NEC Motorcycle Show - 2022

Stephen_Spencer

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Anybody been? What’s happening? What did Norton say? C’mon, we’ve been waiting for it all year! Did anybody spot SG out the back, dressed in flouro, emptying the bins!?

NEC Motorcycle Show - 2022
 
Honestly, I don’t think there’s much to tell is there?

The exciting new bike news we were told about a while back just turned out to be the 961. Great news, but hardly a new bike.

I didn’t bother going as I saw it all last year… Norton had nothing on the stand this year that wasn’t on last year.

But at least this time, 2 of the 3 bikes one show are actually available to purchase.

Good write up here from norton_rider:

 
It was like stepping back in time to 2016.

Spoke to a couple of lads that used to work at Donington, but nothing to tell me. Had a nosey around the 961's, but also nothing to shout about.
 
Stu nailed it tbh I really wish they had brought one of those 650s out can't believe they scrapped that as that was a Norton that would have got my money rather than BMW.

An Thanks Eddie I know it was quite long but wanted to try and get all my thought's out from the show a few days on I've still got a few more.

So as a few who've read my previous post will know the social media team at Norton grabbed me as soon as I set foot on the stand as I'd been a bit critical of the treatment of existing owners I very nearly bought a 961 mk2 myself so I could have been in that boat. Trust in a brand is so important that's why bmw just got my money again for the 3rd GS I've had after we just rejected two KTMs both at under 300 miles.

A lightweight adv twin 360 degree firing order with retro styling sub 170 kg or single is what the market is crying out for. If they had one of those out I would have been all over one providing they sort out existing owners otherwise I think Enfield might be getting my money for my next modern bike I tend to change them out yearly due to the miles I cover to keep some residuals in them.

I tried my best to get that across when the social media team grabbed me soon as I got on the stand that brand trust and sorting out anyone with a modern Norton matters be it in a quality control pack for the 961s or a huge discount on bits. Whether that fell on death ears or not I don't know I did get offered a test ride down at the factory but turned it down as I felt an afternoon out isn't enough to assess a bike, as issues with the Ktm's only showed up in winter.

I think in some ways the map is out there for bikes for them to build, 16h single, a 650 adv twin, 750 commando. Personally the V4's hold no interest for me for public road riding, I've worked my way through 28 bikes over the past few years modern, classics and vintage superbikes etc. Most fun bike the one that makes me grin the 1927 16h flat tanker with its impressive 4.9hp why because the light weight of 252 lbs makes it an absolute hoot to ride even in horrific weather. The 650ss is my daily rider just doing its 4th winter now without fault, Commando's nearly back on the road so that'l probably change orders with the 650ss for a bit once it's running.

The main thing is engaging the younger riders that's what they need to be looking at not the pro vloggers or reviewer's when you think about it even back to the beginning with Pa' he had a Big4 and described it as the core of the Norton range for the everyday rider the affordable Norton for the family person that's what Norton are missing for me the core of the original brand a high quality affordable bike to be used year round even though they had the hot performance bikes like the 16h and model 18 they had that Big4 Pa's favourite bike I think that says alot about the brand really what it used to be at it's purest.

I know alot my age have said they will stop riding if electric bikes are forced on us and that's a huge problem as there's nothing viable about I think Electric needs to be the three R's and C Range, Range, Range and Cost. Another hyper expensive motorcycle art with no range like the ones at Motorcycle Live wont cut the mustard.

If I could flesh a Range out and I was running Norton it'd be as follows:

Electra 125 £3,500 style it like a Dommi with the badges but with an accessory catalogue for the scrambler look
(think ajs cadwell)

Norton 16H ADV single long stroke £5,000 500cc 35HP aircooled / oilcooled 855 seat height, 220mm ground clearance get it light as possible
(think Himalayan 410 but more old school than the coming 450)

650 SS Twin £6,500 360 degree firing order 55HP sub 170kg Wet (offer a2 kit)
(Think RE Interceptor everyone my age seems to have gone nuts for them now)

Big 4 £7,000 650 liquid cooled single think Suzuki DR650 but with some retro Norton styling and most of all light weight.
(The Himalayan 450 beater)

750 Commando Fastback £9,000 360 degree firing order 75HP 190KG Wet
(higher end retro styled bike to take on the likes of the Thruxton by Triumph)

800 Long Range Interstate add a front screen on like some of the GS's but make it dynamic in being removable £11,000 hyper refined smooth as possible with a modern engine.
(Think Bmw 800GS but with a far more engaging engine and more road focused)

961 As is but maybe change the firing order so they all stand out against the slew of 270 degree bikes on the market at the moment.

That's my current thought on it.

I often wonder what a modern lightweight 60s T100C would be like so many benefit's to light weight that's what they need to work on.
 
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And the V4…

They‘ve missed the point completely with that tarts handbag CR in my opinion.

They need to make it cheaper, style it less ‘tarts handbag‘ and more ‘ hard b*stard’ and put some actual handle bars on it so that people over 21 can ride it, and call it the Combat.

Do that and sign me up Dr Bob !!
 
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That's a good point Eddie since the shoulder / neck injury its totally changed what bike seating positions I can handle. I totally agree when you look at the stance of something like a gsx750et hyper usable for long distance insanely smooth super slick gearbox and looks hard as nails an I really miss mine oh and even though it was a muscle bike of the 80s the seat was an all day 600 miler.

The interest is there we just need Norton to deliver and not do a Honda of late.
 
And the V4…

They‘ve missed the point completely with that tarts handbag CR in my opinion.

They need to make it cheaper, style it less ‘tarts handbag‘ and more ‘ hard b*stard’ and put some actual handle bars on it so that people over 21 can rider it, and call it the Combat.

Do that and sign me up Dr Bob !!
I like your thinking on this , but wonder how long this will take to get any changes from Norton. ? At this point , the cost puts it out of reach for almost everyone and those that have the money probably don't like it anyway. I would be very happy if Norton would do a performance kit for the 961 a stage 2 kit or similar . They could sell already ported heads like Harley does and 1000cc bore kits etc. But to make this work they would need to be able to change the tuning and they can't even seem to be able to do this either !
 
Tony, I think (or at least hope) TVS have spent all there focus on making the 961 reliable.

I cannot see them trying to tune it one bit. More power = more stress = things more likely to break.
 
I gave up going to the NEC bike show years ago. It was £40 petrol, £20 ticket and £15 parking
and was like a cheapo, rubbish jumble sale selling huge piles of old bike tat clobber. Has it improved ?

I took to going to the EICMA bike show in Milan: £7 each way flight, 8 euro entrance, free coach from airport.
About 10 times the size, nothing to buy except the odd Peroni, and the bikes/shows were fantastic. I think there
were 12 huge halls of fantastic exhibits, and a huge car park had been turned into motocross and race tracks.

I cannot possibly comment on the fact that the young Italian ladies on the bikes were far, far more attractive
than those in B'ham or my wife will chop my bits off.

However, take care when inviting your wife to go to EICMA. The second year I went I asked "Darling, would you
like to come with me to the bike show in Milan?", she replied "no, but I'd like to go shopping in Milan" .......
We had a fab time for 4 days in Milan ...... but it cost in excess of £500 about 20 years ago !

Not been for a few (3?) years, but will definitely go again. Highly recommended.
 
And the V4…

They‘ve missed the point completely with that tarts handbag CR in my opinion.

They need to make it cheaper, style it less ‘tarts handbag‘ and more ‘ hard b*stard’ and put some actual handle bars on it so that people over 21 can rider it, and call it the Combat.

Do that and sign me up Dr Bob !!
Yeah, ditch the pretty colors, and go a lot more hooligan.
 
Tony, I think (or at least hope) TVS have spent all there focus on making the 961 reliable.

I cannot see them trying to tune it one bit. More power = more stress = things more likely to break.
Still pushin' for that supercharged 961 - 961SC
Will have plenty of new parts to repair any blown-up 961SCs.:p
 
Yeah, ditch the pretty colors, and go a lot more hooligan.
Don’t think there was ever a problem with the styling of the 961. It’s always been drop dead gorgeous and still is; the reason most of us bought one methinks. And because it’s a Norton for many of course. It was never about performance - nobody buys an air-cooled, push-rod parallel twin for its performance.

If they had attempted to change the look/styling they may have screwed it up and/or been accused of just changing the colours and calling it a new bike! ‘The same but different’ tag line made the most of its biggest strength (its looks) and addressed it’s biggest weakness (reliability). Not sure they could have gone in any other direction with this model TBH. My opinion only.

Only time will tell if the long term reliability is there and if they sell in sufficient numbers to meet Norton Birmingham’s business requirements.
 
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Don’t think there was ever a problem with the styling of the 961. It’s always been drop dead gorgeous and still is; the reason most of us bought one methinks. And because it’s a Norton for many of course. It was never about performance - nobody buys an air-cooled, push-rod parallel twin for its performance.

If they had attempted to change the look/styling they may have screwed it up and/or been accused of just changing the colours and calling it a new bike! ‘The same but different’ tag line made the most of its biggest strength (its looks) and addressed it’s biggest weakness (reliability). Not sure they could have gone in any other direction with this model TBH. My opinion only.

Only time will tell if the long term reliability is there and if they sell in sufficient numbers to meet Norton Birmingham’s business requirements.
Couldn't agree more about the 961.
But my comment was about the V4 CR.
Norton shouldn't try to make the V4 into something no one was looking for, or wanted.
Instead create a Norton equivalent of the Tuono, Monster styled hooligan.
 
Couldn't agree more about the 961.
But my comment was about the V4 CR.
Norton shouldn't try to make the V4 into something no one was looking for, or wanted.
Instead create a Norton equivalent of the Tuono, Monster styled hooligan.
Wot he sed !
 
Oh that CR, not that CR! Why didn’t you say!? You can’t expect me to read the whole of your comment before making a complete dick of myself!:rolleyes:
The trick is to look at who, and what, it was that someone was replying to…

Context is good.
 
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