Norton trouble

Alan Cathcart needs to speak to more than SG before putting pen to paper again on Norton. Same old bullshit, Deer does not get a look in except one mention and all the old rubbish about the V4 being a Norton only design. A long list of potential Norton company buyers, the same ones no doubt that were scared off by the wind up orders and not a single mention of the 3 pension scheme's.

Where did this come from

'though not before MV’s legendary designer Massimo Tamburini had created the makings of a born again Norton Commando!'

Why do that when Kenny's design was part of the deal.
 
Alan is known industry-wide for his rosy specs. I am amazed he paints Garner as a saint. I smell a repetition of the 1990s MCN man's Terrible Terry Snelling's quote: "I know it is b.s., but it makes good copy!"
As an interested party I'd wait till the dust settles and the picture becomes clear, THEN speak to bank and liquidators.

One thing is crystal clear: the era of 961s and V4 "Aprons" are definitely, and of the "650 mass-appeal bike" most probably over.
A new start, if it ever comes to it, will be wise to put as much distance as possible between the new beginning and this sorry era of lies and unlawful behaviour.

As for Kenny Dreer's Commando being part of the deal: I believe it was thrown in for free because Ollie Curme, the money behind Kenny, had by then understood he'd never sell the concept and he was fed up with paying for storage for the leftovers of a dead duck.
 
MxMartin said:
I think this forum will go from strength to strength as those that hold on to their bikes will share a lot more 'how to' posts :)
Click to expand...

hi guys, sad sad situation, but for once we stop asking questions, and we know we here we are !
we have to manage ourselves - within the forum members / Norton’s bikes owners - the aftermarket Maintenace and replacement parts.
I shall say that when project came to buy a Norton, finding the forum and the strong involvement of the members and quality of the information as many of you cannot rely on local dealer, I was comforted to get one and how to maintain repair my bike.
so I think that with all the members and what you already collected a few is missing to list all the sub tier suppliers for engine and electric parts we shall build our own spare catalog and see how to discuss with those who made the parts.

I recon that the big question remains :
HOW MAY Commandos/Dominators twins were built ... and there location.
 
Chris CSTM said:
I recon that the big question remains : HOW MA(N)Y Commandos/Dominators twins were built ... and there location.
Click to expand...

Interesting that the above article still talks about 'nearly 1,000 per year' and 'nearly 4,000 in total' which contradicts each other.
I don't know that we shall ever know for sure, maybe someone would like to start a list :)
 
From SC Delta's post on this site somewhere north of 800 SC ECU's supplied from late 2012 to early 2016. So more like 200 a year and i expect that was at their peak.
 
To lighten the situation, had a blast out on my 961
today, f... the road salt, God bless WD40. Panic bought the old girl, old as in classic, before Xmas, before it was too late. Rode through the N. Yorks. Moors, Cleveland foothills and back via motorway class roads, crackin'. In answer to some of the winges I've read;
- Excessive vibration? Sweat spots at 60 and a touch over 70mph, no probs.
- Gearbox? better than my HD Sportster, not quite as slick as my CCM Spitfire, no problem.
- Flickability, too early to be sure but considering the winter road surface, feels good to me.
- Comfort? could ride it forever!
- Parts quality? overall well impressed, better than my other hand-built bike, slightly.
Roll on the summer and a run- in machine.
 
Turned out worse than even a Zombie Co

https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/zombie-company/
Zombie companies holding back the UK economy

In 2013, Mr. Papworth informed that more than 200,000 businesses in the UK were either struggling to pay their debts or were having to negotiate with their creditors, while 108,000 firms were only able to serve interest on their debt.

The UK’s ‘productivity problem’ is probably partially attributable to the existence of so many zombie companies that prevent capital and labor from reallocating to more productive activities,
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I rode out today too and it was awesome. What a great bike. The sun was shining and I felt so fortunate to be able to ride a machine like this. I hope it lasts.
 
italia said:
Spot on with this info. My wife is an electrical engineer (power systems) and consulted with a leading auto manufacturer on EV's. Generally speaking, EV's have a somewhat lighter carbon footprint than fossil fuel vehicles, but not nearly as 'zero' as the general public (and EV owners) want to believe.
Click to expand...

I pull just shy of 6KWH off my roof here in Oz (on a good day), sure I can spare a tad for a Bike that would be Zero fossil fuel derived power..... lets not talk about the plastic and rare earth materials used to make the Solar array and Inverter .. that complicates the green argument somewhat...
 
SteveBorland said:
Hmm, I think you're a bit behind the current thinking on this. A quick google search brings up pages such as this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Denmark
or
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...d-47-of-power-from-wind-in-2019-idUSKBN1Z10KE

Looking at the latest available statistics for Danish energy, we see that in 2018 some 60.5% of the total electricity production came from renewable resources - 40.2% from wind, 15.3% from biological fuels (wood chips and waste) and 5% from solar, biogas and hydro power sources. Last year (2019) this was about 47% from wind power alone.In September last year, for the first time wind power energy production exceeded domestic power demand over a 24 hour period.

All this from a small country which is (almost) as flat as a pancake, so no large hydro power sources. We can however import hydro power from Norway, where they have heaps of it.
One way of solving the "no wind, no sun" problem is to send surplus power back up to Norway to pump water up to a holding dam, releasing it again when demand exceeds supply.

Lots of ways to do this, but only if people see the possibilities instead of the problems.

Actually, that sound very much like the requirements needed to own a Norton :)

Back to more motorbike-ish topics I think though.
Click to expand...


Denmark you say, similar to Australia, exports a bazillion tonnes of fossil fuel and claims its doing the right thing morally.... hmmm

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/new...els-the-green-state-of-denmark/article793507/
 
It seems they've made a little clean spot but had to make everything around a bit dirtier to do so.
Similar to the way I clean my bike!

Glen
 
As my kids would say: “Duh... OBVIOUSLY”...!

I’ve said before, I can’t see the Bloor cartel being the least bit interested in buying Norton.
 
TonyA said:
Good Report . Is this a Newish 961 ? You will also be happy with the fuel mileage I think .:)
Click to expand...
Dec'19 registered, not sure how long it was in the shop, think it's an '18 model. Ref mpg, a refill of 10 litres after 100 miles seems about right.
 

Similar threads

Richard Tool
Access Norton server trouble ?
Replies
5
Views
731
cliffa
cliffa
Chris Zet
750 barrel and clyinder head troubles
Replies
6
Views
570
triumph2
triumph2
A
Norton News 201
Replies
5
Views
465
laurentdom
laurentdom
Glen@NortonMotorcycles
Norton Manx 30/40M Needed for offical Norton Motorcycles Film in LA
Replies
1
Views
375
NPeteN
NPeteN
richard-7
Inside the Norton 961 - BOOK
2
Replies
39
Views
2,406
NorTriDuc
NorTriDuc
Back
Top