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

Missed this article first time around. Interesting to hear an Indian perspective. Nothing new - short read.

My guess remains - premium larger capacity machines released in UK/US/EU, prior to any lower capacity budget models released out of Honsur. But what do I know:rolleyes:!!

ackodrive.com

Norton's First Bike In 2025: What Could It Be?

A sporty sub-500 cc roadster that adheres to Norton’s sporty genes
ackodrive.com
 
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Stephen_Spencer said:
Missed this article first time around. Interesting to hear an Indian perspective. Nothing new - short read.

My guess remains - premium larger capacity machines released in UK/US/EU, prior to any any lower capacity budget models released out of Honsur. But what do I know:rolleyes:!!

ackodrive.com

Norton's First Bike In 2025: What Could It Be?

A sporty sub-500 cc roadster that adheres to Norton’s sporty genes
ackodrive.com
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Is this actually a real story or one of those AI stories we are seeing on other things as well? Seems like no one is covering this, which makes it suspect, along with the fact this"author " claims to be the " Chairman of the World Car Awards " which again is another self-serving nobody website.
 
City Garage said:
Is this actually a real story or one of those AI stories we are seeing on other things as well? Seems like no one is covering this, which makes it suspect, along with the fact this"author " claims to be the " Chairman of the World Car Awards " which again is another self-serving nobody website.
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Difficult to tell CG - there is a little skewed detail included but there’s also opinion based commentary. Did’nt see anything different here, by way of content. Getting more and more difficult to tell what is legitimate though!

That said, the author appears in the included FE Guerilla vid - so maybe not AI.
 
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Stephen_Spencer said:
Difficult to tell CG - there is a little skewed detail included but there’s also opinion based commentary. Did’nt see anything different here, by way of content. Getting more and more difficult to tell what is legitimate though!

That said, the author appears in the included FE Guerilla vid - so maybe not AI.
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It sounds like a lot of waffle to me. Typical AI. As for the RE in the video, - 185kg for a 450 single, is the frame made of lead? In what way is it “retro”?
Sorry, can’t sleep so just letting out some frustration.
 
hybridracer said:
It sounds like a lot of waffle to me. Typical AI. As for the RE in the video, - 185kg for a 450 single, is the frame made of lead? In what way is it “retro”?
Sorry, can’t sleep so just letting out some frustration.
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Yep, definitely some waffle in there!! Not sure it’s AI though.
 
I was told last summer by the AD that the first of the new range of bikes would be a £20K plus sports bike.. ''think Ducati'', and in time there would be a ADV bike etc using the same engine. Even back then they had seen prototypes at the factory, though of course were sworn the secrecy. Then the TVS Indian built 'small' Norton would be 450 single, and finally there would be a middle weight range.. perhaps the latter will be where the new Commando will be found?
 
TVS own Norton.
TVS make BMW 310’s, 450’s etc
And sell them in other markets branded differently.
Entry level Navigator???
450 International
650???
 
Thunderbolt888 said:
TVS own Norton.
TVS make BMW 310’s, 450’s etc
And sell them in other markets branded differently.
Entry level Navigator???
450 International
650???
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Bharat automotive show 2025 - look at the TVS offerings, some strange lash ups that cosmetically look nice, but the engines look lost. In the current economic climate a +20K bike would be commercial suicide, 2 or 3 years ago it might have had a chance. These first bikes I think will be along the lines of what TVS know and do best.
 
Madnorton said:
Bharat automotive show 2025 - look at the TVS offerings, some strange lash ups that cosmetically look nice, but the engines look lost. In the current economic climate a +20K bike would be commercial suicide, 2 or 3 years ago it might have had a chance. These first bikes I think will be along the lines of what TVS know and do best.
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You’re betting on the biggest U-turn in Norton’s history (ok - a bit of hyperbole there?) - contrary to everything they’ve announced over the past three years!?

Good luck with that! I’ll take £961 to the contrary, if you’re taking odds!!🤣 !!
 
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If anyone is getting the ‘hurry up and wait’ for spares/info’ from the dealers, Norton has added a ‘Non UK Enquires’ option to their contacts page. Can’t remember seeing it before - may be wrong.

No doubt mainly for the sale of accesories and merch’, but presents an opportunity to communicate directly with Norton. No idea how responsive they’d be to spares requests from overseas - given current 961 sales volumes.

IMG_1468.png
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
If anyone is getting the ‘hurry up and wait’ for spares/info’ from the dealers, Norton has added a ‘Non UK Enquires’ option to their contacts page. Can’t remember seeing it before - may be wrong.

No doubt mainly for the sale of accesories and merch’, but presents an opportunity to communicate directly with Norton. No idea how responsive they’d be to spares requests from overseas - given current 961 sales volumes.

View attachment 118354
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I tried to contact Norton about a test ride.
Both myself and a mate have bikes on order.
They haven’t had the good grace to reply, it’s been a week.
So we will go through the dealers, who sell £500k’s worth a month.
 
Thunderbolt888 said:
I tried to contact Norton about a test ride.
Both myself and a mate have bikes on order.
They haven’t had the good grace to reply, it’s been a week.
So we will go through the dealers, who sell £500k’s worth a month.
Click to expand...
I think that the recent success of the PCP deals means that the factory will be FLAT OUT in a way they have never experienced before. It’ll be all hands on deck. There’ll be issues with suppliers, parts shortages on the line, all sorts of shit hitting the fan.

The good news is they’re getting bikes out there and on the road.

The bad news is… don’t expect anyone there to have time to pick up phones or call folk back !!

It was always a tad naive to expect the factory to double up as a customer experience centre. An efficient factory needs to focus on production and let dealers deal with the punters.
 
Fast Eddie said:
I think that the recent success of the PCP deals means that the factory will be FLAT OUT in a way they have never experienced before. It’ll be all hands on deck. There’ll be issues with suppliers, parts shortages on the line, all sorts of shit hitting the fan.

The good news is they’re getting bikes out there and on the road.

The bad news is… don’t expect anyone there to have time to pick up phones or call folk back !!

It was always a tad naive to expect the factory to double up as a customer experience centre. An efficient factory needs to focus on production and let dealers deal with the punters.
Click to expand...
Had to go directly as the dealer doesn’t have a demo.
Will go through the dealer again.
 
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