What's happening at Norton? Sale to TVS, massive investment, new bikes...

Madnorton said:

Even TVS motor in India have more stringent criteria to meet before you can apply to be a dealer, seems Solihull need to use the same criteria.

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No other dealers want the headache !

Madnorton said:

Drove by a new dealership yesterday after dropping a bike back to the owner, South Downs Motorcycles, part of a car sales group. The new dealership is in the middle of second hand car sales forecourt on what was once a petrol station. So much for the premium and super premium bikes, if I spent that sort of money on new Norton I would expect a dealership to match the price, not some old quick paint job on the other end of a second hand car sales office. Clearly there is no quality control being done by Solihull, and they way they describe the place is worth reading before seeing the image on street view.
Look it up on Google Street View, it's called Petersfield car sales at Stroud.

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Madnorton said:

Even TVS motor in India have more stringent criteria to meet before you can apply to be a dealer, seems Solihull need to use the same criteria.

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kommando said:

Yes, full on luxury dealer material there. They need to use some weedkiller before the Triffids take over the forecourt.

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74ok said:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

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Not exactly a Ferrari dealership, but certainly not what you boys are so relishing in the description of either. Or am I missing something?

What if........

ALL OF THIS, (TVS purchase onward) was just a ruse


A great BIG hole, where money isn't easily accounted for....


A legal tax loophole for a GIANT company......


Or, some other way of "complying" with a requirement (manufacturing in U.K. as one possibility)


There are so many possibilities.

Luxury Car Dealer takes on Luxury Motorcycle brand.

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Reality

Welcome to Winchester Motor Group. We’re a leading representative of ŠKODA in Hampshire and beyond. As a family run business, delivering customer satisfaction through excellent service and the stunning ŠKODA model range is a core part of our business.

and a video of a single room which neglects to show the less salubrious outside.

looking forward to this

concours said:

What if........

ALL OF THIS, was just a ruse

A great BIG hole, where money isn't easily accounted for....


A legal tax loophole for a GIANT company......


Or, some other way of "complying" with a requirement (manufacturing in U.K.)


There are so many possibilities.

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74ok said:

looking forward to this

BSA Gold Star returns: More details | Canada Moto Guide

For now, it’s UK customers first, then India, then the rest of the world. So, it might be a while before we see them in Canada.

canadamotoguide.com

BSA Bringing Back Bantam, Lightning, and Thunderbolt Names

Like former rival Triumph, the newly revived and Indian-owned BSA has plans to bring many of its classic names back to life.

www.cycleworld.com

BSA Goldstar

A design icon of its era redefined to reclaim its glory in the current times, the new BSA Gold Star’s design is a befitting evolution of our most successful motorcycle.

www.bsacompany.co.uk

Dealerships

Clear Search

www.bsacompany.co.uk

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BSA+Goldstar+650

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kommando said:

Reality

Welcome to Winchester Motor Group. We’re a leading representative of ŠKODA in Hampshire and beyond. As a family run business, delivering customer satisfaction through excellent service and the stunning ŠKODA model range is a core part of our business.

and a video of a single room which neglects to show the less salubrious outside.

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kommando said:

Madnorton

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Guys, what point are you trying to make here? OK, not just relating to this latest dealership, but to most of your posts and post acknowlegements? You know, about Norton Solihull and modern era Norton bikes in general? You have got pretty vocal recently - no problem with that at all by the way!

I suppose what I’m saying is maybe less sniping from the sidelines and more substance would be constructive; less inuendo and inference and more incisive commentary!

Maybe stop working on your ‘vintage Norton’ 750/850 for a moment and outline your thoughts on the progress of ‘modern Norton’? As participating members of this ‘Modern Norton Motorcycles’ site.

Stephen_Spencer said:

Guys, what point are you trying to make here? OK, not just relating to this latest dealership, but to most of your posts and post acknowlegements? You know, about Norton Solihull and modern era Norton bikes in general? You have got pretty vocal recently - no problem with that at all by the way!

I suppose what I’m saying is maybe less sniping from the sidelines and more substance would be constructive; less inuendo and inference and more incisive commentary!

Maybe stop working on your ‘vintage Norton’ 750/850 for a moment and outline your thoughts on the progress of ‘modern Norton’? As participating members of this ‘Modern Norton Motorcycles’ site.

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Only time will tell, if my suspicion proves true.

There was no ambiguity in my post.

The emperor has no clothes moment has arrived.

kommando said:

The emperor has no clothes moment has arrived.

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concours said:

Only time will tell, if my suspicion proves true.

There was no ambiguity in my post.

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If you genuinely see stuff happening in the background that others might not see then fair enough. It’s an open forum.

Fact, TVS Motor has a standard for their showrooms in India that the above Norton outlet would not be able to achieve.

Fact, The Indian masters keep bleating on in public with 'premium and super premium' this is clearly not a showroom for premium or super premium anything.

Fact, the dealership I mention above is in a grubby old second hand car sales parking lot of a disused petrol garage, set back from the road behind a row of used cars the luxury dealership could not put on their on branded forecourts.

Fact, they advertise it a stop for motorcyclists, I have seen many bikes knocked over in car parks like this as they try to park to view the second hand cars.

Fact, the site is poorly laid out with no thought of the motorcyclist or what they are trying to achieve. With some thought and re-arrangement it could look 10 times better than the pop up only for Christmas shop it currently looks like.

Madnorton said:

Fact, TVS Motor has a standard for their showrooms in India that the above Norton outlet would not be able to achieve.

Fact, The Indian masters keep bleating on in public with 'premium and super premium' this is clearly not a showroom for premium or super premium anything.

Fact, the dealership I mention above is in a grubby old second hand car sales parking lot of a disused petrol garage, set back from the road behind a row of used cars the luxury dealership could not put on their on branded forecourts.

Fact, they advertise it a stop for motorcyclists, I have seen many bikes knocked over in car parks like this as they try to park to view the second hand cars.

Fact, the site is poorly laid out with no thought of the motorcyclist or what they are trying to achieve. With some thought and re-arrangement it could look 10 times better than the pop up only for Christmas shop it currently looks like.

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Harsh......but true. Lets just say the place lacks kerb side appeal.

Vernon240 said:

Harsh......but true. Lets just say the place lacks kerb side appeal.

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That would’n have the desired impact Vernon!

Stephen_Spencer said:

That would’n have the desired impact Vernon!

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Probably not. Unless it has had a major update, the place looks like a bit of a dump. Given Norton seemed to be so picky about dealers and took their 'Atelier' approach...it seems more like 'we'll go with whoever will take us..second hand car dealership? No problem' now. I wonder if they will offer service? Having said all this, given the history, it would be a significant gamble for anyone to invest in a Norton dealership. If they do well, maybe they can do something with the site.....but right now, I don't think it has the desired appeal. I typically do a google street view to check a location...what I saw would have me looking elsewhere unless very local.

I think the best that Norton can hope for at this point of their corporate evolution is if an existing dealer (Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Suzuki/etc...,) would be willing to take on Norton products in a very limited manner as "another brand" to see if it gets any traction from customers. This way customers see the product next to other successful brands. Let's face it, the Norton brand was badly tarnished by the previous owner, overcoming this will require new product, building a whole new reputation. They can claim that their intent is to focus on the premium market, but until they produce the goods, it's kind of ridiculous to make statements like that.

Build the machines that people want, make them better than the competition in some manner, then propagate the claim that Norton are a premium brand. Then folks will come, and admire and buy the product, not laugh at the claims.

BritTwit said:

I think the best that Norton can hope for at this point of their corporate evolution is if an existing dealer (Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Suzuki/etc...,) would be willing to take on Norton products in a very limited manner as "another brand" to see if it gets any traction from customers. This way customers see the product next to other successful brands. Let's face it, the Norton brand was badly tarnished by the previous owner, overcoming this will require new product, building a whole new reputation. They can claim that their intent is to focus on the premium market, but until they produce the goods, it's kind of ridiculous to make statements like that.

Build the machines that people want, make them better than the competition in some manner, then propagate the claim that Norton are a premium brand. Then folks will come, and admire and buy the product, not laugh at the claims.

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Maybe.

concours said:

Maybe.

2024 MT-07 - Specifications | Yamaha Motorsports USA

Featuring a distinctive next generation look and features, as well as an advanced twin‑cylinder engine. Experience the best balance of performance and value the Dark Side has to offer. - The Yamaha 2024 MT-07

yamahamotorsports.com

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Seems like a pretty good performing machine, and 406 lbs fully loaded.
But of course, modern - god awful ugly aesthetics.

BritTwit said:

Seems like a pretty good performing machine, and 406 lbs fully loaded.
But of course, modern - god awful ugly aesthetics.

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Agreed.

This one is less robotic looking.

other vids

https://www.youtube.com/@NortonUnofficial/videos

concours said:

Agreed.

This one is less robotic looking.

2024 XSR700 | Yamaha Motorsports USA

Modern classic styling and crossplane concept twin for fun performance, all built to be uniquely customized. - The Yamaha 2024 XSR700

yamahamotorsports.com

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Actually, that styling is better. Modern classic styling.

Prospective buyers who want best performance for pound may well buy an MT07 (awesome bike). Not sure that will be the same guy looking at a Norton though; as discussed already (a lot). The pound (£/lb) per performance argument sort of misses the point of where Norton is currently and where they’re reportedly heading - whether we agree with that direction or not.

They’re building limited numbers of the current lineup - as such you have to think never expecting to sell large quantities. More a taster/stomach filler, until the cooks can deliver the main meal (to steal Stu’s analogy). Concentrating on marque (re) building and trying to establish a quality profile I guess, rather than getting ‘traction’ with numbers out of the door.

They clearly had to provide some detail of future intent (and initial model offerings) or that gap to the new lineup would have been very large indeed! Gaps get filled - it’s human nature to be critical.

I think that the ‘best Norton can hope for’ at this stage is a bit of clear air - and hope not to get buried by what remains of their own fan base (post Garner) and detractors which seem many and varied. If that happens they may well end up being stillborn which would be a travesty.