Norton vs. Triumph

couldn't watch it all the way - music sounds like a 70's porn track - but the thing dressed in Norton clothes did sound better than the fake triumph
m
 
Maybe if you took the price-point suspension bits off the Triumph and added comparable Ohlins equipment and then produced the 961 in similar numbers to bring it's price down I still think it would come down to looks and visceral feel which the Norton seems to have all over the Triumph. The one bloke called the Triumph an "800" but If I remember correctly, the displacement is closer to 900 than 8. The Triumph is an attempt to hide a modern machine in the clothes of an older but popular model. The Norton appears to be more of an evolution of the original that keeps certain visual clues like the timing cover shape and mechanical details like pushrods.
 
the triumph sounds hilarious

kinda like when the kids put the stinger on their honda civic exhaust
and make'em sound like a lawn mower

what's even funnier is how they then think that their cars are fast!
 
roqueweiler said:
the triumph sounds hilarious

kinda like when the kids put the stinger on their honda civic exhaust
and make'em sound like a lawn mower

what's even funnier is how they then think that their cars are fast!
Click to expand...

And then add a spoiler big enough to use for a dinner table! I think it is to diffuse the bass from the stereo, but I am not sure...I must be too old to understand.
 
Now Now Now, I have a Triumph and they are very smooth bikes that handle well. And you are right they do have an 865 motor, And with the right exhaust they sound nice also. I think its hard to compare a pushrod motor with overhead cam motor, The Triumph engine is very quite and sounds totally different. But don't go bashing them guys they have done a GREAT job of bringing them back, I can only hope Norton has the same success too. They are very different animals and I think this comparison is kinda silly in my mind and is only made as a plug for Norton. It's a Great looking bike that does sound nice, But I also think you would need to compare it to a bike of equal value to come up with opinion on how good it is. And then we will have to wait to see just how reliable they are also. Lets pull for both of them as we need an alternative to all the other sport bikes out there, That's all I have to say about this and its time to go for a ride, LOL LOL. Ride safe. Chuck H. :wink:
 
Triumph and Norton are two different companies with different goals.

Triumph is trying to maintain its position as a major European motorcycle manufacturer, and Norton is trying to resurrect itself as a specialty manufacturer, perhaps going mainstream in the future.

Time will tell whether or not Mr. Garner's business plan is better or worse than Mr. Bloor's.
 
BillT said:
Triumph and Norton are two different companies with different goals.

Triumph is trying to maintain its position as a major European motorcycle manufacturer, and Norton is trying to resurrect itself as a specialty manufacturer, perhaps going mainstream in the future.

Time will tell whether or not Mr. Garner's business plan is better or worse than Mr. Bloor's.
Click to expand...

Mr. Bloor's little operation has been going on some 20 years. Pretty impressive.
 
swooshdave said:
Mr. Bloor's little operation has been going on some 20 years. Pretty impressive.
Click to expand...

He actually bought the company back in '83 for the property the Meriden factory was located on (he was - and is - a residential developer). Since all the rights for Triumph came with the sale, he decided to make a go of it.

While building a new factory in Hinckley and developing a new line of bikes, he licensed the Bonneville for 5 years to Fair Spares (Les Harris). When Harris' license ran out, Hinckley was testing their new bikes, which went on sale in 1990.

Some claim Triumph has been in continuous production since 1902, but I think one may have a hard time finding an '89.
 
I was actually considering buying a new Thruxton Bonnie when Bloor moved production to Thailand, a Thai-made "British" bike is NOT a consideration in my world.

Unclviny
 
Hey unclviny...
I think you had a lucky escape as my mate got a 2009 Thruxton and after 2000 km the cases leaks like a sieve and he can't get the gas cap unscrewed without vice grips!

He just got the bike back and he nervously ridding it.

The scary thing is the Triumph workshop has lots of bikes getting replacement cases.
Also the answer to the gas cap is to screw a flip top lid on from Harris.

Lets hope the Norton gets intofull scale production without any "super blend" issues.

Cheers

"it's not what you ride ...it's how big your grin is!"
 
Unclviny said:
...a Thai-made "British" bike is NOT a consideration in my world.
Click to expand...

Next thing you'll say is a rally held in South America is not a "Dakar" rally!
 
Triumph is a better looking bike and sticks to the traditional or retro vibe. Sorry guys but I really despise the looks of the new Commando. It looks like every other street fighter out there except with a Norton sticker on the side, differentiating it from the rest.

It did sound good though.
 
"Sorry guys but I really despise the looks of the new Commando. It looks like every other street fighter out there except with a Norton sticker on the side, differentiating it from the rest.
"

Sadly, I tend to agree. And with more weight, 1/2 the HP, and a 10k USD higher price than the Ducati Streetfighter, I just don't see how it's going to work for them but we'll see.
 
mike996 said:
"Sorry guys but I really despise the looks of the new Commando. It looks like every other street fighter out there except with a Norton sticker on the side, differentiating it from the rest.
"

Sadly, I tend to agree. And with more weight, 1/2 the HP, and a 10k USD higher price than the Ducati Streetfighter, I just don't see how it's going to work for them but we'll see.
Click to expand...

Should work just fine. Ducati is just a Ducati...
 
"Should work just fine. Ducati is just a Ducati..."

Yeah, Norton does have a racing history as recently as only 40 years ago. Maybe if Ducati had won a few races sometime in recent history they'd be more special.

Oh, wait.... ;)
 
mike996 said:
"Should work just fine. Ducati is just a Ducati..."

Yeah, Norton does have a racing history as recently as only 40 years ago. Maybe if Ducati had won a few races sometime in recent history they'd be more special.

Oh, wait.... ;)
Click to expand...

What I mean is that any poser goes and buys a Ducati. You can usually tell who these are as they are up for sale with 300 miles on them in a few months.

Nortons will be far more exclusive than Ducati.
 
I will certainly agree that the Norton is more "exclusive." But to me there has to be something to back it up besides a famous name stuck on the side. IMHO, If they did a Commando retro-look - like the Bonneville - the performance bar wouldn't be all that high but to look a lot like one of the Ducatis, it's a whole different deal.
 
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