Norton back on the IOM

[Ariel Badger]

Nice looking bike if a little slow in practice (114mph single lap). Unfortunately weather does not look good for the Senior tomorrow.

Engine is Aprilia, frame Spondon, brakes Brembo etc but Norton say that they made their own wheel spindles.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Ichy]

I must admit to being surprised that they qualified, they seemed to be really struggling to get the speed. Not really a Norton though other than in name.
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[Old Git Racing]

mmm, looks nice, could almost mistake it for a Spondon Aprillia, tanks good though.
Some mutterings on the TT forum about Nortons alleged poor business ethics coming out, unfulfilled orders etc, any one on here had any experience with them?

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Ariel Badger]

[Ichy]

[Ariel Badger]

Last night I thought..."Why have I not seen a new Norton on the road?" reading a few forums it now seems obvious that they have not built anything other than the demo models. If I had put down a huge deposit and had heard nothing other than broken promises and lies I would not be happy seeing that Aprilia paid for from my pocket on the IOM.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Ichy]

[paddlesat16]

[RhynoCZ]

I think that engine makes the motorcycle and what they did essentially do a lot of people in their garages. I would expect more from a factory.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Rogerborg]

I'd say they're trying to adopt Morgan's "Yesterday's wheel, tomorrow" strategy, except Morgan can afford to do that because they have a full order book and their customers know they (or their descendants) will get the cars eventually.

Norton, well, it looks to me like they're spunking their £7.5 million State underwritten loan on a marketing folly, rather than on building the bikes that they have orders for. If I were waiting for one while they sink their time and money into what appears to be a very mediocre fantasy racer that's hardly a stellar advert for their design and engineering skills, I don't think I'd be best pleased.
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[greetingsfrom...]

As a brit bike fan I'm in 2 minds over Nortons race bike, as others have said a Spondon framed Aprilia is a fair description although looking at it from a different point of view it does make more sense for a small company to buy in a developed engine rather than go to the huge expense of developing your own.

As for the Commando-alike road bike, I really cant understand how they managed to get that start up loan. They can only by considered a niche model given the price and what it is, a modern interpretation of the original Commando (a model which no one who likes Brit bikes should really be proud of)
Niche bike manufacturers have a difficult enough time even without the current economic wows

As an aside recently Nortons bodywork supplier listed a load of new sets of Commando bodywork on ebay, allegedly as he hadn't been paid and was using the this tactic as an arm twister - doesn't bode well I'm afraid

[LordShaftesbu...]

It's a shame they ditched the rotary.

[greetingsfrom...]

[Ariel Badger]

When I was a youth I lived not far from the NVT development/test facility and often saw the Wankel engined test bike on the road. It made a funny noise.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[LordShaftesbu...]

[The Artist]

If anyone has been watching the motorcycle show, they are following Norton to the races.

[.....]

I'm pretty sure I saw one of the new Nortons on the road a couple of weeks ago.

[Hockeystorm65]

Just don't get the 'Norton' bit!....looks a nice bike and as a homologation special looks the dogs danglies...but to call it a Norton?
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[greetingsfrom...]

[Rogerborg]

[map]

[bunglebubs]

I saw this bike racing at the TT, it looks good and sounds absolutely amazing. If they made a raod version I would consider buying one just for the noise alone!
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899 Panigale, K7 GSXR 750

[paddlesat16]

[devojunior]

yeah there wa a documentory on other night about this but said they didnt get through scrutinearing or something.

[LordShaftesbu...]