TVS Future

S. Bodycote said:

From my understanding, the Chinese bought rights to build the 961 unit under licence ie to copy it, rather than outright ownership.

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It seems like that, if you read the Norton America / TVS Norton agreement dated May 2020 it has all the licenses issued in the annex. If the Chinese have exclusive licences then there is very little TVS can do. An exclusive licence prevents the TM owner from making parts / bikes themselves, if they do then they could end up in a right mess. This agreement is available to the public online via US TESS website - you don't even need to register to view it , drill in and you can view the PDF's of it and loads of other history. You can also find the details of the really stupid TM challenge they put to Thomas Norton, including the US courts requirements and timescales, again all public and makes for some uneasy reading for the US TM's. The logo Thomas has registered is nothing like anything Norton we would recognise - you would think it is a joke. Strange how they TVS, and not Norton Anit Virus or Abrasives went for the little guy, the fact they have it can be seen written in the courts requirements it now leaves them and the rest of the US TM;s they have wide open and up the creek without a paddle - I suspect they don't want many Norton people in the US reading it. Despite their size, they didn't understand Norton, the TM's or the history, jumped in with both feet with a challenge that was not needed and now find themselves in a situation they created which leaves them vulnerable in the US, talk about shooting yourself in the foot in what could be their biggest market.
Surprisingly, there is now a lot historic information being put online regarding the TM ownerships and who owned what and when, not only in the US but Europe and the UK as well, much going well back over 20 years. TVS should take some time to timeline and read it, they might have the money behind them, but if they carry on the way they are going the future looks non existent for them, TM's they can't defend, the name tarred amongst potential customers, they way they portray themselves as a company based on greed will ensure that they will be written in history as the company that could have done so much but royally screwed it up without building a single bike.
Hate to say it, but at the moment they are doing a worse job than Garner.

Well personally I am going to at least let them starting building bikes before completely writing them off lol.

Didn't John Russell state that the 961 Commando production would end.
That the 40 that are under construction will be produced to satisfy orders that were in place when the SG concern went out of business.
He also stated that the Commando name would probably reappear at some future date in a different form.
I think that pretty much puts the stake in the heart of the 961 from TVS.

961 owners have one chance that replacement parts will be available.
That is if Jinlang introduces a 961 with essentially unchanged engine components.
Hopefully components like balancer shafts, backlash springs, clutch baskets, rockers, etc.
Stuff that can't be sourced elsewhere.

Just read the Superbike article, do these people remember what they actually say. '' we are not sure what market sectors we will target'' and' 'they plan to show a bike at the motorcycle show in December'' then to cap it all, ''we can't build a new bike in less than two years''
Considering they are not sure what sectors to target would suggest they have no design yet, and thus 2 years from building a bike, so how the hell will they display a bike this year.
Ohh, and despite Skinner being banned from directorship, it seems they want to keep him on.

Another limited edition 961 it is then.... that was the standard procedure, change a couple of bits and call it a limited model lol

Superbike article


So Skinner has full support, but does not be let near any engineering or quality responsibilities, been disqualified from holding directorships for robbing parts off customer bikes.

Garner is still a Walter Mitty.

It's an odd world.

S. Bodycote said:

Another limited edition 961 it is then.... that was the standard procedure, change a couple of bits and call it a limited model lol

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and you were mentioned in dispatches in glowing terms at the 961 meet yesterday!

Oo-er...thought my ears were burning on the way home haha
Was a good meet, shame we didnt crack the 13, but to match it on a midweek gathering, is awesome work...well done!

kommando said:

Superbike article

Norton CEO interview, Simon Skinner’s position and Stuart Garner’s charity work. | SuperBike Magazine

A fairly broad title for this update, but it makes sense to wrap all this up and publish it together. The first part of this piece is an interview with Dr. Robert Hentschel, the new CEO at Norton Motorcycles. He comes to Norton with a wealth of experience in senior positions in various...

www.superbike.co.uk

So Skinner has full support, but does not be let near any engineering or quality responsibilities, been disqualified from holding directorships for robbing parts off customer bikes.

Garner is still a Walter Mitty.

It's an odd world.

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Very odd, and Dr Bob needs to read up on what his responsibilities are. To say that the V4 problems were not skinners as he was head of design suggests Dr Bob is not the right person - Dr Bob, he was a DIRECTOR, like yourself and responsible for the safety, maybe not as Head of design but certainly as Director.

Madnorton said:

Dr Bob, he was a DIRECTOR, like yourself and responsible for the safety, maybe not as Head of design but certainly as Director.

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When I was made a director the H&S guy took great enjoyment when warning me even though I was not in charge of production if there was an accident on the shop floor then I was just as liable as the production director for prosecution by HSE and not him.

Norton may better get a start. So far only major motorcycle company selling a electric motorcycle is Harley.

Voodooo said:

Norton may better get a start. So far only major motorcycle company selling a electric motorcycle is Harley.

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And TVS.

Madnorton said:

And TVS.

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What electric bike is TVS selling?

N-Torq, and yes, they patented the rights to an electric scooter shape in the EU.

Madnorton said:

N-Torq, and yes, they patented the rights to an electric scooter shape in the EU.

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Lol. The N-torq is a scooter. Not a motorcycle. The Harley live wire is a motorcycle. As of yet, only Harley offers a real full sized electric motorcycle

They are not as of yet the only, there are Zero, Energica and a multitude of others. Electric motocross has been happening the UK for years.

Eitherway, it all sucks. I want to be burning fuel thats been dug up for the rest of my days haha
Has anyone seen the pilot episode of The Last Motorcycle, on Amazon?....it quite depressed me.

Voodooo said:

Lol. The N-torq is a scooter. Not a motorcycle. The Harley live wire is a motorcycle. As of yet, only Harley offers a real full sized electric motorcycle

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There are quite a few electric motorcycle manufacturers, notably Zero but also Energica and Lightning. I would barely include Harley because of the ridiculous price tag.

Norton588 said:

There are quite a few electric motorcycle manufacturers, notably Zero but also Energica and Lightning. I would barely include Harley because of the ridiculous price tag.

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How can you exclude Harley not having a all electric motorcycle only because you don’t like the cost? In my opinion Harley makes the best looking electric motorcycle. Doesn’t matter if you like the price or not, it’s electric.

Norton588 said:

There are quite a few electric motorcycle manufacturers, notably Zero but also Energica and Lightning. I would barely include Harley because of the ridiculous price tag.

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Zero, Energica and others are not major motorcycle brands. I clearly said the only major manufacturer. Harley-Davidson is the ONLY major manufacturer making electric “motorcycles”.
Triump, Honda, Suzuki, etc are not manufacturing electric motorcycles, not like Harley. Harley has been for a few years now.