in programs that allow customers to exchange their used products for new ones. This encourages brand loyalty and simplifies the transition between product cycles.

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kommando said:

Most of the £16M paid for Norton by TVS was on the value of the brand, however they seem to be following a strategy that does not value the brand at all. They have completely ignored 'Residuals' and by offering low trade in values they are devaluing their own brand for trivial cost compared to the £16M.

Unlocking Profit Potential: Elevating Resale Value for Lasting Brand Impact

Introduction: The product ownership cycle consists of three critical stages: purchasing new, using the product, and eventually selling it. While much attention is typically given to the first two stages, the importance of the third stage—the resale phase—is often underestimated.

www.linkedin.com

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Good point

Voodooo said:

How are we in a slightly better position than we were before the relaunch?
As you know, myself and others tried getting spares with no luck.

It’s nearly impossible to get them now, if they discontinue the 961, it’s game over.

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