Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing

TonyA

TonyA

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Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing
 
If the atlas or nomad become available, would any of you purchase one?
 
If i could afford it, yes. Which means no, unless i got a great trade in on the 961 - if i could bring myself to sell that. So maybe. o_O
 
I can hazard a guess The previous paid deposit rights holders have made their decisions and there is not enough interest for the superlight, the 961 has bit the dust due to the engine manufacturing rights being sold to the Chinese and they can't be recovered or licenced by TVS for a low enough fee to be economically viable.

www.carandbike.com

Norton Sold 961 Engine Rights To Chinese Firm: Reports

According to latest media reports, former CEO of Norton Motorcycles, Stuart Garner, sold the rights and tooling of the 961 platform late last year.
www.carandbike.com www.carandbike.com

According to reports, Jinlang now says that the deal with Garner was done before the iconic British brand fell into administration, and so the engine deal is a separate case, and so Jinlang technically owns rights to the 961 engine platform. Photographs reveal Huacong Wu signing a contract with Garner at the end of December, and according to Jinlang, the Chinese firm will work with its design partner in Italy to develop a new motorcycle using the 961 engine. That motorcycle, Jinlang says, will be sold worldwide.
 
I can only assume TVS knew this, and had decided not to continue with the 961, prior to the purchase.

Either that or someone screwed up massively in the due diligence process !
 
This is pretty bad news! Any hope of continued manufacture of the 961, resolution to some of the technical issues, spares provision seem to be out of the window! How interested will TVS be in providing support for a machine they do not manufacture, or ever did in reality. Personally I really don’t want to Purchase my spares from China!

Anybody got the latest on whether SG will ever be held accountable for his dodgy dealings?
 
Voodooo said:
If the atlas or nomad become available, would any of you purchase one?
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Maybe I would . But this would only be after a dealer and factory support arrive here. Also , it has got to be a good bike and right now Norton have a big hill to climb.
 
TonyA said:
Norton UK Website drop 961 , Variants and Superlight from Bike listing
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Not surprising considering euro5 etc. Glad I got one before it was too late. Thanks too all, we should be able to keep them going even if TVS renege on parts, hopefully not. Did we ever ascertain how many were made?
 
I personally wouldn’t buy another new norton again.
Not because my current ones have issues and not because of the lack of dealerships in the USA.
But because I don’t see Norton ever having the proper research and development and following it once did. I think it’s a sitting duck now. It was good while it lasted.
 
FWIW I’ve nothing against the Atlas range per se, if they price them right I think they’ll sell. It’s definitely a healthy market segment. They’re just not my cup of tea.

It does seem a shame the SL appears to have been dropped, I loved the idea of it. But if it’s true that it’s due to lack of interest, you can’t really blame them. It was most likely just too expensive for what it is.

Of course, the V4 remains interesting. I think they’re fabulous. But I also think that, even if I could afford one (which I can‘t)... the question would be, could I handle 200bhp+ (which I can‘t) !

The V4 has to have huge potential within that segment. I’m surprised you’re not at least a tad interested Scott?!
 
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I am guessing (or delusionaly pontificating) that the new bikes WILL get the necessary research and development. Can't see a company as big as TVS releasing bikes to press with variable idle and cylinders chiming in as and when as Garner did, or is that: 'character?' Yes, I know many now run fine and congrats to the persistence of the faithful..
Though who will buy them is anybody's guess....
 
Fast Eddie said:
FWIW I’ve nothing against the Atlas range per se, if they price them right I think they’ll sell. It’s definitely a healthy market segment. They’re just not my cup of tea.

It does seem a shame the SL appears to have been dropped, I loved the idea of it. But if it’s true that it’s due to lack of interest, you can’t really blame them. It was most likely just too expensive for what it is.

Of course, the V4 remains interesting. I think they’re fabulous. But I also think that, even if I could afford one (which I can‘t)... the question would be, could I handle 200bhp+ (which I can‘t) !

The V4 has to have huge potential within that segment. I’m surprised you’re not at least a tad interested Scott?!
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Can the Aprilia RS660 be the bike that the Superlight was going to be ? I read that it will come in at 12.5K USD price tag.

www.cyclenews.com

Aprilia RS 660 to sell for $11,300 in the U.S.

Aprilia announces very competitive pricing for the new RS660
www.cyclenews.com www.cyclenews.com
 
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Wow, if that’s true Tony it means the Aprilia is going to be slightly less than HALF the price the SL was going to be !

No wonder TVS pulled it then really.

Although, according to both manufacturers claims, the Norton was 5bhp more and 24lbs less that the Aprilia...
 
The SL was special though. That pic of the Aprilias is a bit, you know, yawn...
 
Assuming TVS has rights to the 'Commando' name, it seems likely (to me at least) that Norton would bring out a new Commando with a Euro5-compliant water-cooled engine. While the pushrod 961 has history and panache, I wouldn't avoid a Commando with a more up to date power plant.
 
The 961 drop is a surprise, it is good looking bike and was always in demand and could have sold more. The engine was old hat struggling with compliance, but why not re-engine what is wanted. The V4 keep is an interesting one, though I suspect that might not be a 1200, unless they do another version at 1000cc to suit racing. It looks like they have settled with an initial range of 3 models, maybe a wise idea during these early days.

TVS have a major problem, they have the funds and know how to build the best and most reliable bike on the planet, but it will need character and without that I don't see it appealing to those wanting a Norton. I am not sure that those that are in charge here and in India get that bit.

Yes, TVS have the right to the Commando name - they have recently bought it from Emery, along with half the Norvil TM.
 
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