USA 961 Sales.. (2011)

Matt Spencer said:
If the Gear shift worked .*

To prove it can haul the coal , it'd be in everyones intrest if they let the journalists loose on one , trans European tour
or the like . ?
To me half wit models and rock stars might not shave , but youd think he could afford a razor , or grow a beard .Besides
being half asleep at breakfast went out of fasion 20 years ago . Overauls and split fingers might impress more people ?

* was said at Cathcarts rant ' to be sorted ' , levers as vertical as horizontal . a new First ! :shock:


Not read it yet but in this months CBG there is a feature comparing the new Norton to a real one made back in the 70's.
 
JimC said:
I think there are many potential buyers for the new Norton, if, and only if, there were a dealer network with real bikes for sale on the showroom floor. Baring that, I doubt that deposits on yet to be manufactured bikes will be enough to sustain the company.

One of the neatest bikes I've ridden in the past five years is a Moto Guzzi Norge. Great looking, great sound, gobs of torque, properly setup for touring without losing the sport bike feeling. Were there a larger established dealer network I may have been enticed to buy one. Unfortunately, for Moto Guzzi, I was not about to part with nearly $15,000 for a motorcycle that didn't have a readily available source of dealer support. I went with a BMW, instead.

If the lack of bikes is not related directly to the company being under-capitalised, then the seeming complete lack of machines for sale may well be to do with the factory needing to rectify faults, which would probably finish Norton as a going concern if the bikes were sold in any numbers.
 
Could someone tell me how much the 961's are listing for here in the US? The specs and UK prices including VAT on the official site show a lot of bike for the money. Maybe too much. How can they do it?
 
So the "cheap version" is $17,000.00 (but does not exist) and the "deluxe version" is $19,500.00 (but it does not exist either). I wish them luck but this sure seems like an odd business plan.

Vince
 
john robert bould said:
...9000 cars built.... never seen one in the flesh

when I lived in South Florida, my neighbor had one. Not a great deal of power IIRC, but neat looking. For a time the prices dropped pretty low on them over here in the States.

As far as the new norton concern. I won't hold my breath. If they manage to come through in the end and start producing sellable machines and a supply of parts, maybe. For the money though, I'd rather pick up a new Triumph Thruxton and keep the extra 10 grand for road trips.

RSR
 
I'd rather pick up a new Triumph Thruxton and keep the extra 10 grand for road trips.

You won't be sorry!! Rode mine today with the wife down the coast 35 miles and back and I can tell you they really ride nice. Never will replace the Commandos, But when you just want to get on and ride a newer bike is nice. I have a buddy that has over 75,000 miles on his Triumph and still going strong, They really are built well. I hope the new Norton's will be too.
 
An old girlfriend's mom's boyfriend had a Delorean and left it at the house one time when they left town, being the responsible guy that I am I took it for a "test drive" and it was COMPLETELY disappointing!! It had no torque, no power, bad brakes, it was "rattley" and it handled badly but it looked great.

Vince
 
L.A.B. said:
grandpaul said:
L.A.B. said:
Continuous production..that is, except for the Meriden sit-in, and a period of several months between Meriden closing and the start of Harris Bonnevile production, the year-or-so gap (1989) between the end of Harris production and the Hinckley factory starting up.

I'll give you that (production pause during strike), but the company continued to exist while the workers struck.

Now you are changing what you said.

No, I added "but" with the rationale.
 
The most positive thing Norton has STOPPED doing is giving "anticipated delivery dates" for U.S. bikes.

The best move they've made in 3 years (so far).
 
Compare it to a previous interview with this gentleman where he predicted deliveries to the US in spring this year. I take it you believe him?
 
After reading that article I dont think I'll be getting one soon.

"We're not going to be leaders in absolute volume, we will be leaders in the contribution to our dealer's bottom line."

WTF!
 
speirmoor said:
After reading that article I dont think I'll be getting one soon.

"We're not going to be leaders in absolute volume, we will be leaders in the contribution to our dealer's bottom line."

WTF!
Have i missed something in the translation :?: .Lab please put this into plain English!
 
speirmoor said:
After reading that article I dont think I'll be getting one soon.

"We're not going to be leaders in absolute volume, we will be leaders in the contribution to our dealer's bottom line."

WTF!

...never mind trying to be leaders in customer satisfaction or product quality.
 
john robert bould said:
speirmoor said:
After reading that article I dont think I'll be getting one soon.

"We're not going to be leaders in absolute volume, we will be leaders in the contribution to our dealer's bottom line."

WTF!
Have i missed something in the translation :?: .Lab please put this into plain English!

'Bottom line' as I understand it, usually refers to 'net profit', so I think what he's actually saying is that although the 961 will not be a high-volume seller, sales should still provide a profitable return for dealers....or something like that?
 
Well it is Dealer News aimed at Dealers so I guess its normal for them to discuss their profits.I just wish they didn't flaunt it as openly as they they do.It sucks they'd rather keep profits high rather than give better value to the punters. I'll buy one used in about 10 years instead
 
as a norton fan and follower of all things norton since i bought a new interstate in the 70s and own no 6 961se also had dreer vr880 and 2 cnw nortons
every time i drive past the entry to NORTON in donington and see the logo
it makes me happy , but mr garner's stewardship of the name has not, i have met him a few times , but i fear things will not continue for too long and
the dark shadows of the british motorcycle industry are begining to lenghten and block out the light.
and we all know what happened to the bad guy in GHOST....................
 
Back
Top