Norton Motorcycle Instagram

City Garage · Jul 13, 2022

I have been watching the Instagram page, and it's really worrisome that the posts are not well-liked. Yesterday's post 800 people liked, the previous one 319. They have over 113k in followers but not much excitement. Looking through the follower list, lots of bots and "odd" accounts

What's also missing is some first-person riding videos, maybe some dyno runs. Something/Anything would be better than what they post to increase the advertising aspect of what they are selling.

I know a lot will say many people who like Norton are not social media friendly, but from a sales standpoint, you have to look at the interactions as part of the equation and have to be worried.

It's either they don't have good PR people, or they are hesitant to really make a sales push because the product isn't ready/good enough? It makes no sense if they are trying to get a "waiting list" not to shake some trees.

Hopefully, they get it figured out because people will start to lose interest after the last debacle.

BritTwit · Jul 13, 2022

City Garage said:
It's either they don't have good PR people, or they are hesitant to really make a sales push because the product isn't ready/good enough?

I think you hit the nail on the head.
Probably with the pandemic, lockdowns and that, they aren't actually ready for production. Whatever production may mean ultimately to TVS/Norton. 10, 20, etc. per month.
Line up a reliable manufacturer supply chain for low volume orders.
Establish a competent QA/QC operation in house.
Determine how they will address customer's needs effectively, whether vehicle service or spare parts.
And then, finally believing themselves, that they are now ready.
TVS has to think this is the last chance for the brand, and they have to get this right.
Another spectacular failure will mean that the next iteration of Norton will be a company that sells push scooters with the Norton badge affixed to it.

Stu Bodycote · Jul 13, 2022

City Garage said:
What's also missing is some first-person riding videos, maybe some dyno runs. Something/Anything would be better than what they post to increase the advertising aspect of what they are seselling.

What, you're bored of seeing the same bike with a pretty peak district backdrop, after its been unloaded from a van and polished?

These tyres have never seen use anywhere....I'd be surprised if that bike even ran, probably just a show bike with no engine internals.....much like the 2016 NEC bike show V4ss bikes, with plastic engines.
"Nothing comes close to it" is pretty much poking for a reaction off the public. It could have been a claim 6-8yrs ago....but the motorcycle world has move the bar up a couple notches.

Stephen_Spencer · Jul 13, 2022

Stu Bodycote said:
What, you're bored of seeing the same bike with a pretty peak district backdrop, after its been unloaded from a van and polished?
These tyres have never seen use anywhere....I'd be surprised if that bike even ran, probably just a show bike with no engine internals.....much like the 2016 NEC bike show V4ss bikes, with plastic engines.
"Nothing comes close to it" is pretty much poking for a reaction off the public. It could have been a claim 6-8yrs ago....but the motorcycle world has move the bar up a couple notches.

All of the marques do promo pics as we know - nothing new here. It’s a fine line though, being where, how and how much advertisement is put out there before actually being ready to sell the bike. I suspect they have a timeline and a plan, albeit clear only to them it would appear. Let’s hope that they get it right.

If you look at the Norton FB conversations also you‘ll see that they attract a lot of haters (for want of a better term) and those ill-informed about Birmingham Norton (BN) and/or hung up on the Garner debacle - unable or unwilling to seperate the two. There are even current owners bitching about the bikes Garner sold them trying to make BN accountable. Worth noting that despite this the FB site has over 180k followers - don’t really know how FB works but this seems a reasonable number.

On a positive note, there isn’t a viewing angle of this bike that doesn’t look ‘smokin hot’ to my eye!

City Garage · Jul 13, 2022

ok now thats funny. Those are some really clean tires!

City Garage · Jul 13, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
All of the marques do promo pics as we know - nothing new here. It’s a fine line though, being where, how and how much advertisement is put out there before actually being ready to sell the bike. I suspect they have a timeline and a plan, albeit clear only to them it would appear. Let’s hope that they get it right.

If you look at the Norton FB conversations also you‘ll see that they attract a lot of haters (for want of a better term) and those ill-informed about Birmingham Norton (BN) and/or hung up on the Garner debacle - unable or unwilling to seperate the two. There are even current owners bitching about the bikes Garner sold trying to make BN accountable. Worth noting that despite this the FB site has over 180k followers - don’t really know how FB works but this seems a reasonable number.

On a positive note, there isn’t a viewing angle of this bike that doesn’t look ‘smokin hot’ to my eye!

My point still stands. Not a lot of activity. And while you want to believe they have over 180k followers, I'm betting that's a lot of bots and fake profiles based upon the other social media out there.

Not that it's a standard, but Ducati has 4.3 million of Facebook and 5.3 mil on Instagram. And that's an expensive brand.

My point was that for a company taking interest and now that I have read some of the Facebook posts, they are offering "one on one" test rides? Ok so who is signed up for that and I wonder what they are made to sign before taking that ride?

Stu Bodycote · Jul 13, 2022

The vast majority of those followers came about during SG's reign of the brand. He set up the account.....TVS took it over.

NPeteN · Jul 13, 2022

Social media "likes" mean doodly squat.
Bikes face looks like a friendly hawk, I like it.

Voodooo · Jul 13, 2022

City Garage said:
I have been watching the Instagram page, and it's really worrisome that the posts are not well-liked. Yesterday's post 800 people liked, the previous one 319. They have over 113k in followers but not much excitement. Looking through the follower list, lots of bots and "odd" accounts

What's also missing is some first-person riding videos, maybe some dyno runs. Something/Anything would be better than what they post to increase the advertising aspect of what they are selling.

I know a lot will say many people who like Norton are not social media friendly, but from a sales standpoint, you have to look at the interactions as part of the equation and have to be worried.

It's either they don't have good PR people, or they are hesitant to really make a sales push because the product isn't ready/good enough? It makes no sense if they are trying to get a "waiting list" not to shake some trees.

Hopefully, they get it figured out because people will start to lose interest after the last debacle.

I’ve said this before, but TVS sucks at pushing news and advertisements. Ask a group of 40 and younger year old people what Norton is and 90% + have no idea.

If TVS thinks that 40+ year old people are going to be buying a sport bike, they are sadly mistaken.

All that talk about their multi million dollar facility isn’t going to make it selling a few bikes at $44k.

If TVS would offer a Atlas, I’d buy one, a sport bike?
Maybe if it was the Cafe version.
Otherwise, I’ll pass.

You can’t make a business last in todays times without using social media or advertising.

They keep talking about high quality, attention to detail, quality etc. of what? Their building?
They haven’t designed a single bike. They took what was already available and maybe ….MAYBE approved upon it. They can’t prove anything because they don’t have anything to offer.

mean gene · Jul 13, 2022

Nomad and Atlas were more my style not ready for $40,000 bike ( or my wife isn't )! If and when I see one and hear it I may change my mind!!!

City Garage · Jul 13, 2022

NPeteN said:
Social media "likes" mean doodly squat.
Bikes face looks like a friendly hawk, I like it.

Actually, companies pay big money for "likes" advertising metrics are largely based upon "likes" in today's social media world as it shows the reach. Likes don't easily translate to sales for exclusive items like this, but it does show interest in the company/product, which typically pushes merchandise sales, etc when you can't afford the primary product.

Personally, I wish they would sell it in the USA right now. With the parity of the dollar right now, it would be almost worth it.

NPeteN · Jul 13, 2022

City Garage said:
Actually, companies pay big money for "likes" advertising metrics are largely based upon "likes" in today's social media world as it shows the reach. Likes don't easily translate to sales for exclusive items like this, but it does show interest in the company/product, which typically pushes merchandise sales, etc when you can't afford the primary product.

Personally, I wish they would sell it in the USA right now. With the parity of the dollar right now, it would be almost worth it.

Yes, they PAY for likes to create the illusion of interest in their item, hoping to woo the easily influenced.

We are both correct.
"Likes" will never sell Nortons.
Comfortable underwear on the other hand...

Fast Eddie · Jul 13, 2022

Garner was much better at this. Remember, he‘d post very short clips of the Superlight on the dyno, track, etc, etc. These were so short you couldn’t ascertain much really, but definitely piqued your interest.

TVS are stuck in a self made catch 22. They have this self imposed strategy of secrecy, 2-3 years in (or whatever it is) and they still will not give a straight answer on what they intend to produce… won’t even make a commitment on the 961 FFS.

You simply can’t have a strategy of secrecy AND an active social media platform at the same time !

There’s only so much interest in the ’state of the art factory’ at the end of the day …

Stephen_Spencer · Jul 14, 2022

So, no ‘good news’ with what‘s happening at Birmingham Norton at all then guys? To the casual reader of these current threads (prospective buyer) it would appear that Birminghan Norton is doing absolutely everything wrong! From the time taken to get production ready and to the market, general direction, advertisement, media, communication, choice of V4 release; performance, price point, target audience, test rides ………….. and on!

Is there any ‘enthusiasm’ left on this enthusiasts forum? LOL

Fast Eddie · Jul 14, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
So, no ‘good news’ with what‘s happening at Birmingham Norton at all then guys? To the casual reader of these current threads (prospective buyer) it would appear that Birminghan Norton is doing absolutely everything wrong! From the time taken to get production ready and to the market, general direction, advertisement, media, communication, choice of V4 release; performance, price point, target audience, test rides ………….. and on!

Is there any ‘enthusiasm’ left on this enthusiasts forum? LOL

Of course there is still enthusiasm here. But your list of what they’re currently doing ‘wrong’ is sadly correct !

Voodooo · Jul 14, 2022

Stephen_Spencer said:
So, no ‘good news’ with what‘s happening at Birmingham Norton at all then guys? To the casual reader of these current threads (prospective buyer) it would appear that Birminghan Norton is doing absolutely everything wrong! From the time taken to get production ready and to the market, general direction, advertisement, media, communication, choice of V4 release; performance, price point, target audience, test rides ………….. and on!

Is there any ‘enthusiasm’ left on this enthusiasts forum? LOL

Not for TVS. Not for me anyhow. TVS has no news, no plan, no post. You can’t even buy merchandise!
Honestly, I’m over it. I won’t be buying a new Norton anyhow, besides, they don’t even have the offer for us lazy Americans anyhow, and no news can be bad news sometimes.

BritTwit · Jul 14, 2022

Look, f**k instagram, farcebook, twitter dither, whatever!
I'll hold my opinions until Norton put product into the hands of paying customers, and there is actually real feedback.
Until then, all of this speculation is just mental masturbation, fun for a brief while, but essentially unfulfilling.
I'll wait for the real thing, and I ain't getting any younger.

City Garage · Jul 14, 2022

BritTwit said:
Look, f**k instagram, farcebook, twitter dither, whatever!
I'll hold my opinions until Norton put product into the hands of paying customers, and there is actually real feedback.
Until then, all of this speculation is just mental masturbation, fun for a brief while, but essentially unfulfilling.
I'll wait for the real thing, and I ain't getting any younger.

Which you would think they would have done by now. Not some bought and paid for article. I have two in the shop right now that need parts and can't even get answers on that right now either.

Your "core" Norton people are the best source of advertising and they are pooping on those that own the product. I know its not TVS fault, but they had an opportunity to get proper support from real product enthusiasts

City Garage · Jul 14, 2022

Voodooo said:
Not for TVS. Not for me anyhow. TVS has no news, no plan, no post. You can’t even buy merchandise!
Honestly, I’m over it. I won’t be buying a new Norton anyhow, besides, they don’t even have the offer for us lazy Americans anyhow, and no news can be bad news sometimes.

The plan is super premium!

BritTwit · Jul 14, 2022

City Garage said:
Your "core" Norton people are the best source of advertising and they are pooping on those that own the product.

Perhaps, but I'm betting that while becoming very agitated and disappointed at Norton's apparent slow go policy, these Norton same owners/fans will still be fans when the bikes do finally begin to roll out of the facility.
Now, they will pout, scream, stomp their feet, etc, but if the bikes are turned out well, all will be forgiven.
Because Norton will be back!
Come on, we all know this, let's stop kidding ourselves, we're all Norton masochist.
Yes, otherwise we would only own Hondas.

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