WHAT'S THIS THEN......

961al said:

I have to say they look a lot better here......

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The Manx is a real let down...and to be honest a little disrespectful to the name to put that little thought into it. It could have been so much more, they could have really gone to town on that one. The V4 is just a carbon copy of the two JPS styled bikes that Donington did...same as the one that's in my workshop now.

I think it would have been smarter to offer custom colors before all this crap but again they are not selling bikes anyways so doesn't matter. And looking at the social media engagement on the "anniversary" they only had 62 comments and 3500 likes on Instagram. Not much engagement.

and Ohlins doesn't really like it when you change colors on their products. Especially if you are a dealer of said products.

Norton wasn't an Ohlins dealer, or an Ohlins service agent. Ohlins was a sponsor (we had their name on our workwear), as well as a supplier at a 50% discount over rrp.
It was some bizarre discount on the system though, something like full rrp on one fork leg, but the other fork leg being foc.

You can just make out the original Ohlins etching on this one. It was missing its decals, so I stuck a pair on for him.

There is a real negativity around Norton now, not just from non norton owners, not just from classic norton owners (whom many are very negative on newer bikes) but Donnington era owners. No amount of advertising and sales budgets are going to change that for some considerable tiime. I like the 961's that they are making, I think its pretty damn similar to my 2018 bike which I am happy with after Stu has fixed the niggly bits.

For new Norton to move ahead (and they have no legal obligation or moral obligation to do this)

1. Donate £14M to put those pension pots right. What a massive positive that would be. That would be mega positive and make the national news, newspapers, motorcycle press. If they have already spent £100M+ an extra £14M would buy them so much credibility and just be another additional tax right off.

2. Either support existing Donnington 961 riders with parts (the ones that may fit our bikes) or make the drawings of parts available for others to make such parts for us. That would bring us all on board and ensure we, the current ambassadors of Norton would be potential customers of New Norton.

Apologies if others have suggested such outrageous ideas.

Talking

Stu Bodycote said:

The Manx is a real let down...and to be honest a little disrespectful to the name to put that little thought into it. It could have been so much more, they could have really gone to town on that one. The V4 is just a carbon copy of the two JPS styled bikes that Donington did...same as the one that's in my workshop now.

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Wish they’d have put a little more into the Manx also - stretching the budget to a polished ally tank would have worked really well (like the Triumph Chrome Series). Machine made to keep the cost down.

The JPS V4SV looks pretty smokin to me! When you get up close and personal with the V4SS as you, and the guy in this vid have done, you can sorta see where the price tag comes from I think.

Our overseas members may need a translation! Not sure how well it will go at auction after this guy lists it’s many inherent faults!!

Stephen_Spencer said:

Talking

Wish they’d have put a little more into the Manx also - stretching the budget to a polished ally tank would have worked really well (like the Triumph Chrome Series). Machine made to keep the cost down.

The JPS V4SV looks pretty smokin to me! When you get up close and personal with the V4SS as you, and the guy in this vid have done, you can sorta see where the price tag comes from I think.

Our overseas members may need a translation! Not sure how well it will go at auction after this guy lists it’s many inherent faults!!

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I bet his friend is chuffed with him!

Stu Bodycote said:

The Manx is a real let down...and to be honest a little disrespectful to the name to put that little thought into it. It could have been so much more, they could have really gone to town on that one. The V4 is just a carbon copy of the two JPS styled bikes that Donington did...same as the one that's in my workshop now.

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I have to agree about the Manx Stu...... but i dread to think how much THAT would have cost...

Short vid about the history of the Norton 588 rotary, and the JPS livery we now see on the anniversary models. Worth a look.

Stu Bodycote said:

I would have leaned more on the look of the Manx behind it. Red seat unit pinstripe is a must, along with the tank striping. But where I probably will really split opinion, I would have done the airbox yellow.

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Y'know what, screw it...I'm going to build that to see what it will look like. Good Friday, I'll build a bike.

I'm doing it. Been to Dream Machine, put across my design and some spare bodywork that I had, they'll do the rest.
So far the build is a bare, brand new Commando frame.....Good Friday that will be born into a bike.
April 13th and 14th....that bike is booked to be on display at Three Counties Show Ground for the Kickback custom and classic motorcycle show.
Love a bit of pressure