Nortons in Japan

robs ss · Mar 21, 2019

Just read this in the latest Classic Bike Guide.
(I'm in Australia so you poms have probably already read this weeks ago)
Cheers
Rob

Fast Eddie · Mar 21, 2019

Yes that was announced a little while ago.

It’s very good and exciting news.

The only cautionary note here is that the Japanese market has VERY low tolerance to issues, niggle, problems, warranty claims, etc.

I worked for a major automotive company and even there we had a dedicated ‘Japan line’ for extra inspection for cars exported to Japan.

And we STILL got complaints from the Japanese distributor!

Norton do need extra care here.

acotrel · Mar 21, 2019

A Commando is very different from any Japanese bike. They will probably be very popular. The thing about them is, as you ride them - you can feel the hair growing on your chest. Most other bikes don't do that, for their riders.

ashman · Mar 21, 2019

Japan has always had a thing for British motorcycles, didn't they race Triumphs and bet on the races like horse racing and their riders were treated like jockies in the old days and each team had to run the same bikes.

Ashley

jbruney · Mar 21, 2019

Well would you rather be in a spit or a zero when it hits the fan? Just sayin'.

Fast Eddie · Mar 21, 2019

jbruney said:
Well would you rather be in a spit or a zero when it hits the fan? Just sayin'.

No contest !

acotrel · Mar 22, 2019

ashman said:
Japan has always had a thing for British motorcycles, didn't they race Triumphs and bet on the races like horse racing and their riders were treated like jockies in the old days and each team had to run the same bikes.

Ashley

The Japanese started Autorace using Triumph engines and their own similar engines. These days they use the SEAR engine ( Suzuki Engine Auto Race) which we cannot buy. It is a 180 degree DOHC 500, non-unit construction engine which would be lovely in a Seeley frame. There is a bit of stuff on Youtube, but you need to find you way in. Most of the titles are in Japanese. If you start with an English title then click on the channel owner's name, you get inside. There is video of the SEAR motor being worked on.

acotrel · Mar 22, 2019

The Japanese love our old historic racers. One of my friends took Kevin Magee through his crash and burn stage with a four valve converted Ducati Pantah. That bike is now in Japan. There is an identical second bike, which I considered purchasing. But there was no race class for it at the time.

With the Japanese, the language barrier is a problem.

acotrel · Mar 22, 2019

jbruney said:
Well would you rather be in a spit or a zero when it hits the fan? Just sayin'.

I think the Nakajima was based on the Focke-Wulf 190 which was for a while better than a Spit. Then the next mark Spit came out and was even better. Late in WW2 Spitfires were used by the RAAF to fight Zeros. There was not much in it. The Zeros were lighter and turned faster and tighter, but the Spits could take more damage. Before that our guys were using Kittyhawks which were outclassed by the Zeros.

Nortons in Japan

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