Would a Chinese Norton be that bad ?

I don't expect to change anyone's mind on the subject, that rarely happens at our age.
I will say that the jobs created by Triumph in Thailand improve the standard of living for those who are lucky enough to get them.

Now I'll go back to repairing the exhaust ports on my entirely UK built Norton!

Glen
 
Just for the record Glen, my Thai built Thruxton R had 3 warranty repairs and 1 safety recall in the 18mth I owned it, and since sold I have received a further 3 safety recall notices, so it is far from a bed of roses in the far east. It would be interesting to see a compiled list of all big manufacturers warranty/safety, by model year. There has even been two recall notices for the Indian FTR but not for the European models it seems.... 10A fuse breakages and ECU mapping I believe.
 
It’s not all about animal welfare though guys is it ?

I think we’re missing what’s most obvious in this discussion. I can’t speak for everyone of course, but I doubt I’m speaking only for myself as well...

Surely a huge part of the reason for buying bikes like the Norton, and many other similar types, is as some kind of kick back against the corporate, homogenised, mass consumer driven dull conformist society that we’ve become?

Surely, even as a bunch of sad old men, there’s something in us that bikes like the Norton trigger?

It’s different, it’s raw, it’s an exciting visceral, mechanical, experience that pokes one in the eye of modern dullness.

It’s like comparing cooking on a campfire in the mountains, to popping some homogenised, tasteless, plastic packet food into the microwave !

So, frankly, how good a Chinese Norton may or may not be is entirely missing the f***ing point!

It would just be another mass produced homogenised microwave motorcycle !

So, to answer the original question: yes, a Chinese Norton would be absolutely bloody awful.

And for that reason, I’m fucking out !
 
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I've had one issue to date in 22,000 kms , a wiring harness that was too short after fitting of the accessory fairing.
This was down to the UK engineer that spec'd harness length, not the assembly worker ( in this case me)
Fixed under warranty, even though fully out of warranty.
Early on I took it in for a recall which involved loading a new map to improve idle. It made no difference to my bike, it idled fine from the start.
Again, the problem was UK based.
I'm not aware of any other recalls, will have a look.
I don't get too upset about things like a recall to put a better map in etc. They aren't to hard to deal with and it's nice that things are under scrutiny.
Ride the bike in, have a coffee, look at all the new bikes I don't want or need, ride away again.

Glen
 
It’s not all about animal welfare though guys is it ?

I think we’re missing what’s most obvious in this discussion. I can’t speak for everyone of course, but I doubt I’m speaking only for myself as well...

Surely a huge part of the reason for buying bikes like the Norton, and many other similar types, is as some kind of kick back against the corporate, homogenised, mass consumer driven dull conformist society that we’ve become?

Surely, even as a bunch of sad old men, there’s something in us that bikes like the Norton trigger?

It’s different, it’s raw, it’s an exciting visceral, mechanical, experience that pokes one in the eye of modern dullness.

It’s like comparing cooking on a campfire in the mountains, to popping some homogenised, tasteless, plastic packet food into the microwave !

So, frankly, how good a Chinese Norton may or may not be is entirely missing the f***ing point!

It would just be another mass produced homogenised microwave motorcycle !

So, to answer the original question: yes, a Chinese Norton would be absolutely bloody awful.

And for that reason, I’m fucking out !


I'm not sure how changing country of assembly can change the visceral, raw component. I suppose if the assembly is done poorly with faults such as unbalanced balancing shafts then things can get pretty raw.


Maybe we want a bit raw, but not too raw.
Sort of a medium rare experience. :)

Glen
 
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.....

Surely, even as a bunch of sad old men, there’s something in us that bikes like the Norton trigger?

I beg your pardon sir!
Personally, I see myself as more of a lovable old curmudgeon who enjoys playing the part of the contrarian from time to time.

So, frankly, how good a Chinese Norton may or may not be is entirely missing the f***ing point!

It would just be another mass produced homogenised microwave motorcycle !

So, to answer the original question: yes, a Chinese Norton would be absolutely bloody awful.

And for that reason, I’m fucking out !

I agree.
Unless of course they make a supercharged Norton, then I'm back it.:p
 
Nope, how'd you know! ;)
Neither has the HD.

I need to put a breather on the Norton.

Well, should have done it by now, think of all that oil you save by not having to keep filling the oil tank up. Leaks elsewhere have their own way of being solved.
 
..... is as some kind of kick back against the corporate, homogenised, mass consumer driven dull conformist society that we’ve become?

You have so perfectly summed up what 'Made in China' stands for.... yes it is about human rights and animal welfare but it is these (lack of) that allows the big corps to move in and produce this homogenised junk at a consumer price point with maximum profit. They certainly don't build in the far east because that is where the skilled labour force is, or where the raw materials are, or to improve social and environmental aspects... they build there because it is cheap!
 
I've had one issue to date in 22,000 kms , a wiring harness that was too short after fitting of the accessory fairing.
This was down to the UK engineer that spec'd harness length, not the assembly worker ( in this case me)
Fixed under warranty, even though fully out of warranty.
Early on I took it in for a recall which involved loading a new map to improve idle. It made no difference to my bike, it idled fine from the start.
Again, the problem was UK based.
I'm not aware of any other recalls, will have a look.
I don't get too upset about things like a recall to put a better map in etc. They aren't to hard to deal with and it's nice that things are under scrutiny.
Ride the bike in, have a coffee, look at all the new bikes I don't want or need, ride away again.

Glen
Mine had instrument cluster changed, sidestand spring replaced, front disc axle spacers replaced. I got the map recall done but received further recalls after I sold it, the wiring harness to ignition switch too tight (mine hadn't failed by the time I sold), I don't know what the other two were for as I didn't ask the dealer, I suspect front brake master cylinder is a likely given that they all appear to be failing. It's not about UK based ot Thai based, it's about the reasoning behind the decisions to locate production to the far east... corporate greed.

My iphone sucks, Silicon Valley inspired, mass produced in China. It is my third as I am tied in to Apple apps but it will be my last, Apple can locate to the far side of the moon as far as I am concerned :)
 
You have so perfectly summed up what 'Made in China' stands for.... yes it is about human rights and animal welfare but it is these (lack of) that allows the big corps to move in and produce this homogenised junk at a consumer price point with maximum profit. They certainly don't build in the far east because that is where the skilled labour force is, or where the raw materials are, or to improve social and environmental aspects... they build there because it is cheap!

Yes , BUT because they have been building in Asia/China for so long they are geared up for it .. NOT us anymore . Look at the latest Triumph news which was posted here. We can't get the quality or quantity for the price people are willing to pay . We thought we were with Norton , but what we got wasn't quite good enough or fast enough or cheap enough.. And now when we want it we can't get it. Do you think that larger scale motorcycle manufacturing will ever be able to be done in the UK anymore ? Its frustrating and sad .
 
Show me anything that’s China engineered that’s worth a damn.
They design no cars worth having that would bring me excitement to drive or own.

They design no motorcycles worth having that would bring me excitement to ride or own.

I can honestly say practically everything I own or buy is NOT China designed or engineered.
Yes I know my iPhone, my TV’s, my computer are all China made. But they are not China designed.

All my furniture, appliances kitchen utensil, cookware, diner ware, and home goods are American made. I’m aware that some of the parts in my appliances are probably made in China.

But. It makes me feel better knowing I’m helping support workers of my country.

When I have a choice, when buying something, I always check to see if it’s made in China or not.
Do I feel other countries make a better product than China?
Yes I do.

I also disagree with corporations that send business to China. Sorry but that’s how I feel. I’m happy to pay more for something just because it says made in xxxxxx and not China.

I bought my Norton’s because they are British built / assembled. I wasn’t aware at the time China made parts were used.
Now that I know, it does somewhat upset me. But not enough to want to get rid of them.

How does one know if the parts on our bikes are China made or not.
Tony you mentioned the replacement parts that you have are of better quality. How do you know where they were actually made?
At this point it could be anywhere. Including Timbuktu.
 
Mine had instrument cluster changed, sidestand spring replaced, front disc axle spacers replaced. I got the map recall done but received further recalls after I sold it, the wiring harness to ignition switch too tight (mine hadn't failed by the time I sold), I don't know what the other two were for as I didn't ask the dealer, I suspect front brake master cylinder is a likely given that they all appear to be failing. It's not about UK based ot Thai based, it's about the reasoning behind the decisions to locate production to the far east... corporate greed.

My iphone sucks, Silicon Valley inspired, mass produced in China. It is my third as I am tied in to Apple apps but it will be my last, Apple can locate to the far side of the moon as far as I am concerned :)

To your original point that " all is not a bed of roses in the far East"

The above issues that are detailed all track back to the UK design and spec of the bike.
I'm not about to bitch about any of it as the bike has been be nearly perfect in use.
I do Saturday breakfast with a 961 and Thruxton R owner. His experience with the Thruxton R is similar to mine.

Back to China and Nortons-
I think much of the allure of the Donnington Norton's was in the feeling of exclusivity with the bike. They are expensive, there aren't that many of them, they are made in England....sort of.
From comments here, the mere fact of Chinese assembly would diminish that feeling for a lot of you.
If the Chinese 961 was built in the similar numbers to the Donnington version, but was well built and did not have all the problems of the Donnington, you still would prefer the Donnington, even if it needs to be packed home on a lorry now and then.




Glen
 
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