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

Honestly, for a track bike, a EV isn’t a bad idea.
Cheaper to maintain.
They can’t kick you off the track for loud exhaust.
Instant torque.
Bike balance doesn’t change like a ICE bike as fuel is being burnt.
All fine, I'm sure.
But, Nigel if you do buy the new Norton EV, and decide to use it for track days, please be considerate of Norton owners at the track:

1. Please remove any jagged bits of plastic bodywork that are designed to provide a spaceship type appearance to your new Norton EV.

2. If your new Norton EV has any unfortunate badges like "Electric", or "EV", or "E-Motorcycle", please cover them with the correct classic "Commando" decal.

3. Have a loud soundtrack of a parallel twin playing on your EV while circulating about the track. Riding a Norton that sounds like a Dremel tool would be grossly inappropriate.
 
I think we all wanted it to survive. More so than TVS. After all, in the beginning they didn’t want to offer it.
You can almost imagine the tension in the meeting room, when someone had to tell Doctor Bob that the 650s were a no-go, and the only thing they've got to offer right now is a dusty 961 sat in the corner of the store room that they had already told the world it had seen its time 🙈
 
Nah, they knew the 961 was done, of course it was done....its as old as the hills, and the market has moved on, not only with many major manufacturers also offering factory retros, but also with the scene moving on. Skinner had sketched an impressive future line up of bikes.
This is what we have been talking about. The 961 is a late 90's product with late 90's parts and design that appealed to an already passed-up audience.

Ive seen the same thing happen in the vintage bike area. Its also starting to get talked about here. https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/retiring-from-norton-onweship.37996/page-4#post-642600
 
this topic is flying round the forum, especially considering how little faith most have in signs of progress. Being optimistic, maybe there is big effort on the new models front, as we were told at January visit. We are clearly not going to be told much till very near any launch date, judging by past evidence.
And well done for ‘PR’ suggestions!
 
500 miles.......... 🏁
The point wasn’t too difficult to understand.

The Birmingham bikes seem to be having a strong start (with a notable exeption).

The Donington bikes were problematic from the outset.

Medium/long term tests will reveal the reliability (or otherwise) of the SP, likely inside of the warranty period.

500 miles........……………………………………..……………………………………………………🏁
 
The point wasn’t too difficult to understand.

The Birmingham bikes seem to be having a strong start (with a notable exeption).

The Donington bikes were problematic from the outset.

Medium/long term tests will reveal the reliability (or otherwise) of the SP, likely inside of the warranty period.

500 miles........……………………………………..……………………………………………………🏁
Stephen. It’s too late. The ship has sailed. You’re trying to hang onto something that is dead.

Please tell me this.
Why can’t we get spares?
Why do they refuse to sell to Donington bike owners?
Even if I didn’t own a 961 and wanted to purchase parts say as a display piece. They still wouldn’t sell them to you or I.

It wouldn’t matter if the new 961 was flawless, they won’t be making them long, and they refuse to provide any information on their future.

As I asked before, how can a brand new small company like Buell provide endless information, have demos, taking orders, made in the USA, etc and yet, TVS Norton refuses to do the same?

TVS Norton has all the control and yet they failed to keep potential customers alive. They haven’t sold nearly anything, they post no updates, they seem to have zero plan. Would you buy a new bike from them today knowing this?

Having a historical brand name means nothing if you can’t deliver on it.
 
The 961 is unfortunately so low in numbers that the aftermarket industry ain’t interested. Plus, of course, some aftermarket providers have been strong armed or ostracised by both Garner and TVS.

So, when the factory don’t then provide spares, or service parts either, it is a big issue.

There are people looking at the new bikes, and at the spare parts situation for older bikes, and thinking “will that be me after 2 years”? And obviously, this isn’t going to influence their buying decision positively.

Also, it won’t be long until new 961 buyers are also legacy owners.

So this legacy spare issue ain’t going away.

Dr Bob, here’s a suggestion for you…
Instead of getting stroppy with Stu Bodicote, banning him from riding bikes, refusing to sell him parts, etc… USE him!

You could use someone like Stu as your legacy bike service provider. He can help you understand what fits what and what doesn’t, he can deal with legacy owners if you don’t want to. He could become your entire legacy owner parts and service dept. Look at the relationship between David Silver Spares and Honda if you want some inspiration.

Whats a pain in the arse for you, is his core competency and core business.

It would be the very definition of a win - win !

This would be a much better solution than trying to pretend that Stu, and legacy owners, and their pesky spares needs, don’t exist !
 
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The Norton Unofficial video looks pretty official to me, I'm sure he would have needed permission from them to use some of that content. It looks like the factory are misleading you tube viewers, yet again not the greatest idea.
 
The 961 is unfortunately so low in numbers that the aftermarket industry ain’t interested. Plus, of course, some aftermarket providers have been strong armed or ostracised by both Garner and TVS.

So, when the factory don’t then provide spares, or service parts either, it is a big issue.

There are people looking at the new bikes, and at the spare parts situation for older bikes, and thinking “will that be me after 2 years”? And obviously, this isn’t going to influence their buying decision positively.

Also, it won’t be long until new 961 buyers are also legacy owners.

So this legacy spare issue ain’t going away.

Dr Bob, here’s a suggestion for you…
Instead of getting stroppy with Stu Bodicote, banning him from riding bikes, refusing to sell him parts, etc… USE him!

You could use someone like Stu as your legacy bike service provider. He can help you understand what fits what and what doesn’t, he can deal with legacy owners if you don’t want to. He could become your entire legacy owner parts and service dept. Look at the relationship between David Silver Spares and Honda if you want some inspiration.

Whats a pain in the arse for you, is his core competency !

This would be a much better solution than trying to pretend that Stu, and legacy owners, don’t exist !
keep your ‘enemies’ close to you , as they say....
 
The 961 is unfortunately so low in numbers that the aftermarket industry ain’t interested. Plus, of course, some aftermarket providers have been strong armed or ostracised by both Garner and TVS.

So, when the factory don’t then provide spares, or service parts either, it is a big issue.

There are people looking at the new bikes, and at the spare parts situation for older bikes, and thinking “will that be me after 2 years”? And obviously, this isn’t going to influence their buying decision positively.

Also, it won’t be long until new 961 buyers are also legacy owners.

So this legacy spare issue ain’t going away.

Dr Bob, here’s a suggestion for you…
Instead of getting stroppy with Stu Bodicote, banning him from riding bikes, refusing to sell him parts, etc… USE him!

You could use someone like Stu as your legacy bike service provider. He can help you understand what fits what and what doesn’t, he can deal with legacy owners if you don’t want to. He could become your entire legacy owner parts and service dept. Look at the relationship between David Silver Spares and Honda if you want some inspiration.

Whats a pain in the arse for you, is his core competency and core business.

It would be the very definition of a win - win !

This would be a much better solution than trying to pretend that Stu, and legacy owners, and their pesky spares needs, don’t exist !
Cheers for the sentiment, but I'm quite sure Mr Radhakrishnan & Dr Robert Hentschel have never heard about me, let alone know anything about me. End of the day, Radhakrishnan didn't even come to the UK to sign the deal when he bought Norton....he sent someone else, to my memory. So a grease monkey working in a shed at the bottom of his garden in Derby, is no where near any of those guys radar screens 😂

Nah, this is pretty much down to a few individuals whose contracts transfered under TUPE ie people from the old factory. They fell very lucky with Norton, as I'm quite confident when I say that I very much doubt they would have gotten their current positions at Norton had they applied for a job with the new owners.

Big Indian firms like to be in full control of every aspect of their businesses.....its most probably why things take so long with parts now. You won't be dealing with a parts boy who can check stock, sell it and pick it....I can almost guarantee that he'd need to get permission to do so...maybe even from someone in India.

The way they did treat me that particular day though was the motivation that pushed me more.....I'm that stubborn. I sent them a Christmas card last year, thanking them for their support, and it was pretty sincere as had they had opened their service workshop to Donington bikes, I wouldnt have gained so many customers in such a short space of time. Their actions have now given me and my family a life where we have the flexibility with time to do more together. And as such, I'm forever grateful to them & I will most certainly send them another card this year too. I won't hold my breath in receiving one back.
 
They probably threw it in the bin tbh 🤷🏻‍♂️
 

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The point wasn’t too difficult to understand.

The Birmingham bikes seem to be having a strong start (with a notable exeption).

The Donington bikes were problematic from the outset.

Medium/long term tests will reveal the reliability (or otherwise) of the SP, likely inside of the warranty period.

500 miles........……………………………………..……………………………………………………🏁
Lol, the point was understood. I was mocking the fanbois that have to WRITE ABOUT their 500 mile service, and how not that long ago, 500 miles was done in the first weekend. Change the oil at home & keep on thrashing until the first scheduled valve adjustment.

To require a purchaser to bring a vehicle back in 500 miles shows
A) lack of confidence in the product
B) shameless bilking of customers time & money

Your implication that your intellect is superior isn't hard to understand either. Fits the pattern.
 
Lol, the point was understood. I was mocking the fanbois that have to WRITE ABOUT their 500 mile service, and how not that long ago, 500 miles was done in the first weekend. Change the oil at home & keep on thrashing until the first scheduled valve adjustment.

To require a purchaser to bring a vehicle back in 500 miles shows
A) lack of confidence in the product
B) shameless bilking of customers time & money

Your implication that your intellect is superior isn't hard to understand either. Fits the pattern.
I misunderstood what your flag was supposed to mean - you just misunderstood my first comment (a bita sarcasm - posted with wink emoji when I hit the button).

Shit happens!
 
The title of this thread is….

“What’s happening at Norton”

The honest answer is….absolutely nothing.

Change my mind Stephen
No chance of me changing your mind Scott, we are both aware of that immovable object😂- why would I even try! It was made up long ago.

With respect, I believe (if honest) you would agree that you have no capacity to see beyond your personal experiences since purchasing your Nortons - and how that has shaped your outlook on the future.

To answer your question, I believe that Norton is doing exactly what they told us they intended to do, on multiple occasions, on multiple forums. They are developing a new model lineup that will include a range of ICE motorcycles (twins) and a Norton EV (or range of EV’s). Something for everyone is one of the usual quotes - I take that to mean price range.

In the interim, they are trying to sell re-engineered stop gap models inherited from Donington. By design partly to keep the restless natives at bay.

IMG_8932.jpegIMG_8931.jpeg

Why are they not actively promoting future models at this moment in time? Because Norton has learnt lessons from mistakes of the past. This was explained to you personally Scott, not so long ago. We have discussed it many times.

IMG_6777.PNG


That leaves us with a choice right? We choose to believe that this multi-national automotive giant has a plan for the future - intent to significantly expand their product range and export when the timing is right (and the situation permits).

Or, we choose to reject (or disbelieve) that narrative and fill the (explained) void in information with crushingly repetitive and speculative negativity. If anybody could explain to what end, I’d be fascinated to know.

I’m pretty certain of one thing though. They are not sat around dreaming up ways in which they can screw over Donington owners.

They are far from faultless but I believe that this forum, and a significant proportion of its content, bears absolutely no resemblance to the effort I suspect is being spent in Solihull in order to make Birmingham Norton a success.

My thoughts only.
 
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