Norton death?

Mark · Feb 19, 2011

Danno said:
Geez, I was hoping they had Terblanche cornered where he couldn't do my eyes any more damage. 8)

Without a doubt, one of the ugliest motorcycles I have ever seen.
I sure hope that this Terblanche guy doesn't do anything like this to the new bikes.

Madnorton · Feb 19, 2011

This seems like scare mongering by someone with a foreign interest in the name, as has just happened to BSA. Hopefully the UK operation will go from strength to strength enabling the buyer at least a choice of a UK built machines in the future.

Rohan · Feb 19, 2011

It would be interesting to know how many deposits they have taken, and how many full payments received - and how many bikes they have actually delivered ?

There seem to be a few satisfied customers, a lot yet to take delivery, and new models and new announcemenrs heep rolling out the door.
And then we have the story of a V4 entry into MotoGP "sometime soon".
And Motor Shows where they are taking more deposits.

Paying up front in full and then waiting months, or years, sounds a little odd ?
Sounds uncomfortably a little like a Ponzi scheme is doing the financing ??
Hopefully not....

shrugger · Feb 20, 2011

Been signed up for their E-newsletter for 2 years. I don't recall having recieved one yet. LOL
I seem to remember a year or so ago that they planed 100 a month production. Dunno if they've
achieved that or not.
Ferrari has a 2 year waiting list. I'd gladly wait that for a new Norton. If only I could afford one. :cry:

Jeandr · Feb 20, 2011

Maybe it is Norton for windows that is going under, THAT would be a good thing :mrgreen:

Jean

Gino Rondelli · Feb 20, 2011

I seem to remember a year or so ago that they planed 100 a month production. Dunno if they've
achieved that or not.

100 a year would be a start I think, 18 months on from the first to "roll" of the production workbench the 961 SE orders are not all filled yet.

Excellent business model though, create something so scarce that people will put up deposits just to have a place in a queue!

Time will tell

Anyway can I suggest that the 961 should not feature on this part of the forum? I thought this was for the 68 -77 (and later bitsas) Commando's. Discuss politely please :lol: :lol:

cash · Feb 20, 2011

Gino Rondelli said:
[quote

Anyway can I suggest that the 961 should not feature on this part of the forum? I thought this was for the 68 -77 (and later bitsas) Commando's. Discuss politely please :lol: :lol:

Oh Boy! I can remember the big row that went on and on in the Roadholder, there were a few NOC members did not want the Commando recognised as a proper Norton.

Cash

Gino Rondelli · Feb 20, 2011

Just mischief making Cash :lol:

Rohan · Feb 20, 2011

And what happens to the 961 and the New Norton is probably of extreme interest here - they own the rights to the name, and that would include making spares for older Commandos ??

I see they have also bought the rights to the Manx Norton, so that must be of interest over in the Classic Racing world.

Anyone know how worldwide these rights are ?
There used to be some legal hoo-haa about England and Europe being different, and different folks had the rights. And then there was Kenny in the USA......

swooshdave · Feb 20, 2011

Rohan said:
And what happens to the 961 and the New Norton is probably of extreme interest here - they own the rights to the name, and that would include making spares for older Commandos ??

I see they have also bought the rights to the Manx Norton, so that must be of interest over in the Classic Racing world.

Anyone know how worldwide these rights are ?
There used to be some legal hoo-haa about England and Europe being different, and different folks had the rights. And then there was Kenny in the USA......

No, they do not own the rights to the Commando spares, that is Andover Norton/Norton Motors which is a completely separate company. This also includes the rotary parts. (I know, Joe, you told me that people get these things confused.)

I don't think Norton Motorcycles own the rights to the Manx.

Rights for a lot of the stuff was consolidated by Norton America and sold to Stuart and Norton Motorcycles. But there are still a few loose ends. Basically I think it's now Norton Motorcycles (the company attempting to produces the bikes in England) and Andover Norton/Norton Motors.

Tim_S · Feb 20, 2011

Moto Guzzi ,,,,, going out of business since 1921.

Triumph ,,, Reborn and going strong !

Norton ,,, One can only hope for their time to shine !

And for me to live long enough to see it happen.

Cheers !

Tim_S

ILLF8ED · Feb 20, 2011

and that would include making spares for older Commandos ??

Hi David,

Thought Andover Norton had the rights to market Commando spares. I would be surprised if the new company is interested anyway.

swooshdave · Feb 20, 2011

illf8ed said:
and that would include making spares for older Commandos ??

Hi David,

Thought Andover Norton had the rights to market Commando spares. I would be surprised if the new company is interested anyway.

Correct. Andover Norton has the right to make and market Commando spares. Norton Motorcycles would be interested in this business because unlike making motorcycles, the parts business can actually make money. :mrgreen:

ZFD · Feb 21, 2011

As Dave says, Andover Norton is a totally separate company, owned by yours truly, as are Norton Motors Ltd and Norton Motors (Deutschland) GmbH, also owned by yours truly ("The Norton Motors Group": http://www.nortonmotors.com). We have all the drawings and all the tooling and all the intellectual and factual rights to everything Norton before 2000, i.e. íncluding the few Norton singles I produced in 1998/999, again all the IP etc is ours. What you buy from the better Commando parts outlets normally comes in our Andover Norton packing. All Norton Rotary parts also come from Andover Norton these days: http://www.andover-norton.co.uk.

As for "Manx", all rights to the name, again the drawings and tooling lie with Andy Molnar: http://www.manx.co.uk/, so nothing to do with "Norton Motorcycles". What they bought was the Norton Trademark and the IP to Kenny Dreers bike, which is what they build.

ILLF8ED · Feb 21, 2011

swooshdave said:
illf8ed said:

and that would include making spares for older Commandos ??

Hi David,

Thought Andover Norton had the rights to market Commando spares. I would be surprised if the new company is interested anyway.

Click to expand...

Correct. Andover Norton has the right to make and market Commando spares. Norton Motorcycles would be interested in this business because unlike making motorcycles, the parts business can actually make money. :mrgreen:

What can really make money and more to the point margin is selling clothing and other items with the Norton logo on them which the new company is doing. I works well for Harley. I suggested that to Jeff Foster, then CEO of Kenny's company, but his response was they only wanted to make motorcycles. Might have been a good source of revenue to keep the company afloat.

britbike220 · Feb 21, 2011

illf8ed said:
What can really make money and more to the point margin is selling clothing and other items with the Norton logo on them which the new company is doing. I works well for Harley. I suggested that to Jeff Foster, then CEO of Kenny's company, but his response was they only wanted to make motorcycles. Might have been a good source of revenue to keep the company afloat.

Fully agree with this, but also a good line up of models is essential at a decent price point. I don't know how a motorcycle company can expect to make it with only one or two models priced at more than double the more common popular bikes? Triumph did it right, Clothing, accessories, wide range of models to choose from and priced right. Granted they had/have a very rich and smart man at the helm which most start up companies don't have anymore.

ZFD · Feb 21, 2011

To sell clothing you need to be a recognized manufacturer in the market with dealers at every street corner and be generally known. Triumph only started they clothing/accessories range a decade after they started their motorcycle production, when they were an established name in the market with chains of dealers in various countries. Selling clothing without being such a force, and without a distribution network is difficult if not impossible. Norton Motorcycles have a range of clothing and accessories- that was practically the first thing they did. I should be surprised if that brings enough money in to pay the lighting, let alone the rent in Donington.

ILLF8ED · Feb 21, 2011

ZFD said:
To sell clothing you need to be a recognized manufacturer in the market with dealers at every street corner and be generally known. Triumph only started they clothing/accessories range a decade after they started their motorcycle production, when they were an established name in the market with chains of dealers in various countries. Selling clothing without being such a force, and without a distribution network is difficult if not impossible. Norton Motorcycles have a range of clothing and accessories- that was practically the first thing they did. I should be surprised if that brings enough money in to pay the lighting, let alone the rent in Donington.

I won't diasgree as you are already in the game. My thinking is...if "recognized manufacturer" is the same as marque, Norton is already well recognized. Selling peripheral items through a website is a good approach. What I think Norton is missing is a broader market. The items can be sold at premium, but the pricing Norton has set is beyond what the general market will bare. They seem to be using the same boutique approach to the peripherals as they do to the motorcyles. Maybe better to get more volume of the mystique out to those who can't afford anything but a trinket, then Norton gets paid to advertise. If it snow balls, then set up distribution.

pelican · Feb 21, 2011

I bought one of their hoodies, but can't say I was impressed as the material is fairly thin. That's as much as I can help them out :lol: Still think it's cool and like the design though. I like a couple of the t-shirts, but they are too expensive for me. Maybe in the future I will have the money and try again?

shrugger · Feb 21, 2011

While I certainly like several of thier items....ouch!
I expect I'll buy a shirt anyway.

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/

Norton death?

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