New Norton Caf'e Racer

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Richard Barks

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Apr 14, 2006
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check out the pictures of the New Caf'e Racer on the Norton site it's well ugly !!!!!!!!!!!

if it was a woman it would a two bagger .
 
"Ugly" is a relative term.

I like it better than the Thruxton, but that's only because Thruxtons are like Harleys & Hondas, EVERYBODY has one.
 
Here in Australia we have "three bag ladies". One for you, one for her, and one for your dog, so he doesn't lose respect for you!
 
Fullauto said:
Here in Australia we have "three bag ladies". One for you, one for her, and one for your dog, so he doesn't lose respect for you!
Click to expand...
That's realy funny ! Another good one is face like a bag of spanners
or like a bulldog chewing a wasp .
 
I'd like to see a retro roadster.
If a man wanted a roadster, he bought a roadster.
Why have we morphed our beloved nortons into cafe racers?
If I wanted a sport bike, I would have bought a vintage Ducati.
Allot of money for a vintage name that really doesn't represent the orig. concept.
I see allot of retro's emerging recently in the auto industry.
Some are good,some they missed the mark.
The new Dodge reminds me more of the orig than the new camaro does.
Hope it works out for the gent, as I'm sure he has allot of eggs in this basket.
A roadster is for the man who rolls his cigarettes up in his sleeve of his white t-shirt.
He's the guy with the girl, he's the guy we want to be 8)
Agh to be 20 again!
Marshal
 
I disagree. in the Commandos, Norton had the Fastback, it's contemporary version of a cafe racer. It also had John Player replica, another (essentially) cafe racer, and the Interstate, Roadster & High Rider.

Garner will probably try to squeeze out as many variations on the Commando theme as possible, to essentially tap several markets with one base model; not a bad business plan.
 
New Norton Caf'e Racer
 
Not sure where I fit in. I have a roadster and that's what I like. Tried the fastback setup on my '72 for a while. The seat is nice, but prefer an American roadster look - never smoked and occasionally ride in t-shirts. Also owned an original '74 JPN, but after a 2 hour plus ride back from Laguna Seca and the 2003 GP races I hurt so bad I had a hard time getting off the *** thing. Two months later it belonged to a collector in San Diego.

I like the 961. Looks just like Kenny Dreer's design...American roadster. Maybe not in yellow though.
 
I think that cafe is trying too hard to be a ducati monster or the similar moto guzzi. ... lacks in specs though, and costs more.
 
MarshalNorton said:
Why have we morphed our beloved nortons into cafe racers?
If I wanted a sport bike, I would have bought a vintage Ducati.
Allot of money for a vintage name that really doesn't represent the orig. concept.
Marshal
Click to expand...
I also disagree, case in point:

1930: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... 930_01.htm

1948: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... gue_06.htm

1954: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... 954_15.htm

1963: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... 963-01.htm

1971: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... 971-05.htm

1973: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... 973-02.htm

1974: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ ... 974-03.htm

1989: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBg86bjr ... re=related

As well as the fastback and the JPS's you could also order a street legal production racer commando. Also Dunstall and Khan were authorized re-sellers furnishing cafe Nortons to the public. In the 70's Norton was considered the only bike you could buy in the show room and take out and race on the track after switching the bars and foot controls.

Sport bikes are what's happening today if you're 20. Dreer knew it and these guys know it, to go into production you have to sell to the masses. For us romantics who were around in the good ole days there's still CNW and BAB (had to mention Paul) who sell retro Nortons.

So what's stopping Norton from learning a few things from the Japanese and Europeans for a change and building competitive cafe racers again? I hope not much!
 
Well said RVW.
I travelled to the UK for the Norton rally at donnington park mid year and had a good look at the new Norton. Although the prototype didn't sound like it was anywhere near production, the thing looks beautiful in the flesh. Had a sit on it at the Norton ball and it fits my 5'6" old frame perfectly with its deeply scolloped tank and low rise bars. This bike definetly has a character of it's own and that's what sells bikes. If it performs as well as expected, I'm sure it will be a winner :wink:

Johno
 
petejohno said:
Well said RVW.
I travelled to the UK for the Norton rally at donnington park mid year and had a good look at the new Norton. Although the prototype didn't sound like it was anywhere near production, the thing looks beautiful in the flesh. Had a sit on it at the Norton ball and it fits my 5'6" old frame perfectly with its deeply scolloped tank and low rise bars. This bike definetly has a character of it's own and that's what sells bikes. If it performs as well as expected, I'm sure it will be a winner :wink:

Johno
Click to expand...
i was'nt knocking the ltd edt ( i have one on order ) i was just saying the caf'e racer is a bit ugly
a caf'e racer is a style icon, difficult to get right .
 
I like the timing side cover. At least it resembles something Norton. 8)

Norton, Triumph, Guzzi, ect. All these old is new again bikes all look the same to me. Nothing to set them apart from the others except for a tank emblem.
 
Fullauto said:
Variations of a bike he claims to be making only 200 of? Why bother?
Click to expand...

No, the variations will be in regular production.

I'd guess the basics-

Standard model (economy price tag)
Cafe Racer
Touring model
Cruiser model
 
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