What’s the best none Norton Norton ?

BritTwit said:
True, but every tool has its use.
Cruising is the Harley forte.
That's why they offer so many models in a similar style.
If you're not a cruising oriented rider, Harley probably is not going to be your cup of tea.

The factory is restructuring currently because they got the message from the market:
Their old stuff is not selling as it did 10 year or so ago.
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The problem is, nearly all of their bikes are the same with just slightly different options.
it’s like comparing a Chevy Tahoe to a GMC Denali. Same vehicle with different options and name for the same vehicle. Of the 40 bikes they make, why the hell cant they at least make 1 or 2 naked type bikes and continue producing them. The Bronx was heading in the right direction (not something I found good looking) but it was finally something different. And what did they do? They dropped it before it even went to market. Stupid.
 
Went to my local BMW dealer this morning (looking for riding gear) and tripped over these, first ones I’ve seen in the flesh.

Not really my cup of tea, but respect to BMW for being so bold. They do look extremely well built. The engine is a tad on the large side, almost a caricature, kinda looks like it’d be happier with a big wooden prop on the front of it and bolted into a bi-plane !

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Voodooo said:
The problem is, nearly all of their bikes are the same with just slightly different options.
it’s like comparing a Chevy Tahoe to a GMC Denali. Same vehicle with different options and name for the same vehicle. Of the 40 bikes they make, why the hell cant they at least make 1 or 2 naked type bikes and continue producing them. The Bronx was heading in the right direction (not something I found good looking) but it was finally something different. And what did they do? They dropped it before it even went to market. Stupid.
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I think Harley is changing its traditional thinking.
The Pan America is a departure from their norm. Not my cup of tee, but adventure bikes are a big seller today.
Before their financial restructuring they were also planning in 2020 - the Street fighter 975 twin which I did find interesting.
All with their new liquid cooled DOHC Vtwin motors.

So, change is coming in Milwaukee, slowly, but is coming.
 
Thoughts ?
seen this on Instagram. The company is going to produce these kits for the speed twin.
What’s the best none Norton Norton ?
 
Looks like a perfect way of taking one perfectly rideable and comfortable motorcycle and turning it into a 10 mile max wrist ache inducer !!

And of course, it begs the question: why not just buy a Thruxton ?!?
 
Fast Eddie said:
Looks like a perfect way of taking one perfectly rideable and comfortable motorcycle and turning it into a 10 mile max wrist ache inducer !!

And of course, it begs the question: why not just buy a Thruxton ?!?
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I think it’s more towards the owners who already have a speed twin.
The faster you ride the more it takes the pressure off your wrist lol.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Went to my local BMW dealer this morning (looking for riding gear) and tripped over these, first ones I’ve seen in the flesh.

Not really my cup of tea, but respect to BMW for being so bold. They do look extremely well built. The engine is a tad on the large side, almost a caricature, kinda looks like it’d be happier with a big wooden prop on the front of it and bolted into a bi-plane !

View attachment 18936
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Not my cup of coffee either... or draft beer... or bike come to that. Those cylinders are hideously huge, I would wager that the accessory line will include clip-on picnic seats to put on them lol
 
Voodooo said:
Thoughts ?
seen this on Instagram. The company is going to produce these kits for the speed twin. View attachment 18940
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Looks pretty cool, especially the bikini faring and seat/tail combo.
Been considering a Speed Twin for some time now.
But clip-ons are out for me, I prefer low bars, or M bars.
Also the exhaust can looks like a rear shock remote reservoir heater.
I do like the straight through headers to the cans, that eliminates the X pipe and cats.
The chin fairing might lead to tears around town on bumpy pavement.
 
Love it. If it rolled into a bikers spot I would be straight over to have a look. Love the bikini fairing and seat unit and like the exhaust configuration. Takes what is just another mass produced Japanese clone and individualises it somewhat (no offence to owners!).

Awesome that we mainly have opposing views. Swat’ makes bikes so awesome! Wouldn’t normally cross the car park to look at a modern Ducati, but a guy turned up on a Paul Smart Ducati this morning. Never seen one in the flesh! Very nice.
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Wouldn’t normally cross the car park to look at a modern Ducati, but a guy turned up on a Paul Smart Ducati this morning. Never seen one in the flesh! Very nice.
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You sure they qualify as a ‘modern’ Ducati ?!

They are nice, if a bit Christmas tree esque with the brightly coloured styling. But they are one of the few bikes that would make your CR feel comfortable ! I nearly dropped mine once as the numb hand syndrome was so bad I‘d lost feeling / control in my hands FFS !

Handling and performance was better than I expected though. Good fun on the track...

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Hi there is a track test of the Rennstall Speed Twin in Motorrad Magazin this month. Gets a good report for handling vs standard but it costs a small fortune. the exhaust is not mentioned. I think they are Hat Tech pipes.
 
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MxMartin said:
I was at my local watering hole today and there were 3 new Royal Enfields which looked pretty good, they departed within minutes of each other, firing up without hesitation or missing a beat and thundered off with a classic twin zorst note, deep and loud. I was mightily impressed.
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As you mentioned, these were newish bikes.
Wait a few years until the British weather puts the gremlins in there, unless they are fair weather riders. You might be singing a different tune.
 
Fast Eddie said:
You sure they qualify as a ‘modern’ Ducati ?!

They are nice, if a bit Christmas tree esque with the brightly coloured styling. But they are one of the few bikes that would make your CR feel comfortable ! I nearly dropped mine once as the numb hand syndrome was so bad I‘d lost feeling / control in my hands FFS !

Handling and performance was better than I expected though. Good fun on the track...

View attachment 18950
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Hey Eddie, badly worded! I meant that I would’nt go out of my way to check out a modern Ducati but would for a classic. This guy had’nt really looked after his though, it was scruffy and full of corrosion - a travesty by any measure. He’d dropped his on the RH side trashing the pipes, whilst doing track days in Brisbane. Won’t be lending him the Norton!
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Hey Eddie, badly worded! I meant that I would’nt go out of my way to check out a modern Ducati but would for a classic. This guy had’nt really looked after his though, it was scruffy and full of corrosion - a travesty by any measure. He’d dropped his on the RH side trashing the pipes, whilst doing track days in Brisbane. Won’t be lending him the Norton!
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To be honest, I don’t think they were finished in a way that stood up to corrosion well at all. Mine was a real low mileage example and had hardly seen rain etc, yet still the engine paint was starting to lift in places. Kinda made me think that if it was actually USED to earn its keep, it’d look pretty bad pretty quickly!

I wonder if your man dropped it due to the numb hands syndrome ;)
 
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