Norton trouble

P.S. Interesting to see that in the closing paragraph of the "Guardian" feature our Stu blames Brexit for his downfall. I remember a pretty recent interview with him where he hailed Brexit for all the doors it opened to his rocketing motorcycle factory? Hmmmm
 
ZFD said:
We are happy to talk to anybody honest who has constructive plans for Norton. 'T was never any different from our side. If called for we will help where we can.
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ZFD, I'm not a 961 owner, but when I heard of this (not unexpected, but still sad) event, my immediate thoughts were for current owners. They can only image the sort of spares backup Andover Norton provides to classic Norton owners and I'm sure the fact that you are even willing to consider supporting them should the worst happen will be a ray of sunshine on this gloomy day. In my eyes you are to be applauded.


Cheers,

cliffa.
 
I would not be surprised if there is a mountain of unpaid for spares in the Midlands, in fact I know one company that has hundreds of items on the shelf. What models they fit who knows, I also know much of the upaid for spares were skipped.
In 2015 I started working for AN, and back then some suppliers I stopped at would have hung me up if I was from Donnington as they had not been paid.
Despite this I was sat with two classic owners and two modern owners this evening and the common theme was a positive outlook that could materialise in the future.
Any future company owner would no doubt read forums like this in this digital age, and they would have clearly seen the bitterness in the past and how passionate owners and supporters are. A wise potential company owner will conduct their due diligence, they may have a bank full of money, have a large production capability but if they make bikes that none of us like it will make no difference.
Anyone can build bike, but a bike with character, now that is a challenge.

As for the spares someone must know where or who made them, hopefully that knowledge is out there, the problem will be the bought in spares like Brembo, as once that line has reached the end of its life they and other companies like them are hard to convince to start a production run, or replace /refurbish the old tooling if it is at end of life.
 
Take a look at the mileages most owners are racking up. These are generally used as Sunday bikes by mature owners. Most problems seem to be electrical so keep the oil in good order and most of the bikes will outlive their owners without any serious problems. If you do plan to put the miles on then get a bucketload of spares or a complete spare engine? £6k last time I asked. We may find our evil petrol devils taxed off the roads to make way for electroscooters anyway.
 
BritTwit said:
Interesting idea.
If they did the modern classic right - why not.
Consider what it would be like to have a 961 that:
Started, idled and ran great all the time.
Didn't have gas tank related issues
or EFI issues
or starter issues
or breather issues
..............

Would be like owning a modern motorcycle, no?;)
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I've got one that ticks all those boxes! :D
 
Maybe he was just a playboy living the dream, raising money came easy, big country pads and an extravigant lifestyle on other people's money. Maybe/probably the intention was there to make it all work and everyone involved would be happy but then got too wrapped up in the lifestyle and taking risks?

Norton trouble
 
The more I read, the more I'm aware, the more I don't want to know. My personal experience with the staff at Donington, the purchase and the aftercare has been pretty good, not a perfect 10/10 but close, but it leaves a sour taste now if half of what i've read is true.
 
Wow that’s depressing I’ve been away at work for a week with little access, I did see a few post on face book and finished this morning to come home a see all these posts, sad for the pensioners that got stung.

looks like the 750 will have to be the main rider in the mean time and see how the parts market plays out, or if a buyer comes to the rescue.
 
Bluedog 55 said:
looks like the 750 will have to be the main rider in the mean time and see how the parts market plays out, or if a buyer comes to the rescue
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I think the last couple of sentences of the article linked by Welshrugby tells you where this is going.

“Norton is insolvent and tonight administrators continue the searching for a buyer.

The challenge they face is the scale of the company's debts.”
 
I have texted Lee Causer, the named BDO administrator, to emphasise that public statements from them would be very useful when possible, and that current owner’s bikes at Donnington should have their bikes protected securely, and pension fund holders should get priority, as that scheme was run by fraudsters.
 
IF... IF... the claims of tens of millions of pounds of order book is true, then the going concern does have potential value.

I guess it all depends just how disastrously huge the debt problem is...
 
Over 8 million to suppliers I believe and at least 5 million to the bank, the taxman is small fry in this. Oh and at least 14 million to pensioners . And of course all the money paid for bikes up front which now won't be made. The film rights to this story may be worth something.
Sad but totally expected unless you've had the rose tinted glasses on the last 12 years
 
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