WHAT'S THIS THEN......

The JPS looks like a zebra crossing the stripes need to be a little more subtle (thinner) want-say to much about the yellow Commando it speaks for itself 🥱 bit disappointed to be honest expecting a bit more.
 
Personally, i think they all look awful... and it smells of desperation. It can't have cost Norton any more money to do a fancy paintjob (almost as bad as the later Triumph ones... way too trendy for me) or put black forks, etc on the bikes-then they charge a fortune for them. ( i asked if they could put the black bits on my new 961- they refused).
 
City Garage said:
ok where are the 10 paragraphs about how much you love the colors and that the stripes are perfect spacing etc??? 😂 Just making fun...😇
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Still writing CG - should be ready to post next week:oops:!!

….…..in the interim, comments are as expected regardless of what the colours were🤣!!

I guess to mark an anniversary there needed to be a nod to historically significant models, whilst being sufficiently dissimilar to current models. I think they’ve produced a couple of great looking bikes and a couple of howlers! That’s what ya call balance CG!😉
 
Stephen_Spencer said:
Still writing CG - should be ready to post next week:oops:!!

….…..in the interim, comments are as expected regardless of what the colours were🤣!!

I guess to mark an anniversary there needed to be a nod to historically significant models, whilst being sufficiently dissimilar to current models. I think they’ve produced a couple of great looking bikes and a couple of howlers! That’s what ya call balance CG!😉
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I'm just baffled by it all at this point. Also, I was surprised to see an all-alloy engine as I thought they were all black cylinders now.
 
961al said:
Personally, i think they all look awful... and it smells of desperation. It can't have cost Norton any more money to do a fancy paintjob (almost as bad as the later Triumph ones... way too trendy for me) or put black forks, etc on the bikes-then they charge a fortune for them. ( i asked if they could put the black bits on my new 961- they refused).
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Interesting. They refused because you wanted it for free, or because they don´t have them/cannot make them?
 
City Garage said:
I'm just baffled by it all at this point. Also, I was surprised to see an all-alloy engine as I thought they were all black cylinders now.
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Difficult timing I guess CG. They are not in a position to release the new models yet and I doubt whether they would have wanted to do so starting with an anniversary special. But the 125 anniversary it is, and they couldn’t let that pass without marking it - so what other option.

On the upside it broadens choice if not range. The heritage/limited edition angle will appeal to some - others (the majority IMO) will likely opt for the original spec - we’re talking low numbers here. It also shows activity, whilst from the outside it appears that there is little.

On the down side it adds cost to already (very) expensive machines and creates a ‘limited edition special’ within a ‘limited edition special’ for the V4 - does that broaden the appeal or obscure it; not sure.

Bottom line, it’s exposure to the biking public and press in a lull period prior to the back end of 24. That can only be a good thing. Imagine how disinterested some may be at the NEC this year without something ‘new’ to look at.

Beauty, eye, beholder…….

IMG_9215.jpeg
 
Interesting comparison - maybe something Solihull could have learned from Donington. Choice matters and will generally broaden appeal? Especially when you are talking about a bike that sells principally on its aesthetic.

When you are building to order, how difficult is it to switch (paint) production? I don’t know. A cost benefit analysis Norton will have carried out I guess.

WHAT'S THIS THEN......
 
CR961 said:
Interesting. They refused because you wanted it for free, or because they don´t have them/cannot make them?
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Nothing to do with wanting anything for free. I asked if they could fit black forks back when I was seriously interested, and I made it clear I’d pay any extra cost (as I realised it would have to be a special order from Ohlins) but they point blank refused. So I didn’t even bother asking about blacking out any other parts.

I know they’re not a custom shop, but all it would have taken was an email to Ohlins! Given the low volume / hand built nature of the operations, I was surprised and disappointed. I had my credit card ready too …
 
Changes of colour add cost? they might do when dealing with a large volume that needs a change in production line, but the volume that Solihull deal with this should cheap and easy to do. Paint mixed by 0.25L increments and easy communication with the existing paint facility should mean it is a, quick and easy to implement and b, should not add that much in extra cost of obtaining the paint mix in the special colours. They certainly don't add the hike in costs advertised.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Nothing to do with wanting anything for free. I asked if they could fit black forks back when I was seriously interested, and I made it clear I’d pay any extra cost (as I realised it would have to be a special order from Ohlins) but they point blank refused. So I didn’t even bother asking about blacking out any other parts.

I know they’re not a custom shop, but all it would have taken was an email to Ohlins! Given the low volume / hand built nature of the operations, I was surprised and disappointed. I had my credit card ready too …
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At Donington, all the forks arrived gold. The black ones were dismantled, then sent off to Mansfield Platers to be anodised black. If you look closely, you can still make out the etching where it said ohlins in white before. This was usually covered by an ohlins decal, or a Road Holder badge that was stuck on with double sided tape....wasn't a fan of that.
 
Stu Bodycote said:
At Donington, all the forks arrived gold. The black ones were dismantled, then sent off to Mansfield Platers to be anodised black. If you look closely, you can still make out the etching where it said ohlins in white before. This was usually covered by an ohlins decal, or a Road Holder badge that was stuck on with double sided tape....wasn't a fan of that.
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Stu, thank you for the input. Interesting yet again.
The black fork tubes on last year´s Classic - do you think these were old stock Donington, or newly made for the Classic under TVS? And if newly made, did they go through the same process as described by you?
 
City Garage said:
And that’s the problem the younger crowd doesn’t have a sense of nostalgia. And the older crowd doesn’t want to buy it over priced Motorcycle no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig!
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Will people get attached to anything in the future, subscription is the future never owning anything!!
 
CR961 said:
Interesting. They refused because you wanted it for free, or because they don´t have them/cannot make them?
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My previous Garner 961 had them.. so when i ordered my new 961, i asked if they could produce the bike with all the black bits, as i preferred the look. As they had previously made the classic ( that had all the black bits), i thought they might have had some spare ' on the shelf ' stock. I didn't have a chance to say i'd pay extra, they just flat out refused.... no reason as to why. Maybe because they knew they were gonna do the specials with the black bits on them..?
 
CR961 said:
Stu, thank you for the input. Interesting yet again.
The black fork tubes on last year´s Classic - do you think these were old stock Donington, or newly made for the Classic under TVS? And if newly made, did they go through the same process as described by you?
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Couldn't say mate, I dont work there so it would only be a guess.
 
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