TVS Motor Company acquires Britain's 'Norton' sporting motorcycle

What are we discussing here- aftermarket seats for modern Triumphs, or a possible well-funded and I hope honest re-start for Norton after a decade of lies, shady deals, the robbing of OAPs, and underdeveloped product sold by a dishonest ego-tripper to test riders harbouring the illusion they were buying a modern motorcycle?
Just asking....
 
I wonder what it is that they thought they have bought for 16M? They are already up and running as a manufacturer so they didn't need to cough up a penny, they could simply start out with a new brand. I don't believe that having Norton on the side of a bike will recoup that sort of money, no matter how good the end product is it will still be just a Norton in name only.... unless they go for the exclusivity of building it in the UK with a price tag to match.

On the subject of 'retro' japanese, I bought a Kwacka Zephyr 1100 many moons ago in an attempt to recapture the Z900 days. The Zephyr got great revues at the time but I was very disappointed, it didn't rekindle anything, I have had quite a few big bore Kwackas and loved them all but the Zephyr was just another one in different clothes.
 
ZFD said:
What are we discussing here- aftermarket seats for modern Triumphs, or a possible well-funded and I hope honest re-start for Norton after a decade of lies, shady deals, the robbing of OAPs, and underdeveloped product sold by a dishonest ego-tripper to test riders harbouring the illusion they were buying a modern motorcycle?
Just asking....
Click to expand...

You've said it all.
Mea Culpa.

We need a new thread like:
Now that Norton is dead (again) - what's the next best choice?
 
dennisgb said:
Without an engine? SG sold the rights to the 961 engine before Administration

https://www.visordown.com/news/general/norton-sold-961-engine-rights-just-going-under
Click to expand...

Well, as was started previously, the company was under the rules of WUP when the sale was supposedly made by SG.
So this matter has to be resolved by the British courts I would imagine.

TVS may well have the rights to the 961 engine. Stay tuned.

But my Comanche 961 remark was purely flippant.
Apology for the frivolity.
 
BritTwit said:
Well, as was started previously, the company was under the rules of WUP when the sale was supposedly made by SG.
So this matter has to be resolved by the British courts I would imagine.

TVS may well have the rights to the 961 engine. Stay tuned.

But my Comanche 961 remark was purely flippant.
Apology for the frivolity.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I wasn’t aware of there being a course of action on the 961 sale. If that deal was faulty then it might come back...
 
ZFD said:
What are we discussing here- aftermarket seats for modern Triumphs, or a possible well-funded and I hope honest re-start for Norton after a decade of lies, shady deals, the robbing of OAPs, and underdeveloped product sold by a dishonest ego-tripper to test riders harbouring the illusion they were buying a modern motorcycle?
Just asking....
Click to expand...
Point well made
 
ZFD said:
What are we discussing here- aftermarket seats for modern Triumphs, or a possible well-funded and I hope honest re-start for Norton after a decade of lies, shady deals, the robbing of OAPs, and underdeveloped product sold by a dishonest ego-tripper to test riders harbouring the illusion they were buying a modern motorcycle?
Just asking....
Click to expand...
Apologies, I take my share of the blame. There was a post concerning patriotism and the affect on bike sales by being made in Asia rather than country of origin - which is where Triumphs came in (the seats being incidental)- and potentially as discussed on this thread, Norton.
 
bpjthornton said:
Just had a quick look to see how many V4 Norton’s were produced. 27 SS bikes are licensed of which 9 are SORN (untaxed for our American friends).

Didn’t think it would be that many!

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/norton_v4_ss
Click to expand...

Great info.

Would be nice to know how many of those owners had issues with their V4s.
Wish there was a requirement that Norton owners must first join the accessnorton forum before taking delivery.:)
 
BritTwit said:
Would be nice to know how many of those owners had issues with their V4s.
Click to expand...

According to the media (take with a pinch of salt) there were a fair few at Donington awaiting warranty work when the curtains fell. If only 27 were put on the road then the % with issues would seem high. I wonder if that info. is in the BDO report as they would have had to account for owners bikes on the premises.
 
Whatever he sold it was after the Taxman has raised the Wind Up Petition which stops all asset sales. If the Chinese want to dispute that they have to use the English civil court system, first question how much did you pay ? Second where did you send the money ?. Result will either be a 'We will add you to the list of people owed monies' if went into the Norton account or a 'you need to chase SG as he seems to have defrauded you.' for the second.
 
Seems to me there are a few things out of the press reports that strike me:

"Norton is an iconic British brand celebrated across the world, and presents us with an immense opportunity to scale globally."

I read 'Emerging Markets' into this.

"For the deal, a new company named Project 303 Bidco Ltd. was incorporated and then acquired by TVS Motor’s Singapore subsidiary for 1 pound."

Look at the name. 300cc bikes are the bread and butter of the YVS line for India, which is the largest MC market in the world. Look for a Norton branded offering to compete with the likes of the KTM 390 and others, built in India.

And on s more speculative note, "Although Norton only has 58 staff on its books, their contracts are being transferred over to the new owner."

And

"We will extend our full support to Norton to regain its rightful glory.”

The first quote is very positive, IMHO. A lot of companies are asset only sales, and all employees lose their jobs. Intellectual horsepower notwithstanding.

Everyone knows the limitations of the 961, and the opportunity the V4 gives "Norton to regain its rightful glory.”

V4s may continue production and the race program restarts in UK under Indian leadership? Hopefully.
 
gortnipper said:
Seems to me there are a few things out of the press reports that strike me:

"Norton is an iconic British brand celebrated across the world, and presents us with an immense opportunity to scale globally."

I read 'Emerging Markets' into this.

"For the deal, a new company named Project 303 Bidco Ltd. was incorporated and then acquired by TVS Motor’s Singapore subsidiary for 1 pound."

Look at the name. 300cc bikes are the bread and butter of the YVS line for India, which is the largest MC market in the world. Look for a Norton branded offering to compete with the likes of the KTM 390 and others, built in India.

And on s more speculative note, "Although Norton only has 58 staff on its books, their contracts are being transferred over to the new owner."

And

"We will extend our full support to Norton to regain its rightful glory.”

The first quote is very positive, IMHO. A lot of companies are asset only sales, and all employees lose their jobs. Intellectual horsepower notwithstanding.

Everyone knows the limitations of the 961, and the opportunity the V4 gives "Norton to regain its rightful glory.”

V4s may continue production and the race program restarts in UK under Indian leadership? Hopefully.
Click to expand...
And 961 spares from Taiwan?
 
gortnipper said:
Look at the name. 300cc bikes are the bread and butter of the YVS line for India, which is the largest MC market in the world. Look for a Norton branded offering to compete with the likes of the KTM 390 and others, built in India.
Click to expand...

For many years the only domestic motorcycle available in India was the Royal Enfield Bullet so there is a historical and generational love for British motorcycles.

India is a huge market for motorcycles by itself. Just look at the sales of the new Enfield 650.

It’s not hard to see the value of just the Norton name in this deal. $16M is peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

There may be a period of time where the press value of continuing existing products could be of value but none of the existing products fit the market that will generate the most value. The Indian market is evolving so that could change but right now it is based on cost and economy.

TVS is a direct competitor to Royal Enfield. They have taken away a significant amount of RE sales over the years.

It’s not hard to see where this likely is going. Cost to manufacture in India is lower so an Indian Norton for the Indian market makes the most sense.


Hopefully they will consider the rest of the world in the design.
 
SteveMinning said:
Are you sure that SG sold exclusive rights to the 961? I thought he only sold them license to manufacture them.
Click to expand...

You may be confusing the 961 sale to Jinlang, with the deal SG made back in 2017 with Zongshen.
The 2017 deal with Zongshen allows them to produce a lower spec version of the new 650 twin, but only for sale in Asia.
Zongshen calls the bike the Cyclone

https://www.carandbike.com/news/zongshen-cyclone-rx6-based-on-norton-650-nearing-completion-2213057
 
It looks like Norton is being given another chance by the new owners moving out of the ridiculous hall with its ridiculous overhead costs to another location nearby. Sounds fantastic!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top